An Unexpected Party is a fast, fun, action-based tabletop game for 2-4 players, set in the opening scenes of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – when the thirteen Dwarves arrive unannounced at Bag End much to Bilbo’s dismay! The game features artwork by Weta Workshop senior concept artist, Daniel Falconer, who worked on the original Hobbit films. Spend an hour inside Bag End and host your own Unexpected Party!
“Blunt the knives, bend the forks; Smash the bottles and burn the corks; Chip the glasses and crack the plates; That’s what Bilbo Baggins hates!”
ABOUT THE GAME
An Unexpected Party is a fast, fun, action-based tabletop game for 2-4 players, set in the opening scenes of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – when the thirteen Dwarves arrive unannounced at Bag End, much to Bilbo’s dismay! Mischief ensues as the dwarves cheerfully jest with Bilbo under the watchful eye of Gandalf.
Step into the Dwarves shoes and earn points by performing lines of the song, “The Things Bilbo Hates.” As you move around Bag End you will gather items and generally make a mess of the place! But be careful not to push Bilbo too far…
The game ends either when all 15 lines of the song are completed, or with the momentous arrival of Thorin. The player with the most points – who did the best job arousing Bilbo’s curiosity and shaking up his sheltered life – will win!
FEATURING
In-world gameplay and authentic artwork
Based on the opening scenes of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Art by The Hobbit senior concept artist, Daniel Falconer
See inside Bag End through the eyes of an artist who worked on the films!
Game design by NZ board game designers Ian Luxmoore and Jarratt Gray (Endeavor)
Open Edition
Asymmetrical gameplay
Perfect for children and families
Quick to learn and to play
We wanted to show the lighter side of Tolkien’s world – those humorous, light-hearted moments where you fall in love with the characters just being themselves, no battlefield in sight. The impromptu Dwarf feast at the beginning of The Hobbit is the perfect embodiment of that.
Daniel Falconer – Senior Concept Designer, Weta Workshop
YOUR GAME BOX INCLUDES
1 x Bag End Playing Board
15 x Character Standees with Stands
21 x Curious/Furious Tokens
1 x Supply Bag
26 x Item Tokens
13 x Dwarf Cards (63mm x 88mm)
30 x Party Cards (63mm x 88mm)
11 x Bag End Cards (63mm x 88mm)
60 x 1-Point Tokens
15 x 2-Point Tokens
4 x Player Boards
1 x Rulebook
AGE
Recommended for ages 10+
PLAY TIME
40-60 minutes
PLAYERS
2-4
Note: Images shown are prototypes - final product may vary.
ABOUT DANIEL FALCONER
Senior Concept Artist at Weta Workshop, Daniel Falconer joined the award-winning facility in 1996. The Workshop’s resident Tolkien expert, Daniel was instrumental in designing many of the iconic costumes, weapons, props and characters seen in The Lord of the Rings. His film credits also include The Hobbit motion picture trilogy, King Kong, and The Chronicles of Narnia.
In addition to his work for the screen, Daniel serves as art director on Weta Workshop’s collectibles and has written a number of books for the Workshop, including The Hobbit Chronicles and Middle-earth: From Script to Screen.
This game looks amazing, and appears like it would be fun. However, it is impossible to even get past the instructions because the instructions are terribly thought out and written. It doesn’t explain the meat of the game, there is no “Start of Turn” instruction, it lacks the specifics needed to play, etc. You really have to guess and hope you’re playing correctly. Beyond that, the box and contents were also not planned out well. Once you punch all the pieces out, your box will never fit tightly ever again. There is no organization for the pieces either: you are apparently expected to take all the stands off, mix up all the pieces, and start all over when you play again. And even doing all that, the box doesn’t fit back to normal. Skip this game, there are better ones out there.