Hi all
This is my first review for RPG.net. Don't hesitate to give me pointers if you think of something, as i intend to write reviews for the whole LOTR RPG Line that decipher will bring out.
I received my copy of the Adventure game as a delayed birthday present, turning 35 the day before
Here's the short version of the review for those who are in haste:
It's a great product for newbies, but there is less in here for experienced players, unless they intend to lure newbies :)
For the longer version, just read on!
The adventure game comes in a box, and contains the following
-An a4 with the contents and an introduction to Roleplaying
-A 32 page book " through the mines of Moria " containing the adventure.
-Two map sheets, with locations for the Adventure and a map of Middle earth
-Nine Character sheets ( the Fellowship )
-Fast play rules. These are the complete rules of the Adventure Game.
-The fast play refers to the RPG, wich will contain the full rules.
-Cardboard Counters. For use with the location maps
-A 24 page book "Welcome to Middle Earth " an introduction to teh world of Middle Earth.
I'll start with what i didn't like, but read on, because there will be good stuff later on :)
The Negative aspects start with the Box,wich could have been sturdier. It looks great, but it won't last. off course that is a minor gripe, but for the price, you'd expect a better box
Also, the beautifull player cards, tactical maps, and the character tokens for use with the tactical maps are printed on paper wich you would have loved to see a little thicker. The maps should have been of the token quality, and the tokens should have been a little tougher still ( hard-board? )
The character sheets will need to be plastified before using, as they won't live beyond a few playings if you do not. And that would be a shame, as they look great.
Same for the orcs, and other tokens. They look nice ( they are like the tokens form the old, out of print boxed merp set ) but should have been printed on paper/board of a bit higher quality.
Note that the quality of the paper is not bad, mind you, but for the price, you would expect better quality, and a sturdier box!!
( although i shouldn't complain about the price, as i didn't pay for it.)
The two books included are of the quality you'd expect, and in fact look great. The info contained is enough to keep playing for a while, even outside Moria.
Second "negative" comment is, that it's really introducery. If you are an "expert" RPG player, there is not that much here to make you want to buy this, unless you want to lure new players into the game ( wich is always a good thing!!!! ) Off course this introducery level is not really a negative. It just means it may not be YOUR thing.
Then to the positive points:
It all looks gorgeous....if you cannot lure newbies to try out an RPG with this, i don't know. I think it's perfect for what it sets out to do, be an introducery adventure game to the RPG and roleplaying in general.!!!
The Tactical maps are nice looking, the pictures on the tokens are very nice ( taken from Movie stills ) and the Character sheets and the Map of Middle Earth are really looking gorgeous. Almost exactly as i would expect a map made in ME of ME would look. This is for the more experienced gamer the best thing actually contained in the box.
No doubt though that this map or another version will also be included in the RPG.
The best thing of the Adventure game however for RPG fanantics is the Quality of it ( apart form the paper on wich some of it is printed ) The product oozes Middle Earth ( well, Moria mostly :) ) and quality out of it's every corner.
This box shows a type of quality, that if that if it is transferred to the full blown RPG, it will be a huge winner. It made me really, really long for the RPG, more then i did before!!!
And then there is this sentence i loved:
" Mapping it all out is impossible here, although a more detailed map of Moria will appear in the forthcomming Moria supplement for the Lord of the Rings RPG"
Again, with the quality of product here, i cannot wait for it. Someone please hibernate me until it is done :)
To sum it all up. If i would have paid for it, i would have been a little dissapointed with the actual product, since i am not an newbie to roleplaying. But i also am very encouraged by this product to buy the RPG later.
It is not fair to judge this game by what i think of it however, since i am an experienced gamer, and not the core market of the game. IF i would have bought this box 25 years ago, and it would have been my introduction to RPG's, i would no doubt have loved it, and would have come back for more!!!
I'll still get good use out of this box,using if for Conventions, and will even run it by my more experienced gaming groups, to see what they think and to wet their appetites for the RPG.
So is this game worth buying? It depends on who you are and what your experiences with RPG's are, and what you want to use it for.
Best thing for me was that it did everything to reinforce my faith in the quality of the RPG!!
As for substance, I would have given it higher marks if I was a newbie. I fyou are new to RPG's , then please think of this rating as one higher then i gave it!!!
As for Style: The papersturdiness of some of the parts is too low for the highest marks, but boy it looks great!! Even with the complaints i have about some of the parts, I still almost gave it the highest rating. ( and i am very critical about my role playing stuff )
Again, this is my first review. Please feel free to comment on it!!!
Marc
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