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Hi, dakka. Now, how many models are needed to play a game of LOTR?

Well depends, SBG or WOTR? SBG is normally the smaller skirmish based game which can vary from a few models to whole armies. A pack of ordinary troops & a hero can get you started and you can later branch out to more specific area's. WOTR needs more models and therefore is more expensive but seems to be more the clash of big armies where you need several boxes just for a start.

I'd suggest a boxed set of Rohan warriors and a Rohan command set to start of with. 25 models: 1 captain, 1 banner bearer, 1 hornblower (the rules for which can be found in White Dwarf), 8 warriors with swords & shields, 8 warriors with throwing spears (woohh!!) & shields, and 8 warriors with bows.
Rohan warriors are fairly versatile, and throwing spears are excellent for softening up a enemy ranks before a charge.
You could then build it up with riders of Rohan, the first (and best) of midrange cavalry in the game.
Also, you can go to town on the paint jobs, as Rohan consists of several regions with their own warriors. Rohirrim cold also represent soldiers from the Gondorian Fiefdoms, like Anfalas or Pelargir.

Well, thanks for the tips. Sounds like a small game...

Obviously it gets bigger, but if you are going to waste £30 of your money on 25mm fantasy soldiers, then you might as well pick these. You could buy a Mumakil shock squadron, but that is quite expensive, naturally.

The point level varies, but a 500 point game could be considered the norm. most of the "historical" scenerios are 500-750 points.

I think the system tops out around 1500 because you can start getting into hundreds of models on both sides, and because everything is worked out on an individual basis it gets VERY complicated.

So they use the same points system as 40k?

well, each model costs a certain number of points and there are often upgrades you can purchase if thats what you mean.

Each model is paid for seperately and each model pays for its upgrades seperately, there is no such thing as 'squads' etc.

E.g. Wood Elf costs 7pts but you can give him/her armour for 1pt

Alright, so what is the minimum points cost?

I've just started playing LotR SBG and I have a 500 point grey company force, its got between 10 and 15 guys in it, Aragorn, some dunedain and some rangers of arnor, all with bows. The lack of force organisation threw me at first as well.

Ogryn wrote:Alright, so what is the minimum points cost?

Whatever you want.

you can play 50 point games if you desire, although thats about 5 good and 10 evil models depending on the exact forces.

Maybe an example will help:

My Haldirs elves list:

Haldir with armour and bow (80)
Armoured elf with standard (34)
7 Armoured Elves with Bow (56)
11 Armoured Elves with Glaive (77)

Total 247pts

Easy enough really, very simple, elves are expensive so therefore I don't have many models but their fight value more than makes up for that.

Goblins on the other hand:

Durburz (65)
Goblin Shaman (40)
9 Goblins with shield (45)
9 Goblins with bow (45)
13 Goblins with shield (52)

Total 247pts

Very cheap infantry and heroes but their key stats tend to be lower i.e. fight value, heroes might,will and fate points, heroes attacks (durburz specifically)

These armies typically dont cost a bomb neither like the other systems and make for a great lunch time game