Rules & Gameplay

Since rules are the cornerstone of any RPG, I’m delighted to report that the rulebook here is very friendly. It’s almost equal parts 5e content and fresh ideas, creating a balanced learning experience.

Fans of The One Ring counterpart who want to dabble in 5e should feel pretty comfortable. Likewise, anyone familiar with 5e can breeze straight through to the ideas that fold LOTR’s world into RPG gaming.

My wife and I are both fans of LOTR and D&D, so I’m happy that the original additions feel justified and on point!

Its thematic Journey system puts travel at the forefront, and smartly translates the costs and scale of surviving Tolkien’s world. It also provides a clear, organized path for the game without sacrificing the necessary room for shared storytelling.

Assigning unique roles and targeting them for key events provides constant inspiration. It makes the most of gameplay that can otherwise end up dull, and helps create a tactile environment. I do wish Wisdom weren’t the only crucial check for Journeys, so bear that in mind for original heroes.

While Journeys made the biggest impression on me, I also think Shadow is a clever tool here. Shadow gives players a tangible sense of the weight of their adventure, reflects the Enemy’s overbearing presence, and allows creative narrative twists.

Movie fans will instantly recall classic outbursts caused by corruption, and probably enjoy the chance to really launch their story into new directions!

Councils are a straightforward process that encourage dialogue, relationships, and twists. They should also invite players to pay closer attention, and I appreciate the focus on conversational Skills.

The abstract combat is serviceable for theater of the mind. It streamlines the initiative process, gives players some advantages, and keeps the action on pace.

The rules overall let players hit the table sooner than later! Though I do wish it went into further detail in certain places. Frankly, I’m still a little lost on adding/reducing days of travel. I want that core book.

The Adventure – Over Hill and Under Hill (Spoiler-Free)

This is a dense little adventure, with a brief path and lots of content. It’s a great example of how to employ the rules included in the set. In fact, it even cleared up some things that the rulebook couldn’t, for me!

It also shows Loremasters how to expand their approach. For example, the Council in this adventure doesn’t use the NPCs one might expect. There are many types of leaders to negotiate with.

The adventure is steeped in lore, and gives players the ideal patron to include a plausible, fun cameo! Who doesn’t want a familiar face to show up here and there?

The story escalates well, with lots of room for dialogue at first, and delving further into tension and combat once everyone is likely comfortable with their characters.

But I will admit, I didn’t fully enjoy the final showdown with the big bad. I felt the game ended up on rails a bit. While the preceding random encounters are superb, I personally think the destination is both too stagnant and convoluted.

That aside, this adventure is a strong example of event planning and moderation. Over Hill and Under Hill is brimming with juicy lore, showing new Loremasters how to really put meat back on the menu!

The Components

This may seem odd for a digital review, but if you’re planning to invest on a budget, it’s worth considering what you do get digitally.

The artwork is still excellent, contributing to the mood with a fun patron letter and a gorgeous Journey log. I do wish the overworld map had hexes on it for easier tracing, or at least one prepped sheet for the included adventure.

The combat diagram and stand-ups are essential! There are a lot of unique enemies and heroes to track. Very helpful to keep combat engaging.

The pre-generated heroes are okay, with interesting history and fun abilities that are easy to use. There are also detailed level upgrades that feel satisfying to gain! But, experienced 5e players may prefer creating more balanced heroes from the onset.

Final Thoughts

This starter set gives new players a streamlined and thoughtful introduction to 5e. The set wisely uses 5e elements as a foundation for neat RPG tools that understand and celebrate many classic Lord of the Rings themes! There is plenty here to taste-test the genre overall and a unique engine without feeling too overwhelmed.

Score: 9/10