What do you "assign" to the Shire?

[The Saucepan Man]

Tolkein-based board games definately belong in the Shire.

Lommy, you mean the LotR collaborative game, right?

Lord of the Rings

Haven't played it for a while, but it's a cracker - and most challenging (especially, I think, for two players).

The there's the War of the Ring, an absolutely fantastic game, which recreates both the Fellowship's Quest to destroy the Ring and the tactical skirmishes and battles taking place at the same time. What's more, the Battles of the Third Age expansion allows you to recreate the battles of Helm's Deep and Pelennor Fields.

And then there is the latest in the set - Middle Earth Quest - a game set in the 17 year period between Bilbo's eleventy-first Birthday Party and the departure of Frodo and company on the Quest of the Ring. The characters are invented, but the situations which arise in the game are familiar. I have only played it a few times so far, but I am impressed with how well the game designers have brought to life a period which is really only referred to in the back story sections of LotR.

I should add that I do not work for Fantasy Flight Games - on the contrary, they have done well from me over the years - but it is fair to say that they are the premiere producers of Tolkien-themed board games. In consequence of which, I hereby consign them to the Shire.

[Hakon]

I assign Twilight Zone Conferences to the shire. I am at one now and it is great. I got to meet some great guys and I got to meet George Clayton Johnson. I will elaborate if anyone wants me to.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

I assign having enough money in the bank to buy a two way ticket to Britain.

I also assign the Uncyclopaedia article for Maxwell Edison. It makes me happy!

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

Lommy, you mean the LotR collaborative game, right?

Lord of the Rings

Haven't played it for a while, but it's a cracker - and most challenging (especially, I think, for two players).

Yeah, that was the one. I really liked it, it's brilliant. And I think it is quite challenging for two players, at first I wondered if it's possible to get to the end at all. (Although on second try we - or Lommy Gamgee, respectively, after poor me heroically sacrificed myself to be eaten by Sauron - made it almost to Mount Doom - although I think in the end, it's always "almost" and even one step closer makes a big difference.)

And then there is the latest in the set - Middle Earth Quest - a game set in the 17 year period between Bilbo's eleventy-first Birthday Party and the departure of Frodo and company on the Quest of the Ring. The characters are invented, but the situations which arise in the game are familiar. I have only played it a few times so far, but I am impressed with how well the game designers have brought to life a period which is really only referred to in the back story sections of LotR.

Hmm, that actually looks very interesting. I might as well try to get my hands on that.

And well, you may not be working for the company, but maybe you could ask them to give you some small reward after such large scale advertising I agree with you, though. Most importantly of all for me, the games are not just movie-based.

P.S. Should we assign SpM's return to the Shire...?

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

P.S. Should we assign SpM's return to the Shire...?

I was actually just about to.


Or we could make it more general and just assign all returns to the Downs by old members.

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Eönwë

Or we could make it more general and just assign all returns to the Downs by old members.

I could definitely assign that. I'm always so happy when someone I've missed reappears - especially if I haven't been keeping in touch with them elsewhere - and lately we've got Valier, Roa and SPM back. It's just wonderful.

I could also assign LotR related dreams. I had a very very scary dream where I was Frodo hiding from the Nazgûl in Crickhollow and seeing the black horses walking on the edges of the yard during the day and waiting for the sunset when the Nazgûl themselves would surely appear and knowing there's no way I can run away from them... it was really cool and made me want to read LotR. (I wonder where I was? Maybe in Hollin...)

PS. If I ever have money, it looks like I'm going to buy some board games.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

I should add that I do not work for Fantasy Flight Games - on the contrary, they have done well from me over the years - but it is fair to say that they are the premiere producers of Tolkien-themed board games. In consequence of which, I hereby consign them to the Shire.

Just be very, very careful if you visit games shop Orc's Nest off Shaftesbury Avenue because you will have your bank manager holding his head in despair (but will probably be helping the economy, or something). Follow that with a trip to Forbidden Planet up the road and you'll be single-handedly getting us out of recession.