Tolkien Boardgames

The second game by Richard Jordison based on LOTR.  This has the same basic rules as The Battle of Helm’s Deep (BOHD) but the board is much larger.  Like BOHD, this is a hex board wargame similar to the games Gondor and Sauron by SPI and other war type strategy board games that Avalon Hill, TSR, and others put out.  Where the game Gondor deals with the attack on the city of Minas Tirith and the Pelenor Fields, this game deals with the forces of Sauron’s attack starting from the ruined city of Osgiliath through the outer wall of the Pelenor Fields to the towers of the city of Minas Tirith.  This is strictly a war game.  No magic elements are used.

The map sheet represents the terrain around the destroyed city of Osgiliath, from the River Anduin to the city fortress of Minas Tirith, the Tower of Guard.  Due to the scale of the map, three levels represent the seven layers of the city.  Each hex on the map sheet represents 800 yards side to side.  One turn is equal to four hours of ‘real’ time.  There are four days of fighting.  Each day consists of 6 turns for a total of 24 turns in the game.  Each counter represents about 500 soldiers of Gondor (Gold), or 1,000 soldiers of Mordor (Green).

The counters are very simple.  Each shows a Unit Type Symbol and has two numbers at the bottom, Combat Strength (left; melee or missile) and Movement Allowance (right).  Also, the ranged missiles (archery and catapults) have a smaller number that indicates range.  The Mordor player goes first going through 4 phases; 1) Wall Breach Phase, 2) Movement Phase, 3) Archery Combat Phase, and 4) Melee Combat Phase.  Gondor goes second repeating steps 2-4.  Each unit may move to its maximum movement allowance taking the Terrain Effects into account (i.e. woods cost 2 movement points, roads ½).  Units may travel through another friendly unit, but may not stack at end of movement except Leader Units (ie. Gandolf, Faramir, Nazgul King, Gothmog, etc.).  Units must stop upon entering an enemy Zone of Control (ZOC).

Combat is resolved by attacker to defender ratios simply by adding up all the attacking units Combat Strengths verses the defenders Combat Strength(s) (i.e. an attacking unit with a strength of 4 verses one defending strength of 3 on clear spaces would be 1-1 odds).  Morale modifications are made when a friendly or enemy Leader is within 3 hexes of a unit (i.e. a friendly Leader unit within 3 hexes of a friendly melee unit would get a +1 on the die, if attacking, an enemy unit would get a -1 on the die if attacking). Morale is also affected by Darkness (as indicated on the Time Track) that favors the Mordor units.  Dawn of the Fourth Day favors the Gondor units.  Missile units are never affected by morale.  Terrain is also taken into effect for melee attacks (i.e. a friendly unit attacking up a hill or into a wooded area results in doubling the defensive strength of an enemy unit being attacked).  Archery units have increased defensive strengths in certain terrain areas that melee units do not get, such as a city hex.  A six-sided die is rolled with the results being determined on the Combat Results Table.  Odds range from 1-3 to 8-1 on a 6 sided die roll with modifications of +1, +2, -1, or -2 due to morale (i.e. Range is from -1 to 8 on a 6 sided die).  The results from the Combat Table leave either the attacker destroyed (AX), attacker retreats (AR), no effect, defender retreats (DR), or defender destroyed (DX).  The odds ratio is reduces to simplest terms, rounding off in favor of the defender.  If a Leader is stacked with a unit that is being attacked, the Leader adds to the strength of the unit as well as morale.  Except Gandolf and the Nazgul, the Leaders would be eliminated if the unit losses the attack.  Gandolf and the Nazgul are not eliminated with the unit if it loses, but are removed from the board until the next turn then placed wherever the owning player wishes.

Mordor units can create Wall Breaches on the Outer Wall and its gates (no effect on the walls and gates of the city of Minas Tirith) using a Nazgul unit and a melee unit, and can only be made on the 2^nd and 3^rd days on the Time Track.  The melee unit is inverted (considered eliminated) and designates the breach for the rest of the game.  Wall Breaches do not affect any adjacent units (friend or foe).  For a Gate Attack, if a Gondor unit is on the other side, a roll of 1 on a six-sided die breaks the gate.  If the gate is undefended, the gate breaks with a 1 through 4 on a six-sided die.

The Grond (a massive battering ram) is the only device the Mordor player has to break the Great Gate at Minas Tirith (it takes two turns to break the Great Gate).  The Grond may not be attacked by archery attacks.  It is vitally important for the Mordor player to defend the Grond from melee attacks if you want to get into the city (victory points allotted for Mordor units that are within the city).

The winner of the game is determined by the number of Victory Points accumulated by the Mordor player at the end of the game.  The more points accumulated, the more likely Mordor will win.  Conversely, if Gondor can keep Mordor from making points, they have a chance to win.   A point can be achieved for Mordor for at least one unit across the Anduin at the end of the fourth turn on the first day.  Another point is made for a unit inside the Outer Wall at the end of the second turn of the second day.  A point for each turn the Mordor player has the city of Minas Tirith completely surrounded.  If Mordor can get a unit within four hexes of the city and within the outer walls at the end of the game another point is made.  And finally, Mordor can receive six points for destroying all Gondor units, except Leaders, within the city of Minas Tirith by the end of the game.

0-7 points: Major Gondor Victory

8-11 points: Minor Gondor Victory

12-16 points: Tie

17-20 points: Minor Mordor Victory

21 - up: Major Mordor Victory

There is an optional rule called the Ring Option.  This favors the Gondor player, but is used at a risk.  The Gondor player can announce the intention of using the One Ring at the start of any turn before the Mordor player breaks through the Outer Wall.  Gondor units get a +1 morale for as long as Gondor has “control” of the ring.  The morale rules of Darkness and Dawn of the 4^th Day are eliminated.  Leaders keep their effect of morale.  The risks are Gondor can only receive reinforcements under Aragorn and Theoden with the roll of a 1,2, or 3 at the turn of appearance.  At the end of every turn, Gondor must roll a 1-5 in order to keep ‘control’ of the ring.  Rolling a 6 ‘looses’ control.  At such a time, Gondor looses the special morale until control is regained.  On every turn following, the die is rolled.  A roll of a 1 regains control, 2-4 has no effect, and with a 5 or 6 control is lost at which time the Mordor player receives a +2 morale for the rest of the game.  The Mordor player also receives 5 points and the Gondor player can receive no more reinforcements.  Once control is lost, it can never be regained and the best Gondor can achieve is a tie.  A very risky venture.

This is one of my favorite hex board games.  The game takes about two to three hours to play because of the number of pieces and the size of the board.  It is a well-rounded game and does not seem to favor either side.  Mordor has the advantage of the sheer number of units that pour across the Anduin River.  Gondor has the advantage of a good defensive position, although towards the end of the game (4th day), the Riders of Rohan and the men of Dol Amroth (when Aragorn appears) reinforcements are greatly needed.  The Gondor player needs to wipe out as many Mordor units as possible during the last five and half turns.  It takes some good strategy for Mordor on how to attack the city and wipe out the units of Gondor.  The Gondor player has to determine how to hold out as long as possible before the reinforcements arrive.  Also, trying to destroy the Grond before it gets to the Great Gate can be a challenge (a smart Mordor player will heavily guard it).  The Grond is the only way Mordor has to get through the Great Gate.  It is best to try and destroy it early while there are enough Gondor units available to use.  It may weaken your forces, but it deprives Mordor of precious points.  The rules are fairly straightforward and the rules booklet includes examples of play.  The cardboard die cut pieces are very simplified in design, but with so many, anything too fancy would clutter the board.  A few of the pieces (Eagles and the Mouth of Sauron) are just made of paper, but they can be mounted on cardboard.  Fortunately, these are only used in the mini game of the Battle of the Slag Hills.  The board is just made of heavy stock paper.  Mine has held up through the years, but I should have it coated.  The folds are getting thin.

Included with the game is a mini game of Battle of the Slag Hills.  This is played on an 8.5” x 11” map sheet.  It is a short game using the same rules (with some minor exceptions as stated in the Slag Hills addendum sheet provided).  It represents the last battle of the “War of the Ring” after the destruction of the army of Mordor at Minas Tirith, at the gates of Mordor.  The purpose of the mini game is, although outnumbered, Gondor’s task is to delay the forces of Mordor as long as possible to give Frodo and Sam time to destroy the Ring, as stated in the book.  Gondor is supposed to hold out as long as possible, and Mordor’s task is to completely destroy the forces of Gondor (except the Eagles).  A short but difficult task for both sides.  Gondor is limited in units, and Mordor is limited in time (nine turns).

Two? Versions

Three color heavy stock paper board.  Reddish-Brown, Green, Blue, and Black on Tan.

Counters; Gondor – Yellow/Gold; Mordor – Green.

The game comes with the following:

·       19” x 25” hex map sheet

·       16 page rule booklet

·       Reinforcement Schedule and Time Track sheet

·       Terrain Effects and Combat Results Table sheet

·       2 sets of 60 cardboard die cut counters

·       Ring Option rules modification sheet

·       Battle of the Slag Hills mini game and rule adjustment sheet

There is a variation to this game that was printed in a wargaming magazine of the time:

The Nazgul Variant

“The Nazgul”, by Steve Kane found in (the merger between two wargame magazines) “Panzerfaust and Campaign” issue #72, Mar/Apr 1976.  This adds a little more dimension to the Nazgul Character during game play.  It is mentioned that there is only one Nazgul included in this game (probably to even out the game play, plus the King of the Nazgul in the book is the only one with any real book time in this big battle).  Steve Kane offers a solution to make the game more like the book.  Adding five more Nazgul to the game, each with a 1-16 in strength.  They are considered flying units and are not affected by terrain and may stack with any unit to add to their combat strength, but cannot be destroyed by melee (but can be affected by missile fire).  They are not affected by the Zone of Control from Gondor units and may freely fly over or land on Gondor units.  At night, the Nazgul strength doubles to 2-16.  Also, the Nazgul may demoralize Gondor units with certain conditions.  They may not attack Gondor units unless at least one Mordor unit is also attacking.  The Nazgul are not considered leader units and cannot raise morale on Mordor units.  But they do have eight ways to affect Gondor units, one of which is that the Nazgul may have combat with Gandolf (other leaders may join in the battle, but no melee or archery units can).  On turn 14 Marchturn (M4), the Lord of the Nazgul is replaced by the Gothmog piece (the Lieutenant of Morgul).  Additionally, on the same turn, one of the other Nazgul must leave the game (a messenger to the Dark Lord that the King of the Nazgul has fallen).  On the final turn, none of the Nazgul become 2-16 as they normally do at night.  Further, then may not demoralize Gondor units, nor attack any Gondor units unless a Mordor melee is present.

Additional rules for the Lord of the Nazgul include that if he is stacked with the Grond while it is at the Great Gate, the gate fall immediately.  At night, the Lord’s strength becomes a 4-16 strength.  And at any time, Gandolf and the Lord may have at it.  Both must be stacked in the same space.  If the Lord wished to destroy Gandolf, he must roll a six.  If Gandolf wants to destroy the Lord, he must role two sixes in a row (or can substitute the TSR game War of Wizards giving the Lord of the Nazgul the advantage – this game is a battle of magic between two opposing wizards – an interesting concept).  If eliminated, the Lord of the Nazgul is removed from the game.  If in the event of both are killed, remove all units within a three-hex radius of the battle (explosive magic).  On the turn M4, the Lord of the Nazgul is removed from the game only if he is killed inside Minas Tirith (by Pipin) or if he is stacked with or adjacent to the Theoden counter at the end of the Gondor turn.  If neither of the last happens, then the Lord stays in the game, Gothmog remains a regular Nazgul, and also the messenger to the Dark Lord stays in the game.  On any turn after M4, the Lord of the Nazgul is removed from the game at the end of the Gondor’s turn if he is either inside Minas Tirith or stacked next to Theoden (whenever this happens to Theoden, he is considered to be killed and is removed from the game).  Theoden thus can seek out the Lord of the Nazgul.  Note, that the regular Nazgul do not have the gate-breaking ability.

The above rules only apply to The Siege of Minas Tirith.  For the Battle of Slag Hills, eight of the Nazgul are present.  The Nazgul may withdraw to achieve a risky Mordor victory using the “Sauron Aware” option.  On the sixth turn of the Battle of Slag Hills, all of the Nazgul are removed from game play (flying off to get Frodo before he throws the ring into Mount Doom).  Beginning on the seventh turn, roll the die.  One through five have no affect, but a roll of a six then the Nazgul are successful and the Dark Lord is victorious and thus ends the game and ends the peace in Middle Earth.  And darkness rules.