Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game (Games Workshop)

Games Workshop have produced a licenced Tabletop Game for The Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit since the release of the first film and as a new edition went on pre-order today I thought I would start a thread for it.

Has anyone played any of the previous versions of the game? I have a few models that I have picked up over the years and have always been interested in playing the game but never really had the money to play it as well as the other Games Workshop games.

All I really know about it is that it gives names to the rest of the Nazgul really; I've only learned about it through the LOTR wiki.

I had heard that as well and found it quite interesting.

I did, and is a bit of a mixed bag for me.

In one hand, the system is rather solid and detailed, if a little RPG oriented with rules to both ranged and melee combat focused in roll to win, then roll to wound; but also including rules to uncommon movement in these games like climbing, mounting/dismounting or swim. The Willpower/Fate/Valor points system takes a while to get used to, but it's not bad. Also as it sits in a weird spot between skirmish and battle level it doesn't need too much money to get an army funcioning (by Games Workshop standards). With just a box of plastic troops/cavalry and a hero you already have a good start for around 50 $/€.

On the other hand, the game scalates horribly. As each model moves and acts independently the moment you take 40 models or more it becomes unwieldy. But it doesn't matter that much because many heroes (mainly the ones appearing on the books/films) are OP as heck and will plow through soldiers like nothing (and have a points cost to show, at least). The models are cheap and many not that bad, but they aren't GW best work, that's for sure. This doesn't apply to the GW's and Forgeworld's recent releases, as they're really pretty but rather expensive.

If you want it, the best option is to try it out. As I said it's not a bad game. It has it's issues but all games have a few. And there are really beautiful models in the range if you're willing to spend cash on them, like the Iron Hills dwarfs.

Cool, I got the latest edition rulebooks but haven't had a chance to look through them yet.

In other news there was some previews for the game at the Warhammer Fest UK 2019 event last weekend including:

The Scouring of the Shire supplement◊ with◊ some◊ nice◊ looking◊ models◊ and scenery◊. There will also be models from other parts of the Middle-earth including Déorwine, Chief of the King’s Knights◊ and the model for the historic goblin warlord Golfimbul◊ (the one responsible for the invention of golf) will be returning.

Yeah, it works best as a skirmish game really. The larger it gets the more unwieldy it gets.

Bumping this as there is going to be an Online Preview at 2pm BST this Sunday◊.

Edited by SebastianGray on Aug 1st 2022 at 5:31:34 PM

I didn't know they still had this game going. I remember it being LOTR when I got into 40k and then turned into the Hobbit for a while.

A lot of cool stuff revealed today. I particularly like the plastic heroes for Osgiliath box and these snazzy new Elves.

Damn it, I forgot about the preview yesterday (I was too busy watching the Commonwealth Games). Looking at the models now, I agree that the Osgiliath heroes are great and as a fan of both Rivendell and Isengard, the plastic Elrond◊ and the Isengard Battlehost box◊ are very tempting.

Designer's notes on the new Glorfindel. I really like his ornamental armour and the Batman-like ears on the helmet.

That is a beautiful model, although the helmet made me think of the Minbari more than Batman.

True! It is appropriate as the Minbari are religious Space Elves.

Double-post: A big showcase of pre-orders for battle-hosts and terrain in the Sunday preview.

If I wasn't saving my money to get a computer that works properly, I would seriously consider getting the Isengard box.

Double post and bump for today's reveals.

Some nice translucent Warriors of the Dead◊ along with the King and Heralds◊ which seem quite cool.

Also the ruins of Osgiliath◊.

That's a nice touch, having them transparent. Previously I've mostly seen elementals for sale in such plastic, but also a few other ghostly miniatures in board-games. I wonder how easy it would be to drill through them from below, to put some LEDs inside in the middle?

Edited by Mara999 on Nov 20th 2023 at 10:10:17 PM

New models revealed today: The Knights of Arnor◊. Cool. My first thought was Bretonnian Mounted Squires though.