The Shadow of Sauron rises in the East. For each turn, I indicate the number of dice placed into the Hunt Pool on purpose with the HD number, then the dice rolled by each player with the following codes:

M = muster A = army C = character W= Will of the West P = palantir B= army/muster E = eye of Sauron

Turn 1

HD: 1
FP: PPMB
Shadow: EECAAB

Denethor peers into his Palantir as fires appear in Mordor and Isengard musters to war. Worried by this threat, Rohan musters toward war, only to see the armies of Isengard move south to meet them. Theoden King rallies his nation even closer to war. Sauron’s armies spill from Mordor, gathering in Minas Morgul. Receiving the messengers of Gondor, Riders of Theoden ride into Edoras. Pulling back from their search for the One Ring, the Nazgul collect in their tower at Minas Morgul.

Turn 2

HD: 1
FP: PPCM
Shadow: EEMPBB

Again Denethor looks into his Palantir, only to recoil in shock as the lidless eye stares back at him, from its own Palantir. The Fellowship leaves Rivendell, making their way safely for now. Saruman declares himself as the wizard of many colors. Over in Gondor, Denethor’s suspicions drive his nation closer to war. In Isengard, Saruman unveils the Palantir of Orthanc, which he will use to great effect in the coming months. Denethor is unable to keep himself away, and looks once more into the Palantir. Snide and malicious, the White Hand musters Uruks throughout his territory.

Turn 3

HD: 1
FP: PWCC
Shadow: EEPPMMA

Sauron’s spreading evil sees Monsters Roused in Angmar, the Ettenmoors, Weather Hills and Trollshaws. This abundance of monsters leads to a successful hunt for the Fellowship, who are revealed, though Frodo is still calm and stable. Sauron’s nation goes to war and the Fellowship hides, listening to the Wisdom of Gandalf. It is well that they do, for Foul Things From The Deep attempt to snare the ringbearer – unsuccessfully. The Fellowship flees with too much haste, and Gandalf falls fending off the forces of the Shadow. Shaken and distraught, the Fellowship continues (corruption 1). The Pits of Mordor spew forth orcs in Morannon, Minas Morgul and Barad Dur. Strider shows that There Is Another Way, and Frodo’s hope is renewed (corruption 0). A Great Host of Uruks attacks at the Fords of Isen. Despite the presence of The Nameless Wood, Theodred and his companies fall, the tragedy of their defeat driving Rohan to war.

Turn 4

HD: 1
FP: BPWW
Shadow: EEEPAAM

The armies of Rohan mass at Helm’s Deep, while Faramir’s men retreat from Osgiliath to Minas Tirith, ignoring Denethor’s anger at this move. On, On They Went thinks Frodo, setting himself up for future fatigue. If only he could know that Gandalf the White is arisen again in Fangorn, ready to push the Ents to war. Sensing his old friend, Saruman musters many Uruks in Isengard. With Gandalf lost, the task of hiding the Fellowship falls to the mysterious ranger, Strider. Uruks drive south like a black river. The Fellowship moves and is nearly caught. Frodo escapes only by using the Ring (corruption = 1). And yet still the Uruks drive south.

Turn 5

HD: 1
FP: PPCCB
Shadow: EPCAMBB

Legolas breaks from the Fellowship to go There and Back Again, ending his journey in the Woodland realm. The Dwarves and the men of the North, receiving word from this journey, rouse themselves. The Nazgul Strike!, just missing the Fellowship. More riders of Rohan collect at Helm’s Deep, awaiting the Uruks’ attack. The armies of Isengard build, as elites upon elites collect around Orthanc. With Nazgul on their heels, the Fellowship’s journey continues. Unsatisfied with his meager conquests, Sauron pushes the Southrons and Easterlings toward war. In the safety of Sauron’s distraction, the Fellowship moves on. Trailing behind them, Gollum hisses Give it to Usss! Galadriel uses her elven ring to help her people understand that they must move toward war. Sauron’s minions collect in the Trollshaws, their eyes on Rivendell.

Turn 6

HD: 1
FP: CCBWW
Shadow: EECCCMB

Following Strider’s lead, the Fellowship journeys ever onward, though they are Worn With Sorrow And Toil. Unable to put of action any longer, Strider leaves the Fellowship in Gimli’s care and races South to Minas Tirith. As Sauron calls Many Kings to the Service of Mordor, Stiders reveals that he is Aragorn, Heir to Isildur. Preparing to crush any threat to their master’s plans, Nazgul fly to Dimril Dale and Far Harad. More riders collect at Helm’s Deep while Southrons travel to Near Harad to prepare for war. Aragorn issues the Challenge of the King, but Sauron has no time for a mortal, even a descendant of kings; he drives the Southrons and Easterlings to war.

Turn 7

The Fellowship arrives in Lorien, letting the beauty of the Forest heal their wounds (corruption = 0).

HD: 1
FP: CPMMBW
Shadow: ECAAMBB

Alas, duty trumps newfound love. Gimli leads the Fellowship out of Lorien. Southron armies collect at Umbar, waiting. Prompted by the words of Galadriel, the elves declare war. Corsairs of Umbar sail their black ships across the ocean, disgorging a massive army of Southrons onto the docks of Dol Amroth. Dol Amroth’s defenders retreat behind its high walls and Gondor goes to war, mustering more men in Minas Tirith. A Southron Onslaught hits Dol Amroth, wiping out its brave defenders. The first Free Peoples city falls. Leaders appear in Minas Tirith and Helm’s Deep, ready to keep these fortresses free of the touch of evil. Sauron’s armies pass into South Ithilien, to make sure Minas Tirith falls next. The Fellowship, nearly forgotten, continues on its way in relative peace. More armies of Sauron pass through South Ithilien, their leading troops now filling the abandoned streets of Osgiliath. Curiously, it is at this moment that Boromir takes up the Horn of Gondor, ready to call for help when he must. Were he home, that time would be now. The shadow attacks at Minas Tirith. The Nazgul are Cruel as Death, but Aragorn’s Daring Defiance stymies them, and the Gondorians retreat behind the great walls of the white city. Sauron insists that the city fall. The Witch King arrives.

Turn 8

HD: 1
FP: CCCMBB
Shadow: ECCCPPAM

The Ents Awake and Huorns cripple Uruks on the periphery of Orthanc. Immediately after, The Ents continue to Awake, and Treebeard himself arrives. Orthanc falls. Saruman is no more. The King is Revealed in Gondor, spurring the arrival of more orcs in Morannon. Gimli leads the Fellowship to Mordor, evading the minions of evil. The Witch King’s Onslaught breaks against the Valour of Minas Tirith’s defenders, backing off in disarray. Aragorn seizes this great opportunity; the army of Gondor sallies forth from Minas Tirith, encircling and destroying the Witch King’s army. Three Ringwraiths fall, the Witch King permanently. Sauron rages, driving Southron armies into Osgiliath and North Ithilien. More leaders arrive in Helm’s Deep and Minas Tirith. There are Orcs Multiplying Again in Dol Guldur and Mount Gundabad. Gandalf the White rides Shadowfax to Helm’s Deep to bolster the defense there as a Shadow army leaves Dol Guldur for Lorien.

Turn 9

HD: 1
FP: PAMMBW
Shadow: EEEMMA

More skilled soldiers muster in Minas Tirith, their hearts buoyed by the slain evil around the white walls. Hill Trolls test their strength by destroying buildings in Osgiliath, waiting for their chance to strike. Even more soldiers ride into Minas Tirith, waiting for the second attack. Following the scent of an elven ring, Ringwraiths Are Abroad, landing near Lorien and starting an assault. Galadriel’s soldiers retreat into the strength of the woods. The Fellowship missteps and is briefly discovered, before Gimli hides them in the muck of Emyn Muil. Elven riders collect in the Woodland Realm. Sauron continues his Mustering of a Long-Planned War, building more armies in Gorgoroth and Nurn.

Turn 10

HD: 1
FP: CCCCBW
Shadow: EPAMMB

The Fellowship moves again. They are very near their goal, now. Sauron musters trolls in Minas Morgul. He wants to break Minas Tirith. Frodo reveals Bilbo’s old possessions, the Mithril Coat and Sting. Sauron’s armies leave Mordor, moving toward Minas Tirith. More elves ride into the Woodland Realm. Sauron’s armies attack Minas Tirith yet again, driving its defenders behind the great walls once more. Capitalizing on this distraction, the Fellowship moves undetected, Ringwraiths reappear in Minas Morgul and Mount Gundabad, ready to kill. The Fellowship moves and is discovered, but the call of the Horn of Gondor saves them from much additional harm (corruption = 1). Dark things stir in Shelob’s Lair, waiting for the bearer of hated light to come. The Fellowship happens upon the healing herb Athelas, which brings Frodo some peace (corruption = 0).

Turn 11

The Fellowship enters into Mordor. One way or another, the end is nigh.

HD: 4
FP: PCCMWW
Shadow: CCC

Sensing war at her doorstep, Galadriel looks into a Palantir that she has had in her secret collection for years. Frodo quietly tells himself that The Ring is Mine! The presence of Gimli ensures that the spirit of the Axe and Bow is with the Fellowship, however. Nazgul cast Dreadful Spells at Lorien, but can do nought to its magically-shielded defenders. The Fellowship moves on through the dread lands of Mordor and is found. The spirit of axe and bow delays the darkness and Frodo escapes (corruption = 0). The shadow strikes at Lorien! The Relentless Assault takes a harsh toll, despite the Valour of Lorien’s defenders, and the elven stronghold falls. Gimli once again hides the hobbits among the pits, as Nazgul sweep overhead, moving to the siege at Minas Tirith and the Armies at Dol Amroth and Trollshaws. The Fellowship drives onward through the dark passage, only to run into Shelob herself. Gimli dies buying Frodo time, as he slips on his ring and escapes to meet up with Boromir and the other hobbits, who will continue to feel worn with sorrow and toil every time one of their number falls (corruption = 3). The Southron army sweeps into Lamedon, and the elves of Rivendell bolster their numbers.

Turn 12

HD: 4* (more than the allowed number of hunt dice were placed, but this didn’t make much of a difference)
FP: MBCCWW
S: PCCB

The Fellowship tries to travel onward and is caught in the gaze of the lidless eye. Boromir draws the forces of evil away at the cost of his life and Frodo and the others travel on, shaken and sorrowful (corruption = 5). It is truly a Day Without Dawn. The Will of the West is depleted. Even so, more troops ride into Rivendell, awaiting the Shadow’s strike. Sauron’s armies yet again test the walls of Minas Tirith. Though Dread and Despair washes over the defenders like a sickly tide, Daylight drives the shadow back with many casualties. The orcs chant, We Come to Kill but the Valour of Gondor wins the day. The assault ends. Deep in Mordor, the Fellowship, now down to only four hobbits, hides. Unwilling to lose another army to a a surprise attack from within Minas Tirith, Sauron’s army retreats into Osgiliath, giving the opportunity for more troops to move into the white city ahead of the threat of Southrons from the southeast. Troops also muster in Rivendell, as Nazgul fly to the Fords of Isen, preparing to assault Helm’s Deep.

Turn 13

HD: 4 (Again, too many hunt dice.)
FP: CCCPPP
S: PAB

Risking his very soul, Denethor again peers into his Palantir, where he spies the Southron army crushing the lone company defending Pelargir. Where Sauron’s orcs could not take Minas Tirith, perhaps oliphaunts and men of the south will. On the slopes of Mount Doom, Sam pulls out his Elven Rope, hoping it might aid them in a moment of need. The shadow’s war machine rolls ever on, as the Southron horde takes Lassernach and more orcs mass in Minas Morgul. Hoping to spy the weapon of the enemy, Denether consults his Palantir, but to no avail, as all he sees is fire and shadow. The Fellowship moves and blunders right into the path of Sauron’s minions. Pippin bravely leads them astray as Frodo slips invisibly away. Now only Merry and Sam are left to help him (corruption = 7). A Nazgul Search reveals the Fellowship in their time of peril, forcing them to spend valuable time to hide, and delaying them long enough that poor Merry must later fall so Frodo can escape (corruption = 7). Gollum will now lead them the rest of the way.

(Note that the Nazgul Search was a misplay, as the Ring track is on zero when the Fellowship is in Mordor.)

Turn 14

HD: 2
FP: PPPPCC
S: PPCCA

Resting against cracked volcanic slopes, Frodo sings Bilbo’s Song and finds the strength to go on (corruption = 5). The Southron armies advance on Minas Tirith. Putting his faith in Frodo, Aragorn pulls his forces back within the city’s walls. His faith is well placed, as Frodo and Sam make their way into Orodruin and cast the One Ring into the fire, where it is destroyed (final corruption = 6).


This was my opponent’s first game and he had some bad luck in hunting and executing sieges, which gave me a fair cushion for the Fellowship. I think he’ll also manipulate the political track a bit better in the future – an early attack on Rohan let them reinforce quite a bit at Helm’s Deep. Similarly, the strike that took Dol Amroth was not followed by a strike at Minas Tirith, giving that city a lot of time to build up. At game’s end, the Shadow held Dol Amroth, Lorien and Pelargir, and didn’t have a quick way to make up the difference. The loss of the Witch King following his failed assault on Minas Tirith is also an error I don’t think will be repeated (though the Ent double-tap on Orthanc wasn’t predictable, and could happen to anyone).