House Rules

These are rules that will alter the game balance in favour of one side or the other. If you find the game unfair after several tries once you are familiar with the game please try these suggested tweaks of the rules, some of which we playtested but didn't end up in the final version of the rules.

It is my firm belief that the game is well balanced as it is out of the box but if you feel inclined to tilt the balance one way or another please feel free to try, and please tell us on the message board how it went.


Twilight of the Third Age

Tweaks for the Shadow

The Ring Draws Them
Replace the Witch-King, Chief of the Ringwraith's muster condition with this:
If the Fellowship Progress Marker is on step 1 or higher on the Fellowship Track use a Muster die to Reveal the Fellowship and place The Witch-King, Chief of the Ringwraiths in the Region with the now Revealed Fellowship.

Their Power is Terror
Add this to the abilities of the Witch-King, Chief of the Ringwraiths:
If the Witch-King, Chief of the Ringwraiths is in the same Region as the Fellowship add one to the Hunt level (up to a maximum of five).

The Black Captain
Add this to the abilities of the Witch-King, Chief of the Ringwraiths:
When the Fellowship enters the Mordor Track immediately replace the Witch-King, Chief of the Ringwraiths with the Witch-King, the Black Captain.

Tweaks for the Free Peoples

News from Imladris
In addition to the allready existing requirements for mustering Galadriel also add the following:
If a Companion or the Fellowship is in Lórien and Gandalf the White is not in play, use a Muster die to play Lady Galadriel in Lórien.


The Rohan and Gondor Scenarios

Tweaks for the Shadow

The Action Tokens
Remove one of the Free Peoples Action Tokens. This will make Gandalf the White's "Enemy of Sauron" power less powerful.


Please note that some of the images on this website are a preview of Art by John Howe from "War of the Ring"
a game published by Ares Games under license from Sophisticated Games and Middle-earth Enterprises.