I’ve been trying to find a way to map out the relationships between the large number of modules released for Middle-earth Role Playing (MERP) over the course of its circa 16 years of publishing. In particular I want to know two things.

Which modules were replaced in their entirety by updated versions, either revised or in the case of second edition books, rewritten or otherwise significantly updated while being rolled into a larger book
Which books were published with maps?

The maps in particular is a bit of a sticking point, since Peter Fenlon’s maps are so extraordinary, and buying the books off of eBay it’s often not obvious whether they’re supposed to come with a map or not!

I found a list of books, along with notes about their line and which book succeeded them, and I have included it below (and fixed a lot of formatting problems with it).

I’ll probably come back and begin to fill in some more information as I find it.

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MERP System Rules (1st Edition)

Middle-earth Role Playing (1984, #8000 - replaced by 1986 Edition)
Middle-earth Role Playing (1986, #8000 - replaced by 2nd Ed. MERP)
Middle-earth Role Playing (boxed set) (1986, 1985 UK, #8100)
MERP Combat Screen (1984, 1989, #8001 - replaced by 2nd Ed. Combat Screen)

Campaign Settings (1st Edition)

Give a sweeping overview of large regions and come complete with campaign notes and color maps.

ANGMAR Land of the Witch King (1982, #2300 - replaced by 1st Ed. EMPIRE)
COURT OF ARDOR in Southern Middle-earth (1982, 1983, #2500)
DUNLAND and the Southern Misty Mountains (1987, #3600)
EMPIRE of the Witch King (1989, #4020 - revised 1st Ed. ANGMAR, replaced by 2nd Ed. ANGMAR)
ENTS of Fangorn (1987, #3500)
FAR HARAD The Scorched Land (1988, #3800)
GORGOROTH (1990, #3112)
GREATER HARAD (1990, #3111)
The GREY MOUNTAINS (1992, #3113)
HAVENS of GONDOR (1987, #3300)
ISENGARD and Northern Gondor (1983, 1987, #2800)
LÓRIEN & the Halls of the Elven Smiths (1986, #3200)
Lost Realm of CARDOLAN (1987, #3700)
MIRKWOOD The Wilds of Rhovanion (1988, #4010 - combined Northern & Southern
Mirkwood, replaced by 2nd Ed. MIRKWOOD)
MORIA The Dwarven City (1984, #2900 - replaced by 2nd Ed. MORIA)
MOUNT GUNDABAD (1989, #3110)
Northern MIRKWOOD (1983, 1984, #2600 - combined with Southern Mirkwood for 1st Ed. MIRKWOOD)
RANGERS of the North (1984, #3000)
RIDERS of ROHAN (1985, 1987, #3100)
SEA-LORDS of GONDOR (1987, #3400)
SHADOW in the SOUTH (1988, #3900)
Southern MIRKWOOD (1983, #2700 - combined with Northern Mirkwood for 1st Ed. MIRKWOOD)
UMBAR Haven of the Corsairs (1982, #2400)

Adventure Modules (1st Edition)

Provide a setting in one locality and a variety of specific ready-to-run adventures based on that area.

BREE and the Barrow Downs (1984, #8010)
BRIGANDS of Mirkwood (1987, #8090)
DAGORLAD and the Dead Marshes (1984, #8020)
DARK MAGE of Rhudaur (1989, #8013)
Erech and the PATHS of the DEAD (1985, #8060)
FOREST of Tears (1989, #8015)
GHOST WARRIORS (1990, #8016)
GOBLIN-GATE and Eagle's Eyrie (1985, #8070)
HILLMEN of the Trollshaws (1984, #8040)
Mouths of the ENTWASH (1988, #8011)
RIVENDELL The House of Elrond (1987, #8080)
ROGUES of the Borderlands (1990, #8014)
THIEVES of THARBAD (1985, #8050)
The Tower of Cirith Ungol and SHELOB'S LAIR (1984, #8030)
WARLORDS of the Desert (1989, #8012)

Ready-to-Run Adventure Modules (1st Edition)

Designed to be set up in a few minutes, played in a few hours, and require little or no preparation.

ASSASSINS of Dol Amroth (1987, #8106)
DENIZENS of the Dark Wood (1989, #8111)
Gates of MORDOR (1987, #8105)
GHOSTS of the Southern Anduin (1989, #8109)
HAUNTED RUINS of the Dunlendings (1985, #8101)
HAZARDS of the Harad Wood (1990, #8112)
The Necromancer's Lieutenant (1990, #8113)
PERILS on the Sea of Rhûn (1989, #8110)
PHANTOM of the Northern Marches (1986, #8102)
PIRATES of Pelagir (1987, #8104)
RAIDERS of Cardolan (1988, #8108)
RIVER RUNNING (1992, #8114)
TROLLS of the Misty Mountains (1986, #8103)
WOSES of the Black Wood (1987, #8107)

Cities (1st Edition)

Detailed overviews of the most famous and significant cities in Middle-earth with each package documenting the history, design, layout, garrison, and inhabitants of the city, and including painstakingly elaborate maps, floor plans, and perspectives

MINAS ITHIL (1991, #8302)
MINAS TIRITH / Hardcover (1988, #8301 - replaced by 2nd Ed. MINAS TIRITH)

Fortress Modules (1st Edition)

Detailed overviews of individual towers, castles, citadels, and other fortifications of particular note, documenting the history, design, layout, and garrisons, and including suggested adventure themes, painstakingly elaborate maps, floor plans, and perspectives

CALENHAD A Beacon of Gondor (1990, #8203)
HALLS of the ELVEN-KING (1988, #8204)
NÂZGUL'S CITADEL (1991, #8205)
TEETH of MORDOR (1988, #8202)
WEATHERTOP Tower of the Wind (1987, #8201)

Sourcebooks and Reference Works (1st Edition)

Angus McBride's Characters of Middle-earth (1990, #8007)
Campaign and Adventure Guidebook (1982, 1983 #2200)
Creatures of Middle-Earth (1988, #8005 - replaced by 2nd Ed. Creatures)
LORDS of Middle-earth Vol I: The Immortals (1986, #8002 - split for 2nd Ed. ELVES and VALAR AND MAIAR)
LORDS of Middle-earth Vol II: The Mannish Races (1987, #8003)
LORDS of Middle-earth Vol III: Hobbits, Dwarves, Ents, Orcs & Trolls (1989, #8004)
Middle-earth Adventure Guidebook II (1989, #2210)
Poster/Map of Middle-earth (flat) (1982, #2100)
Northwestern Middle-earth Campaign Atlas (199?, #4000 - combined Gazetteer & Map)
Northwestern Middle-earth Gazetteer (1992, #4002)
Northwestern Middle-earth Map Set (1994, #4001)
Poster/Map of Middle-earth (folded) (1982, #2100A)
Treasures of Middle-Earth (1989, #8006 - replaced by 2nd Ed. Treasures)

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Second Edition MERP

Slightly modified rules but compatible with previous publications. Has been published since 1993 with some of the original ICE supplements being re-released in a revised and expanded form alongside larger and more comprehensive new supplements.

MERP System Rules (2nd Edition)

MERP 2nd Ed. / Hardbound (Collectors Edition) (1993, #2000)
MERP 2nd Ed. / Softbound (1993, #2001)
MERP 2nd Ed. Accessory Pack / Boxed (1994, #2002)
MERP 2nd Ed. Combat Screen (1993, #2004 - revised 1st Ed. Combat Screen)

Realms (2nd Edition)

Documents specific geographical regions or political entities in Middle-earth, each volume being a comprehensive compendium describing notable events, sites, and characters, in addition to summaries and charts describing the region’s inhabitants, sites and challenges

ANGMAR (1995, #2018 - reprinted 1st Ed. EMPIRE)
ARNOR (1994, #2005 - replaced by 2nd Ed. ARNOR: the Land & The People)
MIRKWOOD (1995, #2019 - reprinted 1st Ed. MIRKWOOD)
The NORTHERN WASTE (1997, #2025)
The SHIRE (1995, #2017)

Lands (2nd Edition)

ARNOR: The Land (1997, #2023 - split from 2nd Ed. ARNOR)
SOUTHERN GONDOR: The Land (1996, #2021)

Citadels (2nd Edition)

Detailed overviews of the most famous and significant cities, strongholds, and havens in Middle-earth with each package documenting the history, design, layout, garrison, and inhabitants of the citadel, and including painstakingly elaborate maps, floor plans, and perspectives.

DOL GULDUR (1995, #2014)
LAKE-TOWN (1995, #2016)
MINAS TIRITH (1994, #2007 - revised 1st Ed. MINAS TIRITH)
MORIA (1994, #2011 - revised 1st Ed. MORIA)

Peoples (2nd Edition)

Documents specific races or groups found in Middle-earth with each volume being a comprehensive compendium describing all the notable characters from one of Endor’s varied races, and including alphabetical listings covering the appearance, motivations, characteristics, and background of each figure, in addition to summaries and charts describing each character.

ARNOR: The People (1996, #2022 - split from 2nd Ed. ARNOR)
ELVES (1994, #2013 - revised 1st Ed. split of Lords of Middle-earth Vol I)
SOUTHERN GONDOR: The People (1996, #2020)
VALAR AND MAIAR (1993, #2006 - revised 1st Ed. split of Lords of Middle-earth Vol I)

Sourcebooks / Other (2nd Edition)

Creatures of Middle-Earth (1994, #2012 - reprinted 1st Ed. Creatures)
Hands of the Healer (1997, #2026)
Kin-Strife (1995, #2015)
Lord of the Rings Poster Map (1997, #2024)
Middle-earth Campaign Guide (1993, #2003)
Middle-earth Role Playing Poster Maps (1994, #2008)
Palantír Quest Adventures (1994, #2009)
Treasures of Middle-Earth (1994, #2010 - revised 1st Ed. Treasures)

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Lord of the Rings Adventure Game

A highly simplified version of MERP for introducing first-timers to fantasy role playing

Darker than the Darkness (1991, #LR1)
Lord of the Rings Adventure Game / Boxed (1991, #LR0)
Over the Misty Mountains Cold (1993, #LR2)

Tolkien Quest Solo Game Books

Solo adventure paperback books, but this range was quickly withdrawn due to a copyright dispute (and, according to Pete Fenlon, was a major contribution to the financial troubles of ICE culminating in their loss of the MERP license).

Night of the Nazgûl (1985, #101)
The Legend of Weathertop (1985)
Rescue In Mirkwood (1986) WAS THIS ACTUALLY PUBLISHED AS A TOLKIEN QUEST? (SEE BELOW)
Murder In Minas Tirith (1986) WAS THIS ACTUALLY PUBLISHED? (POSSIBLY UK ONLY)

Middle-earth Quest Game Books solo adventure paperback books

The Mines of Moria (1988, #3)
Rescue In Mirkwood (1986)
Search for the Palantír (198?, #?) [published in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, but not in English]
A Spy In Isengard (1988, #1)
Treason at Helm's Deep (1988, #2)

Boardgames based in Middle-earth

The Battle of Five Armies (1984, #7200)
The Fellowship of the Ring (1983, #7100)
The Hobbit Adventure Boardgame (1994, #2222)
Lonely Mountain (1984, #7300)
Riddle of the Ring (198?, #7400)