The One Ring/Adventures in Middle-earth License Goes to Free League

Swedish company Free League has announced that it has taken over the license for Tolkien-based RPGs The One Ring and Adventures in Middle Earth!

Up until recently, Cubicle 7 was the publisher of Adventures in Middle Earth and The One Ring. AiME is the D&D-5E based version, while The One Ring is its own system. The press release says they will be doing both.

Free League (Fria Ligan) are ENnie Award winners and the publisher of popular d6 games like Tales from the Loop and Alien. Here's the press release:

Free League Signs Deal to Publish RPGs in Tolkien's Middle-Earth

Free League Publishing today announced a partnership with Sophisticated Games to publish tabletop roleplaying games set in Middle-earth and based on the books by J.R.R. Tolkien. Francesco Nepitello, author of the game series alongside Marco Maggi, will continue as its lead designer.

"We are thrilled to be working with Sophisticated Games and Francesco Nepitello to bring to life a new edition of The One Ring and its 5E iteration. We grew up with J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic works and we're huge fans of the original version of the game. We have a very similar approach to game design as Francesco and we're convinced that we can create something truly special together," Free League’s CEO Tomas Härenstam says.

“Free League shares all our values. Values which are vital in interpreting the most extraordinary fantasy world ever created, one that is of enduring interest throughout the world in every language. Working with Free League’s highly talented team we look forward to continuing the work we began a decade ago, with publication of The One Ring," says Sophisticated Games’s MD Robert Hyde.

The agreement will go into effect from June 1, 2020. Products and release dates will be announced at a later time.

Fria Ligan | News

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[teitan]

I'm excited but trepidatious. Is it going to be a continuation or a new edition of AIME? That's the question. Will we see Rohan as a print product now? Eager to hear the news as we are looking to maybe do an AIME game in the near future.

 

[Retreater]

Free League makes some great products and I wish them well with the IP. Hopefully this will also free Cubicle to make more WHFRPG products.

 

[Ringtail]

Awesome! I'm so glad to see this is continuing.

Now what I'm curious about is what about the progress C7 already made? Are they going to sell those art assets and already written manuscripts to Free League? Are they part of the license?

Or do they have to start from scratch? Considering the original designers are on board I'm sure we'll get something great, but I like the C7 art (and especially that Jared Blando map). It would be a shame to see it vanish.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Well, this may work out and the books may be easily available in the US. Tales from the Loop and several other books from Free League Publishing are available directly from, and shipped by, Amazon. With the higher profile that anything Tolkien gets, I am sure whatever is released, or re-released, will be too.

And on a side note, anyone in the US looking to get into Tales can get the books for about 25% off retail and free shipping right now from Amazon.

 

[mach1.9pants]

It'll be interesting to see what comes out from them. I checked out Sophisticated Game's website, anything but sophisticated However Free Leagues games are top notch production value. I wonder of we're going too see all of AiME reprinted, or just taking over from where C7 left off? Obviously TOR will be all new, as it is 2e

 

[Fredrix]

Sorry?

Of course I know the Alien franchise, but I don't recall ever seeing any of the RPG titles on shelves. I thought Tales from the Loop was a TV show.

I think your local Gaming Store must be not great. The only Free League game that I never saw at my store is ironically my favourite, Coriolis. Oh and in other news, their Alien game is in the top five best selling games, you don’t get there without being in a few stores.

 

[CapnZapp]

In our podcast interview with Dom (CEO of C7), he made it very clear to us that C7 was the one who chose to end the relationship. They didn't 'drop the ball'

Ah. So they didn't "drop the ball", they dropped the ball. Got it

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Ah. So they didn't "drop the ball", they dropped the ball. Got it

I still go with the conspiracy theory that Sophisticated Games wanted more money from the deal and C7 was not willing, so C7 "chose to end the relationship" before they were forced out of it or had it taken away. But we will never know the truth of that without seeing the contracts and monetary amounts from both the C7 and Free League deals.

 

[Stefano Rinaldelli]

I do on occasion. I hate buying expensive hardbacks without a browse through. I've looked through all the 5E books on shelves. It saved me a ton of money.

Unfortunately seeing the books doesn't save money for me. I must buy everything for a spell that a bad mage cast on me when I was teenager

 

[CapnZapp]

I still go with the conspiracy theory that Sophisticated Games wanted more money from the deal and C7 was not willing, so C7 "chose to end the relationship" before they were forced out of it or had it taken away. But we will never know the truth of that.

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