Ares Games

AREWOTR001

War of the Ring (second edition)

Rated 5.0 out of 5
Based on 2 reviews
average rating 5.0 out of 5
Based on 2 reviews
  • 5 Stars
    2 Reviews
  • 4 Stars
    0 Reviews
  • 3 Stars
    0 Reviews
  • 2 Stars
    0 Reviews
  • 1 Star
    0 Reviews
100% of reviewers would recommend this product to a friend
2 Reviews
Reviewed by Tommy
Verified Reviewer
I recommend this product
Average play time
3+ Hours
Why I choose Thirsty Meeples
  • Good Prices
  • Supporting Local
  • Generous Loyalty Scheme
  • Quick Delivery
  • Secure Packaging
Rated 5 out of 5
Review posted

Wow

It took us a session zero just sitting together watching tutorials and essentially playing with stabilizers on. Well worth it though, I still don't think we've actually finished a game properly but it's so damn epic!

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Learning Curve
Rated 4 out of 5
Aesthetics
Rated 4 out of 5
Enjoyment
Rated 5 out of 5
Was this helpful?
Reviewed by Robert W., from United Kingdom
Verified Buyer
I recommend this product
Rated 5 out of 5
Review posted

This is huge history isn't it? - It's bigger than that, Chris; it's large!

You'll need to become seamless in the rules to bring this enormous game down to under 5 hours. It is possible to win in much less than that, but if both sides are swinging for the fences this is a long game. It's very finely balanced and the card deck as a randomiser allows for many replays. Make sure that someone you know is keen to play it with you before you buy.

Here's your checklist before purchasing: Very big games, with complex rules and rich themes; Asymmetric gameplay and confrontational interactions; Tolkein lore and worldbuilding... - If you like those things, you'll love this. Otherwise have a look at the online Playthroughs to make sure.

This game is so popular it has frequently been out of print over the past decade. Grab it whilst you can, else you could be waiting six months for the next run.

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OVERVIEW

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 defence 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 that could possibly have happened) that 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. 

2-4 PLAYERS | 180 MINS | AGES 13+

 

REVIEWS

average rating 5.0 out of 5
Based on 2 reviews
  • 5 Stars
    2 Reviews
  • 4 Stars
    0 Reviews
  • 3 Stars
    0 Reviews
  • 2 Stars
    0 Reviews
  • 1 Star
    0 Reviews
100% of reviewers would recommend this product to a friend
2 Reviews
Reviewed by Tommy
Verified Reviewer
I recommend this product
Average play time
3+ Hours
Why I choose Thirsty Meeples
  • Good Prices
  • Supporting Local
  • Generous Loyalty Scheme
  • Quick Delivery
  • Secure Packaging
Rated 5 out of 5
Review posted

Wow

It took us a session zero just sitting together watching tutorials and essentially playing with stabilizers on. Well worth it though, I still don't think we've actually finished a game properly but it's so damn epic!

Loading...
Learning Curve
Rated 4 out of 5
Aesthetics
Rated 4 out of 5
Enjoyment
Rated 5 out of 5
Was this helpful?
Reviewed by Robert W., from United Kingdom
Verified Buyer
I recommend this product
Rated 5 out of 5
Review posted

This is huge history isn't it? - It's bigger than that, Chris; it's large!

You'll need to become seamless in the rules to bring this enormous game down to under 5 hours. It is possible to win in much less than that, but if both sides are swinging for the fences this is a long game. It's very finely balanced and the card deck as a randomiser allows for many replays. Make sure that someone you know is keen to play it with you before you buy.

Here's your checklist before purchasing: Very big games, with complex rules and rich themes; Asymmetric gameplay and confrontational interactions; Tolkein lore and worldbuilding... - If you like those things, you'll love this. Otherwise have a look at the online Playthroughs to make sure.

This game is so popular it has frequently been out of print over the past decade. Grab it whilst you can, else you could be waiting six months for the next run.

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Shipping

All online orders are picked from our separate warehouse. We always ensure that your games are well packed before leaving. Wherever possible we'll re-use a cardboard box that we received games in from one of our suppliers. We figure it's better that way for our planet. But we do also use new boxes and wraps. If you have a strong preference either way please let us know in your Order Comments.
 

UK Orders

We aim for orders placed before 1:30pm Monday to Friday to be dispatched on the same working day. If this is not possible, your order will be dispatched on the next working day. Orders placed outside our Monday to Friday office hours will be dispatched on the next working day.

Delivery is free on all orders of £65 or more. Orders with a value of less than £65 will incur a delivery charge as follows:

£4.50 - Royal Mail Tracked 48 (2-3 business days delivery time)

£6.00 - Royal Mail Tracked 24 (1-2 business days delivery time)

£5.00 - DHL (mainland UK only)

International Delivery

If you are from further afield please contact us to discuss.

 
Collect in Store
At check-out you will to have the option to collect your order from our cafés in either Oxford or Bath and avoid the shipping charge. We will notify you by email as soon as your order is ready to collect. Allow up to 3 days for Oxford collection orders and 7 days for Bath collection orders. Orders will be held for a maximum of 21 days before being returned to our warehouse.
 
 
Additional Information
All delivery costs are presented at the 'My Basket' screen once the shipping destination is chosen, before any money is taken.
 
Please note working day delivery does not include Sunday, Bank Holidays, Public Holidays and substitute days (see the GOV UK website for clarification). 
 
If you request that the package is left in a safe place, this will only be done at the discretion of the delivery driver. 
 
Shipping times are not guaranteed. From time to time unforeseen problems that are outside of our control can lead to postal delays. We do not accept responsibility for this these and will not refund shipping fees in these circumstance. If it is imperative that your order must reach reach you the next working day please contact us so that we can quote for a guaranteed next day postal service.

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