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Thats'..odd? I don't quite see the purpose of doing a two week pre-order 3 months before the release and a seperate third week pre-order the week before it's actually released.

Hm, i wonder if the Sep order time will be direct only, to try and get one up on third parties before the Dec release.

SamusDrake wrote:

Sgt. Cortez wrote:


With the Quest of the Ringbearer book you already have exactly that, no?

Sadly, I haven't the foggiest. I've got the old Return of the King manual from ages past but not actually jumped in with the game yet.

Whats that like then? Any good?

SBG has primarily been a narrative game since it's launch.

Over the last 21 years there's been an absolutely insane number of campaigns and scenarios specifically for recreating the films and books. Quest of the Ringbearer is a massive campaign that takes you through the LOTR films.

That Preorder in Sep for a release in Dec is odd...

Plenty of wargame companies use a preorder system (see GMT's P500) to gauge interest in a product and determine how large a print run is needed. This sounds like GW doing something ... not quite the same, but similar.

callidusx3 wrote:
Plenty of wargame companies use a preorder system (see GMT's P500) to gauge interest in a product and determine how large a print run is needed. This sounds like GW doing something ... not quite the same, but similar.

Yeah, that aspect is fine (though the timing seems weird), I just don't get why they aren't specifically making it clear that's what they're doing.

Is it tied into whatever production/distribution problems are making a mess of the (still ongoing) chaos release? And why Warcry is a two week but while-supplies-last preorder?

A little transparency would go a long way at this point. (though a pre-preorder for the December release makes it feel like a production issue, not a distribution one)

Voss wrote:
Wait... so...
you can pre-order in December for the release in December

Or you can pre-pre-order it during two random weeks in September for... the release in December?

I guess it means they can better manage order expectations and have a pile ready to go for shipping, but they don't... actually say that.

I expect to hear angry ranting a week or so after the September pre-order that people haven't gotten their boxes.

Agreed. They need to be clearer in-so-far as to what the preorder in september means. on their pages. Otherwise there is already built-in backlash from those who don't understand.

Preorder in September and they'll likely have your copy made by the time it comes to December dispatch,

preorder in December you risk the 'oops this was more popular than expected, some folk get their toys, some have to wait a few weeks/months while we make more/wait for more boxes to arrive from china to pack the sprues in)

jullevi wrote:
Get Ready for The Lord of the Rings™ Battle of Osgiliath™

Point of interest from the article:

We’re doing something very special for this very special box – running an advance pre-order.

The Lord of the Rings Battle of Osgiliath is dropping in December – but there will also be a two-week pre-order window this September, running from the 10th until 8:00 BST on the 26th.

This longer pre-order window means that you can relax, safe in the knowledge you’ve secured your The Lord of the Rings Battle of Osgiliath boxed set in time for Christmas. There will also be a regular pre-order window at the end of the year, one week before the box hits the shelves of your local Warhammer store or independent stockist.

I can see this as a bit of an experiment for the big box releases for Games Workshop. If it works, instead of having to do a Made to Order run after the release date like they did for Indomitus, they have a better idea of the quantities that they need and everyone who wants one for Christmas can get one.

yeah I don't get the confusion over a 3 month pre-order. Sure it's not something GW normally does, but it's absolutely in good taste to secure your product rather than have to hope a store near you got an extra copy.

 judgedoug wrote:


SBG has primarily been a narrative game since it's launch.

Over the last 21 years there's been an absolutely insane number of campaigns and scenarios specifically for recreating the films and books. Quest of the Ringbearer is a massive campaign that takes you through the LOTR films.

Ooooooooh I see. Well thats good. Had a look at the first narrative( on youtube ) and it was Farmer Maggot against the evil forces of Frodo and his accomplices in petty crime.

There was me, cynically, thinking they'd brought the release forward to get ahead of the financially crippling rise in energy prices in the UK and get one last big payday before October 1st.

Any rumors for prices of the Battle Hosts?

Well lets take an educated guess using the Isengard box. It's a box of scouts, warriors and Saruman. Total cost of £81 retail. So starter box discount, i'm going to take a stab at £60.

Assuming these get third party releases at a further 20%, could be around £48.

80€ was what I would expect from GW.

No. They're starter boxes, like the start collectings. These are meant to entice new players. I would expect one item in each box to be free over retail or close to it.

 Inquisitor Gideon wrote:
No. They're starter boxes, like the start collectings. These are meant to entice new players. I would expect one item in each box to be free over retail or close to it.

If you figure 60 pounds 80e would be about same. Think relatively speaking better as pound to e ratio would be close to real and not gw inflated...

Would 2 to 3 months be enough to expand the print run if needed? GW may want to do a smaller print run since it isn't a core game, while at the same time avoiding it instantly selling out and becoming an unavailable mess like Cursed City.

I don't know if it will expand the print run. I think it's just to make sure that anyone who orders in September is going to be guaranteed one for the Christmas period. If you order in December you might run the risk of it getting back ordered.

Bit late to the party, but it's strange seeing those wonderful new Glorfindel sculpts and the significantly less wonderful new Guards of the Galadhrim Court in that same preview article. The former is probably among the best models they've released in recent years, while the latter look like off-brand or trainee sculpts. The Guards aren't completely terrible, but certainly rather flat and the proportions seem off. Wouldn't expect these two sets to be made by the same company, let alone released at the same time.

For the two pre-order windows, the way I read the post on WH page, the September pre-order is just to guarantee your copy before Christmas since it's a December release.

I'm sure part of it is a test so they know how many to produce. I could be wrong but I don't believe the MESBG demand is anywhere near that of 40K so it's a smart move to prevent over production.

Galadhrim Court guard do look terrible compared to the other releases. I just hope they plan a plastic starter with new sculpts for Numenor and Rivendell. Based on the Elrond spoiler video I think we have a shot.

If you watched the live stream the guy also made a comment about Gil-Gilad that also sounded like a promising figure in the future. It's all wishful thinking really.

I still wonder why they put that Banner Bearer in that Elrond set...

RazorEdge wrote:
I still wonder why they put that Banner Bearer in that Elrond set...

Because that particular banner is Gil-galads personal colours and Elrond was Gil-galads banner bearer during that time period. It's not really shown in the movie, though I do believe there's some cut footage of him holding the banner in the prologue.
Its not Elrond, but it could certainly represent him in a narrative campaign. Otherwise it's just a funky banner to use.

I don't understand people's issues with the guard. I keep staring at them and nothing strikes me as being particularly off.

I wonder when they will release those Battlehost Sets.

Do you think the Stuff from the Stream will be the last Middle Earth Releses for this year?

They said the battlehosts were coming very soon after the stream. As for anything else, maybe a few unknown FW bits, but i wouldn't think anything else major this year.

Elf-y Pre-orders are up on Forge World

- Rumil & Orophin - £23
- Glorfindel - £30
- Guards of the Galadhrim Court - £23

Glorf's cheaper than i thought he would be. I was expecting Dain or Thranduil prices.

Yeah that’s… I hesitate to say not bad but…

Thranduil does have that big base with him, which probably increased his price - not so sure why Dain is so expensive comparatively, though. Is it just because he is listed as Character Series?

BTW, what is the red dot on Madril's Head?