So what does the expansion really give you?

[irishman]

I posted this message over at BGG with no reply so far. Im very pleased to find this board, as its information really tipped me over the edge to purchasing the game.

So I have the basic set, and Im getting ready to play my first games. My question is this: I also bought FFG's DOOM, and was instructed by most people that I really needed to buy the Expansion to make the game palatable. I bought both at the same time and have never played DOOM without the expantion.

Is this the same for War of the Ring? Since Im not interested in playing the two new scenarios right away, what do I really get in the expansion to expand the Base game?. So far, from what I ready, It seems like you get:

Some Siege Engines
A new Witch King card
A Golum Figure

It seems as if the game is good enough as it is, and I dont NEED these components to have a fun base game. Am I correct or incorrect in this?

thanks

Dharman.

[Veldrin]

Welcome to the board, I trust you have found the main site (home.rixtele.com/~charmtroll/wotr/) as well.

The basic game has enough playtime in it for you to be satisfied for a very long time. BUT as you and your opponents get better at it you will find that the Shadow has a slight advantage (I'd say it about 60-40 in favor of the Shadow).

The expansion is in no way a need to buy in order to play and enjoy the basic game. BUT it fixes most of the balance issues and it provides you with the new game in which you can play the battles for Rohan and Gondor.

The expansion adds the following to the main game:

• Siege Engines for both sides which in short makes the sieges more costly for the Shadow if the Free Peoples have Action dice to invest in a defensive Siege Engine.
  
  
• The Balrog (with his own miniature) which now can be mustered by the Shadow to make the route through Moria more difficult and not dependent on the Balrog card as it is in the main game.
  
  
• A new version of the Witch-King (with his own miniature) which is tailored to Hunt the Fellowship but isn't as powerful as the Black Captain version in the main game.
  
  
• Sméagol. What if he was captured before Frodo and Sam were alone? Now you can find out.
  
  
• Galadriel (with her own miniature). A real powerhouse who makes Lórien a really though nut to crack and sha can aid the Fellwoship in avoiding Corruption.
  
  
• The Hillmen of Dunland (with miniatures) as a Faction under the Isengard nation. They are the Shadow's cannon fodder.
  
  
• The Corsairs of Umbar (with miniatures). The ships can now reach all the coast of western Middle Earth.
  
  
• The Ents (with miniatures). Still dependant on the Event Cards but now the FP can decide where they will unleash their anger.
  
  
• New Event cards.
  

[glow=green,2,300]Veldrin[/glow]

[Lord Aragorn]

I recomended you to buy it. You will not regret it.