To perhaps spark some discussion

[lexin]

Should you bamf into Middle Earth, what skills do you think you might bring? That is, if any?

(This post is brought to you by the person idly reading the GAFF forums, possibly even for the last time.)

Comments

[frenchpony]

Ballad singing. Not a useless skill in that kind of a world.

General quick-to-learn-ness. I did things like Girl Scouts, horseback lessons, and such when I was a kid, so if you teach me things like that as an adult, I can pick them up again quickly. I can row a boat, and I can fence, though Middle-earth doesn't seem to use that kind of weapon much. But if they don't expect me to be able to do anything at all with a blade, the surprise that I can do something might buy me a few seconds.

[lexin]

My one and only skill is sewing by hand. I'm pretty good at that, so I'd make a seamstress. Anything else, I'm afraid, I'm doomed. I'd even make a pretty rotten servant.

[anna_wing]

Can ride a bit, fight a bit, draw a bit, sew a bit. I can also give quite extensive advice on basic hygienic and nutritional practices and I know the theory of digging a pit latrine. Higher-order skills like negotiation would depend on acquiring knowledge of the language and writing.

In short, my skill set is rather pathetic in terms of a pre-industrial society.

[lexin]

I suppose once having acquired the language I might be a reasonable negotiator. Other than that, my one and only skill is hand sewing so I'd (I suppose) be able to earn a living as a seamstress. Just about.

[crowdaughter]

Well, as for me:

Very poor skills in riding, cooking, sewing, and cleaning. And I would stumble around half-blind, as soon as I lost my glasses.

I fear, my pre-industrial skills are not very cut out for survival in the wilds. I *might* be capable to settle in in a city or village environment, though. If somebody was willing to suffer a very clumsy maid. ;)

The wilderness? Orc-bait, all the way. Or food for the next troll, or bear.

(This post is brought to you by the person idly reading the GAFF forums, possibly even for the last time.)

Why for the last time? Are they about to close down?

[lexin]

Are they about to close down?

The Site Guru has announced that he's not prepared to carry them on and isn't paying the January bill. They'll therefore close down some time in January.

[crowdaughter]

Darn. That reminds me - I have to check on HASA, they were asking for donations to keep up the site. O_O

[lexin]

HASA?

[dreamflower02]

Hmm...needlework, I suppose. I can sew, embroider in several styles, knit, crochet, etc. I am a good calligrapher, and am familiar with the Tengwar--can write it well, even when I can't read what I wrote, LOL! I like to garden, something which hasn't changed too much over centuries (basics: seeds, dirt, sun, water, compost)

My cooking is good, but I don't know if they would translate into more primitive methods. Nor do I know if my housekeeping would measure up without modern appliances.

The truth is, my general lack of fitness and my ineptitude with most physical skills would probably doom me, unless some community of kind Elves or Hobbits took pity on me and took me in.

[ankaret]

I suspect I'd end up selling my braiding skills as 'genuine Elven hairstyles' to credulous Southrons.