Tolkien Musing - Lord of the Rings Board Game

This game was released just before the Peter Jackson movies.

It is based on the books and not the movies.

It was designed by the legendary board game designer Reiner Knizia.

It is recognised as not only a very good game, but was also ground breaking in its cooperative gameplay.

The artwork for the game was done by the renowned Tolkien artist John Howe, who then became a consultant for the Jackson movies.

Expanded rules by Chris Lawson https://web.archive.org/web/20070203021441/http://freespace.virgin.net/chris.lawson/rk/lotr/faq.htm

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/823/lord-rings

http://www.freewebs.com/tolkienboardgamecollecting/lotrhasbrokosmos.htm

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_of_the_Rings_(board_game)

Reviews

https://boardgamemonkeys.wordpress.com/review-lord-of-the-rings/

http://islaythedragon.com/featured/one-game-to-rule-them-all-a-review-of-the-lord-of-the-rings/

https://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/10/10221.phtml

https://entropymag.org/12-days-of-gaming-the-lord-of-the-rings/

Video review:

https://youtu.be/l9Jq8g3b5Ck

Editions

The following is a list of the different English language versions (UK and USA).

There are a lot more foreign language versions

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/823/lord-rings/versions

UK First Edition 2000

Published by Hasbro

US First Edition 2000

Published by Hasbro/Wizard of the Coast

           

UK Second Edition 2001

Published by Hasbro

US Second Edition 2001

Published by Fantasy Flight Games

         

Limited Edition 2001

There were 250 US copies, 250 UK copies and 250 German copies produced.

It featured a box signed by the designer Reiner Knizia and the artist John Howe, a signed Lithograph by the artist John Howe and a 22k gold ring playing piece.

Silver Line Edition 2010

Published by Fantasy Flight Games

          

Small Box Edition 2012

Published by Fantasy Flight Games

   
smaller box (see size difference)

     

Anniversary Edition 2020

          

Expansions

Friends and Foes

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/2449/lord-rings-friends-foes

Review: https://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/11/11935.phtml

Sauron

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/3819/lord-rings-sauron

Review: https://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/11/11955.phtml

Battlefields

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/22884/lord-rings-battlefields

Review: https://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/12/12981.phtml

Promos

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/72661/lord-rings-black-gate

Promo for the expansions

4 card pack with exclusive "Black Gate" card

Magazines

Movies 106

   

Designer Reiner Knizia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reiner_Knizia

Reiner is a German games designer who has designed 100s of games.

He has designed 2 other Tolkien board games:

Lord of the Rings (Children's Game)

http://www.freewebs.com/tolkienboardgamecollecting/lotrgameeaglegames.htm

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6352/lord-rings

Confrontation

http://www.freewebs.com/tolkienboardgamecollecting/theconfrontationkosmos.htm

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3201/lord-rings-confrontation

Also illustrated by John Howe

Deluxe edition

Artist John Howe

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Howe_(illustrator)

http://www.john-howe.com/blog/

John Howe is a renowned Tolkien artists who has produced numerous paintings, illustrated many Tolkien publications and was an advisor on the Peter Jackson movies.

Examples of Tolkien books he illustrated: