The Lonely Mountain

Fit

Teach 2.4

Teaching signal

Replay 4.0

High replayability

Interaction 3.6

Highly interactive

Scaling 4.2

Scales well

Strategy 4.6

Deep strategy

Control 3.3

Luck-sensitive

Table feel

The Lonely Mountain has a high level of direct confrontation and strategic depth, with frequent interaction between players. However, it does not emphasize cooperation as much.

Replay value

The Lonely Mountain has a high replayability score due to its high variability gameboard, impactful expansions, deep strategic possibilities, and adaptability to different player counts. While it may take some time to learn, the game offers a fresh and engaging experience each time it is played.

Luck profile

The Lonely Mountain has a moderate level of luck involved in the game. Random elements such as dice rolls or card draws have a notable but not exclusive impact on the game outcome. Players have a substantial ability to mitigate randomness through strategic decisions and planning. The game outcome is primarily determined by player strategy and decisions, with luck playing a minor role.

Overview

Lonely Mountain is an adventure game played by 1 to 6 players. Each player controls a group of adventurers attempting to sneak into the Lonely Mountain (Erebor) and steal as much loot as possible. However, they must escape before Smaug the Dragon awakens, discovers their trespasses, and slays them all. The game takes place relatively soon after Smaug attacked and drove out the Dwarves in Third Age 2770. At that time, Smaug had not yet sealed all of the minor entrances to Erebor, and he considered the entire inner complex of rooms and tunnels to be his "lair". Thus adventurers can enter (and hopefully leave) in a variety of ways. A raid such as the one this game depicts could have been the event that caused Smaug to close all the minor entrances and to gather most of Erebor´s loot into one huge pile. The game is played on a board representing the inner complex of rooms and tunnels where Smaug and most of the "treasure" of the Lonely Mountain reside. The board is highly abstracted and simplified to make play quick and easy. Four of the available groups of adventurers represent the interests of the four major races of Middle-earth: Dwarves, Elves, Men, and Orcs. The "Freebooters" are an independent group of adventurers out for glory and loot. Each group has the same mix of 10 characters: 1 Mage, 1 Animist, 1 Bard, 1 Ranger, 2 Scouts, 2 Archers, and 2 Fighters.

Mechanism

3

Dice Rolling Hexagon Grid Role Playing

Family

1

Authors: J.R.R. Tolkien

Type

2

Strategy Wargames

Media