Middle-earth Role Playing (Boxed Edition)

The Middle-earth Role Playing (MERP) core rules were released as both a book and as a boxed set. The first boxed edition released in 1984 contained the rulebook, adventure and display books and a set of cardboard counters. These were replaced in the 1986 version with stand-up cutout cardboard characters. There are likely to be a number of different print versions of the 1984 and 1986 releases.

Middle-earth Role Playing (Boxed Edition), 1984 version (1st printing)

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ICE 1984
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1st Edition (1984 version)

title Middle-earth Role Playing (Boxed Edition) (Extra Stock Numbers) publisher ICE date 1984 game MERP setting Middle-Earth author S. Coleman Charlton, John David Ruemmler, Richard H. Britton, Peter C. Fenlon, Bruce R. Neidlinger, Terry K. Amthor cover artist Chris White product category rulebooks format staple-bound softcovers pages 112pp, 16pp, counter sheet, dice product code 8100 ISBN 0-425-07810-8

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contents:

• MERP Rules, staple-bound book, 112pp (not sure which printings of the 1984 edition are included in this boxed set)
  
• MERP Counter and Display Guidelines, staple-bound pamphlet, 16pp
  
• colour sheet containing 55 counters
  
• 2 Dice (2d20) – Gamescience High Impact according to the back of the box
  

Other images:

Error creating thumbnail: File missing Counter and Display Guidelines

Error creating thumbnail: File missing Counter Sheet

Error creating thumbnail: File missing Box Right Edge

Error creating thumbnail: File missing Box Bottom Edge

1st Edition (UK version)

title Middle-earth Role Playing (Boxed Edition) publisher Games Workshop date 1985 game MERP setting Middle-Earth author S. Coleman Charlton, John David Ruemmler, Richard H. Britton, Peter C. Fenlon, Bruce R. Neidlinger, Terry K. Amthor cover artist Chris Achilleos product category rulebooks format staple-bound softcovers pages 104pp, 16pp product code 010164 ISBN 0-915795-18-3

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contents:

• MERP Rules, staple-bound book, 104pp
  
• MERP Figure And Display Guides, staple-bound pamphlet, 16pp
  
• Two colour cardstock sheet containing a total of 56 stand-up characters
  
• Double-sided A2 play sheet
  
• Single-sided A3 play sheet
  
• 2 Dice (2d20)
  

Content images:

Error creating thumbnail: File missing MERP Rules	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Figure And Display Guides	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Stand-up Cut-outs 1	Error creating thumbnail: File missing Stand-up Cut-outs 2
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A2 Playsheet side 1	Error creating thumbnail: File missing A2 Playsheet side 2	Error creating thumbnail: File missing A3 Playsheet

Additional box images:

Error creating thumbnail: File missing Box Left Edge

Error creating thumbnail: File missing Box Bottom Edge

1st Edition (1986 version)

title Middle-earth Role Playing (Boxed Edition) (01500 barcode) publisher ICE date 1986 game MERP setting Middle-Earth author S. Coleman Charlton, John David Ruemmler, Richard H. Britton, Peter C. Fenlon, Bruce R. Neidlinger, Terry K. Amthor cover artist Angus McBride product category rulebooks format perfect-bound + staple-bound softcovers pages 128pp, 32pp, 16pp, stand-up character sheet, plastic supports, dice product code 8100 ISBN 0-425-09037-X

Error creating thumbnail: File missing front Error creating thumbnail: File missing back

contents:

• MERP Rules, perfect-bound book, 128pp (all printings of the 1986 edition have been found in this boxed set)
  
• Adventure Booklet, staple-bound pamphlet, 32pp
  
• MERP Cardboard Character and Display Guidelines, staple-bound pamphlet, 16pp
  
• Bi-fold colour sheet containing 56 stand-up characters
  
• plastic stands
  
• 2 Dice (2d20)
  

Content images:

Error creating thumbnail: File missing MERP Rules

Error creating thumbnail: File missing Adventure Booklet

Error creating thumbnail: File missing Layout Booklet

Error creating thumbnail: File missing Stand-up Cut-outs

1st Edition (Jedko Games version)

title Middle-earth Role Playing (Boxed Edition) (Printed by Jedko Games, with 01500 barcode) publisher ICE date 1986 game MERP setting Middle-Earth author S. Coleman Charlton, John David Ruemmler, Richard H. Britton, Peter C. Fenlon, Bruce R. Neidlinger, Terry K. Amthor cover artist Angus McBride product category rulebooks format perfect-bound + staple-bound softcovers pages 128pp, 32pp, 16pp, stand-up character sheet, plastic supports, dice product code 8100 ISBN 0-425-09037-X

Error creating thumbnail: File missing front Error creating thumbnail: File missing back

contents:

• MERP Rules, perfect-bound book, 128pp
  
• Adventure Booklet, staple-bound pamphlet, 32pp
  
• MERP Cardboard Character and Display Guidelines, staple-bound pamphlet, 16pp
  
• Bi-fold colour sheet containing 56 stand-up characters
  
• plastic stands
  
• 2 Dice (2d20)
  

The primary identifying feature of this variation can be found at the bottom-right of the back of the box (see detail below). A very cursory inspection did not reveal any differences in any other part of the boxed set, including the rulebook.

Other images:

Error creating thumbnail: File missing Box Back Detail

Error creating thumbnail: File missing Rulebook Back Detail

1st Edition (1986 version)

title Middle-earth Role Playing (Boxed Edition) (01800 barcode) publisher ICE date 1986 game MERP setting Middle-Earth author S. Coleman Charlton, John David Ruemmler, Richard H. Britton, Peter C. Fenlon, Bruce R. Neidlinger, Terry K. Amthor cover artist Angus McBride product category rulebooks format perfect-bound + staple-bound softcovers pages 128pp, 32pp, 16pp, stand-up character sheet, plastic supports, dice product code 8100 ISBN 0-425-09037-X

Error creating thumbnail: File missing front Error creating thumbnail: File missing back

contents:

• MERP Rules, perfect-bound book, 128pp (not sure which printings of the 1986 edition are included in this boxed set)
  
• Adventure Booklet, staple-bound pamphlet, 32pp
  
• MERP Cardboard Character and Display Guidelines, staple-bound pamphlet, 16pp
  
• Bi-fold colour sheet containing 56 stand-up characters
  
• plastic stands
  
• 2 Dice (2d20)
  

Other images:

Error creating thumbnail: File missing Box Bottom Edge

Error creating thumbnail: File missing Box Left Edge