[Churchofgaming] Middle Earth perhaps with Fantasy Craft?

[karl at rpgreview.net]

Middle Earth
At the last 1889 session Michael announced the start of a Middle Earth  
campiagn on alternate weeks and possible game systems were discussed.  
I suggested Fantasy Craft. An in depth review of Fantasy Craft can be  
found in RPG Review 13&14 double issue. Another alternative I did not  
think of on the day is Monsters and Magic which uses old school AD&D  
stat blocks with a modern game system. Worth checking out.
Anyway Fantasy Craft Stuff

'Races'
The pepoles of Middle Earth can be modelled with either just a species  
(what other games call 'race') or a species with a species feat.
Galadrim (Lothlorien Elf)= Elf + Owl Nation feat
Half Elf = Human with Elf Blood feat
Hobbit= Pech or Pech + Farstride folk
Dwarf=Dwarf
Mountain Dwarf = Dwarf+Mountain Born
Sylvan Elf (Wood Elf)= Elf + Hart Nation
River Folk (Gollum's origin) = pech + cool river folk feat.

Probably not allowed as PCs but worth noting
Ent= Rootwalker with Larger THan Life or Truly Massive
Troll=Ogre + Stone Brave +stone elder
Half Orc = human with Orc bloods
Uruk-Hai= Human(Orc blood) or Orc with Eastern Horde
Orc = Orc
Goblin = Goblin

Cultures
All characters begin with an 'interest' in thier home lands and  
culture. Fantasy craft can help you produce cultural arhetypes by  
combining Speciality (a bit like AD&D 2e kit) classes, origin skills,  
and feats. Here is one example. Of coarse these are just suggestions.

Rohirrim:
Human with one or more of:
    Nomad, warden, or cavalier speciality,
    Lancer or scout class
    Feats: Spear chain, sword chain, skill mastery chain Horseman,  
Animal  partner, pathfinder chain plains.
or ignore all of above but take ride as an origin skill.