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Hello all,
Hope this is the right place for this, I have 2 kids and can't devote too much time searching this info out...
I have looked at the Lord of the Rings, Mines of Moria set, as a local store... I also found (at another store) a bin of clearance models, mostly LotR stuff...
I'd love to collect and paint a few models from the range, mainly the Fellowship, a few good guys, and some Orks and such...
From what I have gathered, the LotR game that comes with the set, is different than the War of the Rings game the BRB is for... I don't think I want the WotR book, nor do I want to play that game with the movement trays and such.. From what I understand, the LotR SBG is more a skirmish game, with different mechanics... that's what I'm looking for, as I use my 40K minis in a more skirmish game than typical 40K usually...
My question is this: Can someone pick up the Mines of Moria set, a few more good troops, and a few bad troops and heroes, and play games of good vs. evil that way..? or would one still have to have models from only Isengard, Rohan, etc...? I'd love to have a unit or two of mixed troops to go with the Fellowship, like some Elves, and Warriors of Minas Tirith... and then add some Uruk Hai..(sp?) and such... is this how the SBG works? or Could this be done with minor mods to the ruleset..? Thanks for reading...

You can jaust buy some good models (be it infantery or troops), and some evil, and you can play.
Mines of Moria is the one for the skirmish game, and in it you dont need to have heroes at all.

Agreed, the Mines set comes with a rule book, and that will get you by with your family. I only play WoTR, but I recommend the skirmish for your circumstances. So long as you have some leniency with the rules in friendly matches, you are set.

Thank you,
I will hopefully get the set this holiday season, if that doesn't work we can hope Uncle Sam in nice in the spring... Thanks again for the replies...

If you wanna play tourneys then you want to pick up Legions of Middle Earth. This shows what different army lists can be combined toghether in a force. If your intrested in the fellowship I would also suggest getting hold of the HardBack rule book which also includes stats for many of the troop types, what armys are you intrested in specifically?

Basically, I am looking to take the Mines of Moria set, add some elves, and humans, as well as some Uruk Hai (sp?) and maybee something else, and try for balanced good vs. evil games... I'm like 90 miles from anywhere with a FLGS so this won't be for competitive play, just to model some LotR models, and have another game to play sometimes, or with friends in winter...

Can anyone suggest a couple units for good, and a couple for evil, that would add to the set to make a balanced game ? I'm guessing with all the heroes in the Fellowship, that I'm going to end up adding an extra unit of evil, and maybe a solo or two...? I'd like the bad wizard guy and maybee? for good I'd like at least one unit of Elves and some other human warriors... foot models as I don't fancy cavalry too much....
thanks again for the input

Uruk Hai warriors are great in the game, and I love the way the Uruk scouts look, and they arent that bad too.
Uruk Hai would be my take for evil, or some Easterlings.

The MoM set is a great start for LotR. LotR is scenario-based and very cinematic, so you don't need very many models, or a balanced force on each side, to have a really fun game. What you are talking about doing is the exact way LotR works.
SBG is much larger in scope, often with 60+ models on a side, but has slightly tweaked LotR rules to speed up the gameplay. WotR is a completely different game, and uses lots of figures on movement trays and very different rules than the other two.

In LotR, units typically are purchased in groups of eight of the same type- eight rangers with spears, eight dwarves with great weapons, eight orcs with handweapons and shields, etc. Keep that in mind when you are are browsing the clearance bin.

If you are starting with MoM, you get the Fellowship, enough goblins, and a Cave troll. To expand, I'd get a generic ringwraith or two (or three!), foot & mounted if possible. A box of orcs, or Uruk-hai scouts, and maybe a box of warg riders. For the Good side, look at a box of dwarves, wood elves, or rangers. Good heroes tend to be a lot more powerful, so you can get a lot of mileage out of Arwen or Radagast.

LotR is the game where a lot of individuals from the books/movies really get to shine, so it is worth grabbing some of the odd figures, like Tom Bombadil or Gothmog, if you get the chance. If that remainder bin has hobbits, stock up.

The pointsystem is rather balanced in LOTR SBG. So as long as you have the same amount of points you should have a fun game.

For competitive play there are rules what models can go together but otherwise you can just put any models in an army and just add their point value.

Mines Of Moria has only heroes for good and no heroes for evil. It is possible to play an all hero army but that takes a lot of experience to play well, and even then is a challenge. So my advice would be to add a box of plastic warriors to good. You want also evil heroes, but you can do that by 'upgrading' your warriors: paint one differently and use him as a hero.


If you want some expert advice from people who play the game or just want to browse their forums, have a look at these sites (there are others but these happen to be the ones I use most):
UK: The Last Alliance

US: Adeptus Windy City

They also have list where to find profiles, FAQ's, erratas ...


Also LOTR models are based on round bases, just as 40K. So nothing stops you from using the LOTR SBG rules with your 40K models. A space marine with a boltpistol can then be a warrior of Minas Tirith with bow.

Thanks for the input,
if I get back to the place with the Clearance bin, I will check what they have, and I may pick up the MoM set this winter, I'm thinking 2 units of each, good, and evil, then maybe a character or two for evil. like a Ringwraith or the wizard Gandolf fights on the tower...
Thanks again for all the input, now that I know the game will play like I am hoping, I am sure to pick it up at some point...
Happy Turkey Day...

Im doing the exact same thing as the Origional poster.
im getting the mines of moria set for christmas
And another box of goblins/orcs/urukhai , and a set of minas tirith warriors

would that be balanced?

Papaskittels wrote:Im doing the exact same thing as the Origional poster.
im getting the mines of moria set for christmas
And another box of goblins/orcs/urukhai , and a set of minas tirith warriors

would that be balanced?

You certainly have enough models to play fun games. The rulebook included in the Mines of Moria set contains the point costs for all these models so you can build your armies.
I expect you will not use the whole fellowship in every game, and you probably want to have one or more of your evil warrior to proxy a captain.

Also don't forget that when playing scenarios you don't have to use armies with the same total point cost.

Thanks everyone for the input,

So MoM, a box of ORKS, a box of Warriors(good), and some hero types for the bad side?

Would that be about right, for fun LotR gaming?

I don't want to get in too deep, but I want to make it fun, so we'd have another game to play from time to time...

I am looking into this and/or bloodbowl, for a third/fourth game... I haven't figured out costs yet, and that may figure in as part of the decision...

Thanks again,
Isaiah