SPI's War of the Ring boardgame is one of my favourite items in my Tolkien collection. I played it a lot when I was younger and it played a huge part in me starting my collection. It was one of the first non-book items I discovered and started me searching out for other stuff.
It is a hex based game with both a war games element and a character element.
The game does come into some criticism, mainly from non-Tolkien board games, in that the objectives of destroying the ring makes the game quite predictable. I think that this is a natural issue with trying to emulate the book with the objective being already known. However, with a few adaptations to the rules, particularly hidden movement, the game is a lot more playable.
One of the things that I like most about the game is that it is very faithful to the book, making it very enjoyable for Tolkien fans. All the elements are there, even Tom Bombadil.
The tolkienboardgames site is the definitive guide to Tolkien board games.
The other great resource for board games in general is boardgamesgeek, they have a lot of details about these games and I have given the specific link to each version below.
The following sites have reviews:
This site has a lot of links to other sites for the game:
Here is a video of the contents.
War of the Ring
Map board
Standard UK Version
No logo bottom left
Standard US Version
Black logo bottom left
Bakshi Version
This version is exactly the same as the Standard but with a box design from the Bakshi animated movie.
Note: There may be versions of this with hardboard maps.
Note: There may be Italian and Japanesse versions of this.
There is an alternative version of this produced by Simpubs (the UK arm of SPI)
Designer Version
Again the Designer, or deluxe, version is exactly the same as the Standard but with a different box and the playing board is hard cardboard, not just paper.
Tray Version
This is the same as the Standard version but in a thin flat packaging
Polish Version
This is an unofficial version made by Encore and, although the game is the same the aesthetics are significantly different, the box has a very different design, the board is different as are the cards.
Games of Middle Earth
The Games of Middle Earth contains 3 individual games, War of the Ring (the main game, see above), Gondor (a mini game, see below) and Sauron (another mini game, see below).
Standard UK Version
Black “The Ring Trilogy” title, white “War of the Ring” title, black bottom logo.
Alternative box
White “The Ring Trilogy” title, orange “War of the Ring” title, large details area at bottom.
Standard US Version
Red “The Ring Trilogy” title, white “War of the Ring” title, red bottom logo.
Tray Version
Gondor
This game is also included in the Games of Middle Earth set, but was also released on its own.
This game is also included in the Games of Middle Earth set, but was also released on its own.
Plastic bag version (very rare)
Map board
Pieces
Polish Version by Encore
Bagged
2nd version
Sauron
This game is also included in the Games of Middle Earth set, but was also released on its own.
This game is also included in the Games of Middle Earth set, but was also released on its own.
Plastic bag version (this is very rare, I've only ever seen the reference and image of this on boardgamesgeek)
Map board
Pieces
Rules and Documents
Rule book cover
Charts and tables
Cards
Playing pieces
Magazine Articles
This site has a list of magazines which have articles about the games, including some very good rule variations
* Moves #37
Extended three player rules
* Moves #39
Character variant
Moves #40
Variant and Designer rule change (small)
* Moves #44
Play By Mail variant
Campaign 81 (not listed on the grognard site)
Thumbnail review
(also contains Battle of Five Armies thumbnail review)
* Campaign #90
Rule additions
* Fire & Movement #7
Journey to Mount Doom: Samwise Gamgee (Replay)
Designer's Notes: War of the Ring: Richard Berg(Design Notes)
Space Gamer #18
The Great Northern War: War of the Ring for 2 to 5 Players: Glenn Rahman (Variant)
Note: the following letter regarding this article was published in Space Gamer #19
* Phoenix #30
From Wilderland to Western Shore: War of the Ring(SPI): Geoff Geddes (Variant)
Dragon #20 (not listed on the grognard site)
Hidden movement variant
Ann Arbor Wargamer #20
War of the Ring Clarifications: Jonathan Warshay(Errata)
Advertising
Phoenix Magazine Issue 16 - Nov/Dec 1978
also in Strategy & Tactics Magazines (issues unknown)
Ares Magazine No 12 - January 1982
Adventure Gaming - 1981
Breakout Issue 10 - 1983
Online versions
There are online versions of these games which run within the Gamebox system
Additional Variations
Limey Yank Games
The following are variations produced by Limey Yank Games, which expand on the Sauron/Gondor rules.
Note: Limey Yank Games also produce replacements maps and counters for the original games.
Helms Deep
Fords of Isen
Field of Celebrant
Fake Versions
The following low quality versions have also been seen.
Sauron
Gondor
Artwork
The cover artwork for all the versions is also very good and memorable, all of it, apart from the Bakshi movie themed ones and the Polish ones, was done by one of the earliest Tolkien artists Tim Kirk.
Interestingly he also did the artwork for another, rarer, Tolkien game War of the Ring
Kirk also did the art for the 1975 Tolkien calendar (one of the first).
One of his paintings also featured on the cover of the rarer 2013 Beyond Bree Calendar.
Some of his Tolkien artwork was published in the Tolkien Treasury book.
Map Designer
The map designer for the game was Redmond A Simonsen.
This site has some details about him and his gaming map designs:
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