The setup is pretty easy and both start with men and tower tokens which you play throughout the game. You also start with coins. The main part to get your head around is that there is three stages or rounds to the gameplay. Each round has their own set of cards and each stage gets harder to play but in return you get higher benefits. You will have a layout of cards for each round and you take your turns either pulling a card or taking a location tile (this are limited per round and provide you with extra benefits). You have a central map where you will have 7 locations to play your men/towers. You can also move your men with certain cards. You also have a timeline where Frodo and Sam and Sauron will progress throughout the game. Movement on this is given through cards and you will get benefits along the way to your goal. 

Types of cards

• Ring cards; progress you on the timeline - blue
• Race cards; if you have two of the same, you get abilities - green
• Gold cards; give you gold - yellow
• Movement cards; allow you to place men/towers - reds
• Skill cards; allow you to buy and play other cards - grey
• Purple cards come in the final round, these allow you to remove your opponents men/coins to place them at a disadvantage

Other cards are introduced as you go further through the game but I am aiming to give a brief overview. 

To take cards every turn, you need skills. These build up as you go and if you do not possess the right skills, you will need to pay coins. You can also discard cards to get coins.

The main aim is to build up your cards, place your men on the locations on the map to secure your place in middle earth.  

How to win?

• Occupy all 7 locations
• Reach mount doom or catch Frodo and Sam
• Have all 6 allies of races