In the Lord of the Rings board game, the players must work together to bring the Ring to Mount Doom and break the evil of the dark lord Sauron. To do so, they must sucessfully navigate the terrors of Moria, survive the battle of Helm's Deep, creep through Shelob's Lair, and finally survive Mordor itself.
THE FELLOWSHIP
2-5 players take the role of Hobbits of the Fellowship - Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, and Fatty - and work together to survive the malevolence of Sauron. The Lord of the Rings is a cooperative game, and all players will win or lose together!
THE QUEST
Beginning at Bag End, then moving to Rivendell, the group will progress from scenario to scenario across the Master Board. As they reach Moria, Helm's Deep, Shelob's Lair, and Mordor, they will complete the scenarios depicted on the individual Scenario Boards.
The group receives Hobbit cards at the beginning of their quest, each depicting a different form of activity or strength - Friendship, Traveling, Hiding, and Fighting. As the perils of their quest appear, the group must work together to defeat them by discarding the appropriate cards or by accepting the corruption of the Ring to avoid danger.
On their journey, the Hobbits will receive aid from other members of the Fellowship - such as Gandalf and Aragorn - as well as make use of the many gifts given to them along the way, such as the Phial of Galadriel or the ever-nourishing Lembas bread. These special cards will give them the strength and the abilities necessary to navigate the most treacherous of perils.
THE ENEMY
Sauron and the will of the Ring threaten everything that the Fellowship does. As each Hobbit advances the various scenarios, he may suffer Corruption, moving his figure towards the Shadow. In some cases, the Eye of Sauron will advance along the Corruption track as well, making each slip of the Hobbits all the more dangerous.
When a Hobbit falls to corruption (reaches the Sauron piece on the Corruption track), he is eliminated from the game. If the Ring-Bearer is ever eliminated, the game is over, and Sauron has triumphed over you.
VICTORY
Ultimately, your quest is to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom, in Mordor. If the group reaches Mount Doom, then the Ring Bearer must undergo one final test of will against the Shadow. If he succeeds, then with much rejoicing the Hobbits are victorious! If he fails, then one of his companions must take up the charge and try again ... Ultimately, either the Hobbits will emerge victorious, or they will all fall to the corrupting influence of Sauron and the One Ring. Good luck!