Lord of the Rings Duel for Middle Earth: First Thoughts 

I had the same initial reaction to the game but upon a closer look my opinion changed. I own a game (Canopy) where Vincent Dutrait (the same artist) did the art and he's really really good, just a different style than you're used to from games such as War of the Ring.

I can see where you're coming from, Vincent Dutrait does have a distinctive style and it does differ from the classic 7 Wonders Duel and other Lord of the Rings games, but I do really quite like it, it has a wonderfully fantastical and ethereal quality to it which lends itself well to the theme. The gameplay though is what will keep this game coming back to the table, it really is a fabulous game

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No, there's none of that here. Both players have access to the same actions throughout the game. The closest you get to asymmetry is with the pursuit of the hobbits, where blue cards advance you along the track (the route to mount doom), the hobbits obviously get closer to their goal, whereas the riders close that gap down. This is the only variable end game condition: either the hobbits destroy the ring or get captured by the ring wraiths (or a military/area dominance victory or highest points if none of the former)

Glad we could be of assistance!

Maybe you hate both, but 7 Wonders Duel is very different than 7 Wonders.

@@KissellMissile I do hate both. 7 Wonders more than duel, but still.

I had the same reaction to playing 7 Wonders the first (only) time. I have since tried and been playing 7WDuel as an app and it's a decent enough game. But 7WDuel with a LotR setting and with Vincent du Trait as sole artist...for me is the opposite of hard pass: SUATMM!!!

Steve loves LOTR but is terrible at 7 Wonders Duel, he's probably going to get angry at this one

Wow open minded