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The Hobbit: There and Back Again

33 questions players ask about The Hobbit: There and Back Again. Pick one for the answer. See also the full rulebook.

Updated 2026-11-05.

Gameplay and Path Actions
The End of an Adventure
Part 1 – An Unexpected Party
Part 2 – Roast Mutton
Part 3 – Over Hill and Under Hill
Part 4 – Riddles in the Dark
Part 5 – Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire
Part 6 – A Dark Way Through Mirkwood
Part 7 – On the Doorstep
Part 8 – Fire and Water
Epic Mode
Solo Mode

Gameplay and Path Actions

Where can a new path start, and must it connect to an existing path?
Can a new path cross an existing path at a single point?
Can you draw a new path over sections you already drew?
Can a path branch out in both directions from one existing path?
Can a resource you pick up while drawing be spent on the same die, for example to enter a broken-sword space?
Is a turn each die a player takes, or the whole set of five dice?
What do you do if you cannot legally use any die on your turn?
Are swords, bread or pinecones limited in supply?

The End of an Adventure

Does the adventure end immediately when someone meets the endgame condition, or does the round finish?
Is there a round limit in a multiplayer game?

Part 1 – An Unexpected Party

In Part 1, must bread be assigned to a guest immediately, or can you hold it?
In Part 1, does bread count if a guest arrives before you have the bread?
In Part 1, do bread points score if the guest was not fed?
In Part 1, are the Thorin and Gandalf glory points one task or two?

Part 2 – Roast Mutton

Do you spend a sword to enter a Troll's broken-sword space, and does it cost again later?
Can the Special Magic Action (three hats) mark a broken sword anywhere, even in a region you already left?
In Part 2, where can a new path start?

Part 3 – Over Hill and Under Hill

In Part 3, what does it take to get past a Goblin?
Must you mark all three hats for Gandalf's staff before connecting to the Great Goblin?
In Part 3, do spaces you passed before a storm hit them cost points if you go through them again?

Part 4 – Riddles in the Dark

In Part 4, can you pick a shape lower than the number rolled, and can you still draw a shape whose column is full?

Part 5 – Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire

In Part 5, are dwarves scored for reaching the Dell or only for the Dell and eagle paths together?
In Part 5, when is a dwarf saved, and how do eagle paths advance?
In Part 5, does the player who ends the game get full points on both dwarf tracks?
In Part 5, can the ground path and an eagle flight path merge or connect?

Part 6 – A Dark Way Through Mirkwood

In Part 6, what do you get when you fill in a Spider space?

Part 7 – On the Doorstep

In Part 7, must you reach the anchoring ships from both sides to enter the mountainside?

Part 8 – Fire and Water

In Part 8, what happens when your rolled number matches a house that is already saved or destroyed?
In Part 8, how do you fill the 13th space of Smaug's section?

Epic Mode

Do swords and bread carry over from Part 7 to Part 8?

Solo Mode

Is solo mode beat-your-own-score, and how is a campaign scored?
How many rounds do you get in a solo game?
Does finishing a solo adventure early earn a bonus?