The combination of Dungeons and Dragons and The Lord of the Rings seems an obvious choice to many fans of either series. Formerly there was The One Ring RPG (also from Free League Publishing) but it didn't include 5e compatibility. The new tabletop game, titled The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying, will not only include plenty to do within the upcoming Lord of the Rings RPG but much of it can also be incorporated into D&D 5e.
The One Ring RPG was one of the most successful tabletop RPG core games to be funded on Kickstarter pulling in over 2 million dollars in funding. The core set included rules for combat, character personalities, a more Middle-Earth-esque style of magic, traveling, and more. The 2nd edition of The One Ring RPG features a new visual style heavily reminiscent of the maps seen in the J.R.R Tolkien novels and a preset adventure designed for new Loremasters, the game's equivalent of a DM. Among the updates was also a new focus on Eriador, which is an area of Middle-Earth located to the west of the Misty Mountains which includes familiar settlements such as the town of Bree, where the Hobbits were supposed to meet Gandalf the Gray, and Rivendell, the home of the elves.
The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Core Compendium will bring those features into the hands of even more players with its integration into D&D 5e. The adaption of The One Ring RPG will include some reworks of mechanics in the form of standard 5e mechanics, such as the introduction of six great new 5e-compatible classes for players to choose from. There are also six heroic cultures that are based in the Eriador area and plenty of new villains for players to face in battle. Aside from the classes, the other significant change to the core mechanics is the blending of 5e magic systems, overt and powerful magics with Middle-Earth's more subtle magical effects. If magical items are more to the player's preference, the compendium also provides comprehensive rules for the creation and usage of wonderous items, so everyone can have their own version of Sting if they wish.
What's Included In Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game
In The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying, there will also be an adventure module called Shire Adventures, and while the contents of the adventure haven't been made clear yet, the name gives a hint as to what it may include. The Shire itself is in Eriador, so it can be assumed that most of Shire Adventures will take place there and around other locations there. The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying has a system for introducing backers to the party, such as Gandalf the Grey or Bilbo Baggins, so the module may focus on the party working alongside their backer in facing dangers against the Shire.
The pre-order of The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying, which will be available this fall, will provide pre-order purchasers access to a PDF form of Shire Adventures immediately upon purchase as well as a PDF version of the core compendium. The official retail release of The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying is planned for sometime in early 2023 in the first financial quarter. Fans of either series should definitely think about grabbing a copy, if for no other reason than to see the award-winning illustrations that won an ENNIE for Best Interior Art.