Customer Reviews

Night of the Nazgul (Tolkien Quest)

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All of the Tolkien Quest solo adventures are enjoyable for the 10-13yr old interested in Middle Earth or just fantasy role playing. Be prepared to help the FRP novice along at first, and to provide some encouragement in getting started. This one is set in the Shire, and includes mystery and ample adventure. If you can locate the Tolkien Quest series solo adventures used I highly recommend them for your kids!

Night of the Nazgul is the first in a series of solo RPG/board game books published by Iron Crown Enterprises in the 1980s. Each complete book was published with two detachable full color hex maps bound with the text - so be careful when purchasing one of these game books used as the adventures are unplayable without the maps.

Night of the Nazgul begins in Bree a few days before Frodo leaves Hobbiton with the One Ring. Strider pulls "you" aside and gives you the task of warning the Shire inhabitants about the coming of the Nazgul and the forces of Sauron. He gives you basic supplies and sends you on your way. The maps and encounter texts allow for alot of free exploration, but a true "victory" is only achieved by quickly achieving the goals set by Strider of warning the different Shire communities. There is a "time keeping" element that pushes the game along and if you don't move quickly the Shire communities are destroyed by Sauron.

In the adventure a player will encounter Aragorn and Barliman Butterbur, but may also encouter the Nazgul, Tom Bombadil, other Rangers, Gaffer Gamgee, Gildor, Old Man Willow, and Barrow Wights. Additionally, you may encouter orcs, wolves, Dunlendings, snakes, surly hobbits and vicious farmers and monks. Finally, knowledge of Tolkien and specifically the Shire will actually help you win this adventure which I found personally gratifying. With my first attempt I won quickly and easily, but wasn't disappointed because on my second attempt when I deviated slightly from what I knew should have been the best strategy based on the books - I didn't fare nearly as well. I highly recommend this game book for children and adults with an interest in Tolkien gaming.

First, this is a fast and simple game to learn. I have just finished a game using the Basic rules this morning and I got the book in the mail just yesterday evening. It helps that I have some dice and have played role playing games before - but anybody can get into it.
The best part about it is really the set up. You move about on a map, trying to finish your goals, which in this case is warning the hobbits of the coming Black Riders. What pathway, which direction, you take is up to you. Making sure to listen to Strider's advice will help greatly. Also knowledge of the novels, which are set in the future relative to the game book, will also help you. A lot of the encounters and events really depend on which course you take across the map. I only had to fight once, against some highwaymen, because at one point I decided to travel too close to a road. I was lucky to meet a few characters from the novels and not run into any of the Nazgul. I don't care how powerful or well armed you may think you are - no way you can handle a Nazgul.
Now, the book comes with a character already finished for you to use or you can make your own. And you can play the Basic or Advanced version of the game. I suggest Basic unless you have played a role playing game before. I played the Basic because the system is new to me, not like AD&D or WoD.
I plan to save my stats and use them on the next game. That way I will already have a character with whose stats merits and flaws I already know. In other words I will know what he sucks at and what he is good at. I wonder if I can also use the equipment I still have in the next Quest?