The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – The Wilds of Rhovanion

To set up 'The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – The Wilds of Rhovanion' expansion, you will need the base game. This deluxe expansion introduces new player cards, including two new heroes (Brand son of Bain and Bard son of Brand), allies, attachments, and events, which players can use to customize their decks. Additionally, it provides over 100 new encounter cards (enemies, locations, treachery cards) and three new quest scenarios: 'Journey Up the Anduin', 'Lost in Mirkwood', and 'The King's Quest'. Players will choose one of these scenarios to play, assembling the corresponding quest deck and encounter deck as instructed by the scenario rules.

The primary objective in 'The Wilds of Rhovanion' is cooperative: players work together to successfully complete one of the three included adventure scenarios. Each scenario presents a unique narrative and a series of quest cards that must be advanced through. Players must manage their heroes' threat levels, defeat enemies, explore locations, and overcome treachery cards drawn from the encounter deck to progress through the quest stages and ultimately achieve victory for the fellowship.

A turn in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game' involves several phases. Players first draw cards and gain resources. Then, they commit heroes and allies to quests to make progress, potentially facing enemies and locations from the encounter deck. Combat ensues if enemies engage, followed by a refresh phase where characters ready for the next round. Players strategically use their hero, ally, and event cards to overcome the challenges presented by the encounter deck, aiming to advance the current quest card.

As a cooperative Living Card Game, 'The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – The Wilds of Rhovanion' does not involve traditional scoring. Instead, success is measured by the collective achievement of the players in completing the chosen adventure scenario. Players either win by successfully navigating all stages of the quest and fulfilling its victory conditions, or they lose if all their heroes are defeated, their threat level becomes too high, or the encounter deck runs out of cards.

A game of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game – The Wilds of Rhovanion' concludes in one of two ways. Players achieve victory if they successfully complete the final stage of the current quest scenario, having overcome all its challenges and fulfilled its specific victory conditions. Conversely, players are defeated if any hero's threat level reaches 50 or more, all heroes controlled by a single player are eliminated, or the encounter deck is depleted, signifying the overwhelming power of the forces of evil.