Sponsored.  Award-winning designer Matt Leacock and Z-Man Games (a pairing responsible for, among other hits, Pandemic Legacy: Season 1, the second-highest rated game on BoardGameGeek across all categories at the time of this article) are back with a highly-anticipated addition to the lineup: The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship!  Players will each control two iconic characters and work together to destroy The One Ring (and accomplish a variety of other thematic objectives).

In each game, players will select objectives from a set of iconic moments in the story, culminating in destroying The One Ring.  Choose from premade scenarios, pick randomly, or select your own set of story beats as objectives to complete!  Then, use your characters' special actions and some strategic planning with your friends to fight against the forces of Mordor – will you sneak past the hordes and Nazgûl by relying on stealth?  Overwhelm the shadow strongholds with troops and heroic valor to prevent Sauron’s forces from getting a foothold in the rest of Middle-earth?  Will you follow in the footsteps of The Fellowship's canonical journey?  Carve out your own path of what you think they should have done?  Now, these choices (and the fate of Middle-earth) are in your hands!

With 24 unique objective cards, 5 different difficulty levels, and 13 characters with asymmetrical abilities, The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship can be replayed almost endlessly even with the same group, and Leacock went even further and designed a way to play solo that still highlights the strengths of each character.  Whether you're a fan of The Lord of the Rings, an enjoyer of games built on the Pandemic System, or just looking for a new cooperative game, The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship is an excellent addition to your shelf!  Mechanics and theme come together beautifully in characters, objectives, and events; the art and components immerse the players in the world; difficulty can be fine-tuned to your playgroup’s preference; and you and your friends will get to create your own narrative as you maneuver the forces of good through Middle-earth to overcome the threat of Mordor.

Pandemic has long been known as a great gateway game because of its cooperative nature, replayability, and simplicity in actions.  After a couple of turns, new players will understand the simple yet rewarding turn structure and action economy, the increasing threat on the board, and which things their characters excel at–The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship keeps these elements and adds in a fan-favorite setting, with mechanics that play into the setting in a way that will delight LotR fans.  If you're looking to get that Legolas-loving friend of yours into board games, this upcoming release is the perfect time!

The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship is a cooperative game for 1-5 players, with an average game time of 90 minutes.  Brick & mortar stores that pre-order now can secure their allocation of Gandalf the White promo cards and meeples, an exclusive offered for free through Asmodee's Hobby Next retailer program.

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