| Publication date | 2011- |
|---|---|
| Players | 1 - 2 (or up to 4 with 2 core sets) |
| Age range | 13 and up |
| Playing time | ~ 1 hour |
| Random chance | Some |
| Skill(s) required | Card playing, Logic, Strategy |
The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game is produced by Fantasy Flight Games. It is a cooperative game set in the fantasy world of JRR Tolkien's books. The initial time-frame for the game is between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, although later Saga expansions have broadened this, allowing players to replay the events of Tolkien's novels.
Like other games in Fantasy Flight's Living Card Game line, it has deck construction and regularly released expansions similar to a collectible card game, but without the randomized card distribution.
Unlike most card games of this type, it may be played either solitaire or with a group. Although the core set only supports up to two players, the game can be played with 3 or 4 via additional core sets. Players are not opponents to each other, but cooperate against a randomised "encounter deck" which represents the forces of Sauron and produces the obstacles that the adventurers have to conquer.
Each player has their own cards: their heroes (up to 3) which start in play, and a deck of at least 50 cards, composed of allies, attachments (such as weapons, armor, and other items) and events. Although the core set comes with pre-constructed decks, deck construction is a major aspect of the game, and many players build their own decks, utilising cards from the various expansions.
The Lord of the Rings Living Card Game has an active following, with multiple podcasts and blogs dedicated to discussing gameplay, strategy, deck-building and news, as well as providing custom content.