The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game - Official Instruction Manual

1. Product Overview

The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game is an adventure, strategy, and cooperative game designed for adults and teens aged 14 and above. It is a Living Card Game (LCG) where players build their decks from four spheres of influence: Tactics, Lore, Spirit, and Leadership. The game allows 1 to 4 players, with an average playtime of 30-90 minutes per session. Players form a fellowship of heroes from the beloved novels by J.R.R. Tolkien to embark on quests, defeat enemies, and ultimately stop Sauron.

Image: Banner for The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game Revised Core Set, emphasizing a fresh take on the adventure.

Image: Game statistics indicating 30 minutes per player, 1-4 players, cooperative gameplay, and a recommended age of 14+.

2. Components

The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game Core Set includes the following components:

• 52 Hero Cards
• 12 Encounter Cards
• 12 Quest Cards
• 12 Player Cards
• 3 Threat Dials
• 30 Damage Tokens
• 30 Progress Tokens
• 30 Resource Tokens
• 1 Rulebook

Image: A wide shot of the game components, showcasing various character and encounter cards, along with different types of tokens and threat dials.

Image: A close-up view of several game cards and tokens, highlighting character cards such as Aragorn and various game tokens used for tracking resources and progress.

3. Setup

Follow these steps to set up your game of The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game:

1. Unpack Components: Carefully remove all cards, tokens, and threat dials from the box.
2. Separate Cards: Organize the cards into their respective decks: Hero Cards, Player Cards, Encounter Cards, and Quest Cards.
3. Prepare Tokens and Dials: Place the damage, progress, and resource tokens within easy reach of all players. Each player should take a threat dial and set it to 0.
4. Player Setup: Each player chooses 1-3 heroes (depending on the scenario and player count) and builds a starting deck of player cards according to the rulebook's deck-building guidelines. Shuffle your player deck.
5. Encounter Deck Setup: Assemble the encounter deck for the chosen scenario as instructed in the rulebook. Shuffle the encounter deck thoroughly.
6. Quest Card Setup: Place the starting quest card face up in the quest area. Subsequent quest cards should be placed face down in a stack.
7. Starting Hand: Each player draws a starting hand of 6 cards from their player deck. Players may mulligan once.

Image: Game components including various cards and tokens, accompanied by text explaining that the revised core set offers new content, additional components, and quality-of-life improvements, suitable for 1-4 players.

4. Operating (Gameplay)

The game proceeds through a series of phases, each with specific actions and rules. A full game round consists of the following phases:

1. Resource Phase: Players gain resources for their heroes and draw one card.
2. Planning Phase: Players play cards from their hand, paying their resource costs.
3. Quest Phase: Players commit characters to the current quest. Encounter cards are revealed, and threat is managed.
4. Travel Phase: Players may choose to travel to a location revealed during the quest phase.
5. Encounter Phase: Players engage enemies and resolve their attacks.
6. Combat Phase: Players declare attackers and defenders, and combat damage is resolved.
7. Refresh Phase: Characters ready, threat increases, and players check for victory or defeat conditions.

The objective is to successfully complete the current quest by accumulating enough progress tokens, while managing your threat level and defeating enemies. Cooperation among players is key to overcoming the challenges of Middle-earth.

5. Maintenance

To ensure the longevity of your game components, follow these maintenance guidelines:

• Storage: Store all cards and tokens in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Consider using card sleeves for protection against wear and tear.
• Cleaning: Gently wipe plastic tokens with a dry, soft cloth if they become dusty. Avoid using liquids or abrasive cleaners on any components.
• Handling: Handle cards by their edges to prevent bending or creasing.

6. Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues during gameplay, consider the following:

• Rule Clarifications: Always refer to the official rulebook included with the game for detailed rules and specific card interactions. Many common questions are addressed there.
• Missing Components: Before starting a game, verify that all listed components are present. If any are missing, contact Fantasy Flight Games support.
• Game Flow Issues: Ensure all players understand the current phase and its associated actions. Review the phase order if the game feels stuck or incorrect.
• Difficulty: If the game is too easy or too hard, review the scenario setup instructions. Some scenarios offer difficulty adjustments.

7. Specifications

8. Warranty and Support

For any questions regarding missing components, rules clarifications beyond the included rulebook, or general product support, please contact Fantasy Flight Games directly. You can often find support resources, FAQs, and contact information on their official website.

For more information and digital resources, you may visit the official app page: http://ffgapp.com/qr/MEC01