Merpcon
Encyclopedia
MerpCon is an acronym for "Middle-Earth Role Playing Convention", a role playing game convention dedicated solely to role-playing gaming in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth
. The event is held annually on the last weekend of July and runs for 3 days from Friday, through to the end of Sunday (and sometimes a little into the following Monday morning). To date MerpCon has been held each year in Spokane
, WA, USA. Beginning in 2009 MerpCon began to also be called Tolkien Moot as this conventon's venue began to expand to include more Tolkien-related activities, events, and guests beyond just role playing in Middle-earth.
The event began with MerpCon I in 2005, followed by MerpCon II in 2006, MerpCon III in 2007, MerpCon IV in 2008, MerpCon V was held in 2009, MerpCon VI aka Tolkien Moot 2010, MerpCon VII aka Tolkien Moot 2011.
, using any role playing game system adapted or created for play in Middle-earth or any aspect of Tolkien's universe (Middle-earth, Endor, Arda
or Eä depending on your perspective of how broadly one wants to make it).
During the event, the MerpCon website also enables some remote participation, by providing the live webcams, streaming audio, and live real time chat rooms (using Internet Relay Chat
).
The "MERP" portion of the name is not to be confused with, or thought of as exclusively Iron Crown Enterprises
' MERP (Middle-earth Role Playing
) game system, although that is one of the game systems used during the event.
Guest speakers to date include:
in The Silmarillion
by J. R. R. Tolkien
.
The theme was "Escape from Númenor".
Professor Chris Seeman provides a review of that campaign here: "Report on MerpCon 2005".
MerpCon II's campaign was set in Umbar
shortly after the Fall of Númenor, and before the establishment of the Kingdoms In Exile: Gondor
and Arnor
.
The theme was "Under Umbar".
Those kingdoms were formed approximately one year after "The Fall". Published author and Tolkien Scholar Michael Martinez
provides some feedback on this campaign in his blog under the title "The IMPire Lives and I've Got A Wall of Fire".
MerpCon III was set earlier in the Second Age
than the previous two conventions, on the shores of Northwestern Middle-earth
.
The theme was "First Contact".
This was a time period when the Númenóreans first made contact with the "lesser" men, who were under the terror of the shadow of Sauron
and his minions. The Númenóreans came as benefactors, teachers, and defenders. In later centuries they returned more as conquerors demanding tribute. Joe Mandala provides a review of MerpCon III in August 2007 issue of the The Guild Companion
MerpCon IV provided several different adventures from different campaign authors and Game/Dungeon Masters.
The theme was "Dwarves".
This was the first year a youth table was provided (players ranging from 8 to 17 years of age).
Whereas previous MerpCon events were mostly centered around the Númenóreans and the descendants, MerpCon IV's theme was heavily focused on J.R.R. Tolkien's Dwarves both for adventuring and for the guest speaker topics.
One campaign was provided by published author, John D. Rateliff
, set in the Long Lake area. The Dungeons & Dragons
3.5 and Eä d20 3.5 rules were used.
Another campaign was provided by Chris Wade, his infamous Tol Fuin campaign. The Rolemaster Fantasy Role Playing rules were used.
The youth campaign was set in Forodwaith
. The Eä d20 3.5 rules were used.
John D. Rateliff, and Michael Martinez both spoke. First each had a separate session, then to wrap up the final day, both spoke together. Mr Rateliff's session was focused primarily on "A Brief History of Tolkien Role-playing Games". The audio and video is available on the MerpCon website. Additionally he went on to write a four part series on his blog, "Sacnoth's Scriptorium", continuing the discussion on this topic.
MerpCon V also named Tolkienmoot 2009 was once again held in Spokane, WA, USA.
There was no specific theme that year.
Game systems included Iron Crown Enterprises
MERP, a Dungeons & Dragons
3.5 variant known as Ea RPG d20, and Harnmaster
adapted for use in Middle-earth. Game Campaign authors included:
Campaign Game Masters included the above authors plus:
MerpCon VI also named Tolkien Moot 2010 was held in Spokane, WA, USA with a more expanded Tolkien-related venue. The theme that year was "Elves".
Besides Tolkien-based role playing games using systems such as ICE MERP, Harnmaster, Ea d20 RPG, GURPS, BRP, and others, there were other Tolkien-based activities including:
MerpCon VII aka Tolkien Moot 2011 will also be held July 15-17 in Spokane, WA, USA, and simulcast online with participants engaged through real time chat, streaming audio, and streaming video. 2011 will be a smaller convention than previously as resources are being dedicated to a larger MerpCon/TolkienMoot in 2012 attempting to take the convention to "the next level" further expanding the venue, but always keeping the root gaming in Tolkien-inspired settings.
The Theme is "Trees".
The special broadcast guest speaker and talk show segments will be earlier in the day so that more online participants from Europe and elsewhere will not have to be up at 2:00 am their time to participate.
The campaigns by Hawke Robinson over the past six years are being released incrementally with issues of Other Minds Magazine, or on the Ea RPG website, or the Númenor Project website has a section dedicated to the Númenor Project.
Both on site and online attendance increased over previous years.
Different approaches to the guest speaker segments were used. The first session was in a format called "Raw Hobbit" as an homage to William Shatner
's Raw Nerve
talk show. The second guest session was an interactive "Tolkien Youth Panel". The third session was overlapped with the 14th episode of Middle-earth Talk Radio as a live broadcast from the third day of the event with live audience participation both locally and online.
MerpCon V is listed as the last convention with only the MerpCon name. The convention finished transitioning to the title of Tolkienmoot in 2010. This is due to MERP being over 10 years out of print and to use a more descriptive name. The format for Tolkienmoot 2010 is still Tolkien-centric with Tolkien-based role playing gaming at the core, but with a broader venue to include other forms of Tolkien gaming from wargaming to computer gaming, as well as other literary and creative topics related to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Updates are posted at the Tolkienmoot website. All of the content on the MerpCon website will be moved over to the Tolkienmoot site.
The founders of MerpCon are also the founders of the official Northwest "Inland Empire" Tolkien Society smial based in Spokane, WA, USA.
Previous events did not have enough additional Game Masters fluent in systems other than the legacy ICE MERP and Rolemaster, and more than half of the participants were already used to the system that has been out of print since 1999 when Tolkien Enterprises
forced Iron Crown Enterprises
into bankruptcy.
Decipher, Inc.
owned the rights to produce products based on The Hobbit
and The Lord of the Rings
until the middle of Summer 2007 when the company decided not to renew. Cubicle7 is releasing a new licensed Tolkien-based RPG scheduled for August 2011.
There are several other role playing gaming systems that have been under independent unofficial development and/or release for several years now, including:
There are many projects that have adapted existing game systems to better fit into Middle-earth ranging from the early years of Dungeons & Dragons
, GURPS
, and Runequest
, to other systems that many claim are already meant indirectly for Middle-earth gaming, such as Harnmaster
. Luke Crane's Burning Wheel system is reputedly also fitting for role playing in Middle Earth. The system includes rules for playing non-humanoid creatures that were nonetheless given an (often maligned) intellect within the professor's universe such as Wolves and Great Spiders.
MerpCon now supports many game systems due to multiple game masters and a greater variety of participants' gaming background interests. A lot of the renewed interest may be due to the earlier releases of Peter Jackson
's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
, causing a revival of interest in role playing in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth
. Increasing interest may be due to the upcoming Hobbit movies as well.
Game systems now supported include:
The other conventions that have some Tolkien related gaming may sometimes include:
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
. The event is held annually on the last weekend of July and runs for 3 days from Friday, through to the end of Sunday (and sometimes a little into the following Monday morning). To date MerpCon has been held each year in Spokane
Spokane
Spokane is a city in the U.S. state of Washington.Spokane may also refer to:*Spokane *Spokane River*Spokane, Missouri*Spokane Valley, Washington*Spokane County, Washington*Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Paloos War*Spokane * USS Spokane...
, WA, USA. Beginning in 2009 MerpCon began to also be called Tolkien Moot as this conventon's venue began to expand to include more Tolkien-related activities, events, and guests beyond just role playing in Middle-earth.
The event began with MerpCon I in 2005, followed by MerpCon II in 2006, MerpCon III in 2007, MerpCon IV in 2008, MerpCon V was held in 2009, MerpCon VI aka Tolkien Moot 2010, MerpCon VII aka Tolkien Moot 2011.
Event details
The event is focused on paper and dice based Role playing games, with the emphasis being role playing gaming set in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earthMiddle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
, using any role playing game system adapted or created for play in Middle-earth or any aspect of Tolkien's universe (Middle-earth, Endor, Arda
Arda
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Arda is the name given to the Earth in a period of prehistory, wherein the places mentioned in The Lord of the Rings and related material once existed...
or Eä depending on your perspective of how broadly one wants to make it).
During the event, the MerpCon website also enables some remote participation, by providing the live webcams, streaming audio, and live real time chat rooms (using Internet Relay Chat
Internet Relay Chat
Internet Relay Chat is a protocol for real-time Internet text messaging or synchronous conferencing. It is mainly designed for group communication in discussion forums, called channels, but also allows one-to-one communication via private message as well as chat and data transfer, including file...
).
The "MERP" portion of the name is not to be confused with, or thought of as exclusively Iron Crown Enterprises
Iron Crown Enterprises
Iron Crown Enterprises was a publisher of role playing, board, miniature battle, and collectible card games.ICE was incorporated in 1980 shortly after the principal founders graduated from the University of Virginia...
' MERP (Middle-earth Role Playing
Middle-earth Role Playing
Middle-earth Role Playing is a 1984 role-playing game based on the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien under license from Tolkien Enterprises. Iron Crown Enterprises published the game until they lost the license on 22 Sep 1999.-Setting:The setting for MERP is an expanded version of J. R. R...
) game system, although that is one of the game systems used during the event.
Special Guests
A number of MerpCon Guest Speakers have been at each event, including noted Tolkien scholars, doctors, professors, and published authors. More detailed information is provided on the "Guest Speakers Biographies" page.Guest speakers to date include:
- Professor Chris Seeman, currently residing in Iowa, USA, professor of theologyTheologyTheology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. Worked for Iron Crown EnterprisesIron Crown EnterprisesIron Crown Enterprises was a publisher of role playing, board, miniature battle, and collectible card games.ICE was incorporated in 1980 shortly after the principal founders graduated from the University of Virginia...
on MERP role-playing game system, also worked for Decipher on The Lord of the Rings role playing game. Creator of Other Hands Magazine and founder of the Tolkien Music List. Spoke 2005 and 2007. - Michael MartinezMichael MartinezMichael Gabriel Martínez is a Major League Baseball infielder and center fielder for the Philadelphia Phillies....
, currently residing in Seattle, WA, USA, computer scientist specializing in search engine optimization, published author of Visualizing Middle-earth, Understanding Middle-earth, and Parma Endorian, and a prolific Tolkien essayist. Co-host on Middle-earth Radio. Spoke 2006, 2007, and 2008. - Doctor Thomas Morwinksy, currently residing in Munich, Germany, doctor of entomology for the German government's military. Spoke 2007
- Hawke Robinson, currently residing in Washington, USA, retired computer scientist published by the SANS InstituteSANS InstituteThe SANS Institute is a private US company that specializes in internet security training. It was founded in 1989, provides computer security training, professional certification through Global Information Assurance Certification , and a research archive - the SANS Reading Room...
, founder of merp.com, MerpCon, Other Minds Magazine, Eä RPG, co-host on Middle-earth Radio. Spoke 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. - Joe Mandala, currently residing in Kansas, USA. Co-editor of The Guild Companion online zine. Spoke 2007.
- Cason Snow, residing in Illinois, USA, librarian. Spoke 2007.
- John D. RateliffJohn D. RateliffJohn D. Rateliff is a published scholar of the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. He acquired his Ph.D. at Marquette University, where he researched Tolkien's works. His most recent publication is The History of The Hobbit.-Career:...
, residing in Seattle, WA, USA. Author of The History of the HobbitThe History of The HobbitThe History of The Hobbit is a two-volume study of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. It was published by HarperCollins in June and July 2007 in the UK, with both volumes released in the United States by Houghton Mifflin on September 21, 2007; a boxed set combining The Hobbit with The History of The...
, noted Tolkien scholar and known many role-playing gaming contributions over the decades working for TSR, Wizards of the Coast, Hasbro, and many freelanced products. Spoke 2008. - Rehtaeh aka Heather Downing, elvish singer performed and was interviewed by Michael Martinez during the "Raw Hobbit" segment of Tolkien Moot 2010.
Campaign Settings Overview
MerpCon I's campaign was set in the final 2 weeks before the Fall of Númenor as detailed in the AkallabêthAkallabêth
Akallabêth is the fourth part of the fantasy work The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien. It is relatively short, consisting of about thirty pages.-Synopsis:...
in The Silmarillion
The Silmarillion
The Silmarillion is a collection of J. R. R. Tolkien's mythopoeic works, edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in 1977, with assistance from Guy Gavriel Kay, who later became a noted fantasy writer. The Silmarillion, along with J. R. R...
by J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
.
The theme was "Escape from Númenor".
Professor Chris Seeman provides a review of that campaign here: "Report on MerpCon 2005".
MerpCon II's campaign was set in Umbar
Umbar
Umbar is a fictional place in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. It was a great haven and seaport to the far south of Gondor in Middle-earth.'Umbar' was a name—of unknown meaning—given to the area by its original inhabitants...
shortly after the Fall of Númenor, and before the establishment of the Kingdoms In Exile: Gondor
Gondor
Gondor is a fictional kingdom in J. R. R. Tolkien's writings, described as the greatest realm of Men in the west of Middle-earth by the end of the Third Age. The third volume of The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, is concerned with the events in Gondor during the War of the Ring and with...
and Arnor
Arnor
Arnor is a fictional kingdom in J. R. R. Tolkien's writings. Arnor, or the Northern Kingdom, was a kingdom of the Dúnedain in the land of Eriador in Middle-earth. The name probably means "Land of the King", from Sindarin Ara- + dor...
.
The theme was "Under Umbar".
Those kingdoms were formed approximately one year after "The Fall". Published author and Tolkien Scholar Michael Martinez
Michael Martinez
Michael Gabriel Martínez is a Major League Baseball infielder and center fielder for the Philadelphia Phillies....
provides some feedback on this campaign in his blog under the title "The IMPire Lives and I've Got A Wall of Fire".
MerpCon III was set earlier in the Second Age
Second Age
The Second Age is a time period from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings. Tolkien intended for the history of Middle-earth to be considered fictionally as a precursor to the history of the real Earth....
than the previous two conventions, on the shores of Northwestern Middle-earth
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
.
The theme was "First Contact".
This was a time period when the Númenóreans first made contact with the "lesser" men, who were under the terror of the shadow of Sauron
Sauron
Sauron is the primary antagonist and titular character of the epic fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.In the same work, he is revealed to be the same character as "the Necromancer" from Tolkien's earlier novel The Hobbit...
and his minions. The Númenóreans came as benefactors, teachers, and defenders. In later centuries they returned more as conquerors demanding tribute. Joe Mandala provides a review of MerpCon III in August 2007 issue of the The Guild Companion
MerpCon IV provided several different adventures from different campaign authors and Game/Dungeon Masters.
The theme was "Dwarves".
This was the first year a youth table was provided (players ranging from 8 to 17 years of age).
Whereas previous MerpCon events were mostly centered around the Númenóreans and the descendants, MerpCon IV's theme was heavily focused on J.R.R. Tolkien's Dwarves both for adventuring and for the guest speaker topics.
One campaign was provided by published author, John D. Rateliff
John D. Rateliff
John D. Rateliff is a published scholar of the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. He acquired his Ph.D. at Marquette University, where he researched Tolkien's works. His most recent publication is The History of The Hobbit.-Career:...
, set in the Long Lake area. The Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
3.5 and Eä d20 3.5 rules were used.
Another campaign was provided by Chris Wade, his infamous Tol Fuin campaign. The Rolemaster Fantasy Role Playing rules were used.
The youth campaign was set in Forodwaith
Forodwaith
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, Forodwaith was the name both of a region and the people that lived there.-Geography:...
. The Eä d20 3.5 rules were used.
John D. Rateliff, and Michael Martinez both spoke. First each had a separate session, then to wrap up the final day, both spoke together. Mr Rateliff's session was focused primarily on "A Brief History of Tolkien Role-playing Games". The audio and video is available on the MerpCon website. Additionally he went on to write a four part series on his blog, "Sacnoth's Scriptorium", continuing the discussion on this topic.
MerpCon V also named Tolkienmoot 2009 was once again held in Spokane, WA, USA.
There was no specific theme that year.
Game systems included Iron Crown Enterprises
Iron Crown Enterprises
Iron Crown Enterprises was a publisher of role playing, board, miniature battle, and collectible card games.ICE was incorporated in 1980 shortly after the principal founders graduated from the University of Virginia...
MERP, a Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
3.5 variant known as Ea RPG d20, and Harnmaster
HârnMaster
HârnMaster is a fantasy role-playing game based in the fantasy world of Hârn. The system, like the world, was designed primarily by N. Robin Crossby....
adapted for use in Middle-earth. Game Campaign authors included:
- Hawke Robinson (MERP & Ea RPG d20)
- David Johnson (Harnmaster)
Campaign Game Masters included the above authors plus:
- Michael MartinezMichael MartinezMichael Gabriel Martínez is a Major League Baseball infielder and center fielder for the Philadelphia Phillies....
- Skylar Downes
- Russ Patitz
- William Robinson
MerpCon VI also named Tolkien Moot 2010 was held in Spokane, WA, USA with a more expanded Tolkien-related venue. The theme that year was "Elves".
Besides Tolkien-based role playing games using systems such as ICE MERP, Harnmaster, Ea d20 RPG, GURPS, BRP, and others, there were other Tolkien-based activities including:
- Middle-earth wargames
- Middle-earth boardgames
- Middle-earth PC and game consoles
- Elvish singer Rehtaeh
- Michael Martinez
MerpCon VII aka Tolkien Moot 2011 will also be held July 15-17 in Spokane, WA, USA, and simulcast online with participants engaged through real time chat, streaming audio, and streaming video. 2011 will be a smaller convention than previously as resources are being dedicated to a larger MerpCon/TolkienMoot in 2012 attempting to take the convention to "the next level" further expanding the venue, but always keeping the root gaming in Tolkien-inspired settings.
The Theme is "Trees".
The special broadcast guest speaker and talk show segments will be earlier in the day so that more online participants from Europe and elsewhere will not have to be up at 2:00 am their time to participate.
The campaigns by Hawke Robinson over the past six years are being released incrementally with issues of Other Minds Magazine, or on the Ea RPG website, or the Númenor Project website has a section dedicated to the Númenor Project.
Both on site and online attendance increased over previous years.
Different approaches to the guest speaker segments were used. The first session was in a format called "Raw Hobbit" as an homage to William Shatner
William Shatner
William Alan Shatner is a Canadian actor, musician, recording artist, and author. He gained worldwide fame and became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T...
's Raw Nerve
Shatner's Raw Nerve
Shatner's Raw Nerve is a TV program on The Biography Channel. In it, William Shatner sits down with various celebrities and conducts offbeat interviews with them. Some celebrities who have appeared are Tim Allen, Judith Sheindlin, Kelsey Grammer, Rush Limbaugh, Drew Carey, "Weird Al" Yankovic,...
talk show. The second guest session was an interactive "Tolkien Youth Panel". The third session was overlapped with the 14th episode of Middle-earth Talk Radio as a live broadcast from the third day of the event with live audience participation both locally and online.
MerpCon V is listed as the last convention with only the MerpCon name. The convention finished transitioning to the title of Tolkienmoot in 2010. This is due to MERP being over 10 years out of print and to use a more descriptive name. The format for Tolkienmoot 2010 is still Tolkien-centric with Tolkien-based role playing gaming at the core, but with a broader venue to include other forms of Tolkien gaming from wargaming to computer gaming, as well as other literary and creative topics related to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Updates are posted at the Tolkienmoot website. All of the content on the MerpCon website will be moved over to the Tolkienmoot site.
The founders of MerpCon are also the founders of the official Northwest "Inland Empire" Tolkien Society smial based in Spokane, WA, USA.
Role Playing Game Systems
MerpCon has always been intended to support multiple game systems, but not until MerpCon III has this actually been able to happen.Previous events did not have enough additional Game Masters fluent in systems other than the legacy ICE MERP and Rolemaster, and more than half of the participants were already used to the system that has been out of print since 1999 when Tolkien Enterprises
Tolkien Enterprises
Middle-earth Enterprises, formerly known as Tolkien Enterprises, is a trading name for a division of the Saul Zaentz Company based in Berkeley, California which owns the worldwide exclusive rights to certain elements of J. R. R. Tolkien's two most famous literary works; The Lord of the Rings and...
forced Iron Crown Enterprises
Iron Crown Enterprises
Iron Crown Enterprises was a publisher of role playing, board, miniature battle, and collectible card games.ICE was incorporated in 1980 shortly after the principal founders graduated from the University of Virginia...
into bankruptcy.
Decipher, Inc.
Decipher, Inc.
Decipher, Inc. is an American gaming company based in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. They began with three puzzles called "Decipher" then moved on to party games and Pente sets, but since 1994 produced collectible card and role-playing games. Their longest-running offering is the How to Host a Murder...
owned the rights to produce products based on The Hobbit
The Hobbit
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, better known by its abbreviated title The Hobbit, is a fantasy novel and children's book by J. R. R. Tolkien. It was published on 21 September 1937 to wide critical acclaim, being nominated for the Carnegie Medal and awarded a prize from the New York Herald...
and The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
until the middle of Summer 2007 when the company decided not to renew. Cubicle7 is releasing a new licensed Tolkien-based RPG scheduled for August 2011.
There are several other role playing gaming systems that have been under independent unofficial development and/or release for several years now, including:
- Ambarquenta
- Hitherlands
- Eä d20
- Eä RPGS
There are many projects that have adapted existing game systems to better fit into Middle-earth ranging from the early years of Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
, GURPS
GURPS
The Generic Universal RolePlaying System, or GURPS, is a tabletop role-playing game system designed to allow for play in any game setting...
, and Runequest
RuneQuest
RuneQuest is a fantasy role-playing game first published in 1978 by Chaosium, created by Steve Perrin and set in Greg Stafford's mythical world of Glorantha. RuneQuest was notable for its original gaming system and for its verisimilitude in adhering to an original fantasy world...
, to other systems that many claim are already meant indirectly for Middle-earth gaming, such as Harnmaster
HârnMaster
HârnMaster is a fantasy role-playing game based in the fantasy world of Hârn. The system, like the world, was designed primarily by N. Robin Crossby....
. Luke Crane's Burning Wheel system is reputedly also fitting for role playing in Middle Earth. The system includes rules for playing non-humanoid creatures that were nonetheless given an (often maligned) intellect within the professor's universe such as Wolves and Great Spiders.
MerpCon now supports many game systems due to multiple game masters and a greater variety of participants' gaming background interests. A lot of the renewed interest may be due to the earlier releases of Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson
Sir Peter Robert Jackson, KNZM is a New Zealand film director, producer, actor, and screenwriter, known for his The Lord of the Rings film trilogy , adapted from the novel by J. R. R...
's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter...
, causing a revival of interest in role playing in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
. Increasing interest may be due to the upcoming Hobbit movies as well.
Game systems now supported include:
- Iron Crown EnterprisesIron Crown EnterprisesIron Crown Enterprises was a publisher of role playing, board, miniature battle, and collectible card games.ICE was incorporated in 1980 shortly after the principal founders graduated from the University of Virginia...
MERP 2nd Edition - Decipher, Inc.. The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game
- Iron Crown EnterprisesIron Crown EnterprisesIron Crown Enterprises was a publisher of role playing, board, miniature battle, and collectible card games.ICE was incorporated in 1980 shortly after the principal founders graduated from the University of Virginia...
RolemasterRolemasterRolemaster is a role-playing game published by Iron Crown Enterprises. Rolemaster has come in four separate editions. The 3rd edition, first published in 1995, is also known as the "Rolemaster Standard System" . There are two editions currently in production...
(adapted to Middle-earth) - Iron Crown EnterprisesIron Crown EnterprisesIron Crown Enterprises was a publisher of role playing, board, miniature battle, and collectible card games.ICE was incorporated in 1980 shortly after the principal founders graduated from the University of Virginia...
HARPHigh Adventure Role PlayingHigh Adventure Role Playing is a fantasy role-playing game, designed by Tim Dugger & Heike A. Kubash, and published by Iron Crown Enterprises .- Background :...
(adapted to Middle-earth) - Wizards of the CoastWizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
d20D20 SystemThe d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...
Version 3.5 (adaptation known as "Eä d20") - RunequestRuneQuestRuneQuest is a fantasy role-playing game first published in 1978 by Chaosium, created by Steve Perrin and set in Greg Stafford's mythical world of Glorantha. RuneQuest was notable for its original gaming system and for its verisimilitude in adhering to an original fantasy world...
the newly released revival of this system (adapted to Middle-earth) - Basic Role Playing system
- GURPSGURPSThe Generic Universal RolePlaying System, or GURPS, is a tabletop role-playing game system designed to allow for play in any game setting...
- HarnmasterHârnMasterHârnMaster is a fantasy role-playing game based in the fantasy world of Hârn. The system, like the world, was designed primarily by N. Robin Crossby....
- Eä RPG Basic Rules (no in beta game testing, and used at the event)
- Eä RPG Standard Rules (now in alpha game testing, and soon to be used at the event)
- Cubicle7 Lord of the Rings RPG (due out August 2011)
Related Events
So far Merpcon (aka Tolkien Moot) is the only regular convention dedicated primarily or exclusively to gaming in J.R.R. Tolkien's world. MerpCon began changing the name to Tolkienmoot in 2009. There are a few other gaming conventions past, present, and planned in the near future that sometimes host a role playing gaming session with a campaign set in Middle-earth in their events, but no other event is exclusively dedicated to Tolkien gaming. MerpCon has also continued to be offered free of charge, but requires RSVP for reserved seating to participate in the gaming sessions.The other conventions that have some Tolkien related gaming may sometimes include:
- DundraCon. Annual. San Ramon, CA, US
- Gaming in Middle-earth convention. August 15-17th, 2003, Judenburg, Austria
- Tolkienmoot (Exclusively Tolkien gaming, Merpcon is now Tolkien Moot.
External links
- The MerpCon Official website
- The Merp.com website
- Decipher website
- Iron Crown Enterprises website
- The Eä Role-playing Game System website
- The Numenor Project website
- The Ambarquenta RPG website
- The Hither Lands RPG website
- Online archives for Other Hands magazine
- The Other Minds Magazine website
- The Guild Companion online zine
- The Tolkien Moot Convention website