The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game

The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game (also called LOTR The Living Card Game or LOTR LCG) is a collectible card game produced by Fantasy Flight Games, Inc. It was released on April 20, 2011, and is based on Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings films and J.R.R. Tolkien's novels. 
Its artwork is by various independent artists, such as Matthew Stewart. 
== Overview ==
The Lord of the Rings LCG is a 1- to 4-player cooperative game where players assemble a fellowship of heroes and work together to complete quests that are controlled by the game. The starter set, released in 2011, supports two players (up to four players when combined with another starter set) and contains three quests that the players can embark on. More cards and quests can be acquired through the purchase of 60-card "Adventure Packs." In 2022, a new starter set (called the "Revised Edition") was released, which supports up to four players on its own. 
== Reception ==
The Lord of the Rings LCG has received moderately good ratings. It is rated 7.7 on Board Game Geeks, 70-75 on Metacritic, and 85 out of 100 on Zatu Games review. It has received several nominations at the Golden Geek Awards for the best card game, thematic board game, board game artwork/presentation, and two-player board game categories.
== Canon characters ==
=== Player Hero/Ally Cards ===
* Aragorn
*Arwen Undómiel
*Bard son of Brand
*Beregond
*Bilbo Baggins
*Boromir
*Brand son of Bain
*Celeborn
*Círdan the Shipwright
*Dáin Ironfoot
*Denethor
*Éowyn
*Elladan and Elrohir
*Elrond
*Éomer
*Faramir
*Frodo Baggins
*Galadriel
*Gandalf
*Gildor Inglorion
*Gimli
* Glóin
*Glorfindel
*Grimbeorn the Old
*Gwaihir
*Haldir of Lórien 
*Hirluin the Fair
* Legolas
*Merry
*Pippin
*Prince Imrahil
*Quickbeam
*Radagast
*Sméagol
*Théoden
*Théodred
*Thorin Stonehelm
*Thranduil
*Treebeard
=== Enemy Cards ===
*Black Númenóreans
*Corsairs
*Dunlendings
* Durins Bane
*Easterlings
*Fire Drakes
*Giants
*Goblins
*Gollum
*Grima
*Haradrim
*Huorns
*Nazgul
*Saruman
* Orcs
*Spiders
*Shelob
*The Watcher
*The Witch King
*Trolls
*Undead (Wraiths/Wrights/etc...)
*Uruks
*Wargs/Wolves
== New characters (Non-canon) ==
=== Player Hero Cards ===
* Amarthiúl
* Argalad
* Beravor
* Caldara
* Eleanor
*Haldan
* Idraen
* Kahliel
* Lanwyn
* Mirlonde
* Na'asiyah
* Rossiel
* Thalin
* Thurindir
=== Ally Cards ===
* Azain Silverbeard
*Brok Ironfist
* Eldahir
* Emery
* Firyal
*Haleth
* Henamarth Riversong
* Jubayr
* Súlien
* Thalion
* Wiglaf
* Wilyador
* Yazan
=== Objective-ally Cards ===
* Abaan
*Arador
* Calphon
* Celador
*Dawn Star (Ship)
*Dreamchaser (Ship)
*Edrahil
*Farin
* Iârion
* Nalir
*Nárelenya (Ship)
*Silver Wing (Ship)
*Tamed Mûmak
=== Enemy Cards ===
* Ancient Marsh-dweller
* Bellach
* Black Númenórean (Cultist)
*Borlach
*Brood Mother
* Captain Sahír
* Chief Turch
*Cold-Drake
* Daechanar
*Dagnir
* Daughter of Berúthiel
* Drû-buri-Drû
*Fire-Drake
* Fram's Shade
* Ghulat
*Great Warg Chief
* Jailor Gornákh
*Thane Ulchor
*Lorgan
* Louis
* Morris
* Mugash
* Murzag
*Pack Leader
*Priest of Sauron
* Raven Chief
* Rupert
* Stormcaller (Ship)
* Stuart
* Thaurdir
* Telemnar's Bane
* Temple Guardian
* Tiny
* The Black Serpent
* The Governor
* The Hand of Castamir
* The Thing in the Depths
*The Tomb Guardians
*Ulwarth
* Urdug
== Locations ==
* Angmar
* Arnor
* Belegaer
* Enedwaith (Dunland, Tharbad, Eregion)
* Eriador
* Gondor
* Harad
* Mordor
* Númenor (Meneltarma)
* Rhun
* Rohan
* Rhovanian (Anduin River/Anduin Vale, Grey Mountains, Emyn Muil, Iron Hills, Mirkwood, Mount Gundabad)
* The Misty Mountains (Redhorn Pass, Moria)
== Expansions ==
*Khazad-dûm-Deluxe Expansion
*Heirs of Numenor-Deluxe Expansion  
*The Voice of Isengard-Deluxe Expansion 
*The Lost Realm-Deluxe Expansion   
*The Sands of Harad-Deluxe Expansion        
*The Grey Havens-Deluxe Expansion         
*The Wilds of Rhovanion-Deluxe Expansion       
*A Shadow in the East-Deluxe Expansion 
*The Hobbit: On the Doorstep-Saga Expansion 
*The Hobbit: Over Hill and Under Hill-Saga Expansion
*The Black Riders-Saga Expansion
*The Road Darkens-Saga Expansion
*The Treason of Saruman-Saga Expansion
*The Land of Shadow-Saga Expansion
*The Flame of the West-Saga Expansion 
*The Mountain of Fire-Saga Expansion
== Cycles ==
*The Hunt for Gollum - Shadows of Mirkwood *Core Set
*Conflict at the Carrock - Shadows of Mirkwood *Core Set
*A Journey to Rhosgobel - Shadows of Mirkwood *Core Set
*The Hills of Emyn Muil - Shadows of Mirkwood *Core Set
*The Dead Marshes - Shadows of Mirkwood *Core Set
*Return to Mirkwood - Shadows of Mirkwood *Core Set
*The Redhorn Gate - Dwarrowdelf *Khazad-dûm
*Road to Rivendell - Dwarrowdelf *Khazad-dûm
*The Watcher in the Water - Dwarrowdelf *Khazad-dûm
*The Long Dark - Dwarrowdelf *Khazad-dûm
*Foundations of Stone - Dwarrowdelf *Khazad-dûm
*Shadow and Flame - Dwarrowdelf *Khazad-dûm
*The Steward's Fear - Against the Shadow *Heirs of Numenor
*The Druadan Forest - Against the Shadow *Heirs of Numenor
*Encounter at Amon Din - Against the Shadow *Heirs of Numenor
*Assault on Osgiliath - Against the Shadow *Heirs of Numenor
*The Blood of Gondor - Against the Shadow *Heirs of Numenor
*The Morgul Vale - Against the Shadow *Heirs of Numenor
*The Dunland Trap - The Ring - maker *The Voice of Isengard
*The Three Trials The Ring - maker *The Voice of Isengard
*Trouble in Tharbad - The Ring-maker *The Voice of Isengard
*The Nin-in-Eilph - The Ring-maker *The Voice of Isengard
*Celebrimbor's Secret-The Ring-maker *The Voice of Isengard
*The Antlered Crown - The Ring-maker *The Voice of Isengard
*The Wastes of Eriador - Angmar Awakened *The Lost Realm
*Escape from Mount Gram - Angmar Awakened *The Lost Realm
*Across the Ettenmoors - Angmar Awakened *The Lost Realm
*The Treachery of Rhudaur - Angmar Awakened *The Lost Realm
*The Battle of Carn Dûm - Angmar Awakened *The Lost Realm
*The Dread Realm - Angmar Awakened *The Lost Realm
*Flight of the Stormcaller - Dream Chaser *The Grey Havens
*The Thing in the Depths - Dream Chaser *The Grey Havens
*Temple of the Deceived - Dream Chaser *The Grey Havens
*The Drowned Ruins - Dream Chaser *The Grey Havens
*A Storm on Cobas Haven - Dream Chaser *The Grey Havens
*The City of Corsairs - Dream Chaser *The Grey Havens
*The Mûmakil - Haradrim *The Sands of Harad
*Race Across Harad - Haradrim *The Sands of Harad
*Beneath the Sands - Haradrim *The Sands of Harad
*The Black Serpent - Haradrim *The Sands of Harad
*The Dungeons of Cirith Gurat - Haradrim *The Sands of Harad
*The Crossings of Poros - Haradrim *The Sands of Harad
*The Withered Heath - Ered Mithrin *The Wilds of Rhovanion
*Roam Across Rhovanion - Ered Mithrin *The Wilds of Rhovanion
*Fire in the Night - Ered Mithrin *The Wilds of Rhovanion
*The Ghost of Framsburg - Ered Mithrin *The Wilds of Rhovanion
*Mount Gundabad - Ered Mithrin *The Wilds of Rhovanion
*The Fate of Wilderland - Ered Mithrin *The Wilds of Rhovanion
*Wrath and Ruin - Vengeance of Mordor *A Shadow in the East
*The City of Ulfast - Vengeance of Mordor *A Shadow in the East
*Challenge of the Wainriders - Vengeance of Mordor *A Shadow in the East
*Under the Ash Mountains - Vengeance of Mordor *A Shadow in the East
*The Land of Sorrow - Vengeance of Mordor *A Shadow in the East
*The Fortress of Nurn - Vengeance of Mordor *A Shadow in the East
=== Nightmare Decks ===
Players can also buy Nightmare Decks which drastically increases the challenge of each scenario. 
== Standalone scenarios ==
=== GENCON ===
* The Massing at Osgiliath
* Battle of Lake-Town
* The Stone of Erech
* The Old Forest
* Ruins of Belegost
=== Fellowship ===
* Fog on the Barrow-Downs
* Murder at the Prancing Pony
* The Siege of Annúminas
=== Custom Scenario Kit ===
* Attack on Dol Guldur
* The Wizard's Quest
* The Woodland Realm
* The Mines of Moria 
* Escape from Khazad-dûm
== Plot ==
The main storyline of the game is based during the 60 years between the events of The Hobbit and the first few chapters of The Fellowship of the Ring (After Bilbo leaves the Shire). However, there are Saga Expansions and Standalone Scenarios that allow players to play the events from the The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King.
=== Shadows of Mirkwood (The Core Set) ===
The players begin in Mirkwood trying to hunt and capture Gollum. They must help Aragron, Gandalf, Galadriel, Grimbeorn, Radagast, and Thranduil with various adventures in and around Mirkwood Forest and the Anduin valley, and then must regain Gollum's trail and bring him to the halls of Thranduil.
=== Dwarrowdelf (Khazad-dûm Expansion) ===
The players next delve into the abandon mine of Moria to find information on Balin's Dwarven Colony whilst fending off goblins, trolls, and even the Balrog. 
=== Against the Shadow (Heirs of Númenor Expansion) ===
The players are called to help Gondor investigate a plot that could cause the downfall of Gondor; while at the same time defending Gondor from the ever growing threat of Mordor.
=== The Ring-Maker (The Voice of Isengard Expansion) ===
The players are summoned by the White Wizard Saruman to help with a series of tasks that "could" help against the threat of Sauron and also try to establish an alliance with the barbaric Men of Dunland.
=== Angmar Awaken (The Lost Realm Expansion) ===
The players have arrived in the former Kingdom of Arnor only to be assaulted by orcs, wolfs, and wraiths/wrights. It soon come to the heroes' realization that old dreaded realm of Angmar has begun to rebuild itself under the leadership of a powerful wraith.
=== Dream-Chaser (The Grey Havens Expansion) ===
The players have received a message from Círdan the Shipwright to come to the Grey Havens. Upon arrival they meet up with a Gondorian Nobleman who has been having visions of an Island (Formerly Númenor) and a temple of some importance, and wants to journey out to the sea of Belegaer to find it. However, your not the only party who looking for the mystery; as fleets of Corsairs come to sink your ships.
=== Haradrim (The Sands of Harad Expansion) ===
After the events of your journey across the sea of Belegaer, the players have ended up in the City of the Corsairs! You must find your way out of enemy territory while also braving the scorching desert climate, blood thirsty creatures, deadly Orcs, and hostile Tribes of Haradrim. However, not all of the Men of the South are friends to the servants of Sauron.
=== Ered Mithren (The Wilds of Rhovanion) ===
After a long journey northwards, the players find themselves back to where they began, however, all is not well in this land again. Under the direction of King Brand of Dale and King Dain of Erebor, you must help protect the various peoples of the Wilderland from threats of Mirkwood Forest, Fire-Drakes, and the menace of Mountain Gundabad.
=== Vengeance of Mordor (A Shadow in the East) ===
The end of the journey (Right before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring) has taken the players to the lands of Rhun to assist the friendly Dorwinions from the threats of Mordor and the corrupt men of Rhun. Will you have the strength, wisdom, and courage to face the horrors of Mordor and the mysterious lands of the east?
== External links ==
;Additional resources
* http://hallofbeorn.com/LotR
* https://ringsdb.com/
* https://visionofthepalantir.com/
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMyPOFf7Vy4 (Part one of five videos done by FFG's)
Category:Tabletop games
Category:Collectible card games