This game is a jewel.  Extremely immersive, with beautiful art and flavour text that brings you to Tolkiens world of mystery, tragedy and heroism.  And a very fun and challenging gaming experience.  Originally I bought it thinking about solo play, but now my group started a campaign and we're loving it. 

Finally, as with all LCGs, this is just a starter box.  It's not enough for deckbuilding variations.  And it's just the start of the adventure, with 3 different missions.  It's not a boardgame and this box will not give you the full game.  Game Play Quality Price Value

This game has some of the most beautiful art I've ever seen in any board, card, or tabletop game.  It is the first impression that the game gives and it is a great way to be greeted when you open the box for play.  I also really appreciate it's cooperative nature which makes it an easy sell for my girlfriend who is hesitant to play competitive games for two players. 



There is some really rich lore in these cards and all of the scenarios we have played so far are interesting and engaging—if not a little difficult, at least with just the core set.  I think we're going to be playing and collecting this game for many years to come. 



I do wish that the core set came with 3 copies of each player card like the expansions do.  The value takes a bit of a hit for me because it doesn't feel like a complete set.  Game Play Quality Price Value

This game takes place between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings... and it is full of flavor.  If you are a fan of the books or movies, then this will give you your LOTR kick. 

This is a cooperative game, meaning that you'll work together against the scenario... scenarios are generally pretty challenging.  Defeating one is a reason to celebrate.  The publisher has put easy rules on their website, but they don't negate the feeling of accomplishment. 

This game really grows into its own... I love it and it is one of the few games that I own that I can play solo.  Game Play Quality Price Value

LOTR LCG is an amazing game that you play WITH your friends.  That guy that always mops the floor with you at the hobby shop?  This game puts him on your side! 



A vibrant trip through Tolkien's Middle Earth filled with awe inspiring artwork. 



Pros:

- Play Cooperatively or by yourself. 

- No booster packs, guarantee you know what cards you are getting in adventure packs. 

-Games change each play through. 

-A genuine challenge, but beatable. 



Cons:

-Hard to play some quests without 4 people. 

-The occasional quest is too easy or too hard (this is the exception though, not the rule.) 

-Medium learning curve. 





Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys Tolkien, deck building, or strategy games!  Game Play Quality Price Value

I have played this game through and collected most of the content that was released from its launch through 2015, so I feel like at this point, I can look back at the core set with some clarity.  The Core Set include 3 quests, all the counters and in-game tokens you need to play a 2 player game (more on this below), and 4 premade player decks. 

The game has absolutely stunning art.  Some of the best I've seen in the industry.  All art is unique, and none of it ripped from the Peter Jackson movies.  Likewise, the lore is book specific, and this game does not draw upon the film's lore.  This is a huge plus for Tolkien purists. 

The game play is great.  This game is 100% cooperative, and players play on the same team against a sort of "artificial intelligent" enemy deck.  The mechanics help paint really vivid scene for the imagination.  The game designers are great.  The game can even be played single player. 

While the Core set is required for all expansions that have been released after it, it is limited in a few ways as a stand alone product.  I docked 1 start from value for this, despite feeling that the price set by Miniature Market is a great deal for what you're getting.  The problem I see with the core set are:



1.  It only comes with 2 threat dials.  Each player needs a threat dial to play, and this game is for up to 4 players.  With this box set, you could only have 1 or 2 players play by the rules, despite coming with 4 premade decks to allow for a 4 player game.  This is really easy to work around- just have the other 2 players track their threat on paper.  Still, it would have been nice to include the 2 extra threat dials. 



2.  Their are 3 Quests in this box.  Each quest is a single "episode" that the players must work together to beat.  However, the 3rd quest, "Escape from Dol Guldur" is nearly impossible to beat with just the core set due to its high difficulty level.  It really requires quite a few expansions for extra player cards of greater power to be able to defeat without being heavily luck dependent. 



That's pretty much my gripes.  I think the game is amazing.  I also think that its best if you approach it as something you you can keep building upon as a hobby.  I think its worth collecting if you're a fan of Tolkien, card games, or any combination of the two.  As a casual game and stand alone product, I think this core set falls a little flat due to it's high difficulty and limited number of quests.  Most of the replayability will come from constructing new decks from the premade decks included.  Game Play Quality Price Value