We play it with either 4or 5 players....seemed fine to me.

Already, the less players there are, the easier the game seems to be.  The only games I've won were 2-player games.

As for expansions, I like F&F since it does add something else to do in the game, and gives more variety.

Once we figured out the base game, we could win just about every time, no matter the number of players.

I like the F&F the best, because of the military victory option and the option to skip scenarios.  We preferred to skip certain scenarios and win the game at Mt. Doom rather than a military victory (using the Black Gate promo card).  Most of our games were 3 or 4-player, but I do recall losing a 2-player game once.

I've only played with the Sauron expansion in 3-player games (2 hobbits + Sauron), and Sauron won handily each time (2 or 3 times, not sure which).  I am not sure if this was because we were also playing with the F&F expansion.

I've never played with the Battlefields expansion with a group.  I did an experiment by myself to try it with all the other expansions, and the hobbits lost very quickly, so I did not get a very good feel for it.

Quizoid said:

Quizoid, 

do you still an extra promo package (including "the black gate") for sale or trade :-) ?

many thanks in advance for your help !

My favorite is also friends & foes adding new elements to the game and beautiful artwork on the cards ... also i didn´t know there was a promotion version featuring the black gate ??

OldUrmel said:

Maybe sheds some light:

www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/405785

thanks a lot to dam :o)

My favorite expansion is friends&Foes

My favorite expansion is Sauron (allthough i don't have battlefields), because in most games with F&F  expansion the only thing added to the game was length. (2 more scenarios) In our group we find it more fun to have a one against all rather than a all against board feeling. When i play it with my brother in law we always include F&F. For me, i like the game anyhow, so my choice is to include both. (if you have enough players)

enjoy

Ace Kaussner said:

You know you can (and really should) skip scenarios when using F&F ? I like F&F primarily because no more is drawing an Activity tile first all good and no bad.

I *really* liked Friends and Foes, and we never play unless we use those extra boards. The boards are great, Amon Hen and Isengard. Extra cards are useful, and even fighting the Foes is interesting. It is true that sometimes players start focusing on defeating the Foes than playing through the game, but eh, it's still fun :)

Sauron is an interesting expansion, and my brother refuses to play unless Sauron is in the game. I think it detracts from the game, giving different focuses to a relatively difficult game as-is, but some people like the 1 vs. All games.

I have Battlefields, briefly read the rules, but haven't played LotR since I picked it up :(

-shnar

I completed my LotR set this month by getting the Sauron expansion, partially in anticipation for MEQ. I have to say Sauron exp has been a surprise hit. Haven't even dared try it with 2 hobbits, even 3 hobbits, Sauron at 12 hasn't been beaten yet (today things ended at the first space in Shelob's Lair ). I think the Foresight that came with the Sauron expansion is cursed or something, yet again managed to draw 1 Good, 4 Bad ones using it.

I think Friends and Foes is the best; it adds a lot to the game.

I like the idea of the Sauron expansion but it really fails because it's painfully boring to be the Sauron player.

I'd go for the Sauron expansion. As said earlier the hobbits should take the bad guy at the table in consideration. Wich makes it harder for them to deliberate.