what it is:  

e-Palantir ("electronic Palantir") is a computer transposition of the inspired board game "Lord Of The Rings: The Confrontation" by Reiner Knizia. It lets two players have a game over a LAN or over the internet.

disclaimer:  

This software must be intended solely as a free support for people already owning a legal copy of "Lord Of The Rings: The Confrontation" and wanting to play it over the web (or a LAN) with their friends.

The software itself is free, however it includes an implementation of the rule-set (by Reiner Knizia) of the original board game, a graphic coating which is an adaptation of artwork (by John Howe) of the original board game, and several characters from The Lord of The Rings. All these elements are copyrighted either by Sophisticated Games Ltd. or by Tolkien Enterprises.

Therefore you cannot use (or download) this software unless you own an original version of the game, or you have otherwise the right to do so.

You can order your copy of the original board game at the web site of Fantasy Flight Games Inc.

download:  

[win installer] (ver 1.3)
[source] (ver 1.3)

starting a game:  

e-Palantir is a two player network game: it requires two players and two connected computers. In order to play a game, both players must have e-Palantir running on their computer.

One player must set his e-Palantir to accept connections (run game, press enter).

Then, the other player must connect with him (run game, type address of other player, press enter). In order to do this, you must know the address of your opponent's computer. In a local network, its network name (e.g. "pc-kitchen") will do; for a game across the web, you have to use the full address of that computer (e.g. "jhoan.unisb.de"), or its IP address (e.g. "132.32.13.4").

Hint: if you don't know what your IP address is, you can for example check whatismyip.org

Note that currently there is no meta-server for e-Palantir. In order to play, you have got to arrange the meeting with the other player by some other means (e-mail, telephone, Skype, Gaim, pigeons or whatever...).

Naturally, you can also test e-Palantir on a single computer, running both ends of the games on the same computer. Just use "localhost" as the address.

in-game instructions:  

it should be all quite self explicative. Just keep in mind the rules of the original board-game and everything should just follow! :) (but, if you had any problem, you can read about the basic interface down here). Said that, there is only a few additional interface features, which are not necessary to play your first game, but that can be useful.

For example, right clicking on a square you will shuffle your pieces there (in your turn).

Also, anytime during the execution of the game you can chat with your opponent: just type on the keyboard. If you are temporarily focusing more on chatting than on hunting/destroying the ring, press enter on an empty line to enlarge the chat area. You can also scroll it up and down with the mouse wheel, or the big [+] and [-] keys.

Finally there are a few additional commands that can be invoked either by using key combinations, or by entering special "magic" mnemonic words in a line of chat:
  fullscreen : to toggle between fullscreen and windowed mode [alt-enter].
  concede : to concede the current game [F12].
  undo : to ask the opponent for an undo [F8].
  exit : to exit the application - connection will be broken [ESC].
  status : to show the current game status (to both players) [F2].
  score : to report the global score (to both players) [F3].
  help : to show an online help - that is, this list [F1].

basic interface:  

It should all be self-clear, but...

...to move a piece around (when you are supposed to) select it, by clicking on him/it, and then click on its destination. Note: when moving a selected piece on a square already occupied by a friendly piece, the exact position where you click will determine whether the piece will be moved in front or behind its companion. Try being unpredictable!

...if you clicked on a destination square with more than one hostile piece you will have to select which one to fight first, by clicking on it. When moving you can also click on an specific enemy piece (rather than on the square) to move directly against it - but there is less suspense this way!

...to play a card, any card, just click on it. Remember that special (non-combat) cards must be played in your turn but before your normal move.

...most character's special abilities are automatic (either they are automatically triggered by proper circumstances, or they allow you to perform ceratin attacks). However, some special abilities give you the option to use them or not: in case you don't want to, just go on with normal play. In case you do, click on destination escape square (for evasive abilities), or select the character whose special ability is to be used and click on it again. Special abilities requiring you to reveal a concealed character can also be triggered by clicking on that character.

...to choose your side on the side-selection screen, click on the corresponding button. Your opponent choice, as well as your own, will be reflected by the status of the buttons. As soon as there is a match (both players agree on a random side selection, or they pick opposite sides) the game starts.

...to set up your initial formation just move your pieces onto the board. In this phase you can also exchange positions of two pieces by clicking them in succession. As soon as a valid starting formation is set-up the "ready" button will appear. When you are, click on it (you cannot change your formation anymore after you do so). In any moment you can see whether your opponent is ready too. When both players are ready, the confrontation starts!

...undo requests from your opponent can be gracefully accepted, by clicking on the "undo?" button that appears on the screen, or ignored, by doing just so.

...the mouse pointer will reflect whether you are supposed to act (), or you are waiting for your opponent to (), or you must just acknowledge what just happened, by clicking anywhere (, becomes after your ack).

...finally, in case you get stuck, with the games sitting there, apparently waiting for you or your opponent to do something, and you can't see what, then ask about the current status (typing "status" or pressing F2). The game status is shown to both players, so typing "status" is also useful as a way to tell your opponent "wake up, it's your turn!".

to-do list:  

like everything in the galaxy, e-Palantir is a work in progress.

In the list: add a metaserver (a very simple one. Php?) and add sound (just a little, you listen at your own music while playing e-Palantir!).

troubleshooting:  

If you cannot connect, it could be a problem with some firewall. Sometimes the problem is solved by simply swapping roles: the player that was "connecting" must now "accept connections", and viceversa. You can also try to change the port used to communicate. The default one is 5555, but you can set a different one: both players must run the game using the command-line option -p:<port> (in Windows, you can change command line options editing the properties of the link to the game).

Game does not accept your commands?
Maybe it is not your turn, or you are trying to move a piece when it is time to play a combat card, or something like this. Type "status" (or press F2) to find out (your opponent will be informed too). Or, maybe you are trying to issue an illegal move (for example, the Witch King can move sideways but only when attacking; Good characters only can travel Sideways following the stream of the river Anduin; etc).

many thanks:  

to Matteo Del Chicca, Ivan Ricotti and Daniele Tarini for the playtesting, the enthusiasm and the many suggestions;

to Luigi Ferrini for the scanning;

to the community, the community, and to Sam Lantinga (STL_ttf library) for the libraries;
to Jordan Russell for its beautiful Inno Setup (to make win installers);

to Ivan Ricotti (again) for the linux packaging;

and of course to Reiner Knizia (original game concept), John Howe (original artwork), and J.R.R.Tolkien (you know why).

author:  

Marco Tarini (me!).

Feedback? Feel free to contact me! If you e-mail for anything relating to e-Palantir, please include "e-Palantir" in the subject.