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Hi everyone ! I'm thinking about giving a try to this game. Right now I haven't yet read the rulebook (only saw a couple of games at my local hobby store). I'm want to start really with the basics : lowest level of points, easy-rulewise models, etc. Since I'm a big fan of the Hobbit (more of the second film than the first) I've ordered Azog (on foot and mounted) and I'm thinking about buying a box of Orcs hunters on Fell wargs. What are your advices ?

It's not exactly a super popular game in my area at least. I'd get onto the player finder here on dakka, or get into your local store, and make sure that interest in the game exists. If you don't do this before you jump in head first, you could be left with a lot of models that, while you'll love them, you won't be able to get a game in with.

If you can't find much interest in a game in your area, perhaps a program like Vassal could let you play it, but then that has the drawback of not being actual models.

As to your actual model related queries, I'm sorry but I can't really help there. Just trying to help with the logistics behind it

Look up the Battle Companies rules. These are geared to allow you to start as you've suggested, with one hero and a unit of troops, and build a warband out of them in a narrative campaign.

 Warzoner wrote:
Hi everyone ! I'm thinking about giving a try to this game. Right now I haven't yet read the rulebook (only saw a couple of games at my local hobby store). I'm want to start really with the basics : lowest level of points, easy-rulewise models, etc. Since I'm a big fan of the Hobbit (more of the second film than the first) I've ordered Azog (on foot and mounted) and I'm thinking about buying a box of Orcs hunters on Fell wargs. What are your advices ?

How can you be a fan of The Hobbit movies? Have you read the book? They are entirely different!

 Random Dude wrote:

 Warzoner wrote:
Hi everyone ! I'm thinking about giving a try to this game. Right now I haven't yet read the rulebook (only saw a couple of games at my local hobby store). I'm want to start really with the basics : lowest level of points, easy-rulewise models, etc. Since I'm a big fan of the Hobbit (more of the second film than the first) I've ordered Azog (on foot and mounted) and I'm thinking about buying a box of Orcs hunters on Fell wargs. What are your advices ?

How can you be a fan of The Hobbit movies? Have you read the book? They are entirely different!

Probably because they are excellent films, visually, narratively and cinematically. It was obvious when the film was announced that it would be departure from the original source as the plot of the Hobbit is simply too one-dimensional to support movies with the scale and scope of LOTR. Frankly, if Jackson had stuck religiously to the book, it would have been a tragically missed opportunity to contribute to the setting on screen.

Obviously, the films are very polarising, but different doesn't have to mean poor. Its an adaptation, and interpretation, and for my money, a very successful one. That said, it's all just a matter of of taste in the end.

back to topic, you can often find the mini rulebook on ebay rather cheap, its missing afew profiles but i have no probs borrowing profiles to fit curtain characters, i currently only have the lotr mini book, dwarves are not in it (strangely enough dwarf kings are) but its simple to convert,
for example, there never ued to be rivendell cavalry, but make a high elf warrior and 6 points for a horse as all horses cost the same and theire profiles too then your done.
the rules of the game are very simple, i read the book in afew hours and the net day had a game no probs.

just my two cents though im not a big fan of the films they are not completly different from the books (and before you ask i have read the lotr, hobbit, silmarilion and books of lost tales) there are many changes but the story is essentialy the same, white council is a great addition, and something only in appendices so you can stuff around with that alot,
plus tolkien considered rewriting the hobbit before he died, the lotr was never meant to be a sequel but it turned out that way.
books are very difficult to put on screen, and though the films can never truly capture the feelings and imagery of the books they were a reasonably good adaption.
but i truly wish that legolas was not in the hobbit films!!

I'm with Paradigm on this one, loved the films and get annoyed when people slate Jackson. Just go in opened minded and watch a film not an adaptation. Although tbh, as an adaptation i still loved it! Really enjoyed how jackson took some of Tolkein's less known works and merged it into a great movie that is appealing to almost everyone.

Anyway, starting Hobbit SBG. If you like painting and modelling, then get the models anyway because this range offers a lot differently to 40k and Fantasy.

A hunter orc army is a good way to start off imo, can be a cheap army to make and leaves options for expanding and allies. Advice from me would be to get the models that you like stats wise or sculpt wise and build around them, though it is of course necessary to have the Force Organisation for LotR in mind because some opponents WILL be picky about legal armies.

Just remember that people on here and other forums will be more than willing to help out with anything if needs be so don't be afraid to ask away no matter how silly you think the question may be! Also, make sure you have fun as this is an awesome game!

I love the movies and I love the books. I know the movie will take some liberties and embellish parts, but you need that to draw in the audience.

I dunno, that has the opposite effect on me. But I'm happy for you guys to have enjoyed it.

 ejazzyjeff wrote:
I love the movies and I love the books. I know the movie will take some liberties and embellish parts, but you need that to draw in the audience.

I totally agree. Though some people don't like romance, i know that was the only reason i got my mum to come and watch it! The humour makes it generally more accessible to all.

 Da Boss wrote:
I dunno, that has the opposite effect on me. But I'm happy for you guys to have enjoyed it.

That's fair enough, it's a shame you didn't enjoy it though...

As for the game, its really easy to build forces and relatively cheap compared to other games out there. It is also fairly easy to balance out, and the plastic sets are pretty much a "legal" force in themselves, just need to grab a hero to lead them ( or convert one) I have a complete and competitive Dale force that cost me $50 at GW.

The option of adding super powered heroes to the game really does help with model count issues. For example Gandalf takes up quite a bit of the points budget for a 500 point force, Azog on the White Warg takes up nearly half! (Bloody good thing too, since he costs as much as six hunter orcs on wargs, who are already over priced!)

 Warzoner wrote:
Hi everyone ! I'm thinking about giving a try to this game. Right now I haven't yet read the rulebook (only saw a couple of games at my local hobby store). I'm want to start really with the basics : lowest level of points, easy-rulewise models, etc. Since I'm a big fan of the Hobbit (more of the second film than the first) I've ordered Azog (on foot and mounted) and I'm thinking about buying a box of Orcs hunters on Fell wargs. What are your advices ?

Save your money and find yourself a different game system is what I would advice you to do, now that being said. Please for sake of Fenris make sure that there is players to be found in your area, unless you just wish to collect the models( as I have taken to doing after the demise of my gaming circle)

jason_busy wrote:back to topic, you can often find the mini rulebook on ebay rather cheap, its missing afew profiles but i have no probs borrowing profiles to fit curtain characters, i currently only have the lotr mini book, dwarves are not in it (strangely enough dwarf kings are) but its simple to convert,
for example, there never ued to be rivendell cavalry, but make a high elf warrior and 6 points for a horse as all horses cost the same and theire profiles too then your done.
the rules of the game are very simple, i read the book in afew hours and the net day had a game no probs.

GW finally put ouf a list of profiles that I believe should have been in the mini book. For me because it wasn't in the mini book I quit The Hobbit/LotR because I didn't want to pay $100 to get these stats. At least GW put them out now.

http://www.blacklibrary.com/Downloads/Product/PDF/The-Hobbit/Heroes-and-villains-of-Middle-earth.pdf

Trondheim wrote:Save your money and find yourself a different game system is what I would advice you to do, now that being said. Please for sake of Fenris make sure that there is players to be found in your area, unless you just wish to collect the models( as I have taken to doing after the demise of my gaming circle)

Why should he save his money? Without an explanation as to why it doesn't really mean anything. I wouldn't have changed my opinion just on this.

As for buying the rules, how does The Hobbit starter set sound to you? Are you interested in Goblins and the 14? I find it so much cheaper to buy this than trying to buy them individually especially when GW is charging what $250+ for them in their latest release. So you will get the rules and some Goblin scenery in there as well.

Really? Do you need an explenation to why he should not spend money on a very fast dying gaming system?

There are alot of great dead systems out there that get alot of play, so sure, why not

thekingofkings wrote:
There are alot of great dead systems out there that get alot of play, so sure, why not

That is true, but LOTR is not one of them

 Trondheim wrote:

thekingofkings wrote:
There are alot of great dead systems out there that get alot of play, so sure, why not

That is true, but LOTR is not one of them

I'm afraid that is where you are wrong. There is actually quite a lot of support still for the game, though players are often hard to find if you don't know what to look for. If you go to the right forums/gaming centres/GWs you will actually see quite a lot of LotR and Hobbit activity.

And even if it was dead, there is no point going on about it. There is still a lot of fun to be had from LotR models, and I think even you would be pleasantly surprised and the diversity the range offers and the different techniques of painting. Give it a go, you may well enjoy it. I dare you!

Another thing I hear a lot is that many people have LotR armies from 'back in the day', so it's worth asking around at your club to see if anyone is in this situation; It may well be they have an army or two gathering dust and just waiting for another spin.

Captain Galenus wrote:

 Trondheim wrote:

thekingofkings wrote:
There are alot of great dead systems out there that get alot of play, so sure, why not

That is true, but LOTR is not one of them

I'm afraid that is where you are wrong. There is actually quite a lot of support still for the game, though players are often hard to find if you don't know what to look for. If you go to the right forums/gaming centres/GWs you will actually see quite a lot of LotR and Hobbit activity.

And even if it was dead, there is no point going on about it. There is still a lot of fun to be had from LotR models, and I think even you would be pleasantly surprised and the diversity the range offers and the different techniques of painting. Give it a go, you may well enjoy it. I dare you!

Well if it is thriving in your area I am deeply envious of you, I used to play the game a great deal when I had still foes to do battle with. I do not have a GW in my area and my UFLGS dose not have any players what so ever. I myself used to play Easterlings and Dunlendings, and I had a good amount of fun.
And if you have a diversed club, do as Paradigm suggested, if not hop on a plane to Norway

My fear at present is that some of the cool models will disappear off the market and I will really regret not having got them while they were available. I never would have expected Gothmog to go OOP for example. So I am snapping up what I can at the moment for that reason.

Here it is easier to get a game of LOTR in than it is to get a game of warmachine.

Interesting how it ebbs and flows, i do know some places where it seems as if you have just murdered a puppy if you mention LotR!

I am scouring ebay for stuff that is recently oop or is about to completely disappear from the world, it's a shame that GW are forcing our hand as i don't mind buying from them if not for the price issues or general lack of product...

 Trondheim wrote:

Captain Galenus wrote:

 Trondheim wrote:

thekingofkings wrote:
There are alot of great dead systems out there that get alot of play, so sure, why not

That is true, but LOTR is not one of them

I'm afraid that is where you are wrong. There is actually quite a lot of support still for the game, though players are often hard to find if you don't know what to look for. If you go to the right forums/gaming centres/GWs you will actually see quite a lot of LotR and Hobbit activity.

And even if it was dead, there is no point going on about it. There is still a lot of fun to be had from LotR models, and I think even you would be pleasantly surprised and the diversity the range offers and the different techniques of painting. Give it a go, you may well enjoy it. I dare you!

Well if it is thriving in your area I am deeply envious of you, I used to play the game a great deal when I had still foes to do battle with. I do not have a GW in my area and my UFLGS dose not have any players what so ever. I myself used to play Easterlings and Dunlendings, and I had a good amount of fun.
And if you have a diversed club, do as Paradigm suggested, if not hop on a plane to Norway

Oslo is currently blooming with hobbit/lotr support we started a group and reached about 30 people now.

eBay prices are skyrocketing. It's almost as expensive to buy stuff from eBay as it is to buy it brand new.

I've been trying to get hold of some Castellan of Dol Guldur for a while now but the prices they go for on eBay are silly.

I wish I'd kept more of my LOTR stuff rather than sell it off for practically nothing post bubble burst. The game has had a mini resurgance at my local club, I know several regular players.

Yeah, the Ebay prices for the old metals are pretty insane. Some of the blisters of basic troops are now going for about £25 or more, which is nuts. You can still get good deals on plastics as people sell off collections or broken minis (reparable with some wire and plasticard a lot of the time. But I think any new army I build is going to be mostly 3rd Party as these price keep going up. Wargames Factory Orcs cost what the Mordor ones did when they first came out, you get just as many and way more weapon options. Similarly, a couple of boxes of their Viking/Saxons sprues for about £30 and you'vw got yourself the makings of a Rohirrim army. It all depends on how good you are at converting, but most models you'd want can be built/converted/distinguished with a paintjob from a plastic kit, GW or otherwise.

 phatonic wrote:

 Trondheim wrote:

Captain Galenus wrote:

 Trondheim wrote:

thekingofkings wrote:
There are alot of great dead systems out there that get alot of play, so sure, why not

That is true, but LOTR is not one of them

I'm afraid that is where you are wrong. There is actually quite a lot of support still for the game, though players are often hard to find if you don't know what to look for. If you go to the right forums/gaming centres/GWs you will actually see quite a lot of LotR and Hobbit activity.

And even if it was dead, there is no point going on about it. There is still a lot of fun to be had from LotR models, and I think even you would be pleasantly surprised and the diversity the range offers and the different techniques of painting. Give it a go, you may well enjoy it. I dare you!

Well if it is thriving in your area I am deeply envious of you, I used to play the game a great deal when I had still foes to do battle with. I do not have a GW in my area and my UFLGS dose not have any players what so ever. I myself used to play Easterlings and Dunlendings, and I had a good amount of fun.
And if you have a diversed club, do as Paradigm suggested, if not hop on a plane to Norway

Oslo is currently blooming with hobbit/lotr support we started a group and reached about 30 people now.

Well that is all nice & dandy, but a bit far for me to travel for a game. With work and what not else. But I am pleased to hear this! I will drop you a PM if I ever head towards Oslo with armies in tow

I have looked at the historical options and they are great. I am going to use Historicals and Red Box Aenglish to represent Gondor forces if I get my act together with them.

But the LOTR movie Rohan look is too cool to ignore, and I love that all the models come with these big cloaks. Most historical models don't have cloaks like that.