Cubicle 7 previews The One Ring races

There are a few games that I'm excited about over the coming year but The One Ring: Adventures Over the Edge of the Wild by far is the one I'm salivating over the most.

Cubicle 7, the company that distills almost every intellectual property ever into tabletop imagination fodder, is slowly leaking information about their upcoming title like an incontinent old man wearing a Sauron mask.

Their latest batch of info pellets come in the form of brief overviews of each of the cultures in TOR:AOTEOTW.

Read more after the jump...

Here are the details straight from the nerd horse's mouth:

Bardings: Led by King Bard, the Bowman and Dragon-slayer, the Bardings have rapidly rebuilt Dale and are the fastest-growing power in Wilderland. A prosperous culture, Barding merchants seeking new markets for their goods are the driving force in the efforts to reclaim Wilderland in the name of civilisation.

Beornings: The followers of Beorn are a rugged and self-reliant people. Their loyalty to their chief and his teachings is strong, and they protect their lands and oppose the Shadow with matchless ferocity.

Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain:Having reclaimed their ancestral home of Erebor, the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain are rebuilding their domain. Their successful re-occupation has caused some of their number to consider which other long-lost holds could be likewise recovered.

Elves of Mirkwood: Centuries of battle with the Shadow has left the Elvenking suspicious of all other peoples. But with the alliance made between Elves, Men and Dwarves for the Battle of Five Armies and the eviction of the Necromancer from Dol Guldur, perhaps he and his people can forge stronger links with their neighbours.

Woodmen: The Woodmen, aided by the wizard Radagast the Brown, have endured in the Shadow of Dol Guldur for many years. Now, with the Necromancer gone, their culture has the opportunity to flourish and grow.

Hobbits: Mainly a cautious people, content to stay at home and tend their gardens, Hobbits are not usually given to adventures. But inside many young Hobbits is a thirst for adventure, a desire to see first-hand those things described in the old tales.

Each set released will focus on a different region of Middle-earth, presumably each with its own unique cultures and threats. I've seen a few complaints about this staggered approach but I think it works well, and here's why. As most Tolkien-lovers know, Middle-earth is a vast continent with thousands of years of detailed history, geography and culture. Handling every one of these in one book just wouldn't be possible. Having a focus on a particular area allows for a much richer and detailed setting than a general overview of everything ever.

I'll keep my eye out for more The One Ring reveals. But until then, keep it secret - keep it safe.