It is utter garbage. The design is irredeemable trash. There is no reason to buy it. The base game only works at 4p, and the co-op only works at 4p. The "solo" also only works if you play it two-handed against two bots. On top of that, the bot gets a *minimum* of twice as many actions as you, every single round. It's just a terrible game.
@@RvLeshrac yeah the solo is a big disappointment for me. Heck I’d argue you are better off “playing both sides” rather than using the official solo mode.
What an excellent duo and well done overview. Roy's tastes trend to align so well with my own, and Chris's focus on mechanisms over just aesthetics helps to temper my natural focus on the shiney bits. I had been a bit disappointed as I actually bought this game on accident (don't ask a 19 year old to pick up the 'new Lord of the Rings card game' while he's at the FLGS without being more precise) and haven't gotten it to the table yet, but y'all have me excited to give it a spin.
Great review. I’m excited to play this. Bought it due to my love of LOTR and the fact I own war of the ring and am starting to think I’ll never get it played, as much as the thought excites me.
The game is good fun but there's a problem that unless I was distracted wasn't mentioned. This game needs all players to be familiar with the cards and system otherwise it really affects the game balance. Great if you can get regular players but not for those who can't.
Agreed. This game is made so that the 1st playthrough is almost a wash and then the 2nd time through is when you can actually properly go at it. So if 3 out of the 4 you have played it before, good luck to the team with the rookie.
Cool. Now can Roberto Di Meglio, Marco Maggi and Francesco Nepitello get back to designing WotR Kings of Middle-Earth and HftR Light and Shadow? Please and thank you.
Got this game at Essen last year, and had a blast playing it. Personally I loved it at 2 player count as well, and I have played WOTR multiple times, read most of Tolkein's books. Yes, the cards which you get will matter, but still there is sufficient strategy and immersive gameplay. Initially it might feel the Free People have an advantage in the early game, but the Shadow can catch up mid-way. Do note that this is indeed a long game, and can easily take 3+ hours to finish. Thank you for your reviews Dice Tower. My personal tastes align completely with Roy's. WOTR The Card Game is a solid 9/10 in my books.
Nice video, thanks for the review. A couple things to note: Your fingernails are distracting. I'd suggest either repainting them or removing the paint altogether, or perhaps even wear gloves (I've seen many video reviews doing this). The cards were in better focus while they were on the table. Each time you picked up a card to move it closer to the camera, there was a long delay for it to come into focus. But we could already see the icons and numbers clearly while it was on the table.
Nice overview of the game. I would absolutely love to try this game, but I fear it it far too much text to introduce to second-language-English neighbours. Aside: Roy if you are going to have your hands so prominently displayed in a video perhaps a fresh coat of polish ; )
Great overview and review, gents! War of the Ring: The Card Game is definitely a fantastic take on the original board game. I’ll play it with you any time!
Did no one else have component issues? I had white spots on some of the free card backs and a purple ink smudge on a shadow card. And i swear some of backs are a different shade from others in the same deck.
This is not a long game if you have played a lot of games. After 10 games, your average game with 9 paths will be 1-1,5 hours depending on how many times you used Gandalf the Grey, Strider, and Smeagol. Nice video!
"You have my sword" "And my...blue hammer?!" Dorks? Noooo. Come on guys! Why would you say that? You guys are totally...ah who am I kidding? Let your dork flag fly, gents.
To clarify, Roy has played this game a LOT at both the two and four player counts. I've played it less than him, but we talk about how the game does work well at either player count.
@@DTChrisYi ^ What he said they mention how you do need to know more to play 2 players it puts more burden on you, but if you are okay with that and your partner is too then yes you can do fine at 2
DIsagree that it's equally good to play 2 player with the Free People and Shadow decks at 60 cards, versus 2 players each playing two handed with the 30 card decks. Mushing the Free People and Shadow into one deck immediately felt to me like a poor man's cousin to the real game.
All playthroughs of this game really feel like advanced smash up. Just playing cards often to have a majority at a location. Or put in reserve to play at a later location. I could be way off but this seems like the sort of game where the theme is driving up ratings. Because gameplay wise I can't see anything special. It seems a lot like marvel snap and smash up
I tried this game loving the original war of the ring, and just can’t enjoy it. We played a couple of times, but everything in it is so random, the cards you draw can make or break you, locations are absurdly swingy and with the reserve mechanism, it often felt like both sides would just save up for the biggest battle. In addition, the locations saying what armies can fight there, often means that major factions might literally never get to enter the game. I was supremely dissapointed
“Theme is driving up the ratings”….. so anyone who likes the game is …..what, too dumb or blinded by LOTR fandom to think rationally? Isn’t that a supremely insulting remark?
@@chuckm1961 Wow way to take someone's remark and take it overboard. Are you the type that gets triggered easily or takes comfort playing the victim card? How'd you get through 62 years of your life living like that? Or only now do you realise the difference between his comments and my "supremely insulting remarks?"
This was a huge letdown. It feels so limiting and restrictive. Super frustrating. You need to learn the decks to get better but until then it’s a rocky experience. Also, it absolutely sucks at 2.
I give it a 10 to this duo, Roy & Chris. Would like to see more of this!
I love every single Dice Tower Studios reviewer right now, FANTASTIC crew. Chris, Wendy, Mike and Camilla are all wonderful ;).
Agreed. Great chemistry
For the solo players out there, their is supposed to be a single player version available in the next expansion.
That’s great news! Any idea when that’s gonna be?
@@ambrosius according to bgg forum the solo and co op expansion is coming in fall 2023, you. Can preorder now !
@@ambrosiusit's been announced. Called Against the Shadow
It is utter garbage. The design is irredeemable trash. There is no reason to buy it. The base game only works at 4p, and the co-op only works at 4p. The "solo" also only works if you play it two-handed against two bots. On top of that, the bot gets a *minimum* of twice as many actions as you, every single round. It's just a terrible game.
@@RvLeshrac yeah the solo is a big disappointment for me. Heck I’d argue you are better off “playing both sides” rather than using the official solo mode.
I am still not convinced that Roy didn't review this game only to have an excuse to use his sword🤣
My current favourite 4 player experience, also so rare to have a team vs team experience in board games
What an excellent duo and well done overview. Roy's tastes trend to align so well with my own, and Chris's focus on mechanisms over just aesthetics helps to temper my natural focus on the shiney bits.
I had been a bit disappointed as I actually bought this game on accident (don't ask a 19 year old to pick up the 'new Lord of the Rings card game' while he's at the FLGS without being more precise) and haven't gotten it to the table yet, but y'all have me excited to give it a spin.
Do it!!!!
Would be interesting to see what Roy thinks of Quartermaster General...
Great review. I’m excited to play this. Bought it due to my love of LOTR and the fact I own war of the ring and am starting to think I’ll never get it played, as much as the thought excites me.
Loved that post credits comment😆
I always love reviews from this pair I may have to check this one out as War of the Ring is one of the few big epic ones I keep coming back to
The game is good fun but there's a problem that unless I was distracted wasn't mentioned. This game needs all players to be familiar with the cards and system otherwise it really affects the game balance. Great if you can get regular players but not for those who can't.
Agreed. This game is made so that the 1st playthrough is almost a wash and then the 2nd time through is when you can actually properly go at it. So if 3 out of the 4 you have played it before, good luck to the team with the rookie.
So it's a lot like regular War of the Ring / Rebellion then in that regard. Whether that's a problem is up to personal taste.
so like every Strategy game in the world? If you don´t get better at the game by knowing it... its a indicator that the game in question is just luck.
Cool. Now can Roberto Di Meglio, Marco Maggi and Francesco Nepitello get back to designing WotR Kings of Middle-Earth and HftR Light and Shadow? Please and thank you.
Forgotten door? That must be the door in Tom's videos in the past people forgot to shut. 😜
Now do Against the Shadow... And a playthrough..
Got this game at Essen last year, and had a blast playing it. Personally I loved it at 2 player count as well, and I have played WOTR multiple times, read most of Tolkein's books.
Yes, the cards which you get will matter, but still there is sufficient strategy and immersive gameplay. Initially it might feel the Free People have an advantage in the early game, but the Shadow can catch up mid-way. Do note that this is indeed a long game, and can easily take 3+ hours to finish.
Thank you for your reviews Dice Tower. My personal tastes align completely with Roy's. WOTR The Card Game is a solid 9/10 in my books.
Well I did not think I needed this, now I am unsure.
Love this game. LOVE IT. Play two-handed, as two players.
18:25 War of the Rings: The Chicken Game.
I would buy that.
The evil Saurooster vs Hendalf the grey.
Nice video, thanks for the review.
A couple things to note: Your fingernails are distracting. I'd suggest either repainting them or removing the paint altogether, or perhaps even wear gloves (I've seen many video reviews doing this).
The cards were in better focus while they were on the table. Each time you picked up a card to move it closer to the camera, there was a long delay for it to come into focus. But we could already see the icons and numbers clearly while it was on the table.
Nice overview of the game. I would absolutely love to try this game, but I fear it it far too much text to introduce to second-language-English neighbours.
Aside: Roy if you are going to have your hands so prominently displayed in a video perhaps a fresh coat of polish ; )
Great overview and review, gents! War of the Ring: The Card Game is definitely a fantastic take on the original board game. I’ll play it with you any time!
Did no one else have component issues? I had white spots on some of the free card backs and a purple ink smudge on a shadow card. And i swear some of backs are a different shade from others in the same deck.
This is not a long game if you have played a lot of games. After 10 games, your average game with 9 paths will be 1-1,5 hours depending on how many times you used Gandalf the Grey, Strider, and Smeagol. Nice video!
Taking notes on this
How about a gameplay video?
"You have my sword"
"And my...blue hammer?!"
Dorks?
Noooo. Come on guys! Why would you say that? You guys are totally...ah who am I kidding? Let your dork flag fly, gents.
LOL I was waiting for Chris to say that line! Maybe he's more nerd than dork. :)
Guys I'm sorry if I've missed it - is it even worth it to play it with less than 4 players?
They say it's for 4 players but works just as good as a 2-player game. That is how they played it for the review ( 2 player).
To clarify, Roy has played this game a LOT at both the two and four player counts. I've played it less than him, but we talk about how the game does work well at either player count.
@@DTChrisYi ^ What he said they mention how you do need to know more to play 2 players it puts more burden on you, but if you are okay with that and your partner is too then yes you can do fine at 2
Fantastic with two. Played last night.
No
Zee needs to teach this. Roy talks too fast.
DIsagree that it's equally good to play 2 player with the Free People and Shadow decks at 60 cards, versus 2 players each playing two handed with the 30 card decks. Mushing the Free People and Shadow into one deck immediately felt to me like a poor man's cousin to the real game.
agree. anybody doing a 2p gameplay should try at least once, the "full experience". The mush-together compounds the 'luck of draw' element.
The problem is that some moron put "2p" on the box. It isn't 2p. If you *ever* play it at less than 4p, there's no reason to buy it.
Me buy
All playthroughs of this game really feel like advanced smash up. Just playing cards often to have a majority at a location. Or put in reserve to play at a later location. I could be way off but this seems like the sort of game where the theme is driving up ratings. Because gameplay wise I can't see anything special. It seems a lot like marvel snap and smash up
I tried this game loving the original war of the ring, and just can’t enjoy it. We played a couple of times, but everything in it is so random, the cards you draw can make or break you, locations are absurdly swingy and with the reserve mechanism, it often felt like both sides would just save up for the biggest battle. In addition, the locations saying what armies can fight there, often means that major factions might literally never get to enter the game. I was supremely dissapointed
“Theme is driving up the ratings”….. so anyone who likes the game is …..what, too dumb or blinded by LOTR fandom to think rationally? Isn’t that a supremely insulting remark?
@@chuckm1961 Wow way to take someone's remark and take it overboard. Are you the type that gets triggered easily or takes comfort playing the victim card? How'd you get through 62 years of your life living like that? Or only now do you realise the difference between his comments and my "supremely insulting remarks?"
@@chuckm1961 Not really, people have biases and those biases will influence how people review games. This is especially true for popular IPs.
Roy likey
Top 10 LOTR games???
I can forgive the Dune'dan' slip but 'you'ruk hai was too much! Otherwise great video hehe
Not the nicest art and boring game play. Thanks god I dont have to buy it. :)
This was a huge letdown. It feels so limiting and restrictive. Super frustrating. You need to learn the decks to get better but until then it’s a rocky experience. Also, it absolutely sucks at 2.
Thought it was brilliant at two.
Play War of the Ring instead
Much too long, we sold it back!
@@GGdeTOURS37 The card game isn’t a good experience the OG is much better
this game is really ugly though
yeah john howe is not everyone forte
I was tempted by the art! This is way better than movie stills.
I find this a crazy take. The art is amazing