War of the Ring: The Battle of Five Armies – Revised Edition

War of the Ring: The Battle of Five Armies – Revised Edition is a standalone two-player game set at the climax of The Hobbit. One player commands the Free Peoples: the Elves of the Woodland Realm, the Dwarves of Dain Ironfoot, and the Men of the Lake led by Bard. The other commands the Shadow forces of Bolg, with Goblins, Wolves, and Bats pouring toward the Lonely Mountain.

Based on the acclaimed War of the Ring system, The Battle of Five Armies brings the action down to a tactical scale. Action dice, event cards, character abilities, and the Fate Track create a tense battle where Gandalf, Bilbo, Thorin, Beorn, the Eagles, and other key figures can shape the outcome.

This is a complete standalone game. War of the Ring is not required to play.

Contents include: 1 Rulebook, 126 plastic figures, 1 50 × 70 cm game board, 13 Action Dice, 10 Combat Dice, 92 cards, 11 character and special unit reference cards, 2 player aids, and 160 counters and tokens.

Boardgamegeneral advice:

The Battle of Five Armies will feel familiar to War of the Ring players, but it is not simply War of the Ring on a smaller map. The system has been adjusted for a tactical battle rather than a grand strategic war, with different unit types, terrain, character abilities, activation choices, and combat decisions all playing an important role.

What makes the game work especially well is how much personality the battle has. The many characters on both sides give the game a strong Tolkien flavour, and the visual style sits beautifully alongside War of the Ring and its related products. It does not pretend to be a “proper wargame” in the strict historical-simulation sense, but it does a very good job of recreating the battle and exploring its possible what-if outcomes.

It is also more replayable than it may first appear. Although the game is built around one great battle, key events, character timing, and different strategies can change the course of play dramatically. A more experienced player will probably have an edge over a newcomer, which can be a downside in uneven matchups, but it also speaks to the quality and depth of the game.