In this article we review Ruins of Eriador, the setting module for The Lord of the Rings – The Roleplaying Game compatible with D&D 5e.
The game is available in English on the Free League website for 438 crowns, just over €38, including the digital version.
Since this is an expansion module, you need the core manual we have already discussed to play.
This module delves into the territories of southern Eriador in 127 pages, laid out as always with care and elegance. We specify that this is the 5e version of Ruins of the Lost Realm, the equivalent manual for The One Ring. We therefore leave you with all the in-depth information in Stefano’s review.
A New Territory to Explore
As we were saying, the manual deals with the territory and the setting of southern Eriador, an area of Middle-earth to which J.R.R. Tolkien dedicated little space in his extensive literary production.
Therefore, the Free League Publishing team has decided to include much original material in this module. Even if not present in Tolkien’s books, it helps to create an experience characterized by the scent and magic of Middle-earth. In this way, a region often described as deserted can become the starting point for a huge amount of adventures and offer many hours of gameplay.
Ruins of Eriador Aesthetics Review
The manual fits perfectly into the dedicated editorial line with its 127 clean, tidy, aesthetically beautiful pages. All the illustrations are small works of art and the skills of Antonio De Luca (who curated the cover) make the whole almost a collector’s item.
The maps, which are definitely more than sufficient in number given the nature of the text, are not only beautiful but also clear that they can be used directly in the session.
The double-column layout fully conveys the Tolkienian atmosphere. Thanks to soft colours and the elegant aesthetic of the boxed pages, images, tables and text blend together without anything ever overpowering the rest.
Three Chapters of Insights
The volume is divided into three chapters that delve into the most important places in Eriador, and its threats and offer ideas for adventures. In this way, each gaming group will have everything they need to tackle this territory with tailor-made stories.
Fog Over Eriador expands the information and knowledge of the land, including regions of southern Eriador that were once part of the kingdom of Arnor.
A Gathering Storm provides the Game Master with multiple narrative elements tied to the threats present in the manual. The ideas are truly remarkable and the team at Free League Publishing has not only structured the story of each opponent but also offers the potential conflicts and alternatives available to the Game Master.
Landmarks, instead, is concerned with listing the landmarks of the area presented in the first chapter. Here groups can find the maps and NPCs of the various places distributed in the region.
Fundamental Insights Box
Ruins of Eriador, as we have seen in this review, is not just a setting expansion manual. Each element is addressed with extreme care and precision, integrating NPCs and organizations from each territory. The locations are presented in a concise but never-sparse manner. Furthermore, something very interesting, the rumours related to each place are also provided, so that the Game Master can decide which approach to take to face the possible plots.
What I particularly appreciated is the choice to insert them in boxes that not only focus attention on the topic but create a real decoration in the text, breaking the “monotony” of the text-only pages.
A Territory to Explore Palm by Palm
From my point of view, one of the most remarkable elements of this product is the maps curated by Francesco Mattioli and Niklas Brandt.
Necessary to be able to play the third chapter of this volume, they describe in a timely and precise way every place proposed to explore. From the old dwarven mines to the Ruins of Fornost, the clean line and the detail of each map allows you not only to use them directly but also provide suggestions that perfectly convey the atmosphere sought by the setting.
Ruins of Eriador Review Conclusions
As already mentioned, perhaps the most famous role-playing game in the world probably does not have a narrative style perfectly aligned with that of Tolkien’s work. However, the mechanical adaptations and the great mastery of the sources by the authors allow you to approach this manual with ease and immerse yourself in Middle Earth with the right spirit.
If you love D&D5e and the imagery created by Tolkien, get ready to explore Eriador!
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