A new Lord of the Rings board game, The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship, has officially launched on Amazon. While not the first game to delve into J.R.R. Tolkien`s iconic fantasy world, this particular title stands out by leveraging the mechanics of Pandemic, one of the most acclaimed modern cooperative strategy games. Originally released in 2008, Pandemic`s creator, Matt Leacock, dedicated three years to meticulously adapting its system for the Middle-earth universe. Fate of the Fellowship is currently available for purchase for $80.
True to its name, Fate of the Fellowship directly follows the narrative of Tolkien`s beloved novel. Game sessions typically range from 60 to 150 minutes. For those concerned about gathering a group for extended play, a key highlight emphasized by designer Matt Leacock (and explicitly noted on the game box) is its full solo playability.
Players take on the crucial role of safeguarding Frodo Baggins as he journeys toward Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. Each participant selects two characters from a roster of 13 iconic figures. The journey is fraught with peril, demanding players to confront Shadow Troops and Nazgul miniatures, all while evading the ever-present, watchful Eye of Sauron. Mirroring the books and films, Sauron’s Eye looms atop an 11-inch tall, constructible Barad-dûr tower, which ingeniously doubles as a themed dice roller.
Designed for high replay value, Fate of the Fellowship introduces fresh twists to the established Pandemic System. It features 24 primary objectives and 14 unique event cards, complemented by distinct abilities for each playable character. The box contains an extensive array of components, including:
- 1 Game Board
- 1 Barad-dûr Dice Tower
- 13 Character Figures
- 9 Nazgul Miniatures
- 48 Shadow Troops
- 35 Friendly Troops
- 48 Region Cards
- 14 Event Cards
- 12 Skies Darken Cards
- 24 Objective Cards
- 10 Reference Cards
- 13 Character Cards
- 50 Shadow Cards
- 3 Battle Dice
- 7 Search Dice
- 6 Haven Tokens
- 6 Stronghold Tokens
- 1 Eye of Sauron Token
- 1 Solo Token
- 1 Hope Marker
- 36 Symbol Tokens
- 1 Threat Rate Marker
Interestingly, Matt Leacock himself revealed that his initial inspiration for Pandemic stemmed from playing Reiner Knizia`s The Lord of the Rings board game, released in 2000.
Z-Man Games has a history of successful collaborations, adapting the Pandemic System for major franchises like World of Warcraft and Star Wars, alongside a popular variant inspired by H.P. Lovecraft`s Cthulhu Mythos. Fate of the Fellowship carries a higher price tag than these counterparts, reflecting its more intricate and expansive design. Other Pandemic System titles often align more closely with the $50 price point and box size of the original Pandemic base game.
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Explore More Lord of the Rings Board & Card Games
For enthusiasts eager to expand their Middle-earth gaming collection, a wealth of board and card games awaits. Among the most prominent titles are the epic The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game and the miniature-driven strategy game Journeys in Middle-earth. Both core sets are currently available at discounted prices on Amazon: The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game Revised Core Set is priced at $58.79 ($75), and The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth Core Set is $100 ($120). These sets provide everything necessary to begin your adventures. For those looking to deepen their experience with additional rules and quests, various official expansions are also listed below.
For quicker play sessions, consider The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth or The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Book Game. And for a traditional twist, Monopoly: Lord of the Rings Edition offers a familiar game in a beloved setting.
- The Fellowship of the Ring Trick-Taking Game — $28
- Lord of the Rings: Adventure Book Game — $40 (
$45) - Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth — $40
- Lord of the Rings: The Card Game Revised Core Set — $54.87 (
$75)- The Fellowship of the Ring Expansion — $53 (
$75) - The Two Towers Expansion — $59.71 (
$75) - The Return of the King Saga Expansion — $72 (
$75) - Angmar Awakened Hero Expansion — $48
- The Dream-chaser Hero Expansion — $38.39 (
$48) - Ered Mithrin Hero Expansion — $48
- The Fellowship of the Ring Expansion — $53 (
- Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth Core Set — $100 (
$120)- Spreading War Expansion — $80
- Shadowed Paths Expansion — $90 (
$100) - Dwellers in Darkness Figure Pack — $19
- Scourges of the Waste Figure Pack — $15 (
$19)
- War of the Ring 2nd Edition — $95
- The One Ring: Core Rulebook — $46.39 (
$50) - Monopoly: Lord of the Rings Edition — $45
Lord of the Rings – Magic: The Gathering TCG
Fans of collectible card games can explore the Magic: The Gathering sets based on The Lord of the Rings. This popular TCG has journeyed to Middle-earth multiple times recently. While Lord of the Rings MTG products often sell out quickly or command premium prices on secondary markets, you might be in luck as Amazon recently restocked several Commander Decks and Scene Boxes.
- Commander Deck 1 – Riders of Rohan — $50
- Commander Deck 2 – Food and Fellowship — $51
- Commander Deck 3 – Elven Council — $47
- Commander Deck 4 – The Hosts of Mordor — $87 | Reseller
- Scene Box – Gandalf in Pelennor Fields — $39
- Scene Box – Flight of the Witch-King — $41
- Scene Box – Aragorn at Helm`s Deep — $42
- Scene Box – The Might of Galadriel — $45
- Tales of Middle-earth – Scene Box 4-Pack — $145
- Tales of Middle-earth – Set Booster Pack — $12
- Tales of Middle-earth Jumpstart Booster 2-Pack — $25
Lord of the Rings Films & Books
If you don`t yet own the 4K editions of Peter Jackson`s acclaimed film trilogy, consider the new Limited Edition Steelbooks. The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers Steelbook Editions are currently available for $28 each, with The Return of the King available for preorder at $30, ahead of its October 14 release.
For those wishing to grace their bookshelves with a magnificent edition of The Lord of the Rings novel, Amazon offers a compelling deal on The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set. This three-volume hardcover collection, typically retailing for $325, can currently be acquired for just $135.37. Further details on this Deluxe Illustrated Box Set, along with other collectible Tolkien books, can be found.