War of The Ring: Second Edition | Playthrough Part 2 | With Colin

[@bgm-1961]

OK, you got a chuckle from me at 17:59... "I was hoping he wasn't going to play a card, but he did." You need to work on getting to know yourself better. :)

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Haha!! That i do, that i do!

[@w.b.anderson7350]

This was the first modern board game I ever bought, and it's still my favourite 2-player game. Never tried it solo as bluffing is so important but loved this playthrough - what an unusual outcome! I've won a Free Peoples military victory a few times, but I think it's always involved Isengard, and I've sure never had Elves sieging Mount Gundabad. I love how games between experienced players are almost always tight despite all the dice rolling. It's really so finely tuned. Also a great example of how a skilled designer can start with theme and build the mechanics around it. Happy to see as many playthroughs with as many variants as you feel like recording.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

That is awesome and I agree it is certainly better 2 player than solo like this, but I am amazed how much I can enjoy the story that unfolds even when playing both sides. Have the Elves siege Mnt Gundabad was a first for me too! But the dice rolled that way so I had to take advantage of it. Thanks so much for watching and the wonderful comment!

[@theoutlook55]

I found quite useful that bit of advice at the end: that this is what happens when Strider does Not go to Minas Tirith to defend and the Elves go to war without support from other races like the Dwarves or Men of the North. I was so sure the free peoples were going to be able to pull this off. I will say this though, those corsairs really made the difference.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Haha! Yes totally, I was secretly hoping for a free people military win but it wasn't meant to be. Still loads of fun thanks for watching!!

[@LesRoisdeTrefle]

Masterfully done sir, it is usually extremely difficult to have a military win for the free people. You came very close. Going for the Ring and cocooning as much units in strongholds as possible is usually the best way to win for them. It puts a lot of pressure on the shadow people by making them allocate precious dice on the hunt. Bold move you tried and it almost paid off. I always wished it was playable solo, so I can't wait to see the variant you propose. Cheers and well done :)

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Totally agree on your strategy! Just was too much fun not to try with how the dice went. And yes I have 2 solo variants so need to try them and figure out which one to play! Thanks so much for watching!!

[@Cecilkb]

My friends and I were having a hard time getting into the rhythm of the game and watching this helped SO MUCH thank you!!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Oh so glad this helped!!

[@Gamesduck]

That was a great playthrough - thanks for putting it together! I'm waiting for the postman to actually get the game, but have watched several 'learn the rules' videos in preparation and found this video way more helpful!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

So glad I could help and I hope you have a blast with the game! It's wonderful!!

[@pattilloII]

Fantastic video, Colin. Thanks for making these entertaining and informative playthroughs. And yes, solo variant next, please.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Can't believe just how much fun it was to play! Thanks for watching!!

[@Magicman1625]

I've watched a couple how to play videos but they were a lot to take in at once. However seeing you play through this made it all click. I thank you!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

So glad to help!! Thanks so much for watching and enjoy your games in middle earth!

[@88rogerio]

Please, let we see the solo variant, Colin!!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

It is coming just have to figure it out!

[@pipaku123]

Waiting for the solo variant, Colin. Great videos

[@codywatkins2887]

@@pipaku123 I'm doing the same! loved this version though.

[@aketius123]

This was very enjoyable to watch, I would love to see you play this again, perhaps focusing more on moving and hunting the fellowship and showing how the hunt works when on the steps of mount doom

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I'm planning on it! Thanks so much for watching!!

[@marceloaam]

Amazing gameplay. This was the first modern board game i bought! Love the theme, phenomenal implementation. You HAVE to do another gameplay! Cheers from Brasil

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Thanks so much!! What a great game! Appreciate you watching and commenting!

[@stephenfarrell8587]

I enjoyed this a lot so am looking forward to your "style" of playthrough when we explore the solo game with you. Cheers

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Thanks so much for watching!!

[@mmcdaniel17]

This was so helpful...you clarified three rules for me...thanks!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Thanks for watching!!

[@TheDiomedef16]

A very enjoyable and informative play through. I have both the expansions but had not played with them so far. After watching this, they will now get a run out. Thank you.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Sweet!! So glad to help and good luck with your adventures!

[@vayyypour7940]

Loved Ricky Royal’s playthrough & yours was even more epic! Great editing and super tense - Excited for more War of the Ring in the future :)

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Ricky is the bomb!! His playthrough was what got me into this game. Thanks so much for watching!!

[@derdopey]

43:41 the faction card "a great fleet" you played allows only the movement of corsairs of umbar. It doesn't have the transport armies ability as in the "ships of great draught" card

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Cool thx!

[@stephenfarrell8587]

@@OneStopCoopShop Does this mean the siege of Dol Amroth was not legal as the 6 units contributed through the movement of the corsairs via "The Great fleet" faction card couldn't be transported as part of this faction cards action?

[@rtschellenberg3058]

Thanks so much for this. Really appreciate you helping me learn the game.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Glad to help thank you for watching!!

[@johnathankokoski]

Gorgeous game! I should at least paint mine :) And and epic game- thank you for sharing. Hope to see the solo game too if you manage to find the time.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I agree what a beautiful game!! I am so planning on it just waiting for a couple of things! Thanks for watching!!

[@TheBigShaun100]

Near the end, rather than having the free people pass, I would have tried to make a mad dash to get my companions over to Lorien after taking Mount Gundabad before they get into a siege at Lorien. It looks like it's 5 spaces so it likely would not have worked as there seemed to be only one turn to do it in (unless there was a card to add movement to companions), but if all those companions could have gotten in there that would have been powerful and I would be very annoyed as a shadow player if that happened to me.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Haha yeah that would have been amazing. Sadly I didn't have any cards for fast movement

[@NigelIncubatorJones]

Thanks for posting this. Very well done and enjoyable to watch. You asked about mistakes, so here goes: the pronunciation of some of the place names (Pelargir, Eastemnet, Westemnet).

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Thanks for that and thanks for watching!!

[@warallied]

Question: where did you get those painted terrain (mountains, Mount doom, Minas Tirith) I suppose that all those painted units were done by yourself?

[@OneStopCoopShop]

You can find the terrain on etsy! Just search war of the ring for that. The paint is because I traded for a deluxe version of the game!

[@jeffmcarthur5617]

Wonderfully done and a very fun game to watch. BUT... it would have helped a lot to have it explained why the game at the end is not a tie. This was like watching a football game that ends 42 to 42, and the announcer just declares that one of the teams has won. I'm looking over the rules now for my own game so I'm sure I'll find out, but it would have been nice after such an intense and exciting game to have had that explained.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Huh I am pretty sure I did explain it but if you are comparing the 2 vp win conditions the shadow player wins if both conditions are met at the same round. Thanks for watching!

[@corrado8955]

He definitely explained during the video. Must have just missed it.

[@bgm-1961]

I just stumbled upon this video. For future video series, it'd be sweet if you could put a link to the first part in the header.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Thanks for the idea!

[@bgm-1961]

@@OneStopCoopShop Yeah, don't get me wrong... I went and found it on your channel site (it was further down your list than expected), but for those not so passionate about watching you play, making it easy for them to go to the first part of the series... well, you may catch more flies! :) Anyway, thanks for listening!

[@darrenbelcher6121]

DIdn't want to use the rings at 47m to change the Shadow dice? Fantastic playthrough video as usual!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

So you can only use 1 ring a round so maybe that's why? Regardless it was a blast to play! Thanks for watching!!

[@melblack7412]

Great videos, thanks!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Glad you like them!

[@joelstair6890]

with no pressure from the free people to use less dice (in the Hunt pool) they where able to use all there dice to win. other than that i loved the playthrough

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Agreed! I think pushing the Free People's was fun for the military win but it gave the shadow player enough dice to counteract it! It was close though thanks for watching!

[@JoshN614]

Awesome run through, your editing to keep it concise is awesome, and those last couple rounds were intense. Question: do you find it easier to include the leaders expansion or the armies expansion? Which do you find adds more fun? I still need to play the base game a few more times first but am thinking of grabbing an expansion after!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Thanks for watching!! Leaders are easier to implement for sure. The factions can make it a bit overwhelming! That's what I'd suggest!

[@damonbrearley3202]

these two videos were awesome! go the elves! really helped us learn the game. thank you!

[@damonbrearley3202]

definitely want to see another playthrough!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Thanks so much for watching!!

[@drussbarb]

Great vid!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Thanks for watching!!

[@jackrutter9797]

Great video Colin, nail biting at the end there! Frodo and Sam didn't have a look in, different from other playthroughs I've seen, nice. Im very interested in the solo mode if you remember my comments from Discord a while back, and you say you have a new variant someone sent you? Good luck with it!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Jack! Yup I do i have 2 different variants so now it's just trying to decide which one to do! Thanks for watching as always what a wonderful game!!

[@4markos4]

Greetings! Awesome gameplay! A quick question. At 4:38 when you conquered Helms Deep i think you should move again (at war) the political track of Rohan cause you conquered their stronghold. Also at 15:43 when you move companions i think you forgot to add the fellowsip track to their move also which was plus 3. Am i right? Thanks!!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Great catches you are right!!

[@gera9576]

Great vid,quick question,the two rohirrim conquering back 1 settelement would lowered 1 vp from the sp,isnt it?

[@garicb9271]

That SP army in Gundabad should have sortied against the FP army besieging them. They would only need 3 hits and all those characters would be eliminated.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

They didn't want to! Haha!

[@garicb9271]

@@OneStopCoopShop It's an unsatisfying rule imo about leaders/companions being plucked off the board when without an army. That's what turned me to variant play.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I can see that!

[@baredas]

I actually think the Free Peoples Player won. 🙂 Rules say that "lower-numbered Victory conditions take precedence over higher-numbered Victory conditions if achieved on the same turn." So the only way for the Shadow Player to win if the FPP has 4 VP is to either get corruption to 12 or take back his conquered settlements.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I wish! It is actually been confirm Shadow Player wins if they both hit Military victory. Check the wording again, it is in the numbering in the RULEBOOK not the amount of VP earned. So Shadow player obtaining the 10 VP takes precedence over the 4VP for the Free Peoples!

[@baredas]

@@OneStopCoopShop I stand corrected. I took the lower-numbered to literally mean lower VP score🤪, and didn't see the 4 numbered conditions outlined in the rules.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Totally get it!! I thought the same thing at first!

[@dannyrobinson3358]

Great playthrough!! I've watched it a couple of times now. So, how is that queller bot coming along? I'm worried that because you haven't done it yet, it means that it's too cumbersome to manage? I think since you did this, an easier bot has been uploaded to BGG, maybe that would be a better one to try? Either way, would love to see how it plays. Thanks again for all of your great playthroughs, easily the best on youtube.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Wait they're is a new way to play solo? Where can I find that! Thanks so much for watching!

[@dannyrobinson3358]

@@OneStopCoopShop It seems I can't leave links in my comment, is that the case? I've had 4 comments deleted already. Alright, so i'll try without leaving links. The variant you're looking for is in the War of the Ring files section on BGG, it is called War of the Ring solo cards. There is also a comment in the comments section that provideas a dice table to go along with the cards, it would give the Shadow more direction so I would consider it. The second solo variant is from a youtube channel called 'Solo Gamers Club', the video is called 'Alone in Middle Earth', he uses a very simple dice table, just one I think. He also has a video of example play. Good luck!!

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Ah yes we have links disabled due to all the spam comments we get. The easiest way to block them is to block links, my apologies! Thank you so much for sharing in quite interested in this!!

[@dannyrobinson3358]

@@OneStopCoopShop Ah, I see, no worries at all. Just so you know, the variant in the video is able to play with the two expansions. I can't find any link to the tables he uses, so I guess some screenshots would work, then transferred over to a document. Best of luck, I'll keep my fingers crossed that one of them will fit for you.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Appreciate it!!

[@JLH111176]

did I miss something the free people had the 4 points they needed to win and shadow had 10 the need to win, what was the tie breaker ?

[@OneStopCoopShop]

I think I said it in the video but the shadow player wins if it's down to vp at the end of the round. So that's why the shadow player won! It was close though!!

[@bgm-1961]

I just finished watching the whole playthrough. It was very well done and well produced! It dawned on me by the end that you moved the Fellowship, what, only once? Certainly not typical, but it was good to see how the game goes when a military victory is the Free People's objective from the beginning (or at least turned out to be its only objective as the early game developed). Anyway, about your plan to play it solo. I see in several of the comments that there are two solo systems you're evaluating. Is one of them the "Queller Bot", created by Quitch? (Found here: boardgamegeek.com/filepage/141333/queller-bot-war-ring-solo-play?commentid=10022963#comment10022963). The Queller Bot documentation has over 1,000 downloads on BGG and seems to be the most popular solo variant in the BGG forums.

[@OneStopCoopShop]

It was an interesting play for sure! And you got it those are the 2 I'm looking at!

[@milanprokop6879]

For downgrading u can use regular from discarded units right? 36:53

[@OneStopCoopShop]

As long as you have a unit in the reserve

[@milanprokop6879]

U can downgrade elite from casualties. It will be stupid. Last battle u only have 5 elites and get 5 hits. U will discard them all? U would lose 5 regular because of this. I think according to rulebook and bgg forum take from casualties to replace elite if u dont have regular in your pool Edit. Cant post link to bgg, but search for this thread "Eliminating units as FP"

[@chuckl.6425]

Forgive me because I don't have this game, but I thought that the "Free People" win if their Victory Points are 4 or above. At 1:01:09, the "Free People" Victory Points marker is at 5.... Sorry for my confusion...

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Remember you don't check vp until the end of the round and then they're is a pecking order. Shadow player wins militarily even if both players get the desired vp by the end of the round!

[@chuckl.6425]

Thanks for clearing that up! Makes sense now! 😀

[@OneStopCoopShop]

No problem!! It was an unusual game that's for sure. Normally the elves do not go to war!

[@chuckl.6425]

@@OneStopCoopShop That was strange! Thanks again for showing us how it is played! 😀

[@OneStopCoopShop]

My pleasure!

[@PickleTheHutt]

It's clear that you really love this game (as do I it's my favorite of all time) but so many tactical mistakes were made by both sides that I hope nobody watching this takes the video as anything close to a typical game. It's almost never advised to leave conquered strongholds empty. On the last round, you could have recruited a Gondor unit adjacent to Minas Tirith and forced the Shadow to spend a die to deal with them or else next turn that one unit would have retaken the stronghold unopposed. I think the Shadow had no dice left at the end, so that one die would have been the difference. There are even event cards that let armies move extra spaces so you can never leave those victory point locations unguarded. I'm used to your playthroughs always being incredibly aggressive, but the Free People's all out offense from the beginning will result in a loss most of the time. This one was only so close due to extremely lucky FP dice and tactical missteps that still wasn't enough for FP to win. Moving the fellowship even with 4-5 dice in the box is fine when outside of Mordor (can be dangerous when inside). I definitely would have bolstered the stronghold defenses and moved the fellowship in those early rounds rather than trying for a military victory. Typically, FP military victory only occurs after massive Shadow blunders (like leaving strongholds empty) and not as an all out strategy.

[@josearnaldo9242]

Dosen't Galadriel allow you to Muster while being sieged?

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Yup but I had 0 elves left they were all on the board!

[@joseseptien]

Great!!!👍👍👍

[@OneStopCoopShop]

Whoot!