Four Principles of Nightmare Design

It’s no secret that I love Nightmare mode. Whenever it comes up in the Cardboard of the Rings Discord server, I’m always there to sing the Nightmare’s praises. I often insist that the Nightmare versions of quests are the best versions of the quests, and when given the choice between playing Nightmare and Standard mode …

Nightmares at Sea

With our adventures in Angmar behind me, I find myself heading into what is almost certainly the last official cycle of the game to sport Nightmare content. While nobody can say for certain what the future holds, reports that the Nightmare content didn’t sell well and communication from the game’s developers that Lord of the …

Attack on Dol Guldur

The Dark Lord of Mordor has declared war across Middle-earth. His Nazgûl lead the Morgul host against Minas Tirith in the south, while Easterlings lay siege to Erebor in the north. And in a move long-prepared, the armies of Dol Guldur cross the Anduin to assault Lórien... I have been playing a lot of Ares …

Nightmare Wrap Up: The Lost Realm + Angmar Awakened

Our Heroes have marched all across the lost realm hunting the shadowy sorcerer Daechanar and his undead lieutenant Thaurdir, culminating in a massive clash of armies on the battlefield outside of the ancient fortress of Carn Dûm. We made some new friends along the way, and said our final goodbye to some others, but ultimately …

Nightmare The Dread Realm

As you descend into the catacombs beneath Carn Dûm, you find yourself overcome with terror. Still, you press onward, knowing that Iârion's fate—and perhaps the fate of the north–lies in your hands. Daechanar's powers of sorcery and necromancy are strongest here, in the capital of the Witch-realm where the lord of the Nazgûl once resided. …

Nightmare The Battle of Carn Dûm

Your company has made its way swiftly north, and finally the fortress of Carn Dûm looms before you. Unsure if you have arrived in time, you can only hope beyond hope that Iârion is still alive. Thaurdir has mustered the defense of Carn Dûm. There is no turning back now. "For Iârion!" the Rangers begin …

Nightmare The Treachery of Rhudaur

You have decided to explore the ruins of this ancient keep, but Thaurdir pursues you, and time is of the essence. Having crossed the deadly Ettenmoors, our Heroes have arrived in the lands once known as Rhudaur—one of the three kingdoms formed when the Númenorian kingdom of Arnor split apart over 2000 years before the …

Nightmare Across the Ettenmoors

You have escaped from the prisons of Mount Gram, but you are not safe yet. Your trek through the Ettenmoors only gets worse as your injured company is pursued by hungry trolls and battered by cold and rain. This land is barren and untamed. Food is scarce, and you must take care to avoid the …

Nightmare Escape from Mount Gram

You have been captured and imprisoned by the goblins of Mount Gram. You have endured much during your imprisonment in Mount Gram at the hands of a cruel goblin known as Gornákh. But before you are taken north as prizes for “Lord Daechanar,” Amarthiúl comes to your rescue. After he frees you, he slips off …

Nightmare The Wastes of Eriador

Following the surprise attack on Fornost, you have agreed to help the Ranger, Amarthiúl, track the villains who captured his friend, Iârion. Your enemies' tracks lead you across the North Downs towards Angmar. In the barren lands between you and that dread realm, the nights are black and bitter cold, but it is the howling …