Best LOTR board game?

[leroyneiman]

If you could only have one table-top middle earth game, what would it be?

[HELMHAMMERHAND]

I recently ordered the Official LORD OF THE RINGS Monopoly game. So, I looking forward to playing it.
I'll let you know when it arrives.

[akkratte]

I still have this one that I haven't played yet. Has anyone?

http://www.scifigenre.com/itemDetail.aspx?nItemID=91472

[darclegion2]

A game using the Games Workshop rules for LOTR. They have all the scenerios and figures. But I dont care for the figures, I use the old Harlequin LOTR range that is out of production. But he Games Workshop rules for epic battles are so easy to use, its funny.
I am currently playing the Battle of Pelennor Fields with my massive Minas Tirith.
tom

http://tidesofwargaming.blogspot.com/

[Gungnir]

I made my own LOTR board game by superimposing a hex grid on a map of Middle-Earth, using the game pieces from LotR Risk and a set of rules based loosely around Waddington's 'Campaign' (which is a brilliant game). My kids loved it and played it for three days straight.

[Breeland CoffeeHouse]

I still have this one that I haven't played yet. Has anyone?

http://www.scifigenre.com/itemDetail.aspx?nItemID=91472

It's alright. It is quite atmospheric. Premise is quite good - everyone has to cooperate otherwise Sauron gets the ring. Illustrations by John Howe so they're very good. Only thing is we never even got close to completing it - virtually impossible not to be caught by Sauron on the board by the time you have reached halfway point across middle earth. The odds are stacked against the players too much. But at least it's close to the feeling in the book!
maybe we should have another crack at it.

[Aravar]

Campaign's a real blast form the past. I've still got my copy at home.

SPI tried to do a hex and ocunter game called War of the Ring about 1980. It's wasn't bad but it was trying too hard to be a hex and counter wargame.

The recent Fantasy Flight War of the Ring does what the SPI game tried to do but did it much better. It uses areas rather than hexes and has lots and lots of plastic figures. It's certainly my favourite. The supplementary for Helms Deep/ Minas Tirith isn't as good.

The Knizia LOTR is good and looks gorgeous. It is, however, very tough to beat.

[Gungnir]

Campaign's a real blast form the past. I've still got my copy at home.

I've also got (the world's most battered) copy of Campaign, up in the loft. What a great game.

[Gorthaur the Cruel]

If you could only have one table-top middle earth game, what would it be?

I still have this somewhere:



I used to play it quite a lot in my teens but haven't played it for years. It was very geeky - not something you could include non-fans in. I also remember it went on for hours. It was pretty good, though. My version was released before the Ralph Bakshi film and had nothing to do with it but I've seen pictures of a Bakshi-influenced version and boardgamegeek refers to it. I wouldn't mind getting the Bakshi version but I don't think I know anyone who could be arsed playing it with me now. :(

[Aravar]

I had the version with the Bakshi box graphics. The internal art was the same as the copy you have: I remember the pictures on the cards as being the ones on the box. IIRC the rulebook had the "fluffy" balrog on it.

[Gorthaur the Cruel]

I had the version with the Bakshi box graphics. The internal art was the same as the copy you have: I remember the pictures on the cards as being the ones on the box. IIRC the rulebook had the "fluffy" balrog on it.

So, was it only the box that was different on the Bakshi version? Pah.

I remember having a plastic thing with little drawers that I got from a DIY store (intended for keeping all your screws in) for all those hundreds and hundreds of counters representing army forces.

I wish I had that much time on my hands now.