It's a setting full of canon and full of opportunity for a renaissance aftermath scenario going on. I don't have much experience running campaigns (only a few table top games.) I have plenty of ideas going on using Shadow of Mordor as additional cannon. If anyone is interested in co-running something of the sorts bouncing ideas around about the specifics. I'm well versed in the warhammer40k rpg system and think it might mesh well with what I have in mind.

I'm currently running a game set in the LOTR universe AND a separate freeform Steampunk game. I have plans for the LOTR characters to encounter a steampunk-like region.

So this sounds like it could work, and something I might be interested in.

Ever see Wizards?  It's an animated movie from 1977 that has a vibe kind of close to what you're talking about.  I can see merging it with LOTR without too much effort.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076929/

Yep, colour me interested too :)

That description is kinda the premise of LOTR lol, definitely gonna have to give it a watch.

Starmaster I plan on it being the same region setting with it being more of a "future", (LOTR the 5th age just sounds catchy.) but only major drawback I have right now is I won't be able to slap an adult tag on it for another week or so. Which it might sorta probably should need it later on in the campaign.

Well, I AM an adult, but I don't really see any need for an Adult label on the game. I never got into gaming for Adult themes anyway.

I think if you are trying to attract LOTR fans, your big question is how to handle Canon in the revamped setting.  Tolkein was fairly clear on what would happen in the future of his setting, and it may not be what your want for a game.

Well adult in the more graphic violence type... which can be given a more subtextual approach.

http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Fourth_Age that's about all the info given by Tolkien himself that I know of.
Gives enough elbow room to move to dwarves into a more industrial part to fill. Hobbits I'm leaning towards them being looked down upon a bit as a race, becoming urbanized they collectively found their aptitude of stealth going to more of a rougish sub cultures.

Elves are a bit trickier though. I'd like only a limited number of players being an elf, mostly because them returning from the undying lands would be a big freaking deal.

I'd even allow an orc to join with some guidance on backstory. If you've played/beaten Shadow of mordor

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Then you know that some orcs will were shifted away from Suarons sway with that whole "white master" bit. Call me an optimist but I'd like to believe the ones that were "marked" then left to their own volition went awol after the war of the rings.

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Technically he explained that dwarves vanish into the mountains, hobbits become men over time due to the infuence of ent draughts, and elves all go west, leaving the world to men.  So it will be up to you to explain, as much as you care to, why they are still around and to what extent.  That's particularly important for elves, since They are the ones that are most quickly gone from middle earth.  So what elves are left, who they are, where, etc.

Welp, o.o ... hobbits being gone are a bit of a bummer. Tweaking a rattling template from only war would've been the easiest conversion.

dwarves coming out of the mountains won't be that much of a stretch: The most recent historical significances would be Gondor becoming an empire conquering all of middle earth and a century of peace brought in innovations to trade through the steam train. Dwarves come out of the mountains on account that passage ways were being blown into the side of their walls. They improve on the steam engine technology with their own discovery of crystals that generate heat when struck.... so yeah there's laser guns.

The elves on the other hand, that's a part I'd like to remain vague to most the players.

you don't have to follow canon on the hobbits or anything else.  Just meant you'll need to explain what isn't canon and why to some extent.

Ohhh gotcha! I'll have things all sorted out by this weekend then, so once I make the game would I post in both gm wanted and player wanted thread?

If you're the gm, you'd only need to advertise for players.

In reply to 43nr15 (msg # 12):

No, only in Wanted - Players (unless you are actually searching for a co-GM - ads for players are not permitted in Wanted - GMs).

I am looking for a co gm, so i'll post first in there once I flesh out the game as much as i can.

This idea sounds like it has great potential.  Which systems are you considering for this game?

Only War feels the most appropriate with the inclusion of the players handbook for it.

Had a chance to look at the system and I would be interested in giving this a go.

In reply to Finlos (msg # 18):

I'd be down for this. In a bug way. It's not like I steampunk cosplay or anything... *covertly slides steampunk proton pack under the table*