Free League Publishing has announced new entry points into Middle-earth roleplaying, with two starter sets slated for a summer release. The publisher will release parallel sets for both its bespoke system, The One Ring, and its popular D&D-compatible line, The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying 5E.
Both sets are scheduled for release on July 31st and will be available at Gen Con, through the Free League webstore, and at hobby retailers. For those who prefer digital, they will also land on DriveThruRPG on the same day.
The adventure contained in the boxes, Over Hill and Under Hill, sends a fledgling company of heroes into the rugged, houseless hills of northern Eriador. The premise begins in the familiar comfort of The Prancing Pony in Bree, where a mysterious hunter’s tale of a gathering darkness prompts the heroes into action. The adventure is designed to be a perfect introduction to the world, set in the fascinating period between the events of The Hobbit and the start of The Lord of the Rings.
Each starter set is designed to be a comprehensive, beginner-friendly package. Inside, players will find:
- A condensed rulebook covering the essentials of action, combat, councils, and journeys.
- The complete adventure module, Over Hill and Under Hill.
- A large, full-colour map of Eriador, with a combat map on the reverse.
- A selection of cardboard standees for Player-heroes and their Adversaries.
- Five pre-generated and illustrated characters to allow play to begin immediately.
- A set of custom dice, which differs between the two boxes.
The dice are a key differentiator. The One Ring Starter Set includes two 12-sided Feat Dice and six 6-sided Success Dice, all engraved with custom symbols specific to that game’s mechanics. In contrast, The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying 5E Starter Set contains a complete set of transparent polyhedral dice, including two d20s marked with the Rune of Gandalf and the Eye of Sauron.
This marks a continued expansion of Free League’s Middle-earth offerings. As Geek Native has previously covered, the publisher has successfully helmed the second edition of The One Ring since acquiring the licence. The game, originally designed by Francesco Nepitello and Marco Maggi, was first published by Cubicle 7 in 2011. Following a contractual issue, the licence moved to Free League in 2020, who Kickstarted a successful second edition. That campaign introduced a starter set focused on The Shire, making this new Eriador-based adventure a welcome alternative starting point for new players.
Both starter sets are now available for pre-order from the Free League webstore for $29.99 USD. A pre-order grants immediate access to a complete PDF of the contents, allowing would-be adventurers to prepare for their journey well in advance of the physical release on July 31st.
You can obtain the core Lord of the Rings 5e rules and the current The One Ring Starter Set (in a different version) from Amazon. Yes, it’s Prime Day, but neither are discounted, and both are down to the last few books.
