Posted: July 13, 1999 at 13:15:29: by Neithan
: : : : I had my first look at the basic MERP book yesterday. I understand they have to take some liberties with JRRT's work to make a playable game, but why are the descriptions of physical appearance so off the mark? Fair enough for the Dorwinrim, because Tolkien never describes them but blond Sindar! Where did that come from? Celeborn and Thranduil have silver hair but all other Sindar descriptions I remember give dark hair. Also the Beornings, the only Beorning described by Tolkien, Beorn himself, had a big BLACK beard - so of course the Beornings in MERP are blond also! Wha???
: : : For Thranduil I meant, of course, Thingol. : : Well it would be pretty damn boring and pretty unrealistic for ALL Sindar to have silver hair and ALL Beornings to have black curely hair....wouldn't it. : :
: : Padster : Indeed, but my point is that the MERP book tends to take both an authoritative and inflexible tone on these matters. This would be OK if their sources within Tolkien's work supported them, or at least didn't directly contradict their pronouncements. Well, ICE also encourages Gamemasters only to use the parts of their rules that they are comfortable with.
:-) Palle
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