The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying

Roleplaying game
Information
Publisher	Free League
Release date	2023

The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying is a tabletop role-playing game published by Free League Publishing in collaboration with Sophisticated Games, released in May 2023. It is set in the year 2965 of the Third Age, 24 years after the events of The Hobbit.

Like its predecessor Adventures in Middle-earth, the game is an adaptation of the world-building established in The One Ring to the 5th edition rule-set of Dungeons and Dragons.

Gameplay

When adapting the Dungeons and Dragons rule-set, made possible through the Open Game License, many choices had to be made. The more subtle magic of Middle Earth meant eschewing classic Dungeons and Dragons classes like Wizards and Sorcerers. The entire basic rule-set is not reproduced, however. Players are expected to be familiar with the Dungeons and Dragons sourcebooks.

While adopting most things already established for Adventures in Middle-earth, the the designers were more ambitious this time around, generally bringing the game closer to The One Ring. They also rebalanced the classes, now known as callings. The games are run by a loremaster, which is the equivalent of a dungeon master in Dungeons and Dragons.

Published Materials

Core Edition

The Core Rules constitute an illustrated 240-page hardcover volume containing everything necessary to begin adventures in Middle-earth. Included are six heroic cultures from Eriador, six classes, enemies to fight, and rules to play.

A Starter Set with condensed rules and a set of dice is also available. It centres around the adventure Over Hill and Under Hill, complete with pre-generated heroes and cardboard stand-up figures.

Expansions

Shire Adventures serves as an introductory supplement.

It is divided into two chapters:

1. Regarding the Shire fleshes out the farthings of the Shire and its surroundings. Events and gossip tables, based on the throw of the dice, serve to add details to specific adventures.
2. The Conspiracy of the Red Book consists of five adventures. Also provided are seven pre-generated heroes. The initial offering are Drogo Baggins, Paladin Took II, Rorimac Brandybuck, Primula Brandybuck, Esmeralda Took, and Lobelia Bracegirdle. Later on, Bilbo Baggins becomes available. Balin is mentioned as an eighth character, but no character sheet is actually included.

Ruins of Eriador expands the available setting material with a 127-page exploration of southern Eriador.

It includes three chapters:

1. Fog Over Eriador has detailed maps and descriptions of Tharbad and its inhabitants. The rest of the chapter covers Swanfleet, Lond Daer, the Dwarf-Halls of Harmelt, the Lone-lands of Minhiriath, Eryn Vorn, and the ruins of Cardolan.
2. A Gathering Storm describes the threats players can face: Black Númenóreans, agents of the White Hand (who can hinder or help the players), and raiders from Dunland.
3. Landmarks finally lists twelve landmarks, among which the White Towers, Weathertop and Mount Gram, .

Tales from Eriador collects six adventures that can be played individually, but also connect into an overarching story. The supplement includes illustrations by Antonio De Luca and detailed maps by Francesco Mattioli and Niklas Brandt.

Moria: Shadow of Khazad-dûm, published in December 2024, delves into the depths of Khazad-dûm, set in the years before Balin's doomed expedition. The book fleshes out Moria, and offers loremasters the tools to craft both one-shot adventures and long campaigns.

Keepers of the Elven-rings, released in April 2025, focuses on the Elven realms of Lórien, Rivendell, and Lindon. The book is divided into three chapters:

1. Where the West-elves Still Linger describes the political and social structures of the Elven realms, including profiles of key figures like Galadriel, Elrond, and Círdan
2. The Days Darken outlines Sauron's schemes against the Elves through events and adversaries.
3. Landmarks catalogues twelve significant locations across Middle-earth both from the books, such as the Gardens of Lórien, and original creations such as the Tower of the Sea in Lindon.

The appendix introduces rules for creating High Elves and Wood-elves, expanding player options. Notably, it includes guidelines for Elf-lords, who can progress to 20th level for more grand adventures.

Accessories

The Loremaster's Screen & Rivendell Compendium bundles an accessory with a compendium about Rivendell. The landscape-format screen features artwork on the side facing the players, while the interior contains tables for quick references. It serves to conceal the loremaster's notes from the players. The accompanying Rivendell Compendium includes maps of the valley and house, descriptions of notable inhabitants including Elrond as a potential patron, and new rules for creating High Elf player characters.

External links

• Official Website