[Meneltarmacil]

Dragon Elf and I have recently come up with some interesting ideas for the game.

First, a few proposed strategies for outsmarting the bad guys:

1. (This assumes they'll be waiting to ambush us at Weathertop when we get there) When we reach Weathertop, I figure the hill will look deserted, and will remain deserted as we climb the path to the top. As soon as we reach the top and have let our guard down, they'll attack from all sides and try to kill us all. Or they may think so. In reality, only about four people will be there when the bad guys attack. The rest will have climbed up in secret a few minutes after the first four started and will come up behind the bad guys and attack, having anticipated their strategy. If they don't use an ambush strategy, this will probably require less strategy and more brute force, but I figure they'll do something like this.

2. (I like this one better because the first idea seems too tailored to a specific strategy) Three people (probably those best at close-range fighting) will walk past the hill disguised as ordinary travelers. This will cause the bad guys to run out and try to maul them, taking them for easy prey. The good guys will wait until the bad guys are out in the open, then draw their weapons and attack. At the same time, other good guys hiding somewhere out of sight will shoot them from afar. They should set this up beforehand so that when the "travelers" ride past Weathertop, the others will have the bad guys surrounded. If the area around Weathertop is too wide-open to have any good hiding spots, the alternative would be to buy a large wagon with horses to pull it in Bree, then hide the ambushers in there.

Second: Dragon Elf suggested adding a sub-plot to this. His character would find an injured wolf somewhere early on and heal it. The wolf would then be grateful to Menecar and the rest of the party afterward and would show up to help out now and then.

Third: As for people getting injured, I volunteer Thoronmir for a severe injury (but not one that couldn't be completely healed upon reaching Rivendell). I'll have him get hurt somewhere in the Trollshaws after crossing the Last Bridge. (The Stone Trolls would be a good spot)

Just a few ideas that I think might work well. Feel free to accept/reject them as you see fit.