The One Ring tabletop RPG is getting a major update, and this will launch alongside multiple expansions for the award-winning Lord of the Rings game.
Revealed via a crowdfunding campaign on Backerit, this wave of content is being pitched as a "new age" for the tabletop RPG that allows you to adventure across some of the most iconic Lord of the Rings locations – as well as crossing swords with its best villains. Besides the updated One Ring rules, a campaign book is being produced that takes us to Gondor and Rohan along with a bestiary that lists the many foes of Middle-earth. Both will be launched with D&D-compatible versions as well.
If you don't want to wait for the updated core rules, you can always dive in with the current starter set (available via Amazon). This is a great intro to The One Ring system and won't be too drastically different to the upcoming revamp, so it should serve as the perfect intro.
I'll be honest with you; The One Ring is hands down one of my favorite roleplaying games, and it takes pride of place in our list of the best tabletop RPGs because it's so well done. Its mechanics are elegant and easy to learn, yet impactful. The books are also jam-packed with lore, gorgeous artwork that hews close to J.R.R Tolkien's vision for Middle-earth, and an aesthetic which feels as though it's been taken straight from the novels. It truly feels like Lord of the Rings in a way not all tie-in projects do, so this revamp has me doing a Gollum-style "my precious" impression right off the bat. If you're a fan of the series, you need to check it out.
It feels like there's never been a better time. While the updated core rulebook won't change a lot, it apparently clarifies certain mechanics to make learning them easier. Plus, this fresh drop provides an entirely new campaign (The White Tower and the Hall of Gold) that takes us somewhere we've not seen in the tabletop RPG before – the southern kingdoms of Men, Rohan and Gondor. It's unclear what this will involve, but judging by the interior artwork shared on Backerit, our journey may lead us into the Dimholt… AKA the halls of the dead that Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli brave during Return of the King.
Throw in a bestiary (Creatures Strange and Foul) with foes like the Ringwraiths and you've got the tools you need to create any kind of adventure set across the breadth of Middle-earth.
It's unclear when these books will be released, but we should have details before long – the Backerit campaign is "coming soon." Fans can also apparently get beta PDF copies "months ahead of the official release" if they back the project.
While we're lacking details at the time of writing, I've seen enough projects from developer Free League to be confident in it. These are the folks behind the superb Alien RPG and numerous other very well-received systems like Vaesen, for example, so I'd be surprised if this Lord of the Rings update wasn't good. Basically, I'd recommend watching this one closely.
This isn't the only tabletop game earning an upgrade; a beloved, long out-of-print horror board game is getting a revamp, and I can't wait.
- See all The One Ring products at Amazon
