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Ive started playing LoTR from GW and Im moving beyond the starter box. I am trying to build my army but I am running into a problem with armor. I have searched the book and these forums for the rules on taking the various types of armor. The only blurb i can find states that Defense can be increased by armor...oh and that shields give +1 to Defense. Thats it. I would appreciate any assistance with this; especially if you can provide a page number, etc.

Look at page 26/27 in the big rule book. I'll give you a quick example so you get the idea. Once you've rolled to see who wins you takes the person strength vs the enemies defense and check the Wound Chart. (e.g. strength of 3 for a WoMT against a defense of 4 on an orc, meaning he needs a 5+ to kill)

Now for the armor question, most models already come with armor in their stats. But on occasion they don't and you can add a shield (+1 to defense as you said). A good example is elves who have a defense of 4 but can add extra armor (+1 to defense) or heavy armor (+2 to defense) depending if the model allows it. The extra armor option is normally on expensive troops or on heroes. So it's not that common. Does this help at all?

Armor adds to your Defence by 1, shields by 1, heavy armor by 2, and Mithril armor by 3.

If you have armor and upgrade to heavy armor you only get a net increase of 1 as you first lose the regular armor and then add on the heavy armor.


And most of the time you don't buy armor as its standard. Except elves as they are completely customisable.

What type of armor you are wearing usually only comes into play with water features.


Example would be Dwarves. None of them can buy armor, but they can buy shields.

Your basic dwarf has Dwarf armor and has a basic defense of 6. They can buy shields to increase it to 7. Khazad guard have Dwarf heavy Armor which gives them defense 7.