00:00 Intro

02:44 Game Overview

06:53 Mechanics and Gameplay

38:58 Likes and Dislikes

52:39 Theming and Lore

Apologies to my brother (check out his channel over at https://www.youtube.com/@strategywizard for board game reviews, unboxing, etc.) for taking so long to finally play this game that he got me [inaudible] ago, but now I’ve finally played it and I can give my breakdown of the mechanics, what I like and dislike about the game, and how well it captures the essence of Tolkien’s world.

For more info on the game:

Fantasy Flight’s page for the game is here: https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2019/1/11/the-lord-of-the-rings-journeys-in-middle-earth/

For a downloadable copy of the basic rules, go here: https://images-cdn.fantasyflightgames.com/filer_public/74/c1/74c1ee20-a2d2-407f-93da-e6c2a4b25529/journeys_in_middle-earth_learn_to_play.pdf

For a downloadable copy of the Rules Reference, go here: https://images-cdn.fantasyflightgames.com/filer_public/01/a0/01a0c9f7-4427-4113-9406-f53d6bde2ff5/journeys_in_middle-earth_rules_reference.pdf

So I was incorrect about Watch It Played but also not totally off. He didn’t do a video on the game on his channel (https://www.youtube.com/@WatchItPlayed), but he DID appear on BoardGameGeek.com’s channel for their “game night” series here: https://youtu.be/bBk_jSE4Bf8. The video is a full playthrough of the first adventure with explanations along the way so it gives a lot of the same information but obviously contains spoilers for the first adventure.

Similarly, the Dice Tower channel had a live play session here: https://www.youtube.com/live/JVh0M-fSWqo?feature=share. It doesn’t do as much detailed explanations of the rules and mechanics but it’s for the first adventure of an expansion campaign, so the spoilers won’t be as significant unless you know you’re going to get that expansion soon.

If you just want a brief run-down of how to play, I recommend this video: https://youtu.be/1VROBMSSBfc

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A subscriber recently shared a possible plot hole that someone else brought up: How could the minstrel who sings of Frodo of the Nine Fingers at the Field of Cormallen know Frodo and Sam’s story past when they left Faramir? I think there are three possible explanations.

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The Christian Scriptures of the New Testament have many passages dealing with the idea that God uses the weak and foolish to accomplish His ends and put to shame the strong and wise of the world. Tolkien uses this same theme pretty frequently in his own works, but why should weakness be a virtue? I think I can give an answer.

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Jordan Rannells, editor of the Prancing Pony Podcast, has put together a soundscape for the Lord of the Rings, and it’s amazing!

Use discount code LORE25 for 25% off all three books, or LORE10 for 10% off one book at: https://jordanrannells.com/shop

Concept Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTxg2_xX9Mc

Release Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCc_pAyu6aA&t=

Book 1 Chapter 1 Complete Sample Chapter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Mjxw_x6Th0

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In connection with the Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth (which I’ve discussed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwi7_nABWDI&t=2s&pp=ygUWdG9sa2llbiBsb3JlIGF0aHJhYmV0aA%3D%3D), Tolkien wrote a brief account of what Men in the days of the First

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Long-time patron PABrewNews had another request for a topic, this time along the lines of demon possession and how it might figure into Middle-earth given Tolkien’s Catholicism. In light of last week’s Thursday Thoughts video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynNQDDU2FH4&pp=ygUvdGh1cnNkYXkgdG9sa2llbiB0aG91Z2h0cyBkcnVlZGFpbiBjaXJpdGggdW5nb2w%3D), I might have a few things to say on the topic.

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I recently noticed an interesting parallel between how Gandalf “punishes” Sam for eavesdropping and how Aragorn “punishes” Beregond for his deeds in defense of Faramir. But perhaps the most interesting thing about the parallel is that it answers a doubt Aragorn has about himself.

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A chance (as they say in Middle-earth) series of events led me to speculate on the nature of the two watchers at the gate of the Tower of Cirith Ungol, which I had previously wondered about but never had a good theory for. Hat tips for inspiring this idea go to David Rowe (see his appearance on my channel here:

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Demetrious Polychron, author of “The Fellowship of the King,” has filed suit against Amazon, the Tolkien Estate, and others claiming that the Rings of Power TV show stole his ideas and thus violated copyright, and it only gets more hilarious from there.

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One of my Elf Friend tier supporters has submitted a question for me to address in a video about the nature and origins of Tom Bombadil. It’s certainly a unique theory with some interesting points, so let’s take a look!

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