Greetings all!
I am new to this community, so if I am posting inappropriately or asking something stupid--please pardon me.
I have been trying to write this post for a few days now and I still am not clear exactly what I am looking for--so let me prattle for a bit.
When I was in middle and high school, I had a big bunch of friends who used to role play. We played D&D and Rolemaster. I was particularly fond of the Middle Earth roleplaying system that we adapted.
Every weekend, for many years, a horde of us would descend upon somebody's basement and play for hours. And for those many hours, I felt as if I was in Middle Earth. Further, for a short while, my stupid teenage cares and worries fell from my soul.
Okay...so now middle age is rapidly overtaking me and I still yearn to be in Middle Earth. All of my old gang has gone to the four winds and there is no hope of reuniting them.
I suppose what I am looking for is getting that feeling back again. I have looked into those on-line games where you have a character and you fight various creatures. But that doesn't do it for me. I want to experience the political intrigues and personalities that Master Tolkien created for our benefit. I want to feel the winds off the Misty Mountains and touch the grass of Rohan--even the sweaty smell of townsfolk as they pack into the Pony to hear the latest news.
Do any of you have ways of doing this?
I have read many of your wonderful stories--and I wouldn't mind writing one myself, but I would rather turn myself over to some Game Master who would allow me to explore what my will desires.
Do any of you have any suggestions or thoughs?