WELCOME TO THE OTHER HANDS ARCHIVES!

On 1/1/01, I decided to post for free most of the contents of Other Hands (minus artwork, maps and some miscellany). You are welcome to read and print out these materials for your own personal use. You may NOT re-publish them or post them elsewhere on the Web without the express permission of their authors. Some back issues are still available from Titan Games.

I have also compiled a bibliography of other hard-copy publications related to MERP.

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Issue 1 (April 1993)

  • Editorial
  • ICE's open letter to Subscribers of "Other Hands"
  • Beyond the Third Age: Roleplaying in all ages of Arda
  • Corruption in Middle-earth
  • Rhovanion as the Northern Frontier of Gondor
  • Selections from a Panel Discussion on Role-playing in Tolkien's World
  • Bibliography of Middle-earth Role Playing
  • Review: River Running

    Issue 2 (July 1993)

  • Editorial
  • No Elves in the Fourth Age?!
  • Religion in Middle-earth: How does it work and what does it do?
  • PC Profile
  • Arda in a Distant Mirror: Some Problems of RPG Design in Tolkien's World

    Issue 3 (October 1993)

  • Editorial
  • Communications
  • Frontlines
  • Thoughts on the population of Gondor and Arnor
  • A response to "Thoughts on the population of Gondor and Arnor"
  • Developing a magic system for Middle-earth Role Playing
  • A journey in the dark
  • The forgotten race of the Drughu
  • A reply to ICE's open letter
  • Scandinavian influences on Orkish
  • Review: Northwestern Middle-earth Gazetteer
  • Bibliography of Middle-earth gaming: 1982-1993

    Issue 4 (January 1994)

  • Editorial
  • Communications
  • Frontlines
  • Middle-earth down under: an Antipodean campaign
  • Winter in Ladros: report on a First Age campaign
  • Enemies to protect us [adventure set in Dunland during War of the Ring; 8 pgs]
  • The Orthanc Fellowship: notes on a Fourth Age campaign
  • Weaving magical realism through nature
  • Exile and return in Tolkien's world
  • Metallurgy in the Third Age
  • More on population: a response to Jason Beresford

    Issue 5 (April 1994)

  • Editorial
  • Communications
  • Frontlines
  • Semper fidelis: some ideas for a Second Age campaign
  • Before the trial: an introduction to a Second Age campaign
  • The Journal of Eponian Cirdanea
  • Tarma Tar-Calion: a historical note on the history of Umbar
  • The queen of shadow: a Fourth Age campaign

    Issue 6/7 (October 1994)

  • Editorial
  • Communications
  • Frontlines
  • Innate magic in Middle-earth [alternate rules for MERP/Rolemaster]
  • The cult of Benish Armon [more juicy details for an evil cult appearing in The Kin-strife module]
  • Eyes of the blind night [dark sorcery and epic quests in aftermath of the Kin-strife]
  • Ūvatha the horseman [ever ran into a Nazgūl? Here's your chance! set in TA 3017]
  • Tarma Tar-Calion revisited [update on material for the new Umbar module]
  • The logistics of Minas Tirith
  • Umbarean trade with Eriador
  • Review: Arnor

    Issue 8 (January 1995)

  • Editorial
  • Communications
  • MOTiVE bibliography
  • Frontlines
  • The religious rituals of the Dúnedain of Gondor [the definitive statement on the subject]
  • The lost realm of Myr [Elven realm in northeastern Middle-earth, Fantasy Hero stats]
  • The Knife of Betrayal [murder mystery in Arthedain, TA 1450]
  • The legacy of Calimendil [quest for lost magic items in Rhudaur, TA 1643]
  • Review: Palantír Quest
  • Review: Moria: the Black Chasm

    Issue 9 (April 1995)

  • Editorial
  • Communications
  • Frontlines
  • A Global Directory of Middle-earth Gaming
  • The Religious Ritual and Practice of the Elves
  • The Healers of Gondor
  • A Count of the Khazâd
  • Family Business
  • The Miller's Tale [adventure set in Minas Tirith]
  • Reviews: The Kin-strife

    Issue 10/11 (October 1995)

  • Editorial
  • Communications
  • Frontlines
  • Digital Hands
  • The Streets of Minas Tirith
  • Some Brief Thoughts on Magic in Middle-earth
  • The Power of Spells in Middle-earth
  • The High Cost of Living [adventure set in Ithilien]
  • Herbs & Spells [GM reference tables for MERP]
  • All that Glitters
  • An Interview with Laurie Battle
  • Map of Forochel [designer's notes]
  • Preview of ICE's Middle-earth: The Wizards card game
  • Reviews: The Shire, Lake-town and Rolemaster Standard Rules

    Issue 12 (January 1996)

  • Editorial
  • Frontlines
  • Communications
  • Digital Hands
  • A Taste for Things to Come [Near Harad]
  • The Balchoth
  • The Bozishnarod: using the cultures of Far Harad in MERP
  • Aggressiveness and Morale rules for NPCs
  • Card Catalogue for Middle-earth: The Wizards [4 pgs]
  • Mapping Middle-earth: an interview with Pete Fenlon [president of ICE, MERP cartographer]
  • Arda Lore
  • Reviews of Dol Guldur, Angmar, and Mirkwood

    Issue 13 (April 1996)

  • Editorial
  • Communications
  • Digital Hands
  • Frontlines
  • A Taste of Things to Come [Southern Rhûn]
  • A Brief History of the Kingdom of Hithlum
  • An Interview with Jessica Ney-Grimm [MERP Series Editor & ICE Art Director]
  • Arda Lore
  • New Middle-earth: Exploring Beyond the Mountains
  • Reviews of Creatures of Middle-earth, 2nd Edition Middle-earth Role Playing and Southern Gondor: The People

    Issue 14 (July 1996)

  • Editorial
  • Communications
  • Frontlines
  • Digital Hands
  • A Taste of Things to Come [Umbar]
  • The Unique Magic of Middle-earth
  • The Ships of Belfalas Bay [alternate ship diagrams for use w/SG:TP; 3 pgs]
  • Arda Lore
  • Reviews of Middle-earth: The Wizards and Southern Gondor: The Land

    Issue 15/16 (January 1997)

  • Editorial
  • Communications
  • Digital Hands
  • The Making of Arnor: A Conversation with Wesley J. Frank [author of Arnor and The Shire]
  • Servants of Angmar
  • The Beggar-king of Tharbad
  • A Dog's Life [adventure set in Tharbad]
  • The Peoples of Eriador in the Second Age
  • The Indigenous Population of Eriador and Gondor
  • Reviews of Middle-earth: The Dragons and Middle-earth: The Wizards Unlimited Edition
  • Arnor Name Glossary

    Issue 17 (April 1997)

  • Editorial
  • Communications
  • Frontlines
  • Digital Hands
  • Let There Be Strife!
  • Review of Arnor: The People

    Issue 18 (July 1997)

  • Editorial
  • Communications
  • Frontlines
  • Digital Hands
  • The Knight-wives of Calenardhon
  • Playing the Ponies
  • Rastarin's Log
  • Reviews of Arnor: The Land, Arnor: The People and Middle-earth: Dark Minions

    Issue 19 (October 1997)

  • Editorial
  • Communications
  • Frontlines
  • Digital Hands
  • Middle-earth Role Playing & Hârnmaster
  • Gondorian Funeral Customs
  • Thoughts on the Genealogy of the Noldorin Kings
  • Rastarin's Log
  • Reviews of Lord of the Rings Adventure Game and The Northern Waste

    Issue 20 (January 1998)

  • Editorial
  • Digital Hands
  • From England unto Eglamar
  • The Mystery of the Blessed Child
  • Review of Hands of the Healer + errata

    Issue 21 (April 1998)

  • Editorial [3 pgs]
  • Frontlines [1 pg]
  • Communications [1 pg]
  • Adventuring Among Second Age Edainic Peoples [essay on where the Edain lived; 5 pgs]
  • Broken Covenant [TA 1640 adventure set on Arthedain-Angmar frontier; 11 pgs]
  • Rastarin's Log [episode three; 3 pgs]

    Issue 22 (July 1998)

  • Editorial [1 pg]
  • Communications [2 pgs]
  • The Balrogs [8 pgs]
  • Dwarven Magic [new Dwarven professions and spell lists; 3 pgs]
  • An Interview with Chris Tubb [designer of Mithril miniatures; 2 pgs]
  • The TA 1640 Campaign: Facts and Problems [4 pgs]
  • Rastarin's Log [episode four; 3 pgs]

    Issue 23 (October 1998)

  • Editorial [1 pg]
  • The Dwarven Engineer [4 pgs; new profession with spell lists]
  • A Character Development System for MERP [2 pgs; a class-less development system]
  • Dragons of the North [7 pgs; includes 2-pg map of the Grey Mountains and the Withered Heath]
  • The Knights of Eärendur [8 pgs; adventure set in TA 1409 Eriador]
  • Rastarin's Log [4 pgs]

    Issue 24 (January 1999)

  • Editorial [1 pg]
  • Oathbreakers and Dunlendings [background essay; 14 pgs]
  • Mithril Feature: The Infantry of Angmar [2 pgs]
  • Campaigning in the Northern Waste [GM advice; 2 pgs]
  • Rastarin's Log [episode six; 4 pgs]

    Issue 25 (April 1999)

  • Editorial [1 pg]
  • Dwarves of the Blue Mountains [background essay; 10 pgs]
  • Mithril Feature: Elf-lords of Lindon [2 pgs]
  • The Tale of Dwari and Kúra [Middle-earth fiction; 6 pgs]
  • Rastarin's Log [episode seven; 4 pgs]

    Issue 26 (July 1999)

  • Editorial [1 pg]
  • Dark Undead [essay on the powers and limitations of undead; 15 pgs]
  • Mithril Feature: Denizens of the Dead Marshes [2 pgs]
  • Rastarin's Log [episode eight; 4 pgs]

    Issue 27 (October 1999)

  • Editorial [1 pg]
  • Magic in the Third Age [a comprehensive overview of how magic works; 18 pgs]
  • Taurinafanto [epic ready-to-run adventure set in TA 1635 Rhovanion; 18 pgs]
  • Mithril Feature: Enchanters of Mirkwood [2 pgs]
  • Rastarin's Log [episode nine; 7 pgs]

    Issue 28 (January 2000)

  • Editorial [1 pg]
  • A History of the Nandor [3 pgs]
  • Tatyarin Avari: The Dark Elves [background and development stats; 5 pgs]
  • A Grammar and Dictionary of Silvan Elvish [1054 entries; 19 pgs]
  • Mithril Feature: Halls of the Elven-king [2 pgs]
  • The History of Mount Gundabad
  • Siriann's Song [poetry; 2 pgs]

    Issue 29/30 (July 2000)

  • Editorial [2 pgs]
  • Magic Feature: Words of Command [concrete game mechanics for WoCs; 3 pgs]
  • An Alternative Continental Map for MERP [notes on the design of the new Endor continent map; 2 pgs + map insert]
  • The Mûmakanril [cultural background, gazetteer, and development stats; 9 pgs + map insert]
  • Mithril Feature: The Mirror of Fire [2 pgs]
  • The Sisters of Ishtra [background and stats for a southron religious order; 4 pgs]
  • Supplement: The Realm of Bellakar [history for a completely new realm in southern Middle-earth; 56 pgs + map insert]

    Issue 31/32 (January 2001)

  • Editorial [2 pgs]
  • Magic Feature: Heartstrings [2 new Elven spell lists; 5 pgs]
  • The Lughoth [background, layouts and stats for an Angmarean Orc-tribe; 7 pgs]
  • Tol Fuin and the Shadowy Isles [gazetteer and map for the islands of lost Beleriand; 8 pgs]
  • Mithril Feature: Mayhem under the Mountain [Orcs of Mount Gundabad; 2 pgs]
  • Using D&D 3rd Edition for Middle-earth Campaigns [conversion rules; 6 pgs]
  • The Great Spiders [background and stats for giant spiders; 4 pgs]
  • Supplement: The Eyes of Oclanoc and Other Tales [complete, ready-to-run adventure module set in Lebennin; 16 pgs]

    Issue 33/34 (July 2001)

  • Editorial [2 pgs]
  • Magic Feature: Why did the Three Rings lose their powers? [2 pgs]
  • Gondorian Warcraft [3 pgs]
  • Eldacar must die! [ready-to-run adventure; 20 pgs]
  • Dúnadan Longevity [2 pgs]
  • Supplement: Armies of Eriador [essays on the military organization of Arthedain, Cardolan, Rhudaur and Angmar; 32 pgs]