Editing Comprehensive Rules 4.1

<big>''The below is a consolidation of all known rulings released by Decipher, including those of the [[Comprehensive Rules 4.0]], all prior rulebooks, and every [[Current Rulings Document]].  It is technically unofficial, but should contain every single ruling ever made by Decipher in an official capacity.''

====<div id="kinds of cards 2">Kinds of Cards</div>====

=====<div id="free peoples cards 2">Free Peoples Cards</div>=====

=====<div id="the one ring 2">The One Ring</div>=====

=====<div id="site 2">Site</div>=====

This symbol is used on sites from the ''[[Shadows]]'' expansion set onward, differentiating them from sites found in previous sets (which use a different compass symbol, and may also use a block symbol).

=====<div id="companion 2">Companion</div>=====

=====<div id="ally 2">Ally</div>=====

=====<div id="minion 2">Minion</div>=====

=====<div id="follower 2">Follower</div>=====

=====<div id="possession 2">Possession</div>=====

=====<div id="artifact 2">Artifact</div>=====

=====<div id="event 2">Event</div>=====

=====<div id="condition 2">Condition</div>=====

====<div id="culture 2">Culture</div>====

====<div id="vitality 2">Vitality</div>====

=====<div id="wounds 2">Wounds</div>=====

=====<div id="healing 2">Healing</div>=====

=====<div id="killed 2">Killed</div>=====

=====<div id="exert 2">Exert</div>=====

====<div id="resistance 2">Resistance</div>====

=====<div id="burdens 2">Burdens</div>=====

====<div id="signet 2">Signet</div>====

====<div id="twilight pool 2">Twilight Pool</div>====

=====<div id="twilight cost 2">Twilight Cost</div>=====

When your opponent plays a Shadow card, he must remove a number of twilight tokens from the twilight pool equal to that card's twilight cost. A Shadow card cannot be played if its twilight cost cannot be met by the tokens available in the twilight pool.

====<div id="phase actions 2">Phase Actions</div>====

====<div id="events 2">Events</div>====

====<div id="special abilities 2">Special Abilities</div>====

===<div id="setting up the game 2">Setting Up the Game</div>===

=====<div id="who goes first">Who goes first?</div>=====

=====<div id="adventure deck 1">Adventure Deck</div>=====

=====<div id="starting fellowship 2">Starting Fellowship</div>=====

=====<div id="draw deck 2">Draw Deck</div>=====

====<div id="start of turn 2">Start of Turn</div>====

====<div id="fellowship phase 2">1. Fellowship Phase</div>====

=====<div id="class 2">Class</div>=====

=====<div id="moving your fellowship 2">Moving your fellowship</div>=====

====<div id="shadow phase(s)">2. Shadow Phase(s)</div>====

====<div id="maneuver phase 2">3. Maneuver Phase</div>====

====<div id=" archery phase 2">4. Archery Phase</div>====

====<div id="assignment phase 2">5. Assignment Phase</div>====

* If your assigned companion has the keyword {{SL|defender +1}}, you may assign that character at this time to one additional unassigned minion. Defender +2 allows that companion to defend against two additional unassigned minions, and so on. A character with defender +2 (or greater) satisfies any requirement for defender +1.

====<div id="skirmish phase(s)">6. Skirmish Phase(s)</div>====

When the winning side has one or more characters with the keyword damage +1, then each losing character takes one additional wound for each {{SL|damage +1}}. (Damage +2 adds two wounds, and so on.) This is called a damage bonus, which may be added to or removed by various effects.

If the total strength of one side is at least double the total strength of the other side, all the characters on the losing side are {{SL|overwhelmed}} and killed (regardless of how many wounds or how much vitality each has). When a character is overwhelmed, that character does not take any more wounds — he simply dies.

A skirmish phase ends after all actions triggered by winning or losing that skirmish have resolved. A surviving minion or companion may skirmish again this turn if the fellowship makes another move (or if the minion has the keyword {{SL|fierce}}).

After all normal skirmishes are resolved, surviving minions with the keyword {{SL|fierce}} must be defended against a second time.

====<div id="regroup phase 2">7. Regroup Phase</div>====

=====<div id="move limit 2">Move limit</div>=====

====<div id="winning the game 2">Winning the Game</div>====

=====<div id="losing the game 2">Losing the Game</div>=====

=====<div id="draw deck 3">Draw Deck</div>=====

''Exception'': Since one copy of your Ring-bearer is always part of your starting fellowship, you may have only three copies of that character in our  

=====<div id="adventure deck 3">Adventure Deck</div>=====

Cross-references from one topic to others that provide additional rules on the same topic are listed in '''bold type'''. '''[In addition, each of these bold references are links to their corresponding section within this wiki page.]'''

For entries on individual cards, refer to {{SL|Section Three}}.

All required actions responding to a particular trigger are performed before any optional actions. After all such required actions have resolved, players may perform optional actions responding to that same trigger using the {{SL|action procedure}}. (See {{SL|response}}.)

 

(See also {{SL|stack}}.)

''Your companions and your opponent's minions are active. Your opponents' companions are not.''

''An opponent's Shadow condition on another opponent's companion is not active because that companion is not.''

''If the game text of a site has a Shadow special ability, you may use that special ability only when the active fellowship is at that site and you are a Shadow player.''

''Exception'': Site text is not active when the starting fellowships are played.

===<div id="adventure deck">adventure deck</div>===

Sites in your adventure deck do not have a site number until they are played on the adventure path. ''Exception'': See {{SL|format}}.

See also {{SL|building your deck}}, {{SL|moving your fellowship}} {{SL|setting up the game}}, {{SL|site}}.  

 

===<div id="adventure path">adventure path</div>===

See also {{SL|moving your fellowship}}, {{SL|setting up the game}}, {{SL|site}}.

 

===<div id="ahead">ahead</div>===

See also {{SL|follower}}.

===<div id="ally">ally</div>===

An ally is a {{SL|character}} that helps your companions from afar but does not move with them.

Ally cards have a home site number indicated just after the card's type, on the same line (such as Ally • Home 3 • Elf). These home site numbers all refer to adventure paths from the Fellowship block, Tower block, and King block. Allies have no home sites on adventure paths from the ''Shadows'' expansion set onward. (See {{SL|format}}.)

''An ally with a home site of 2{{Block|Tower}} has a home site only on the Tower block adventure path.''

''This doesn't mean that such an ally must take an archery wound or be assigned by the Free Peoples player to defend a skirmish, but that character is eligible to do so if the Free Peoples player so chooses.''

See also {{SL|resistance}}, {{SL|Ring-bound}}, {{SL|sanctuary}} {{SL|unbound}}.'''resistance''', '''Ring-bound''', '''sanctuary''', '''unbound'''.

===<div id="ambush">ambush</div>===

When the Free Peoples player assigns one of his characters to skirmish a minion with the keyword "ambush {{Twilight|X}}," the Shadow player who owns that minion may add {{Twilight|x}}. (See {{SL|assignment phase}}.)

''If your minion with ambush {{Twilight|2}} is assigned by the Free Peoples player, you may add two tokens to the twilight pool. The Free Peoples player may decide not to assign any characters to your minion with ambush, allowing you to assign it later in the assignment phase.''

''Desert Scout ("Ambush {{Twilight|1}}.") is equipped with Raider Bow ("Bearer is ... ambush {{Twilight|5}}."). When it is assigned to a skirmish by the Free Peoples player, the Shadow player may add {{Twilight|1}}, {{Twilight|5}}, neither, or both (as separate actions).''

===<div id="archery phase">archery phase</div>===

During this phase, players may perform archery actions (special abilities on cards in play with "Archery:" and events with that keyword) using the {{SL|action procedure}}. When all players consecutively pass, conduct archery fire.

{{SL|ally}}.)

See also {{SL|ally}}.

 

===<div id="artifact">artifact</div>===

An artifact is a unique weapon, suit of armor, or other kind of special object used by a character. Most artifacts tell you who their {{SL|bearer}} can be. Other artifacts play to your support area.

See also {{SL|transfer}}.

 

===<div id="assignment phase">assignment phase</div>===

During the assignment phase, players may perform assignment actions (special abilities on cards in play with "Assignment:" and events with that keyword) using the {{SL|action procedure}}. Many assignment actions assign a minion to a companion. You cannot do this unless both of them are unassigned.

''Frodo and Aragorn face a single Uruk-hai. The Free Peoples player assigns Aragorn to the Uruk-hai, protecting Frodo from harm. He cannot assign both companions to the Uruk-hai.''

* Companions who have the {{SL|defender +X}} keyword.

''Frodo and Aragorn face three Uruk-hai. The Free Peoples player assigns Aragorn to defend against one, and Frodo to another. This leaves one unassigned Uruk-hai, so the Shadow player assigns it, choosing to assign it to Frodo.''

Once all assignments have been made, they take effect simultaneously. (See {{SL|action}}.)

See also {{SL|ally}}, {{SL|ambush}}, {{SL|fierce}}, {{SL|unhasty}}.

===<div id="attribute bonus">attribute bonus</div>===

An attribute bonus is a positive {{SL|modifier}} for a character's strength, vitality, and/or resistance, written with a plus sign (like "+2").

 

===<div id="bearer">bearer</div>===

Each character may bear one possession or artifact of each class at one time. (See {{SL|mounted}}.)

''A character may bear only one hand weapon, only one ranged weapon, only one armor, only one cloak, and only one staff.''

See also {{SL|killed}}, {{SL|leaving play}}, {{SL|Man}}, {{SL|Shadow cards}}, {{SL|transfer}}.

===<div id="bid">bid</div>===

Players place secret bids for the right to determine who goes first in the game. (See {{SL|setting up the game}}.) The bidding is done with black tokens, which will become burdens on your Ring-bearer.

''Tom, Chuck, Tim, and Mike are playing, and the initial bids are Tom 3, Chuck 4, Tim 3, and Mike 1. Chuck wins the right to choose, and he chooses to go first (placing 4 burdens on his Ring-bearer). Tom and Tim are tied, so they flip a coin, and Tom wins the tiebreak. He chooses second (placing 3 burdens on his Ring-bearer). Tim chooses to go fourth (3 burdens), leaving third for Mike (1 burden).''

===<div id="block symbol">block symbol</div>===

The sites provided in sets from the ''[[Shadows]]'' expansion onward have a dark compass in the upper left corner. They have no site number.

''{{Card|Hobbit Stealth}} ("Skirmish: At sites 1 to 5, cancel a skirmish involving a Hobbit. At any other site, make a Hobbit strength +2.") can cancel a skirmish only at a Fellowship block site. However, this card adds its strength bonus at any other site.''

''A card which says "any site 5" works at site 5 and at site 5{{Block|Tower}}.''

See also {{SL|ally}}, {{SL|format}}, {{SL|roaming}}.

===<div id="building your deck">building your deck</div>===

You and your opponents must each have a deck built for the same {{SL|format}}.

''You may have four copies of {{Card|Aragorn, King in Exile}} in your draw deck, or you may have two copies of that card and two copies of {{Card|Aragorn, Ranger of the North}}. You cannot have four copies of each of those cards, since they have the same title (although they have different subtitles).''

''Exception'': Since one copy of your Ring-bearer is always part of your starting fellowship, you may have only three copies of that character in your draw deck.

===<div id="burden">burden</div>===

See also {{SL|active}}, {{SL|corrupted}}, {{SL|resistance}}.

===<div id="cancel">cancel</div>===

See {{SL|cost}}, {{SL|effect}}.

===<div id="card type">card type</div>===

There are ten different card types in the game: The One Ring, site, companion, ally, minion, follower, possession, artifact, event, and condition.

===<div id="character">character</div>===

===<div id="class">class</div>===

See {{SL|bearer}}.

===<div id="collector's info">collector's info</div>===

===<div id="companion">companion</div>===

A companion is a Free Peoples {{SL|character}} in your fellowship.

See also {{SL|resistance}}, {{SL|The Rule of 9}}.

===<div id="condition">condition</div>===

A condition is a card representing a significant change in the world, which stays in play until discarded. Most conditions play to your support area. Other conditions tell you who their {{SL|bearer}}can be.

===<div id="control">control</div>===

''When all player markers are at site 2 or higher, you may take control of site 1.''

''An opponent controls site 1 and all player markers are at site 3 or higher, so you must take control of site 2.''

The game text of a controlled site cannot be used by any player. ''Exception'': The keywords of a controlled site still apply.

''A player may "control a battleground."''

See also {{SL|active}}, {{SL|liberate}}, {{SL|losing the game}}.

===<div id="corrupted">corrupted</div>===

If your Ring-bearer's {{SL|resistance}} is reduced to zero, he is corrupted. (See {{SL|losing the game}}.) Only your Ring-bearer can be corrupted.

See also {{SL|bid}}.

===<div id="cost">cost</div>===

A cost of an {{SL|action}} could be adding or removing twilight tokens, exerting a character, discarding a card, or any number of other possibilities. The  

costs for an action are usually listed before the word "to" (so the action takes the form of "pay X to do Y," with X being the cost and Y the {{SL|effect}}).

If a card or special ability has a cost, you must pay that cost or you cannot use that card or special ability. (See {{SL|exert}}, {{SL|Shadow phase}}(s).)

You must meet any requirements to play a card (or perform an action) before paying its costs. (See {{SL|spot}}.)

If a Free Peoples event requires you to spot twilight tokens, they must be there before you add tokens to pay for that card's cost.

''{{Card|Madril, Faramir's Aide}} says, "Skirmish: If you have initiative, discard 2 cards from hand to wound a roaming minion Madril is skirmishing." You check that you have at least four cards in hand before you discard cards to pay for that ability's cost.''

''If you have two copies of {{Card|Weapons of Isengard}} in play ("Shadow: Play an {{C|Isengard}} archer to place an {{C|Isengard}} token on this card."), playing a single {{C|Isengard}} archer allows you to place a token on only one of those copies.''

If a player is paying costs for a card and a {{SL|response}} action occurs which modifies those costs, that player must continue to pay as many costs as he can, even if it is no longer possible to pay them all. If all the costs cannot be paid, that card has no effect.

''A Shadow player attempts to pay the cost for the special ability on {{Card|Grishnakh, Orc Captain}} (A 3 vitality minion which reads: "Shadow: Exert Grishnákh twice and spot another {{C|Sauron}} Orc to draw 3 cards..."). After exerting Grishnákh once, the Free Peoples player plays {{Card|Unheeded}} to wound Grishnákh ("If a minion exerts, exert an unbound Hobbit to wound that minion."). In this case, the Shadow player is no longer able to exert Grishnákh the second time. Therefore, the Shadow player is not able to draw 3 cards.''

See also {{SL|discard pile}}, {{SL|draw deck}}, {{SL|twilight cost}}.

 

===<div id="culture">culture</div>===

See also {{SL|spot}}.

===<div id="culture tokens">culture tokens</div>===

See also {{SL|active}}, {{SL|leaving play}}.

===<div id="damage bonus">damage bonus</div>===

When the winning side in a {{SL|skirmish phase}} has one or more characters with the keyword damage +1, then each losing character takes one additional wound for each damage +1. (Damage +2 adds two wounds, and so on.) This is called a damage bonus, which may be added to or removed by various effects.

''Aragorn wins a skirmish while facing two Orcs. If Aragorn has damage +1, then each Orc takes two wounds. But if both Orcs have damage +1 and they win the skirmish, then Aragorn takes three wounds instead.''

===<div id="damage +x">damage +X</div>===

see {{SL|damage bonus}}

===<div id="dead pile">dead pile</div>===

When you have a {{SL|unique}} companion or ally in your dead pile, you cannot play another copy of that card, or any other card with the same title. You may play another copy of a non-unique card that is in your dead pile.

See also {{SL|discard}}, {{SL|leaving play}}, {{SL|The Rule of 9}}, {{SL|threats}}.

===<div id="defender +x">defender +X</div>===

During the {{SL|assignment phase}}, if your assigned companion has the keyword defender +1, you may assign that character to one additional unassigned minion. Defender +2 allows that companion to defend against two additional unassigned minions, and so on. A character with defender +2 (or greater) satisfies any requirement for defender +1.

''Frodo and Aragorn face two Uruk-hai. The Free Peoples player could assign Aragorn to one and Frodo to the other. However, this version of Aragorn has defender +1, so he may be assigned to defend against both minions, leaving Frodo unharmed.''

===<div id="discard">discard</div>===

''If {{Card|Watcher in the Water, Keeper of Westgate}} is in play ("While you can spot Watcher in the Water, discard all other minions...") and you play {{Card|Goblin Runner}} ("When you play this minion, you may add {{Twilight|2}}."), {{Twilight|2}} is not added.''

See also {{SL|bearer}}, {{SL|discard to heal}}, {{SL|killed}}, {{SL|leaving play}}.

===<div id="discard pile">discard pile</div>===

See also {{SL|discard}}, {{SL|effect}}, {{SL|moving cards}}.

===<div id="discard to heal">discard to heal</div>===

As a fellowship action during your fellowship phase, you may spot a unique companion or unique ally with at least one wound and discard a card from your hand with the same card title(it may have a different subtitle) to heal that character. (See {{SL|healing}}.)

===<div id="draw deck">draw deck</div>===

See also {{SL|building your deck}}, {{SL|moving cards}}.

===<div id="each time">each time</div>===

''"Each time you play a possession or artifact on your companion, draw a card." If you play one possession, this game text activates once; if you play a second possession, it activates again, and so on.''

===<div id="effect">effect</div>===

A effect of an {{SL|action}} could be adding or removing twilight tokens, exerting a character, discarding a card, or any number of other possibilities. The effects of an action are usually listed after the word "to" (so the action takes the form of "pay X to do Y," with X being the {{SL|cost}} and Y the effect).

''{{Card|Ugluk, Servant of Saruman}} reads:''

''While you can spot 2 {{C|Isengard}} trackers, Uglúk is strength +3.''

''While you can spot 3 {{C|Isengard}} trackers, Uglúk is damage +1.''

''You don't have to spot 5 trackers to get both benefits. Three trackers is enough to satisfy the first requirement (if you have 3, you can spot 2) and the last requirement (spot 3).''

If the effect of a card or special ability requires you to perform an action and you cannot, you must perform as much as you can and ignore the rest. (See {{SL|limit}}.)

''If the effect of an event requires you to discard 2 cards from your hand and you only have 1 card in hand, just discard the 1 card and ignore the rest.''

''The Orc you play with {{Card|They Are Coming}} ("Shadow: Discard 3 cards from hand to play a {{C|Moria}} Orc from your discard pile.") cannot be one of the cards you discarded from your hand to pay the cost of that special ability.''

''{{Card|Morgul Destroyer}} is played. ("When you play this minion, you may spot a Nazgûl to add 2 threats. The Free Peoples player may wound the Ring-bearer to prevent this.") The Free Peoples player wounds the Ring-bearer to prevent the threats from being added. The Free Peoples player then discards {{Card|Sapling of the White Tree}}. ("Response: If a {{C|Gondor}} Man is about to take a wound, discard this artifact to prevent that.") Because Sapling has prevented the effect (a wound) that would have prevented Morgul Destroyer's effect, the threats are now added.See also discard, modifier, twilight cost.''

''{{Card|Sharp Defense}} adds no strength to a Dwarf who has resistance 4 or more and no possessions. You can't choose to use the +2 instead.''

When an effect returns a card to a player's hand, that card must come from in play. Exception: Events can be returned to hand, even though they are never in play.

 

''The Elf you return to your hand with {{Card|Taking the High Ground}} must come from in play, and can't come from your discard pile or anywhere else.}}

 

See also {{SL|discard}}, {{SL|modifier}}, {{SL|twilight cost}}.

 

===<div id="enduring">enduring</div>===

===<div id="event">event</div>===

Place an event in your discard pile after you have played it from hand and carried out its effects, but before the next action is taken. (See {{SL|spot}}.)  

''{{Card|Final Account}} reads: "Discard 2 cards from hand to take a Free Peoples card and a Shadow card from your discard pile into hand." At the time you choose which Free Peoples card to take into hand, you are still carrying out the effects of the card. Thus, Final Account has not yet been discarded, and cannot itself be the card you choose.''

''{{Card|Eregion's Trails}} ("Maneuver: Exert a ranger to make each roaming minion strength –3 until the regroup phase.") affects only minions that are roaming when that event is played.''

''{{Card|Deft in Their Movements}} (Regroup: "Spot 2 Hobbits to make each site's Shadow number –2 until the end of the turn.") affects only sites that are in play when it is played.''

See also {{SL|action}}.

===<div id="exert">exert</div>===

''You cannot pay for the cost of {{Card|They Sang As They Slew}} by exerting a character zero times.''

''Conceptually, wearing armor protects you from a sword strike (taking a wound token), but it won't help you lift a heavy weight (placing an exertion token).''

See also {{SL|exhausted}}, {{SL|for each}}, {{SL|healing}}.

===<div id="exhausted">exhausted</div>===

''A character with a vitality of 2 is exhausted with a single wound. A character with a vitality of 1 is always exhausted.''

No player may {{SL|exert}} a character who is exhausted. If the effect of an action says a character "must exert" and that character is exhausted, then nothing happens.

''A mount says, "At the start of each skirmish involving bearer, each minion skirmishing bearer must exert." If an exhausted minion is skirmishing a character bearing this mount, this exertion is ignored.''

''If a card tells you to exhaust a character with a vitality of 3, then you must exert that character 2 times by placing 2 wound tokens.''

===<div id="fellowship phase">fellowship phase</div>===

* Play a Free Peoples {{SL|companion}}, {{SL|ally}}, {{SL|possession}}, {{SL|artifact}}, or {{SL|condition}} from your hand to the table. (See {{SL|The Rule of 9}}, {{SL|unique}}.)

* {{SL|Discard to heal}}.

You may find other fellowship actions on events in your hand, or as special abilities on cards you already have in play. (See {{SL|The Rule of 4}}.)

When you have completed all of the fellowship actions you wish to perform, proceed to {{SL|moving your fellowship}}.

See also {{SL|transfer}}.

===<div id="fierce_2">fierce</div>===

Players perform another {{SL|assignment phase}} and then complete a separate {{SL|skirmish phase}} for each fierce skirmish.

Players may again perform assignment actions (special abilities on cards in play with "Assignment:" and events with that keyword) using the {{SL|action procedure}}.

The Free Peoples player then assigns defenders just as during the regular assignment phase, and then Shadow players assign any fierce minions that remain unassigned. (See {{SL|ally}}.)

''Aragorn is assigned to defend against a fierce Uruk-hai. In the normal skirmish phase, Aragorn wins and the Uruk-hai takes one wound. During the following fierce skirmish phase, the Free Peoples player may once more assign a companion to defend against the Uruk-hai. This companion may be Aragorn or may be a different companion.''

A follower is played to your support area. While your follower is in your support area, it has no effect on the game. Each follower has the keyword "{{SL|Aid}}" which you can use to transfer that follower to one of your characters.  

See also {{SL|Aid}}, {{SL|character}}.

 

===<div id="for each">for each</div>===

When something affects a character (or characters) using the phrase "for each", you may affect a single character more than once. This includes such things as wounding, exerting, healing, or strength modifiers. (See {{SL|toil}}.)

''{{Card|Aragorn, Wingfoot}} says, "Each time the fellowship moves, you may wound a minion for each unbound Hobbit you spot." If you spot two unbound Hobbits, you may wound two minions each once or one minion twice.''

''{{Card|Anduin Banks}} says, "For each companion in the fellowship over 4, add 2 to the minion archery total." If there are 4 or less companions in the fellowship, nothing is added. For 5 companions, 2 is added; for 6 companions, 4 is added; and so on.''

===<div id="format">format</div>===

In the Fellowship block, Tower block, or King block, sites are numbered, and you must include one for each of the nine site numbers. (See {{SL|block symbol}}.)

When you play a game using the Fellowship block, Tower block, or King block format, you cannot choose any {{SL|site}} from your adventure  

''When the first player moves for the first time, place a site with the site number of 2. If he moves again, place a site with the site number of 3''.

When you play a game using the Fellowship block, Tower block, or King block format, you do not add pool for the fellowship's region number when you are {{SL|moving your fellowship}}.

''Do not add 3 twilight tokens when the fellowship moves to a site in region 2, nor 6 when the fellowship moves to a site in region 3.''

See also {{SL|building your deck}}, {{SL|losing the game}}.

===<div id="free peoples cards">Free Peoples cards</div>===

See also {{SL|twilight cost}}.

See {{SL|Ring-bearer}}, {{SL|Ring-bound}}.

===<div id="healing">healing</div>===

Generally, your fellowship only heals at a {{SL|sanctuary}} you reach on the adventure path.

See also {{SL|discard to heal}}, {{SL|for each}}.

See {{SL|collector's info}}, {{SL|lore}}.

===<div id="home site">home site</div>===

See {{SL|ally}}.

===<div id="initiative">initiative</div>===

''{{Card|Besieging Pike}} says, "If you have initiative, bearer is strength +3." Since this is a Shadow card, it only gets this bonus when the Free Peoples player has 3 or fewer cards in hand (the cards in the hands of the Shadow players don't matter).''

See also {{SL|cost}}.

''{{Card|Smeagol, Bearer of Great Secrets}} is the ring-bearer and is bearing {{Card|The Dead City}} (If Sméagol is about to be killed in a skirmish, discard him instead). If Sméagol is about to be killed and the player discards The Dead City, Sméagol cannot be discarded, he would simply be killed.

 

See {{SL|response}}, {{SL|effect}}.  

===<div id="keyword">keyword</div>===

Each card has one or more keywords that identify it. Most keywords are {{SL|unloaded keyword}}s, with no special rules (although they may be referenced by other cards). Keywords with rules are called {{SL|loaded keyword}}s.

''"{{Card|Ulaire Attea, The Easterling}}" does not have the keyword "Easterling" in his game text, so he is not an Easterling.''

===<div id="killed">killed</div>===

card. Reducing a character's strength to zero does not kill that character. (See {{SL|wound}}, {{SL|overwhelmed}}.)

''This is different from when a character is discarded from play. Other cards may force a character in play to be discarded. That character has not been killed, but only discarded. Cards that trigger when a character is killed will not trigger when a character is discarded, and vice-versa.''

Place killed Free Peoples characters in your {{SL|dead pile}}. Place killed minions in your discard pile.

See also {{SL|leaving play}}, {{SL|losing the game 2}}.

===<div id="kinds of cards">kinds of cards</div>===

===<div id="leaving play">leaving play</div>===

When a card (other than a {{SL|site}}) leaves play for any reason, any cards played on that card (or borne by or stacked on that card) are discarded. Any tokens on that card are removed.

===<div id="liberate">liberate</div>===

A Free Peoples player may have a card effect that allows him to liberate a site. Only a site that another player {{SL|control}}s may be liberated. You cannot liberate a site on the adventure path, a site in any adventure deck, or a site you control.

===<div id="limit">limit</div>===

''{{Card|Trust Me As You Once Did}} reads: "Skirmish: Exert Gandalf to make a companion strength +1 for each companion with the Gandalf signet you can spot (limit +3)." With one copy in play, assuming you have sufficient signets and exertions, during a single skirmish phase:

* ''You may add +3 to one companion in a single action (if you can spot at least 3 signets).

* ''You may add +1 to three different companions in three different actions (if you can spot only 1 signet).

* ''You may add +2 to one companion and +1 to another in two different actions (if you can spot only 2 signets). Once the limit is reached, no more may be added, and the last +1 is ignored.

 

A limit does not does not span multiple phases.  

''{{Card|Trust Me As You Once Did}} could be used for +3 in each of two or more separate skirmish phases during the same turn.''

''With two copies of {{Card|Trust Me As You Once Did}} in play, you could give up to +6 in strength bonuses during a single skirmish phase (+3 from one copy, and +3 from the other).''

See also {{SL|effect}}.

===<div id="loaded keyword">loaded keyword</div>===

Card type and class (see {{SL|bearer}}) are loaded keywords. Other loaded keywords include {{SL|aid}}, {{SL|ambush}}, archer (see {{SL|archery phase}}), damage +X (see {{SL|damage bonus}}), {{SL|defender +X}}, {{SL|enduring}}, {{SL|fierce}}, {{SL|hunter}}, {{SL|lurker}}, {{SL|muster}}, {{SL|Ring-bearer}}, {{SL|sanctuary}}, {{SL|toil}}, and {{SL|unhasty}}.

See also {{SL|keyword}}.

===<div id="look at">look at</div>===

See {{SL|effect}}.

===<div id="loops">loops</div>===

Occasionally, a game will reach a state in which a set of {{SL|action}}s can be repeated forever.

''A player wishes to repeatedly use the ability of {{Card|Sam, Faithful Companion}} ("Fellowship: Play Bill the Pony from your draw deck."). He chooses a number of times this action will take place. The action is treated as repeating that number of times unless another player intervenes with a different action.''

''The Free Peoples player has {{Card|Smeagol, Slinker}} ("Skirmish: Add a burden to make Sméagol strength +2...") skirmishing a minion at {{Card|Anduin Banks}} ("Skirmish: Spot your minion and remove a burden to make that minion strength +2."). The repeated adding and removing of a burden for strength bonuses creates a loop, so the Free Peoples player names a number of iterations for these actions. The Shadow player then has two choices:

  • ''He may name a lower number of iterations. The loop would continue for that many iterations, with the Free Peoples player taking the final action (adding one final action at the end of the loop, if necessary for the Free Peoples player to have the final action).''

  • ''He may agree with the Free Peoples player's choice of iterations. The loop would continue for that number of iterations, with the Shadow player taking the final action (adding one final action at the end of the loop, if necessary for the Shadow player to have the final action).''

''{{Card|Frodo, Weary from the Journey}} vs. {{Card|Black Land Observer}} or {{Card|Wandering Hillman}}. Neither the minions nor Frodo would get the strength bonuses.''

play. Lore is not {{SL|game text}}.

 

===<div id="losing the game">losing the game</div>===

A player loses the game if his Ring-bearer is {{SL|killed}} (see {{SL|overwhelmed}}), unless he uses game text allowing another character to carry on as Ring-bearer.

''Many versions of Sam may become the Ring-bearer if Frodo is killed.''

A player also loses the game if his Ring-bearer becomes {{SL|corrupted}}.

Remove his sites both on the adventure path and under another player's {{SL|control}} in numerical order, then each opponent, starting to the player's right and proceeding counter-clockwise, chooses a site from his adventure deck to replace each one removed. ''Exception'': In a game using the Fellowship block, Tower block, or King block {{SL|format}}, instead replace each site with the corresponding number from the appropriate opponent's deck.

If a losing player has sites under his control, replace them first (using the above procedure) and then {{SL|liberate}} them.

See also {{SL|winning the game}}.

===<div id="lurker">lurker</div>===