Free League’s new BackerKit campaign brings six new volumes to its Middle-earth RPGs, including a Gondor and Rohan expansion, a Middle-earth bestiary and revised core rules with solo play
Free League Publishing has launched a new BackerKit campaign for The One Ring and The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying 5E, bringing new adventures, enemies and revised rules to its tabletop adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth.
The campaign, which funded within five minutes of launching, features six volumes across the two games, including expansions exploring Gondor and Rohan, a new Middle-earth bestiary and revised core rulebooks for both RPGs. Shipping for the campaign is currently estimated for September 2027.
The updated edition of The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying 5E will become a fully standalone game compatible with the 5.5 ruleset, while both revised core rulebooks will introduce Strider Mode, allowing players to embark on solo adventures without a Loremaster.
The campaign’s major expansion for The One Ring is The White Tower and the Hall of Gold, taking players from Minas Tirith and the fiefs of Gondor to the great halls and open plains of Rohan. The material will also be adapted for The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying 5E under the title Realms of the South.
The expansion features detailed locations, campaign frameworks and adventure hooks for journeys across both kingdoms. It also introduces new Heroic Cultures and Virtues, alongside rules for mounted combat and travelling by horse, boat, river and sea.
Written by Gareth Hanrahan, the expansion features illustrations by Antonio De Luca, Federica Costantini and Jan Pospíšil, with maps by Francesco Mattioli.
The second major expansion is Creatures Strange and Foul, a bestiary bringing a wide range of Middle-earth’s creatures and enemies to the tabletop. The book includes adversaries such as Black Númenórean spies, Haradrim champions and the Nine Ringwraiths and their winged steeds, alongside creatures including Ents, Woses and Oliphaunts.
A dedicated chapter also explores Balrogs, Dragons and the Nameless Things lurking beneath Middle-earth. Updated game statistics and rules for enemies’ special abilities are designed to help Loremasters build encounters.
Creatures Strange and Foul is written by The One Ring lead designer Francesco Nepitello and illustrated by Daniel Zrom. Its adaptation for The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying 5E will be released under the name Of Orcs and Evil Things.
The campaign also includes revised core rules for both games, with new cover art by Antonio De Luca. The new The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying 5E Core Rules update the game to the 5.5 ruleset and make it a fully standalone RPG. Meanwhile, the revised The One Ring Core Rules reorganise and clarify the game’s rules, refine character creation and advancement, and revise combat.
Both core rulebooks add Strider Mode, which was previously available as a PDF. These solo rules include guidance and random tables for adventures looking to play without a Loremaster.
Existing supplements and adventures will remain compatible with their respective games. Players who already own either core rules manual through Free League Unbound or DriveThruRPG will also automatically receive the revised digital version once it is completed.
For new players, the campaign includes a Starter Set PDF for each edition at no additional cost as an instant-access reward, available to download immediately after pledging.
The BackerKit campaign is also offering exclusive Collector’s Editions of all six volumes, featuring faux-leather covers with silver or gold foil detailing. Free League says these editions will not be reprinted.
Backers who pledge for a physical reward before September 24 at 9:00am EDT / 3:00pm CEST will also receive a bonus art print featuring their choice of cover artwork from any of the six printed volumes at no additional cost.