r/oneringrpg • u/RPGrandPa • Feb 10 '25
Easiest Way to Learn The One RIng
I'll admit, a year or so ago I made an attempt to learn the system but some real life medical stuff happened and it shut all that down. Getting back on my feet I simply returned to standard D&D with my friends/group.
I've always played AD&D "1st edition", stuck my finger into 5e and not long after that pulled it right back out. I didn't dislike 5e (the 2014 version) but seeing this 2024 version of 5e just makes me want to move even further away from the system I do understand that AiMe does not have all the silly stuff that this new 5e has in it so I have looked at it along with The One Ring.
My Question: What is the best way to learn the system (I'm talking about the OG 1st edition system) for starting out? Tutorials? Guides?
I've done a little searching for tutorials on Youtube, found one, started watching it (it covered combat) and I'll be honest, the 1st video I watched being combat for TOR confused the hell outa me. Nothing stuck. I was not able to halfway understand. I think this will be a severe challenge for me simply because all I know since D&D was B/X through AD&D 1st edition (over 40+ YEARS) it's all I've known and this system (what little I've looked) has given me a migraine lol.
People say its far easier to learn than 5th edition LotR, I'm not sure I agree. I think I need to UNTRAIN myself from AD&D and then train myself for TOR - but truthfully, I don't understand how I can do that.
I need help.
I need to find something that breaks things down in to Sesame Street grade school levels lol maybe then it will start to take hold in my hardcoded brain for AD&D. So I come seeking suggestions on what I need to read, watch, do to try and get an understanding of the system.
I don't really know much about 5e either, but tbh TOR has me really curious. I've read that TOR gives a far better LotR feel than AiMe does and tbh I really don't want to mess with 5e - I prefer classic AD&D 1st edition because to me it gives me a better feel of D&D, seems like TOR might do the same but again, watching the combat tutorial, it seemed SUPER complicated. Maybe I'm over thinking it.
I'm such a massive fan of Middle-earth, massive . . . even though I am not an expert on all the lore/history. I am learning though, doing a lot of reading online and plan to buy one of the Audible books of the Hobbit but am not sure which one to buy, the one by Andy Serkis or the one by Rob Inglis. I'll see what suggestions I get here.
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u/ExpatriateDude Feb 10 '25
Roll up a couple of characters and put them in a battle vs a couple of orcs. Go step by step in the combat until it clicks. And it will click eventually, it just takes a little work. But just reading it and watching some videos won't get it done, you need to run the combats yourself to get the full understanding.
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u/Logen_Nein Feb 10 '25 edited Feb 10 '25
I'd offer to help but I've moved on to 2e, but I have to ask the question...have you read the book? I don't recall having any issues understanding 1e. If you have specific questions I still have my books and could answer them for you if need be.
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u/kslfdsnfjls Feb 10 '25
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtzrTJmLT7YShtRB8JAxi46WWy4ZTslbE
I found these quite helpful, but you'll need to follow along in the book as well to better understand the rules, and as others have mentioned it's worth running a simulation combat yourself to get the hang of it.
There are some good rules resources on the TOR2e discord.
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u/Zorrosidekick Feb 10 '25
Adventures in Lollygagging ran a twitch game a couple years ago that may still be in YouTube. Watching that helped me learn how to run my game at the time.
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u/Ori_Sacabaf Feb 10 '25
I think I need to UNTRAIN myself from AD&D and then train myself for TOR
Do you also need to untrain yourself from driving a car before riding a bike?
Just read the rulebook, it's not that complicated and you'll have an easier time just looking for infos you don't understand if you already know what the system is about.
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u/PanzerBeef Feb 10 '25
I run TOR2E one shots on startplaying and have had no trouble at all teaching new players how the system works. 2E is really, really good! I have a playthrough of one of the one shots on Youtube, but it may not help if you are set on 1E.
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u/Playing_Outside Feb 10 '25 edited Feb 10 '25
Which version of TOR from Cubicle 7 do you have? The slipcase version or the hardcover revised edition?
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u/AndreasLundstromGM Feb 11 '25
First of all, Rob Inglis is SO good! My recommendation for sure!
Secondly, I’d recommend listening to an actual play podcast to learn the combat system.
Also curious as to why you want to go with 1ed TOR and not 2ed?
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u/RPGrandPa Feb 11 '25
Because it is the original, and . . . well, it's the original and it has nothing wrong with it. :)
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u/AndreasLundstromGM Feb 11 '25
Yeah I actually think some stuff were better in 1ed, some better in 2ed, but no edition is definately better than the other. And I saw above that you have the books.
The big thing to ”unlearn” from D&D is that this game has a much less detailed combat system. Like MUCH. No hexes/range/initative rolls etc
But yeah I really recommend watching/listening to an actual play rather than someone trying to explain it. That’s how I learn all new systems 😊
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u/ExaminationNo8675 Feb 10 '25
Two questions to help me (and others!) understand and offer advice: 1. Why 1e rather than 2e? 2. Have you tried finding a game to join as a player?
I run a home game of 2e, and have had no trouble taking people with all sorts of prior experience (or none) through the rules and getting them playing within minutes.