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Hey folks, recently I purchased some LotR mini's of a friend. I got a really good deal as I he gave me a whole bunch of stuff for £10. However I've not played the game before and I'm not entirely sure on where I should start.

Firstly there are some models I don't recognise, also I'd like to know what (factions/armies/peoples) I'd be able to start with what I have.

Here are the models.


There are 12 of these and the King of the Dead.


Here I think I have Gandalf, Merry, Pippin, Legolas and Gimili. The others I'm not so sure about.


Finally some Uruk's

So from what I have do I have the starting of any particular army?

Also is there any one book I'd be able to but that would cover the rules for all the models shown?

I'd really appreciate any answers!

Despite GW seemingly discontinuing the game I was pleased to see there was still a community for the game here. I've always loved the wold, books and films and I'm looking forward to painting these and even quite possibly getting some games in.

Cheers guys!

New LotR players exist! All is not lost!

First off, that is a bloody fantastic haul for a tenner! You've easily got about £35-40 worth at normal 2nd hand prices! Good show!

On to the minis, the guys in the first blister are Army of the Dead, and 12 is conveniently enough for a full Warband (the way models are organised when building a force, 1 hero and 0-12 warriors is one Warband). The two others in the second picture are Eowyn (left) and Faramir (middle), from Rohan and Gondor respectively. And yes, basic uruk-hai in the last pics, with the notoriously-easy-to-break pikes!

Looking at that, I'd say the forces you would want to build on are the uruks and the Army of the Dead. For the uruks, I'd see about getting a Saruman, converting our buying a Captain, and getting some more basic warriors to form the core of your army (might seem boring with just a bunch of uruks, but Uruk warriors are one of the best basic troops in the game, I think. They also look epic!).

For the AotD, you've got some nice scope for a themed Grey Company/Paths of the Dead list. Grab an Aragorn to go with Legolas and Gimli, and some Rangers to fill out the Grey Company part, and you could build around the theme of the force Aragon brings to Pelagier/Pellenor. It would also be decent on the tabletop, as Rangers shoot nearly as well as Elves, you have 4 awesome heroes including the KotD, and the AotD are beastly in combat against low-courage Evil troops.

Technically the books you'd need for these are The Fallen Realms (Isengard), and Kingdoms of Men (Grey Company). However, if you aren't planning on playing 'official' games (ie tournaments/leagues and such), and rather just with friends, you'd be better off buying the old Big Blue Book rulebook (hardback, A4, has the Ring on the cover) which, while technically out of date, does have all the rules you need for these minis. Combine that with the mini rulebook from the Hobbit (both are cheaply found on EBay) and you're able to get started pretty cheaply.

Hope that helps!

Well you have a good start to either a Fallen Realms uruk hai army or a Gondor army.

As paradigm said you need a few heros for the uruk hai and then some more troops. i would advise getting some crossbowmen and a handful of berserkers for sure.

For Gondor you have Faramir who just needs some basic warriors which can be had for fairly cheep on ebay.
Pippin in his citadel armor sadly cant lead a warband on his own but he adds a cheep point of might to stick with a heavy hitter unit to call a heroic action when needed (IE heroic combat with the warriors of the dead so they can slaughter a horde of low courage evil troops)

The King of the dead with those 12 warriors can be allied into that as can Gandalf the White.

Were you looking to get just 1 army up for yourself or 2 forces so you can provide one to try to get more people playing?

If you want adivcie? Spend your money on something else, this is a dead game to say the least, but if you still iwsh to squander money follow the adivce of Paradigm

 Trondheim wrote:
If you want adivcie? Spend your money on something else, this is a dead game to say the least, but if you still iwsh to squander money follow the adivce of Paradigm

It's only a 'dead game' if he can find no one to play with.

Hopefully he can. There are still pockets of players all over the place, and LotR is still one of GW's best-designed games.

I definitely agree with Paradigm, though - that was a good haul for what little he paid for it. Good job! Be sure to check out a couple of the other recent threads. One of them leads to a really nicely done online magazine, too.

And of course, finding bits and pieces on eBay can be fun AND you can score some seriously good deals there, if you're careful.

I should show people what I got for $25.

I suppose today that is a pretty big haul.

I would not have ever got into the game if it were not for a crazy person selling nearly 700 LotR miniatures for $25 (I'm not sure he knew how many there were - it was a giant garbage bag full of sprues - some partially cut, most full).

That is a pretty decent collection though for starting.

Having some Uruk-Hai scouts would do well to supplement the Soldiers.

The Metal Army of the Dead are a really decent find. Those are worth more each than you paid for the whole thing now.

MB


Automatically Appended Next Post:
OH!

And for fixing the broken swords on the Uruk-Hai:

Take a brass rod that is about 1/16" in diameter, and then bend the very tip (as close to 1/32" as you can get) of it up at a right angle. Then flatten the 1/2" of the rod with the bend in it with a few whacks of a smooth hammer against an anvil (or another hammer that you have taped the brass rod to).

Then you file the tip into the pointed "Hook" that is on th Uruk-Hai swords, and clip off the 1/2" (or however long their swords are, plus about 3/32" - a little more than 1/16", almost 1/8'.... just call it an additional 1/8" I guess) that is the sword.

Then drill a hole in the hand that has a broken sword, and glue in the flattened, filed brass rod.

You will find that you can do this with ALL of the weapons for the plastic LotR figures (replace them with brass).

I have been thinking about creating a sheet of laser-cut brass weapons (already cut, with the tabs on them to insert into the plastic hands) for each faction.

I have been slowly replacing ALL of the weapons on my own plastic LotR figures with Brass Weapons (starting with the Uruk-Hai, since their weapons are easiest to make).

You will NEVER have to worry about breaking off a fragile weapon again.

MB

 Trondheim wrote:
If you want adivcie? Spend your money on something else, this is a dead game to say the least,

It might be where you are, but in Britain, there's something of a resurgence at the moment focused around the Great British Hobbit League. Like the specialist games, often you find games really hit their stride once GW loses interest....

 Trondheim wrote:
If you want adivcie? Spend your money on something else, this is a dead game to say the least, but if you still iwsh to squander money follow the adivce of Paradigm

Makes me wonder why you feel compelled to hang around in a forum deicated to a "dead" game and make comments.

 mdauben wrote:

 Trondheim wrote:
If you want adivcie? Spend your money on something else, this is a dead game to say the least, but if you still iwsh to squander money follow the adivce of Paradigm

Makes me wonder why you feel compelled to hang around in a forum deicated to a "dead" game and make comments.

I like the game but I dont think people should invest in it, that is why

It comes down to whether any new player has people they'll be able to play with. Rules are also easy enough to find from various sources. Figures of course can be used in anything you like, and a lot of people like the LotR figures of their own accord.

I've been using my LotR figures in Kings of War recently. Like I said, figures can be used anywhere.

We have had a hobbit battle companies campaign running now for 5 weeks, ends when AOS comes out but we KEPT 17 active players 8 of which are new players, everyone enjoyed it.

Win for LOTR at the local gw

That's awesome, namiel! Proof that the game can still interest and entertain people even now!

I wonder if we'll see more players coming over to check out LotR once AoS introduces a more skirmishy style to traditionally-WFB gamers?

 Paradigm wrote:
That's awesome, namiel! Proof that the game can still interest and entertain people even now!

I wonder if we'll see more players coming over to check out LotR once AoS introduces a more skirmishy style to traditionally-WFB gamers?

The lack of product on the shelves will always hurt LOTR. It is very shop/region specific. I maintain several armies and can supply people with armies should they wanna try it out but without general shop support kids just see 40k on the table and wanna play that.