Lord of the Rings Duel for Middle Earth: First Thoughts

[@nightowl835]

I wasn’t a big fan of the art, but your gameplay explanation has got me sold. I’m sure art will grow on me and like many things will look better in person.

[@enjoythestruggle]

I had the same initial reaction to the game but upon a closer look my opinion changed. I own a game (Canopy) where Vincent Dutrait (the same artist) did the art and he's really really good, just a different style than you're used to from games such as War of the Ring.

[@rorysomers2902]

I can see where you're coming from, Vincent Dutrait does have a distinctive style and it does differ from the classic 7 Wonders Duel and other Lord of the Rings games, but I do really quite like it, it has a wonderfully fantastical and ethereal quality to it which lends itself well to the theme. The gameplay though is what will keep this game coming back to the table, it really is a fabulous game

[@lajeit]

First time I see this channel😮 so glad I looked into this game on Google.

[@polyhedroncollider]

Welcome aboard - we have cake, beer, and ramshackle discussions about tabletop games

[@enjoythestruggle]

Is there asymmetry? Military victory being as viable for Free Peoples as for Sauron would make sense from a game perspective but not so much a thematic one.

[@rorysomers2902]

No, there's none of that here. Both players have access to the same actions throughout the game. The closest you get to asymmetry is with the pursuit of the hobbits, where blue cards advance you along the track (the route to mount doom), the hobbits obviously get closer to their goal, whereas the riders close that gap down. This is the only variable end game condition: either the hobbits destroy the ring or get captured by the ring wraiths (or a military/area dominance victory or highest points if none of the former)

[@StrummervilleDM]

Excellent insight into the game, thanks!

[@polyhedroncollider]

Glad we could be of assistance!

[@jasonnewell7036]

I love Lord of the Rings, but I hate, absolutely hate 7 Wonders. Hard pass.

[@KissellMissile]

Maybe you hate both, but 7 Wonders Duel is very different than 7 Wonders.

[@jasonnewell7036]

@@KissellMissile I do hate both. 7 Wonders more than duel, but still.

[@4whatitsworthRSA]

I had the same reaction to playing 7 Wonders the first (only) time. I have since tried and been playing 7WDuel as an app and it's a decent enough game. But 7WDuel with a LotR setting and with Vincent du Trait as sole artist...for me is the opposite of hard pass: SUATMM!!!

[@polyhedroncollider]

Steve loves LOTR but is terrible at 7 Wonders Duel, he's probably going to get angry at this one

[@Slyfox1775]

Wow open minded