Summary

  • Captains are leaders similar to fighters; they excel in combat, and have customizable titles.
  • Champions blend fighter and rogue qualities for skilled melee combat with self-healing abilities.
  • Messengers combine rogue and monk features for DPS or support roles.

In the Lord of the Rings tabletop roleplaying game, balanced for fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons, every player must choose a 'calling,' which functions similarly to classes in a typical D&D adventure. Callings are the reason your player-character left home in the first place; a motivation to pursue a life of adventure.

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Like classes, callings also dictate a character's skills, proficiencies, hit dice, and general description. This is the most important choice you'll make when it comes to creating your character in Middle Earth. So, if you're wondering which calling is best for you, here's a breakdown of every single one.

6 Captain

Captain by Middle-earth Enterprises, LLC via Wizards of the Coast

Hit Die

d10

Primary Ability

Strength, Charisma

Saving Throws

Constitution, Charisma

Armor & Weapons

All armor, shields, simple and martial weapons

Captains are powerful leaders who stand up for what's right in the realm of Middle Earth. They take risks, no matter the cost, and trust their judgment above others. In many ways, this calling is the equivalent of the fighter class in Dungeons & Dragons. You get features like multiattack, different fighting styles, and the ability to imbue others with temporary hit points.

This calling is great for beginners to roleplaying games, as the features gifted to those in this calling are relatively straightforward, and are mostly just about attacking and being excellent in combat. You also get to choose a captain title for yourself at various levels, which allows you to customize your build to your playstyle, which is helpful.

5 Champion

Champion by Middle-earth Enterprises, LLC via Wizards of the Coast

Hit Die

d10

Primary Ability

Strength or Dexterity

Saving Throws

Strength, Constitution

Armor & Weapons

All armor, shields, simple and martial weapons

Champions are expert warriors and highly skilled fighters who are masters of both Strength and Dexterity. They are renowned for their abilities, and revered. This calling offers a mixture of fighter and rogue playstyles, for those familiar with other Dungeons & Dragons classes.

The champion calling grants you familiar fighter features at certain levels like multiattack, Indomitable, and various fighting styles. However, champions also get access to a feature known as Surge of Vigour, which allows you to take either the attack, dash, disengage, or dodge action as a bonus action (which is similar to rogues). However, this feature also allows you to restore hit points, much in the way a fighter would with Second Wind. This calling is perfect for lovers of melee combat, who want to prove nimble and deft.

4 Messenger

Messenger by Middle-earth Enterprises, LLC via Wizards of the Coast

Hit Die

d8

Primary Ability

Dexterity, Charisma

Saving Throws

Dexterity, Charisma

Armor & Weapons

Light armor, simple weapons, short swords, swords

Messengers serve as couriers to all of Middle Earth, spreading wisdom and lore across the lands. You aim to unite people and bring them together for a common good. This calling mixes features from the rogue and monk classes in Dungeons & Dragons to create a highly unique hybrid calling that can be tailored to function as a DPS character, or more of a support class depending on your party composition.

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Like rogues, messengers have access to Sneak Attack and Uncanny Dodge, which allows them to get the drop on enemies without being harmed themselves. Additionally, they have access to Unarmored Defense, much like monks. You can also tailor your calling build by selecting between two 'Messenger Paths,' namely, the counsellor or the herald. By selecting counsellor, you can help buff your party with Help actions and improve your Intelligence-based skills. By selecting herald, you gain a fighting style, making your character more of a martial class.

3 Scholar

Scholar by Middle-earth Enterprises, LLC via Wizards of the Coast

Hit Die

d8

Primary Ability

Intelligence, Wisdom

Saving Throws

Intelligence, Wisdom

Armor & Weapons

Light armor, simple weapons

Knowledge is the cornerstone of any wise scholar. Understanding the nature of the world is your best asset, as opposed to the sword or shield. The scholar is one of the main support callings in the Lord of the Rings TTPRG, combining features and elements from the bard and monk classes in Dungeons & Dragons.

Like monks, you gain access to Unarmored Defense. You can also help heal your allies during a short rest, which is similar to the Song of Rest feature for bards. Plus, you gain the ability to help your party out by awarding them lore dice, which allow them to add a d6 to an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw within one minute. This functions nearly identically to bardic inspiration. You can also choose subclasses for scholars that either improve their skill and Intelligence expertise or improve their healing prowess depending on your playstyle.

2 Treasure Hunter

Treasure Hunter by Middle-earth Enterprises, LLC via Wizards of the Coast

Hit Die

d8

Primary Ability

Dexterity

Saving Throws

Dexterity, Intelligence

Armor & Weapons

Light armor, simple weapons, short swords, swords

Everywhere you turn in Middle Earth, there are hoards of treasure just waiting to be discovered. Treasure hunters know this well, and will stop at nothing to recover these priceless artifacts, even if it means braving immense danger. Treasure hunters are the traditional rogue calling in the Lord of the Rings TTRPG.

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Like rogues, treasure hunters have access to Expertise, Uncanny Dodge, and Sneak Attack. What makes this calling stand out from other callings that borrow from the rogue class are its subclass options, which include burglar or spy. Burglars are highly nimble and stealthy, while spies are highly intelligent and have incredibly keen eyes, granting them buffs to their Investigation and Perception skills.

1 Warden

Warden by Middle-earth Enterprises, LLC via Wizards of the Coast

Hit Die

d10

Primary Ability

Dexterity, Wisdom

Saving Throws

Strength, Wisdom

Armor & Weapons

Light and medium armor, shields, simple and martial weapons

Last but not least, wardens are incredibly powerful and strong defenders, who are often met with distrust despite their good intentions. You have sworn to defend those who cannot help themselves, even at the expense of your own happiness. Wardens essentially function much in the same way that rangers do in Dungeons & Dragons. They are incredibly comfortable in nature and have subclasses that tailor their abilities to either be more stealthy or more specialized toward attacking one type of creature.

Just like rangers, wardens get Fighting Styles, multiattack, and Warded Lands, which function like favored terrains do in some versions of the ranger class. There are two warden oaths to choose from, forayer and hunter. Forayer grants you extra stealth abilities and the ability to use Sneak Attack damage. Hunter grants you proficiency in the Hunting skill, and additional damage and multiattack abilities, making your warden more barbarian-like in some ways.

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Dungeons and Dragons

9.0/10 Franchise Dungeons & Dragons Original Release Date 1974 Publisher Wizards of the Coast Designer E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson Player Count 2+ Expand Collapse