Okay, I'm really excited to finally get some info on the game.  And I know I'll probably get it despite the price tag.  But I am a bit disappointed there isn't a hobbit playable character! 

he he who cares. Wow i wonder who the designer is, the artwork is gorgeous, FFG has really evolved during the years. Lets hope the game mechanics and its as fun as play as it looks

Somebody said he learned it was Corey Konieczka and Christian Peterson. So there is no way I am missing this game.

Hobbitses ... we hates them! 

No doubt there will be a Hobbit/Shire expansion, eh?

I agree...both on the hates and expansion part.

It has a Dwarf....what else is really needed

OD

Elves?  Has it got elves?  I must use elves.  Nothing better than using Legolas and headshotting 3 orcs with 1 shot

Okay, the game DOES look sweet despite the fact that there aren't any hobbit characters (to play as or kill!)  At least the other major races are represented!

Old Dwarf said:

Seconded!...

Knuckles Eki said:

One of the characters is an elf.

JerusalemJones said:

Say no more, I must get it

Down the road there needs to be an expansion for evil characters, who will work to find clues about the ring as well, but for the benefit of Sauron, not the good guys. The same game but just reverse the roles and goals.

No Hobbits definately vastly increases my interest in this game. I HATE Hobbits too. Mainly because of Middle-Earth ccg (the ICE one, not the movie tie-in).

Then again, Age of Conan is still on my to-buy list. So many games, so little money, so little time to play .

TheDukester said:

No, my precious. Hobbitses are good....with salt and pepper, they are.

80$ is a stiff price tag for me to get any game....much less a board game. The rules, yet to be released, better shine with the sun to make it worth justifying to the wife; especially with layoffs looming in the future.

There is an elf, a dwarf, a ranger, a human from Gondor and a rider of Rohan.  Only three playable at a time, but those are the choices.