What really made the game for me was reading up on feeder modes. Some of the early modes increase your mode bonus in later modes, so I plan which modes I want to play and in what order. Also make sure to hit plenty of orbit shots since advancing the map also increases your mode bonuses.

As far as there being too many multi balls, I increased the difficulty on beast hurryups by one, so they’re not all lit at the start of the game, which I feel really makes a big difference.

Modes start at the right ramp when it’s lit red. Hitting it will start the mode displayed on the book LCD. You can change modes by hitting the left ramp when it’s lit, then hitting the flipper buttons to cycle the mode while the ball is still on the wire form.

Shots that qualify modes are the elf targets, dwarf targets, both ramps, the Radagast hole and the man targets.

The game really didn’t click for me until about 200 or so games.

Agree on also needing a machine with short game times. I have trouble setting aside the 45 minutes or so a good game lasts. I’m planning to add a Ghostbusters or AC/DC since the hobbit is currently my only game.