
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,615
- BGG rating
- 7.3
The Lord of the Rings: Strategy Battle Game
- 2 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2005

Expansion for Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game: Rules Manual
2026
Rules assistance for Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game Journal: The Treachery of Gollum
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game Journal: The Treachery of Gollum is an expansion for Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game: Rules Manual released in 2026 for 2 players, 60–120 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers and Dice Rolling.
Gollum has promised to guide Frodo and Sam through the treacherous routes into Mordor to destroy the One Ring. But he still covets his “Precious” and will do anything to get his hands on it again. Leading the Hobbits into a series of winding tunnels, he hatches a plan that involves a giant arachnid… The Treachery of Gollum is an expansion to the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game that provides a series of linked Narrative Scenarios and engaging hobby content. It allows you to recreate some of the most iconic scenes featuring the creature Gollum and the vile spider, Shelob. Will you guide Frodo on his arduous quest to Mordor, in an attempt to destroy The One Ring and end the tyranny of the Dark Lord once and for all, or side with the conniving Gollum and lure the Ringbearer into a carefully laid trap and claim the Precious for yourself? This 48-page softcover expansion contains: Nine Narrative Scenarios: Recreate some of Gollum and Shelob’s most diabolical and evil moments. A Linked Campaign System: Connect each of the Narrative Scenarios so that the result of one battle will have an impact on the next. Full Painting Guides: Learn how to paint your Gollum and Shelob miniatures so they look just how they did in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Step-by-step Hobby Tutorials: Create the winding tunnels of Shelob’s lair, the sewers beneath the ruined city of Osgiliath, the foetid bogs of the Dead Marshes, and more. —description from the publisher
Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game Journal: The Treachery of Gollum supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game Journal: The Treachery of Gollum is 60–120 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game Journal: The Treachery of Gollum for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game Journal: The Treachery of Gollum belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Wargame, and Movies / TV / Radio theme. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers and Dice Rolling. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The catalogue lists Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game Journal: The Treachery of Gollum as an expansion for Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game: Rules Manual. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game: Rules Manual to use it. Check that your edition of Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game: Rules Manual is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.