Summary
The One RingRPG has given us some great moments straight from the pages ofThe Lord of the Rings. Now, with its newest book, titledMoria - Through the Doors of Durin, players can explore some of the most iconicLOTRlocations. They can also relive some of the best moments and fights from the books (and Peter Jackson movies) as their Fellowship hunts for Mithril, treasure, or quests for Ring-lore.
It’s been a busy few years forThe Lord of the RingsIP, as new movies, shows, and video games have been announced and (in some cases) released at a dizzying pace. During that time,Free League Publishing has released some excellent tabletop role-playing games underThe One Ringmoniker, including the2nd edition launchand books compatible with 5e. For those who want to experience some ofThe Lord of the Rings' greatest moments, and explore Middle-earth themselves,The One RingRPG is an excellent option for officially exploring Tolkien’s world.
The One Ring RPG Is Excellent Lord Of The Rings Roleplaying
Play As Hobbits, Dwarves, & Other Middle-Earth Races
For the uninitiated,The One Ringis an officially-licensed TTRPGthat lets parties roleplay their way across some of Middle-earth’s most exciting and famous locales. A few years ago, myD&Dgroup started playing with the first Starter Set adventure, which meant we played mostly as hobbits around the Shire. It was a more relaxing, but still enjoyable, alternative toDungeons & Dragons.
All 29 Lord of the Rings Video Games (& When They Take Place)
There are plenty of Lord of the Rings video games dating all the way back to the ’80s, some based on the books and others on the movie trilogies.
In the time since, and as more books forThe One Ringhave released,my Fellowship and I have explored more combat-focused areas, confronted a ghost ship, explored Tharbad, and faced some of the scariest times in Middle-earththanks to theTales From The Lone-Landsadventure book. Our party of hobbits has expanded into dwarves, elves, rangers, and more. For those who simply want to explore the pastoral setting of the Shire, that’s still a viable option - but there’s plenty of Middle-earth out there, andThe One Ringis increasingly covering that territory in fun new ways.
Moria - Through The Doors Of Durin Is A Great Addition To The One Ring
Relive The Fellowship Of The Ring’s Best Moments
The newest addition toThe One RingisMoria - Through The Doors of Durin, over 200 pages ofLOTRgoodness that includes maps, new enemies to face, and plenty of places to explore. There’s also an impressive amount of artwork found within the book, which helps bring Tolkien’s world to life and will surely help GMs visualize the world for their party.
There are plenty of areas included fromThe Fellowship of the Ringand Peter Jackson’s movie adaptation, butthere are also new places to explore - like a goblin village and the caves of Thrym Thistlebeard. Exploring those new areas are a lot of fun, of course, but it’s reliving some of the more memorable moments from the book and movie that stand out the most.
Warning: Minor spoilers for The One Ring: Moria - Through the Doors of Durin are found below.
In both the book and movie versions ofThe Fellowship of the Ring, my favorite parts have always been the trek through Moria, the battle on the bridge of Khazad-dûm, andGandalf’s fight with the Balrog. I don’t think I’m alone in that either. “You shall not pass” has endured as a meme, a quote, and a joke for decades since the movie made it popular. Gandalf’s fight with the Balrog has likewise been parodied countless times since.
Yes, You Can Fight A Balrog In The One Ring RPG
Face Off Against Durin’s Bane In Moria
And, yes, for those who are wondering -we can finally relive the fight with the Balrog ourselves.Moria - Through the Doors of Durinfeatures Durin’s Bane, complete with a stat block. That means players can try to hold their own against the Balrog inThe One RingRPG. There are plenty of reasons to check outThe One Ring, but getting to face off against a Balrog may be the best selling point to date.
And while this is definitely a highlight,Moria - Through The Doors of Durinhas so much more to offer. Moria is an expansive city, and the map allows for exploration from the Valley of Welcome through the Upper Mines and the Dwarrowdelf, and beyond. Dwarven haunts and alternate Banes add some flexibility for the GM to use in adventures, and a magical treasure index ensures there are plenty of rewards for players brave enough to delve deep into the city.
The Lord of the Ringsis filled with iconic battles and memorable moments, but the Balrog’s appearance in Moria may take the top spot.The One RingRPG has done a thorough job of bringing Tolkien’s world to life for roleplayers, and that certainly continues withMoria - Through the Doors of Durin. Anyone who wants to reliveThe Lord of the Ringsshould definitely check it out.
An advance copy ofThe One Ring:Moria - Through the Doors of Durinwas sent to Screen Rant for editorial and review purposes.The One Ring:Moria - Through the Doors of Durinfrom Free League Publishing is on sale starting August 09, 2025.
