@crsluggo Thanks for picture.
It is a pity these units are not more ‘same scale’. Still these vehicles seem to be OK when compared to size of Axis and Allies tank.
LOTR Risk
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LOTR RISK is by far my favorite Risk incarnation.  I would certainly disagree that it is unbalanced, because it is simply Risk, or at least that is the way we always play it. My brothers and cousins and I never play Free Peoples vs. Evil, nor do we play with the Fellowship (destroying the Ring).
We just play straight up Risk… deal the territory cards, place your starting pieces and go at it like normal. In this way it is much more dynamic than classic Risk is. We do play with the Strongholds and the Ring Cards (which are really a lot of fun to play with).
The mountains, rivers, bridges, strongholds, sites of power and ring cards add so much variety to an otherwise completely one-dimensional game. Also, maybe this is my perception, but the map layout is much more fun than regular Risk. The connections among territories are much greater, creating a more compact but mobile defensive line. Additionally, Classic Risk tends to foster inaction, treaties and alliances and bad starting position if you are the last to place… while alliances and treaties can still occur in LOTR Risk, these problems are generally precluded. The board is much more open being able to only play with 4 teams and each person can have a legitimate shot at winning.
Overall, it is just much more dynamic than Classic Risk. Every game is not the same (as it usually is with Classic Risk). You have many more options.
(I am referencing the “Trilogy Edition” which includes Mordor, Gondor and Harad… which were left out of the first version of LOTR Risk that came out before it… FYI)
I can’t disagree with anything you said. I feel the same about the game. Mountain passes, coastlines, and rivers create great great defensive line locations.
I repalced my game issued leader, with a small dinosaur and had it represent
Smaug, it added a lot trash talking and humor to the game. -
After a few games it seemed that everything degenerated into a “amass all pieces into one territory and capture as much territory as possible, forcing the other player to do the same on their turn, ad nauseum”.
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@ABWorsham:
@skinny1:
I played it once when it first came out. The person that brought it over was dating my sister and since she has moved on i have not seen the game since. I do remember that it was on okay game.
On a side note, my family plays Catan a lot and my wife especially really likes it. I have the 3 big box expansions for it and we play it with Seafarers quite a bit and have added in a few things from Traders and Barbarians. I can’t wait to try Cities and Knights as well as the last three scenarios in Traders adn Barbarisans.
We just play regular Catan. How is the game changed with the expansions?
It really depends on which expansion is added. Seafarers adds ships and a pirate ship that acts like the robber in the base game. Cities and Knights changes the game a little by adding walls and 3 metropolises to the game so people are racing to get them. Cities are upgraded by a flip chart and once a certain level is reached you get special priviledges. Knights can be used to chase away the robber or block other players roads. It is quite fun. The Traders and Barbarins expansion adds new scenarios and campaign games. They can be combined or played seperately depending on how long of a game you want. They are all good if you like Catan but want to add a little variety to the base game.
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The person that brought it over was dating my sister and since she has moved on
Clearly, had he brought over a REAL GAME, like Axis and Allies, she wouldn’t have felt the need to move forward with her life.
LOTR Risk, pfftp.
He did play some A&A games but it was more than which games were or were not played.
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Played this weekend, and go figure, 3rd turn, the baddies find the ring…damn lucky ass 12 roll…and the good guys were in great position…just the only spot that we didn’t have, was the game ender.
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I don’t remember that in any version I ever played?
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Played this weekend, and go figure, 3rd turn, the baddies find the ring…damn lucky ass 12 roll…and the good guys were in great position…just the only spot that we didn’t have, was the game ender.
Then DON’T PLAY WITH THE FRICKIN’ RING!
Play like classic Risk but use the strongholds and/or cards. Much less predictable than playing with the Fellowship/Ring and I think a lot more fun than classic Risk.
I don’t understand why everyone thinks they have to play with the Fellowship… I always thought that was lame because it was like you weren’t playing Risk but rather hide and seek or something. And it can get over with so quickly.
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We’d have to remove all the ring specific cards. I’m assuming you completely randomize the territories at that point and everybody is own their own?
Already was mad about the defeat in Global (finished in turn 11 I think), so losing this way (the baddies finding the ring) after having a good allied start was just mind blowing to me…I was very frustrated by the time we started our 2nd game of LOTR Risk.
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We’d have to remove all the ring specific cards. I’m assuming you completely randomize the territories at that point and everybody is own their own?
Already was mad about the defeat in Global (finished in turn 11 I think), so losing this way (the baddies finding the ring) after having a good allied start was just mind blowing to me…I was very frustrated by the time we started our 2nd game of LOTR Risk.
I definitely sympathize with the losing streak… better luck next time. But then again, that is where we kick ourselves while we are down: it should be a better strategy next time. Nothing like a little self-resentment for motivation.
But yes, I take out all ring (Fellowship) specific Ring Cards and just use the rest (special moves, happenings, reinforcements, leaders, sites of power, etc…). We usually play that you can get one a turn as long as you conquer at least one territory with your leader. Although you could make it however many you want.
Yes, territory cards are randomized at the start and dealt to all players at the beginning (removing the wilds of course). You make placements based on any convention you like; usually we roll to see who places their armies first and cycle clockwise. The person who places last then gets to take their turn first and the person who placed first takes their turn last. To be somewhat fair.
There is also a way to play with territory card reinforcements, which you may be familiar with. Sometimes we use it and sometimes we don’t. I tend to think that doing so upsets some balance in the game, but it can be interesting.
Other than Strongholds existing and being bound by rivers and mountains, the game is played mechanically the same as classic Risk.
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I had a friend who put the ring on during the game play, we laughed and made comments about the ring over powering him. He then could not get the ring off his hand. It had to be cut off his hand.
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What irony.
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@ABWorsham:
I had a friend who put the ring on during the game play, we laughed and made comments about the ring over powering him. He then could not get the ring off his hand. It had to be cut off his hand.
That’s the FUNNIEST thing I’ve heard in awhile LOLOLOL!
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What irony.
More like terrible orc/demon union worker quality….indestructible ring only to be cut off by lowly humans? Sauron would NOT be happy…I’m sure the crafter of the ring probably found his way to the bottom of Mt. Doom.
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In the famous words of John Lennon: “Jewler you’ve failed!”
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I never understood why Sauron didn’t just wear a mace gauntlet over his hand - so he could never lose his power.
What a dumb-a$s.
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Felloship prevails! Ring got to Mt. Doom….it was glorious…it was a difficult game for both sides…helped that the allies were setup perfectly (and my starting hand was bada$s with two attrition battlion cards and add those two to my armies)…the elves even got to hold Udun for two turns (epic holding of the line, six after six after six rolled by the two elves). Hoping to get to play this again sometime.
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The Mines of Moria was always a hot territory when we played.
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Do you think MiddleEarth back in the theaters this winter with The Hobbit will bring this Risk version back?
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@ABWorsham:
Do you think MiddleEarth back in the theaters this winter with The Hobbit will bring this Risk version back?
Back in what way? Popularity or as a product?
If anything I would imagine they make a new one… though I think that unlikely.
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I’ve had this game for awhile, and we just started playing it again. I was Mallery29’s good-guy partner in the games he’s talking about.
We play the Team Risk variant, which is a ridiculous amount of fun for all involved. Good guys try to destroy the ring, bad guys try to find it.
I run the game at conventions sometimes, and I’ve never had an empty seat. People love Lord Of The Rings and people love Risk.
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