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I went by my local GW to pick up some primer (I know it's overpriced, but it's been so damn humid and it works best) and noticed we had a new manager. He didn't try to sell me anything else, or ask what I was working on. So he basically ruled.

I had the sudden desire to give him a hug, but I think instead I'll start gaming at the store. They seem to have a decent LOTR scene, which I imagine got more popular when AoS happened.

On to my questions:

1) What book(s) do I need in order to play Galadhrim?

2) I have 2 ents, box of Galadhrim Knights, and about 3 boxes of Galadhrim warriors. Will that be enough for a standard sized game?

2.5) Roughly how large is a standard sized game?

3) Any elf heroes that are "must buys"? I have Galadriel and Celeborn I think.

Hooray! Who said the game was dying! Welcome aboard!

1) To play Galadrhim, you'll need the Free Peoples sourcebook, which may or may not be oop. Ask the manager if there aren't any on the shelf, he m might have a few hidden away.

2) Definitely enough for a full game there! You'll need a Hero (named or Captains) per 12 Warriors, but that's as simple as painting a different colour cape on one guy per box. Add a character or two and you're pretty much set!

3) Standard games are anything from 300-750 points, but the game scales well enough that anything from 250-1000 is readily playable. In model terms most armies are in the 30-60 range for mid-size games, with Elves trending towards the low end of that.

3) There's no real must-takes in LotR, it's much more balanced than WFB or 40k. However, Galadriel has multiple Profiles to pick from, from the buff-centric to the kickass, and Celeborn is pretty good too. Legolas is often cited as one of the game's best heroes, and Haldir is cheaper but not as good. To start, look for Galadriel, she offers the most.

Hope that helps.

Indeed it did, thanks for the answers.

I'll look for the free peoples sourcebook.

I figure I could use them as High Elves or Armored Mirkwood Elves or something without a problem though.

I'm guessing they have rules in the current Hobbit Rulebook?

You could certainly get away with using them as armoured Mirkwood Elves, you'll find their rules in a free PDF on the GW site (along with all the BotFA rules GW bothered with). High Elves would be down to your opponents, really, as while they aren't quite right (as HE have Heavy Armour) they're close enough that most won't take issue.

Thanks! Didn't realize that there was a free PDF. I'll print off the Elf pages and start tinkering.

The Hobbit rulebook is the latest version of the rules. Older versions, like the Return of the King game or the Big Blue Hardback (has The One Ring on the cover) are just as good and actually have more stats.

Is the PDF you're talking about the free Hobbit one (there's also a free Battle of the Five Armies one available - both on Black Library)?

There was an older PDF of Galadhrim stats that GW released for free on their website, as before the Free Peoples book, they had only been released in WD.

Drop me a PM if you'd like copies of any of them.

 Red Viper wrote:
2) I have 2 ents, box of Galadhrim Knights, and about 3 boxes of Galadhrim warriors. Will that be enough for a standard sized game?

One thing if you are wanting to inlcude an Ent or two in your force, the Ents are from a different "army" than the Galadhrim so in order to field one of them you need a hero from the "Wanderers in the Wild" list. That would probably mean Treebeard. Of course, if you just want one Ent, call the miniature you use "Treebeard" and be done with it. There are some other heros in the WitW list (Tom Bombadil, Gwaihir, Ghan-buri-gan), but I'm not sure if they can be warband leaders (don't have my book handy)

Buy rumil. He is straight gangster for his points. Celeborn is awesome but point for point rumil ability to make any opponent re roll any 6 he rolls in the fight phase is just spectacular. Im also a fan of galadhrim court though not very point effective. Mixing wood elves and galadhrim is a good combo

 namiel wrote:
Buy rumil. He is straight gangster for his points. Celeborn is awesome but point for point rumil ability to make any opponent re roll any 6 he rolls in the fight phase is just spectacular. Im also a fan of galadhrim court though not very point effective. Mixing wood elves and galadhrim is a good combo

Thanks for the tip.

I will probably mix in some Mirkwood eventually.

Rumil will be put on my list.

Well, Rumil is on the way. I've always liked duelists and from my minimal understanding of the rules, it looks like he'll be tough to take down. I already have Haldir, Celeborn, and Galandrial. Plus a few Rivendell elves that I could use for heroes or

I want to have an evil army too. I was thinking Isengard or Easterlings... but they are both pretty elite armies too, right?

If I wanted to get as far away from the Elvish playstyle, would I choose goblins?

And assuming it's goblins, what are the main differences between Moria and Goblintown?

Isengard can actually be very much the opposite of Elves. Yes, the mini counts might be similar (if you do an uruk-only build, they can use ordinary Orcs as well), but they play very differently. Elves excel at range and in hit-and-run battles, and can't take a hit at all really, while Uruks are all about big solid blocks of troops and taking damage on their heavily armoured chins before hitting hard in melee. Their ranged presence is similar, slow (crossbows can't move and fire) but hits harder. And as mentioned, you can take ordinary Orcs if you want to horde it up.

Isengard are a very versatile force, while Easterling or Goblin armies can be a bit one-dimensional (Goblin Town especially so, with one troop type and 4 heroes).

Thanks for the input.

I think I almost want one-dimensional for my evil list.

Galadhrim (and probably some Mirkwood) are going to be my main focus, but I just want an evil list to show my friends how to play. I'll probably play the evil list when I play my son or my wife (a man can dream dammit).

If it's a limited list, then I won't be as tempted to keep buying stuff.

If someone doesn't mind, I'd like to hear a little about the differences between Isengard and Easterlings, and then Moria vs Goblintown.

From what I can tell (watching battle reports mostly)..

Easterlings are an elite army with tough infantry and some powerful heroes (khamul and the amdur).

Are Isengard basically just a more diverse Easterling army? Uruk similar to the Easterling Infantry, but then with all the added options of Trolls/Orcs/Wargs?

Goblintown and Moria can both have a lot of bodies. It looks like Goblintown can summon from table edges with the scribe, while Moria had have missle weapon troops and some monsters?

Lastly, I see a lot of "Temporarily out of stock" on GW's site. Does that mean what it says, or does it mean they are no longer going to be selling them?

Fair enough!

You're pretty much spot on with Easterling and Isengard forces, both are generally built around pike phalanxes and with auxiliary archers or cavalry. In the latter departments, Easterlings have cheaper archers while Uruks have more expensive crossbowmen, and the Easterlings have heavily armoured melee cavalry while Isengard have Warg Riders that are less tough but can take bows or spears and can hit a little harder thanks to Wargs over horses. And yeah, Isengard have troops and cheap chaff in Orcs that Easterlings can't get without allies from Mordor.

To be honest, I wouldn't recommend Goblin Town on its own: you'll need to buy the expensive starter set to get a Captain, Grinnah and the Scribe and then you're stuck with the same troop models over and over again, which is boring from both a hobby and gaming perspective. With Moria, you've at least got options for trolls, wargs, bats and such all in-faction and you can still do everything Goblin Town can do except bring on the reinforcements.

Temporarily out of stock should mean things are coming back, but with how GW are handling LotR at the moment there's no way to know when.

Awesome, thanks for the summaries, sounds like I had the general idea.

I don't want to choose a faction that my friends may be interested in, so I'll ask around. I think my pals are most likely into Isengard, Moria, and Mordor... sometimes I wonder about my friends.

I'm not opposed to asking for escape from Goblin town or even the Mines of Moria for Christmas. That way I'd get a rulebook also and I'd likely start either Goblin force. Moria does seem cooler than Goblin town though. I like their armor designs and monsters are always fun.

Tried to get my group into WoTR and failed. It's why I have the Galadhrim. I think I have a better shot with the SBG though.

AoS was a dud with my group. KoW has taken over as the mass battle game, but I still need that skirmish itch scratched. I had kinda forgotten about Hobbit SBG until a coworker told me the local GW had a large event. Seemed like a lot of fun.

If your GW store has an extra Free Peoples book, I'll pay you to pick it up for me and ship it. I can't find one anywhere and I need a copy :/

When Rumil comes in I'll look for it.

He shipped today so hopefully I'll be able to pick him up by the end of the week.

 Red Viper wrote:
I want to have an evil army too. I was thinking Isengard or Easterlings... but they are both pretty elite armies too, right?

Actual Easterlings is pretty much two warrior choices, heavily armored "Kataphrakts" cavalry or similar armored "Warriors" infantry. They do have a number of hero choices, though, including one of the named Ringwraiths, Kahmul the Easterling. They do share a list with the Khandish, who include light cavalry and infantry, as well as their Chariots.

If I wanted to get as far away from the Elvish playstyle, would I choose goblins? And assuming it's goblins, what are the main differences between Moria and Goblintown?

They are definitly different! I see the Moria Goblin list as being a horde list, lots of cheap Moria Goblins, stiffened by Cave Trolls, Wargs, and Giant Spiders. They do have a few interesting and fun characters, too. Of course the is also the Balrog, but I don't like him for casual games. The Goblintown Goblins list is much more limited. Pretty much just hordes of cheap goblins supporting the Goblin King. I think they are best left to scenario play with Thorin's Company.

Ah, forgot about the Khandish. That would give them a lot more versatility.

Looks like another vote against Goblintown.

A coworker bought a carrying case on craigslist a few years ago. The guy selling it included a bunch of moria goblins and isengard models inside. I was trying to buy them off of my coworker, but now he's thinking about playing too, haha. I guess that works out.

Well, I played a 300 point game at my local GW. Apparently the DC area has a huge Hobbit group. I don't think I'll ever have a problem getting a game in.

We ran out of time, but it looked like I was on my way to defeat.

My biggest mistake was not realizing that Elf archers are still good fighters until it was nearly too late. I left my spearmen/swords high and dry for too long while I tried to pick off his stragglers with bowfire. I should have definitely just charged in. Plus, my archers weren't doing anything anyway... I needed 6s to wound.

My opponent got a heroic combat off with a cavalry hero and got around my flank. That was probably the turning point.

Rumil was a boss though.

The game is deeper than I realized. I'm going to work on a 750 point list.

Yeah, thanks to the high Fight stat, even basic Elves have a 1/6 chance of auto-winning against most (possibly any) basic troop models. In general, once the lines close you'll do better to bring in the archers as extra fighters.

In games where you're not using your full collection and have some choice, you might want to take just Archers and Spearmen (6 of each, with Spears supporting the Archers) and leave the Swordsmen at home. I've never found Elven Blades that useful, and if you're just taking them as Hand Weapons you might as well take Archers instead.

Yeah makes sense, I may do that.

I picked up a box of wood elves too. I'll sprinkle them in to save some points. I think I'll keep Elvish blades on them (and no shields) because I found I needed some 2 handed weapons in combat. Their defense is crap even with shields, unlike the armored Galadhrim units.

I'm trying to decide between Galadriel, Celeborn, or a Elf Captain on Horse to take me to 750. I think I'll have 3 groups max either way. I saw the power of the Heroic move on cavalry and I wanted it for myself.

Galadriel has got some nice magic, which would be nice.. but the other 2 add some hitting power. I think Isengard and Dwarves are popular.

A Heroic Move with a Cavalry warband at the right time can be game-winning, but does take concentration to set up. Cavalry in general require careful planning, as if you don't get the charge they're just infantrymen that cost twice as much.

If you see a lot of shooting or powerful cc heroes, Galadriel is a good buy as her magic can mess those up very nicely, but if you're lacking in punch, the others might be preferable.

Okay, I made a list with Galadriel because I'm scared of being outshot by armies that either bring the numbers (hobbits, goblins) or can ignore the 1/3 penalty (mirkwood?).

I was able to sneak in a Captain on Horse anyway.

I'm unsure of how to divide up the battle groups, but here's what I have at 750:

Rumil
Galadriel
Haldir w/bow
Galadhrim Captain on horse with Elven blade

9 Galadhrim with Bows
4 Wood Elves with Bows
9 Galadhrim with Spears
4 Wood Elves with Spears
8 Galadhrim with Blades/Shields
4 Wood Elves with Blades
2 Knights with Shields

Should be 44 Bodies and 14 bows

Ok, for organisation I'd go:

Galadriel with the Galadhrim Archers, and maybe the other archers if they don't fit anywhere else. (you'll only get three in there, but the spare can just go anywhere or you can put the points towards something else, I'd kind of like to see a couple more Knights if you can make room. 3 mounted models will just get shot to hell by most armies as they're so dangerous but pretty squishy)

The Spear Galadhrim can then go in the Knight/Knight Captain warband and just move to the archers as soon as possible (you should get at least a couple of turns to manoeuvre if you need them)

Haldir can lead any remaining Wood Elves, Rumil the remaining Galadhrim, and use them as needed to plug gaps, defend the archers/heroes, capture objectives and such.

 Paradigm wrote:

3 mounted models will just get shot to hell by most armies as they're so dangerous but pretty squishy)

Yeah I was scared to go all in with Cavarly because elves are already so few in number. I only have 6 total. Do you think I should just stick to infantry? I have plenty more models. Or maybe add Celeborn? He seems pretty good.

Thanks for the organizational advice too. I will try to digest that when I have my army in front of me.

With Cavalry, you do kind of need to find the balance. I'd take no less than 4 if you're taking them against any army with moderate shooting, and any more than 6 in a Warband can leave models out of range for Stand Fast and Heroic Moves.

Experiment, but personally I would go with at least 4 and the Captain if you want them as anything more than a (very expensive) distraction.

 Red Viper wrote:
I'm trying to decide between Galadriel, Celeborn, or a Elf Captain on Horse to take me to 750.

I think this depends a bit on your local "meta" game. If you are facing opponents who use one of the big named magic users in their evil armies (Saruman, Witch King, Sauron), then I'd definitly think about bringing Galadriel. If they only use no name, shamen level magic users you can get away without a big gun of your own.