War of the Ring (1977)

War of the Ring. On a large map of Middle Earth, armies are mustering and heroes are readying to fight the shadow spreading out of Mordor. The game is played on two levels. Both sides (or three if someone wants to play Saruman) have great armies that battle in a typical wargame style while another game is going on at the same time with individual characters around the fate of the One Ring. In the Army game Sauron's forces are the more powerful but the free peoples get the edge in the Character game.

Highly sought after as a collectors item. It could be purchased with either a paper map or a full mounted map, and was also sold in a three-game set with the folio games Gondor and Sauron. This set is called "Middle Earth".

Magazine References:

Campaign Article Index:

• Number 84, March-April 1978
  • War of the Ring / Overlord / Yalu / Imperium / 4000 A.D. / Chivalry & Sorcery - "Thumbnail Analysis" (Review), Don Lowry

Moves Article Index:

• Number 30, December/January 1977
  • October War / The Battle for Jerusalem / War in the Pacific / Fulda Gap / Air War / The Conquerors / War of the Ring / Veracruz / Battle Fleet Mars / Wacht Am Rhein - "Designer's Notes" (Design Notes), Various
• Number 32, April/May 1977
  • Canadian Civil War / War of the Ring / Gondor / Sauron / War in the Pacific / Red Sun Rising / Up Scope! / Veracruz / A Mighty Fortress / Raid! / Descent on Crete / Bundeswehr / The Battle for Jerusalem / Air War - "Designer's Notes" (Design Notes), Various