This is another board game simulating a battle from the works of Tolkien. It is billed as "a LORE Product. Div. of JMJ Enterprises" which is evidently the trade name for another individual designer, Larry Smith. Like HELM's DEEP it comes without box. The "board" is 19"x25". with brown and blue inks on cream-colored, fairly heavy paper. The rules are in a 12-page ( counting covers) 5 x 8 1/2" booklet, offset printed, type-set. The unit counters are die cut, printed in black-on-white and white-on-black on very thin cardboard.

The situation simulated is the climactic battle from Tolkien's THE HOBBIT. with armies of men. of elves, and of dwarves on one side, against the armies of goblins and of wolves on the other. There are also counters for the eagles, Beorn (the Bearman), and Gandalf (the wizard) - all allies of the dwarves.

The battle, as described by Tolkien. is simulated quite accurately-except that no provision is made for the goblins to ride on the wolves, as happened in the book. Combat is by fairly conventional boardgame procedures, except that there are no zones of control. (But whenever goblins and dwarves move adjacent to each other they must fight!)

This game is less innovative than HELM'S DEEP, but has more Tolkien flavor about it than HD does. It costs more ($4.50), but it has a larger map and more (and die-cut) units. It is available from Larry Smith, 2525 Via Campesina No. 203. Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274.

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