Eric Knapp:
Gandalf cast the equivalent of a "enduring light"
spell a number of times, particularly under the Misty
Mtns in both the Hobbit and LotR. He cast down burning
pine cones on the wolves in the Hobbit (with mixed
results, as I recall). He did something to Saruman
that broke his staff (though this might qualify on the
level of a 'personal challenge'). There must have
been some "enchant weapon"-type spell used to light up
Sting, Beater and Biter around goblins/orcs.<
Gandalf had the Ring of Fire, everything he does in the light/fire area
probably comes from that Ring.
It's my belief that there is NO example in LoTR (as opposed to the
Silmarillion) of a mortal being casting a spell as it's usually thought of
in RPG terms. Most of the magic is smithcraft, the making of objects with
magical properties.
The nearest we get, as Ed Mills mentioned, is the King's Touch. That fits
very poorly into the D&D spell model because it can be used many times.
Andrew
Of course, depending on which side of the "Gandalf
dies in the Balrog encounter" you take, he is arguably
not a "mortal being".
I would disagree with the statement about "no magic by
mortals", though. I have always been curious about
how, during the Mordor trek, when Sam thinks of
Galadriel and makes what amounts to a "wish", that
what he wishes for appears. The coney and the water
being the two examples that come to mind. This has
always struck me as one of the unexplained phenomena
of the books.
Also, there is the question of what kind of creature
Tom Bombadil is, who can literally make the Ring
vanish and re-appear.
···
--- AndrewBarton <AndrewBarton@compuserve.com> wrote:
Eric Knapp:
> Gandalf cast the equivalent of a "enduring light"
spell a number of times, particularly under the
Misty
Mtns in both the Hobbit and LotR. He cast down
burning
pine cones on the wolves in the Hobbit (with mixed
results, as I recall). He did something to Saruman
that broke his staff (though this might qualify on
the
level of a 'personal challenge'). There must have
been some "enchant weapon"-type spell used to light
up
Sting, Beater and Biter around goblins/orcs.<
Gandalf had the Ring of Fire, everything he does in
the light/fire area
probably comes from that Ring.
It's my belief that there is NO example in LoTR (as
opposed to the
Silmarillion) of a mortal being casting a spell as
it's usually thought of
in RPG terms. Most of the magic is smithcraft, the
making of objects with
magical properties.
The nearest we get, as Ed Mills mentioned, is the
King's Touch. That fits
very poorly into the D&D spell model because it can
be used many times.
Andrew
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Of course, depending on which side of the "Gandalf
dies in the Balrog encounter" you take, he is arguably
not a "mortal being".
RD: Of course Gandalf's not a mortal being, he's quite clearly a Maia, or
angel. He's portrayed as a wizard because, let's face it, angels are
boring.
I would disagree with the statement about "no magic by
mortals", though. I have always been curious about
how, during the Mordor trek, when Sam thinks of
Galadriel and makes what amounts to a "wish", that
what he wishes for appears. The coney and the water
being the two examples that come to mind. This has
always struck me as one of the unexplained phenomena
of the books.
RD: Also the elven rope which Frodo & Sam used to climb down a cliff-face,
which mysteriously untied itself so they could use it again. An intrinsic
magical property of the rope (as in the proverbial Indian rope trick) or a
'wish' being granted by Galadriel?
Also, there is the question of what kind of creature
Tom Bombadil is, who can literally make the Ring
vanish and re-appear.
RD: Tom Bombadil is of course another Maia, gone native. He wasn't the only
one.
None of which answers Clint's questions about suitable spells from Tolkien's
writings which could be incorporated into the game. Let's get back on
track, can we?
Richard.
···
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric Knapp" <e_knapp_1999@yahoo.com>
To: <mepbmlist@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 8:19 PM
Subject: Re: [mepbmlist] Re: Spells in LoTR
--- AndrewBarton <AndrewBarton@compuserve.com> wrote:
> Eric Knapp:
> > Gandalf cast the equivalent of a "enduring light"
> spell a number of times, particularly under the
> Misty
> Mtns in both the Hobbit and LotR. He cast down
> burning
> pine cones on the wolves in the Hobbit (with mixed
> results, as I recall). He did something to Saruman
> that broke his staff (though this might qualify on
> the
> level of a 'personal challenge'). There must have
> been some "enchant weapon"-type spell used to light
> up
> Sting, Beater and Biter around goblins/orcs.<
>
> Gandalf had the Ring of Fire, everything he does in
> the light/fire area
> probably comes from that Ring.
>
> It's my belief that there is NO example in LoTR (as
> opposed to the
> Silmarillion) of a mortal being casting a spell as
> it's usually thought of
> in RPG terms. Most of the magic is smithcraft, the
> making of objects with
> magical properties.
>
> The nearest we get, as Ed Mills mentioned, is the
> King's Touch. That fits
> very poorly into the D&D spell model because it can
> be used many times.
>
> Andrew
>
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None of which answers Clint's questions about suitable spells from
Tolkien's
writings which could be incorporated into the game. Let's get back on
track, can we?
Richard.
>
I just love management types... : )
GB
RD: Sorry, didn't mean to sound bossy there 
Here's another thought. You know all those useless 500 swords? How about
the character holding them receiving a report on the lines of:
'A faint glow came from Beater warning that an enemy was nearby.'
... when one or more hostile characters were in the same hex.
Richard.
···
----- Original Message -----
From: "compliance00" <BairG@NASD.com>
To: <mepbmlist@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 10:44 PM
Subject: [mepbmlist] Re: Spells in LoTR
> None of which answers Clint's questions about suitable spells from
Tolkien's
> writings which could be incorporated into the game. Let's get back on
> track, can we?
>
> Richard.
> >
I just love management types... : )
GB
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