War of The Ring: Anniversary Version [Production Set #105] (Retail Edition) Ares Games

Board Game Geek Rating: 7.97
Board Game Geek Avg Player Rating: 8.39
Players: 2 to 4
Published: 2016
Content Notes: Limited Anniversary Edition of War of the Ring. Each copy is individually numbered from a print run of 2000.  The print run is limited to 2000 copies. All copies include a numbered certificate of authenticity. This listing is for number 105 of the 2000 produced.

Contents Include:
  🔥 205 painted figures
  🔥 two gameboards, approx. 60 x 84 cm each
  🔥 hardcover edition of the “War of the Ring Second Edition” Rulebook
  🔥 hardcover edition of the “War of the Ring Companion” Strategy Guide
  🔥 Reference and Gameplay Summary sheets
  🔥 16 Special Dice
  🔥 10 Combat Dice
  🔥 110 Playing Cards
  🔥 75 Counters and Tokens
  🔥 Numbered Certificate of Authenticity

Sixty years ago – with the publication of “The Return of the King” – the trilogy that established Middle-earth in the minds and hearts of millions of readers was completed. “The Lord of the Rings” – J.R.R. Tolkien’s finest literary achievement – was finally a reality. To celebrate this anniversary, and the 5th Anniversary of the publication of War of the Ring Second Edition, Ares Games was proud to announce the Anniversary Release of War of the Ring Second Edition.

War of the Ring Second Edition – designed by Roberto Di Meglio, Marco Maggi and Francesco Nepitello – is widely recognized as the best board game based upon the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. This edition of the game features a set of 205 figures, hand painted in a high quality style; a hot-foil stamped game board, about 20% larger than the normal board included in Second Edition; a unique hardcover strategy guide, the “War of the Ring Companion”, written by Kristofer Bengtsson and featuring beautiful artwork by John Howe. The game board, cards and rules will be updated to reflect all the changes introduced by the Second Edition and to incorporate the latest rulings and frequently asked questions.

The Anniversary Release of War of the Ring Second Edition was released in the Fall of 2016. Due to the limited (2000 copies) print run, it was sold by preorder only.

In War of the Ring, one player takes control of the Free Peoples (FP), the other player controls Shadow Armies (SA). Initially, the Free People Nations are reluctant to take arms against Sauron, so they must be attacked by Sauron or persuaded by Gandalf or other Companions, before they start to fight properly: this is represented by the Political Track, which shows if a Nation is ready to fight in the War of the Ring or not.

The game can be won by a military victory, if Sauron conquers a certain number of Free People cities and strongholds or vice versa. But the true hope of the Free Peoples lies with the quest of the Ringbearer: while the armies clash across Middle Earth, the Fellowship of the Ring is trying to get secretly to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. Sauron is not aware of the real intention of his enemies but is looking across Middle Earth for the precious Ring, so that the Fellowship is going to face numerous dangers, represented by the rules of The Hunt for the Ring. But the Companions can spur the Free Peoples to the fight against Sauron, so the Free People player must balance the need to protect the Ringbearer from harm, against the attempt to raise a proper defense against the armies of the Shadow, so that they do not overrun Middle Earth before the Ringbearer completes his quest.

Each game turn revolves around the roll of Action Dice: each die corresponds to an action that a player can do during a turn. Depending on the face rolled on each die, different actions are possible (moving armies, characters, recruiting troops, advancing a Political Track).

Action dice can also be used to draw or play Event Cards. Event Cards are played to represent specific events from the story (or events which could possibly have happened) which cannot be portrayed through normal game-play. Each Event Card can also create an unexpected turn in the game, allowing special actions or altering the course of a battle. 

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