Middle-Earth Quest

Setting up Middle-Earth Quest involves laying out the detailed regional map of Middle-Earth, distributing player boards for heroes like Aometh and Beravor, and preparing the various decks including hero cards, shadow cards, training cards, and event cards. The shadow pool is populated with influence tokens, and starting trackers are set according to scenario guidelines.

The game pits two opposing sides against each other: the heroes strive to explore regions, complete narrative quests, and eliminate corruption, whereas Sauron aims to corrupt the lands of Middle-Earth, advance his influence tracker, and plunge the realm into darkness before the heroes can stop him.

A game turn proceeds sequentially through hero turns, where characters perform rest, ambush, travel, and encounter steps by playing cards from their hands, followed by Sauron's turn. Heroes can utilize mounts for extra movement, while encounters resolve unique narrative events and award favor or training.

Rather than traditional point scoring, players monitor the story track, influence pools, and corruption tracks. Sauron removes and adds influence tokens dynamically based on encounters and hero failures, measuring the spreading shadow.

The game concludes when specific narrative milestones are met, or when Sauron completely fills his corruption tracks and influence metrics, securing a dark victory, or when heroes successfully thwart his plans.