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If GW re-launched MESBG they'd probably upscale all the miniatures and put them on bigger bases, and resculpt them in CAD with way more pieces for similarly monopose plastics. They'd probably cost an arm and a leg too.

I've said it before but I'm okay with this game being "unsupported" if it means the old model line remains in production and the rules remain relatively stable.

The kind of support GW usually supplies is not to my taste!

 Da Boss wrote:
If GW re-launched MESBG they'd probably upscale all the miniatures and put them on bigger bases, and resculpt them in CAD with way more pieces for similarly monopose plastics. They'd probably cost an arm and a leg too.

I've said it before but I'm okay with this game being "unsupported" if it means the old model line remains in production and the rules remain relatively stable.

The kind of support GW usually supplies is not to my taste!

Well, Lotr had monopose models before it was cool.
Also, GW can do stable rules, even HH2.0 is not that far from 1.0.
Overall I understand your sentiment, but it would still be cool to see some of the oldest plastics redone with modern technology.

Sgt. Cortez wrote:
Overall I understand your sentiment, but it would still be cool to see some of the oldest plastics redone with modern technology.

If you're not familiar with them already, check out Davale and/or Medbury miniatures.
They both do some really nice, close-to-GW style Middle-earth minis. Pretty sure Davale have just done some not!-Numenoreans recently.

I printed a few of Davale's not-Numenoreans last year. They are gorgeous and look fairly close to the official models.

I love the feel of movement in the Davale stuff. They made up the spear portion of my Rivendell rather than spend $30 per offical model on Ebay.

 Snrub wrote:

Sgt. Cortez wrote:
Overall I understand your sentiment, but it would still be cool to see some of the oldest plastics redone with modern technology.

If you're not familiar with them already, check out Davale and/or Medbury miniatures.
They both do some really nice, close-to-GW style Middle-earth minis. Pretty sure Davale have just done some not!-Numenoreans recently.

Yeah I know these among others and bought some stls. So far 3D printing is a lot of hasste though and if you buy them from printing Services they're more expensive than even GWs kits. So... yes it's nice we have these today but they can't compete with a proper plastic set in my eyes. WGA's and northstar's Orcs and goblins are the closest we have to updated lotr kits I feel.

dunno on a lot of hassle, I think the main issue for many is a lack of space given especially with resin you have to leave it set up and while many resins are not bad you do want ventilation, and it needs to be warm so the garage isn't ideal

less the trouble printing and more the requirements for the infrastructure as opposed to "I open this box"

I gave resin 3D printing a honest shot for several months. It is a hobby into itself, with much needing to be learned to properly support a print, in addition to all the other infrastructure issues. I had less than a 50% success rate on prints. I gave up. It takes too long to get proficient at it, and I don't have that time.

Give me a proper supported game line anytime over having to rely on 3D printing. GW does worse with the MEsbg line than much smaller companies do with their main lines.

callidusx3 wrote:
I gave resin 3D printing a honest shot for several months. It is a hobby into itself, with much needing to be learned to properly support a print, in addition to all the other infrastructure issues. I had less than a 50% success rate on prints. I gave up. It takes too long to get proficient at it, and I don't have that time.

Give me a proper supported game line anytime over having to rely on 3D printing. GW does worse with the MEsbg line than much smaller companies do with their main lines.

this is all perfectly fair, not had too many issues with printing here, but have most certainly had some, getting the Ender 3 V2 working reliably took time, as did working out the work flow for resin.

for example, just done a few characters for Isengard (pair of Uruk-Hai ones), the alternative was GWs resin (sorry no) or metal via ebay.

the rank and file are plastic all the way, bit more robust and with the bulk being single or at most two part models assembly was very quick and to be honest the models look fine.

combine that for middle earth you don't actually need that many the fact I could probably get 12-16 on a built plate ceases the matter, the backlog is painting them

if these characters had been available in plastic, say a single box which is the ones from the "armies of.." book for a faction and I'd have it in a shot

that said printed terrain works wonderfully

So with the news today that Embracer is spinning off Asmodee and "Middle Earth Entertainment & Friends" as two separate independent companies, I think we can put to rest any concerns of Asmodee getting the LOTR miniatures license from GW.

I think that worry ended the moment GW started hiring more sculptors and announcing stuff. It's pretty obvious the lull was due to them sorting out the licensing issues.

Unless GW does a 180 in how it manages MEsbg, I am not happy that it is keeping the license.

I'm quite the opposite. It doesn't need the constant churn the most other GW games have. Slow and steady is all it needs.

Its got to better than how Asmodee dealt with X Wing and Armada. Though I do not believe the licenses that Embracer has has anything to do with miniatures?

Well the lull started right after the rights sold and only stopped in the last couple of months. So the timing matches. Although it wouldn't surprise me either if it got kicked to the curb for old world yadda yadda and the staff have finally been let free of that.

callidusx3 wrote:
Unless GW does a 180 in how it manages MEsbg, I am not happy that it is keeping the license.

I'm curious, and this is a discussion board - "does a 180" is a nice soundbite, but what specific changes would you want to see in how GW manages MESBG (and the associated model ranges)?

callidusx3 wrote:Unless GW does a 180 in how it manages MEsbg, I am not happy that it is keeping the license.

Inquisitor Gideon wrote:I'm quite the opposite. It doesn't need the constant churn the most other GW games have. Slow and steady is all it needs.

There's a wide middle ground there though. What I'm seeing GW do for AoS looks actively damaging, removing miniatures from the range many would still consider "new", and updating rules at such a pace that the only winners are owners of paper mills. While I appreciate the stability of the rules in MESBG, the miniature production could use more investment and effort. MESBG was my first wargaming love, and I admire many sculpts in the range, a testament to the Perry twins terrific skill and love for their work.

However. When planning some projects in the last few years, I have noticed I am increasingly put off by the prospect of using the 20-year-old sculpts. Their details may be as sharp as they were two decades ago, but they are constrained by having been made to be monopose, in 1-2 parts, with no weapon options, command bits, or generally any variation, in those sets. For 15 years, I have been happy to chop them up, switch out weapons, and repose them myself, but why go through that effort when I can just buy a box of Oathmark orcs that save me the effort? Unfortunately, not all of Middle-earth (in races or designs) is available elsewhere (yet), but I am amazed at how little GW seems to care about retaining their place in the market for such a rich and recognizable IP.

Not to mention Finecast. They have been re-releasing sets in metal for Old World now, despite some being available in Finecast when last available, and I for one would be very happy if they did that for MESBG too (for basic infantry and things at least).

one of the bigger changes would be to update the 20 year old miniature ranges with modern gaming miniatures, though I am not sure if GW is still able to do that (as their model focus goes into a different direction)

also keeping things available and add in marketing as by now the best game they have is only driven by word of mouth

that they leave the rules were they are and not burn them every 3 years is a given, but not sure if GW is able to make updates on models without going into the book release cycle again

 Coenus Scaldingus wrote:


Not to mention Finecast. They have been re-releasing sets in metal for Old World now, despite some being available in Finecast when last available, and I for one would be very happy if they did that for MESBG too (for basic infantry and things at least).

Pretty sure they did. Many things that came back through range rotation or MTO were put back into metal. The only things never going to metal are things that were already failcast at release.

Also concerning monoposes... yes, I agree, but GW started to do monoposes for 40K and AoS as well, so unfortunately it's pretty unlikely we'd see multiposes, even if they redid the range.

I think the realities of IP licensing probably preclude the likelihood of GW doing a significant revamp of the miniatures range. Doing an extensive refresh of the minis range is a significant capital investment, but there probably isn't as much demand behind the game to justify that expenditure at this stage given the reduced margins associated with licensed goods, likewise the uncertainty behind the license lifespan probably makes gw risk averse to making that investment with the hope of recouping the costs over the molds lifetime, etc.

Big ol' Osgilliath scenery box next week:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2024/04/28/sunday-preview-white-dwarf-500-and-legions-imperialis-hardware/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sudaypreview&utm_content=sundaypreview280424&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0AYITjWN165b8DgvOSqPx75qNDzInffr06COq6GdBweGpSKSDwqn9sVIs_aem_ASbHyKSvdWUie9l2OdlgR0jJVKleVovdNAabhRZPSn8NCi4QB0UHRIkSqfgKOsiii8MkcuOiHcUue4eDfFornGIU

Curious of the price of this one. And if it's direct only or not.

 Inquisitor Gideon wrote:
Big ol' Osgilliath scenery box next week:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2024/04/28/sunday-preview-white-dwarf-500-and-legions-imperialis-hardware/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sudaypreview&utm_content=sundaypreview280424&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0AYITjWN165b8DgvOSqPx75qNDzInffr06COq6GdBweGpSKSDwqn9sVIs_aem_ASbHyKSvdWUie9l2OdlgR0jJVKleVovdNAabhRZPSn8NCi4QB0UHRIkSqfgKOsiii8MkcuOiHcUue4eDfFornGIU

I've avoided stepping into the Osgiliath terrain so far. It isn't 1) not badly priced, and 2) Actually able to order it, I may be inclined.

Curious of the price of this one. And if it's direct only or not.

Could certainly be interesting, if there's a bit of a decent discount - those kits are pretty great from what I've seen, but several copies are needed to really make the most of them. This could be the time to finally get some.

 Dawnbringer wrote:

 Inquisitor Gideon wrote:
Big ol' Osgilliath scenery box next week:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2024/04/28/sunday-preview-white-dwarf-500-and-legions-imperialis-hardware/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sudaypreview&utm_content=sundaypreview280424&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0AYITjWN165b8DgvOSqPx75qNDzInffr06COq6GdBweGpSKSDwqn9sVIs_aem_ASbHyKSvdWUie9l2OdlgR0jJVKleVovdNAabhRZPSn8NCi4QB0UHRIkSqfgKOsiii8MkcuOiHcUue4eDfFornGIU

I've avoided stepping into the Osgiliath terrain so far. It isn't 1) not badly priced, and 2) Actually able to order it, I may be inclined.

Curious of the price of this one. And if it's direct only or not.

The mansion is probably the single best scenery piece they've ever made. Period.

If i'm reading it right, it will be £370 rrp if bought as seperate pieces.
If the box price is £250 and can be gotten from third parties for an extra 20%, that drops it to £200.
I think it would be well worth that price.

My FLGS is under the impression the box is available to retail.

I read the box as containing:
- 1x Gondor Tower (£40 each)
- 3x Gondor Mansion (£50 each)
- 3x Gondor ruins (£30 each).

So £280 of stuff, although £90 of that can be had much more cheaply via eBay as parted out from the starter set. But priced correctly, it could be very attractive, and lean into the full modularity of the kids.

The Osgiliath set isn’t on the price list so it’s direct only.

That's a shame. That's pretty much a kicker for getting it then.