MECCG was built upon a "what if..." universe. Plus the only timetable the authors specified was "the free peoples tried to orginaze to resist to Sauron" (the One Ring isn't even found at the start of the game).

LOTR (Decipher) was based upon the movies, so the timeline was a lot more specified and respected.

LOTR (FFG) is specifying a timeline (between Hobbit and LotR) which is a mistake to me : this will generate subject like this one (isn't Thorin dead at the end of the Hobbit) and brings nothing to the game.

Anyway, I didn't kill my eyes on the appendixes of the LotR book, so I didn't pay attention Eowyn was so youth. And I don't care about this detail, as it won't prevent me from enjoying (or not) this upcoming game.

The bright-side is that we'll play with famous characters (Thorin II) instead of some generic FFG-created "dwarf-lord" with equal stats and role.

 This is interesting from the description page:

"Instead of directly retelling the classic stories that have previously been narrated, this game provides players with a variety of elements—characters, settings, enemies, events, items, artifacts, scenarios—that allow them to embark upon new adventures and share new experiences with these beloved characters during this ominous period of Middle-earth history."

I think they might have just added this recently because I don't remember this from the first time I read the page...

I guess they heard you Wallenstein!

 This is an outrage!  According to the rules Aragorn can DIE!!!   This never happened before the events of LOTR so I will NOT be buying this!  Foolish designers!!  I can't BELIEVE they designed a game where Aragorn can die, etc etc etc.

Seriously though, this game looks awesome.  So awesome I had to come back to the FFG forums to join the inane banter because I'm that hyped by it.

NinjaDorg said:

If game is setup in specific period of tmie I expect that every character belongs to this frame.
I don’t like mixing characters from different realities (like prvious example Vader and Qui-Gon Jinn).

If character will die or not is tottaly diffrent matter.

Now with information that this is period from end of Hobbit till beggining of LOTR, everythink is fine.
 

There are many powers in the world, for good or evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. - Gandalf the Grizzle

I think we can all agree that Gandalf has never been measured against The Time Machine of Old Pukel-land. Problem solved. The solution is time travel.

I agree with one poster that you can make it whatever you want to.

If you want to make it 'historically accruate' go ahead an do it - only build your fellowship out of people in the same time period.

If you want to make it a game where you feel you can have fun mixing and matching characters you love, go ahead and do that.

I guess I don't see the issue. *shrug*

I would rather have it this way, and I can choose which era (or playstyle) than be locked into one.  Plusses FAR outweight the minuses.

I have to say I personally hope that at some point they will be able to expand into the wide 'Middle Earth' ethos rather than just between Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. There is such a wealth of story with fantastic characters and creatures that it seems a shame to limit it even that much. I have no problem with the idea of mixing characters from different timelines so long as the game is as it's meant to be... Fun. 

Well you guys should be happy. It looks like they basically replaced Thorin with Gloin, they have the exact same attributes. All your complaining about Thorin not fitting the timeline worked!

They also clarified the time line too. Its further away from the Hobbit than we originally had believed. "These quests take place during a timespan of 17 years: from when Bilbo celebrates his 111th birthday (and Frodo’s 33rd) to days just prior to Frodo’s leaving the Shire."

Narsil0420 said:

The promblem is still there.If we want to play the events of that timeline and dont mess with Tolien's lore we can never have Gimli and Legolas in the same party.Gimli and Legolas are in the same starter deck (tactik sphere).If you play your first game with this deck timeline is broken and you are not true at Tolkien's lore.

So if someone had a promblem with Thorin and Eowyn he must have the same promblem with Legolas and Gimli as their first meeting was at the secret council in Rivendel.

It's just a game folks. I wouldn't let stuff like that bother you.

servant of the secret fire said:

Mine doubts were about mixing timeline, not alternative history within specified period of time. In short words I didn't liked the idea of having Eowyn birth 50 years earlier.

There is no possibility to avoid alternative histories (like Gimli-Legolas earlier meeting), because without that choosing of "historical" characters would be limited.

It's a shame if the artwork for Thorin has been scrapped, as that was a really nice picture.

I agree with this.My point was that if a company wants Tolkien's fans happy they must be accurate at lore and historical events.Removing just one of those two has the same results (Tokien's fans maaaad ).

So or they must remove  all inaccurate events,historical characters etc or they must just say that this is a game based on Tolkien's world(not lore) and we can play free any event with any hero (dead or alive).

servant of the secret fire said:

I consider myself a fan of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings works, but I couldn't disagree with you more.  If you want something that is completely accurate to the lore and the events, well read the books. Anyone making a game like that would have a fail, because the person playing the free-peoples would always win against the person playing Sauron's forces.

What would be the point?