Objective of the Game
The goal of Middle-earth Role Playing (MERP), a role-playing game set in the world of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, is to engage in adventures by creating characters who explore this world, complete quests, and face challenges. The focus is both on storytelling and strategy.
Preparation
- Game Materials: Rulebook, specially adapted dice (often D100), character sheets, pen, and paper.
- Game Master (GM): One person acts as the narrator and referee.
- Player Characters (PCs): Each player creates a unique character with individual skills and backgrounds.
Basic Rules
- Character Creation:
- Choose a race (e.g., Human, Elf, Dwarf) and a class (such as Warrior, Mage, Rogue).
- Allocate points to attributes like Strength, Agility, Intelligence.
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Develop a backstory, motivations, and goals.
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Dice System:
- Most actions utilize a percentile dice (D100) to determine the success of an action.
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Results are compared against difficulty levels (DL), ranging from easy to hard.
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Combat System:
- Initiatives are rolled to determine the order of play.
- Combat actions are influenced by attribute bonuses and superior dice rolls.
- Armor reduces damage; spells have specific effects.
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Magic:
- Various spells are available to certain classes.
- Spells consume mana or stamina.
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Skills and Development:
- Successful actions or battles yield experience points.
- Experience gains allow for skill improvements.
Gameplay
- The GM describes situations and challenges.
- Players react with their characters through dialogue and actions.
- The GM moderates the world's and Non-Player Characters' (NPCs) reactions.
Strategy Tips
- Cooperation: Collaboration is essential as challenges often cannot be overcome alone.
- Use Character Strengths: Play to your characters' strengths to handle tough situations.
- Resource Management: Keep an eye on mana/hit points and plan ahead.
Optional
- Use of miniatures or maps for visualizing combat scenarios.
- Incorporating custom quests and extended lore for a personalized adventure.
