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I really like the description of every style of ally. How the historical are the book/movies ones, and the "It kinda makes sense" are the "Allies of convenience"

Also, I wonder where the regular non-The Hobbit dwarves are going to be. Are they rolling them all into the Iron Hills army? I'm thinking of things like Khazad Guard, Dwarf Rangers, etc.

They should be staying as Durins Folk, same way as Erebor should be seperate from the Iron Hills too.

They are now The Kingdom of Khazad-Dum, as evidenced on the new Middle-earth section of the GW website.

Also, LOTR plastics boxes are missing, as they are rebranded and boxed into double-size infantry sets.

 ZergSmasher wrote:
Allies matrix looks pretty restrictive, but then they are trying to encourage historical alliances rather than WAAC-style wombo combos of models. Looks like actually taking Thorin's company pretty much penalizes you, unless they are really, really beefy on the tabletop. Having not seen how any of The Hobbit stuff is statwise, I don't know.

Considering the worst "tier" of penalty is modest at worst, and really a non-issue unless you're trying to break the game, I don't see an issue. They didn't invalidate, or forbid a single list/combo, that's pretty open as far as I suppose.

NewTruthNeomaxim wrote:

 ZergSmasher wrote:
Allies matrix looks pretty restrictive, but then they are trying to encourage historical alliances rather than WAAC-style wombo combos of models. Looks like actually taking Thorin's company pretty much penalizes you, unless they are really, really beefy on the tabletop. Having not seen how any of The Hobbit stuff is statwise, I don't know.

Considering the worst "tier" of penalty is modest at worst, and really a non-issue unless you're trying to break the game, I don't see an issue. They didn't invalidate, or forbid a single list/combo, that's pretty open as far as I suppose.

If you're doing a matched play and mixing Thorin's company with Numenor then something's amiss, lol

Where did the Grey Company/Arnor end up?

 judgedoug wrote:

NewTruthNeomaxim wrote:

 ZergSmasher wrote:
Allies matrix looks pretty restrictive, but then they are trying to encourage historical alliances rather than WAAC-style wombo combos of models. Looks like actually taking Thorin's company pretty much penalizes you, unless they are really, really beefy on the tabletop. Having not seen how any of The Hobbit stuff is statwise, I don't know.

Considering the worst "tier" of penalty is modest at worst, and really a non-issue unless you're trying to break the game, I don't see an issue. They didn't invalidate, or forbid a single list/combo, that's pretty open as far as I suppose.

If you're doing a matched play and mixing Thorin's company with Numenor then something's amiss, lol

Agreed, but if you hypothetically ONLY owned those models, you can still play them together. I appreciate this permissive move, even if it is measured, and grounded.

 Eldarain wrote:
Where did the Grey Company/Arnor end up?

No idea, just an example matrix so far, as The Kingdom of Khazad Dum isn't listed either

Pre-order is up on GW:

https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Lotr-Battle-Of-Pelennor-Fields-2018-eng

I got my order in on Element, where the price for the starter set feels even more wondrously value-for-money

im really skint atm but I put an order in for the 3 dice sets as I imagine they're most likely to go out of stock.

Ugh, I was interesting in trying the game, but 90 euros just for 2 rulesbooks is a forbiddenly expensive entry price for me

Sadly it has the Kirby touch on this release. :(

Davor wrote:
Sadly it has the Kirby touch on this release. :(

What? Could you elaborate somewhat?

 Inquisitor Gideon wrote:

Davor wrote:
Sadly it has the Kirby touch on this release. :(

What? Could you elaborate somewhat?

Oh I thought I did. Sorry for that. Selling the profiles separately. *edit* I made a mistake. We have to buy the points and stats separately still. */edit*

Other than that, it's a fantastic deal and it seems it has improved so much, BUT one of the reasons I didn't get into The Hobbit and I quit LotR was because buying the boxset you still had to buy a $100 Canadian book to be able to still play. You still need to buy two products in order to play. That left a foul taste in my mouth back then, and seeing it now, I remembered why I quit. $70 for just stats and points? So now we still need to but the rulebook and or boxset for the rules and STILL NEED TO PAY FOR STATS AND POINTS.

So the reason I left GW is still doing it.

I guess it's 2 steps forward and one step back in this case.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
As a side note, why are we still paying for stats and points? If anything, Age of Sigmar should show you how to get people back into the hobby.

I am not complaining about paying for something, but keeping things separate in order to play a game especially a pick up game, I believe is wrong. Everything should be included in the rule book like it was before with LotR.

A single codex for one army in 40K is CAD$50. One book for all the rules for all the units is CAD$70.

Sorry, not seeing the problem beyond you need to buy stuff beyond the starter to play bigger games, which is true for basically all games?

 Azreal13 wrote:
A single codex for one army in 40K is CAD$50. One book for all the rules for all the units is CAD$70.

Sorry, not seeing the problem beyond you need to buy stuff beyond the starter to play bigger games, which is true for basically all games?

More of principle. To each their own I guess. Thing is what if you are not buying the starter set? You still have to buy the rule book and the other book. So not sure what you mean you need to buy more from the starter to play bigger games.

Also this is not 40K. This is LotR. If you want to compare to another GW game system, how about Age of Sigmar? It goes both ways.

Yeah, and AOS has Battletomes?

But my point was broader, any game requires purchases beyond the starter to play larger game, and practically any game requires expenditure to update after an edition change. This is not Kirby-esque, nor is it unique to GW, and in this particular instance they're not even being particularly gougy about it.

Sorry, but it's never been like that. The original 3 books had profiles because they had to be staggered because of the movies. Once the movies were done and the rules expanded, we got the source books, which were £15 each split into 5 volumes, which would have cost you £75 for all. The new one is £35 (before discount) considerably cheaper than they ever have been before.

 Inquisitor Gideon wrote:
Sorry, but it's never been like that. The original 3 books had profiles because they had to be staggered because of the movies. Once the movies were done and the rules expanded, we got the source books, which were £15 each split into 5 volumes, which would have cost you £75 for all. The new one is £35 (before discount) considerably cheaper than they ever have been before.

Aye. Quite the discount. And unless you specifically want Rohan or Mordor, you can bypass the starter set altogether as a cost. Just get the rulebook and whatever models you want.

Azreal13 wrote:Yeah, and AOS has Battletomes?

But my point was broader, any game requires purchases beyond the starter to play larger game, and practically any game requires expenditure to update after an edition change. This is not Kirby-esque, nor is it unique to GW, and in this particular instance they're not even being particularly gougy about it.

Not understanding what you are saying. So what about Battletomes? They came out after Age of Sigmar was introduced. Of course you will have Battletomes once the game expands. So your point?

As for your broader point games require more after the starter set, I still don't see your point. This wasn't done for Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game. Wasn't done then, no need to be done now.

Inquisitor Gideon wrote:Sorry, but it's never been like that. The original 3 books had profiles because they had to be staggered because of the movies. Once the movies were done and the rules expanded, we got the source books, which were £15 each split into 5 volumes, which would have cost you £75 for all. The new one is £35 (before discount) considerably cheaper than they ever have been before.

Uh, you are incorrect here. You are talking about the source books AFTER the release of the game and a few years by that. So of course things will change and new stuff will be added in. I am talking about starting a new edition. Just like how LotR SBG came out. It was a new edition but had everything all in one. Be it the hard cover rule book or the beginner rule book in the starter set. Making them seperate is Kirby-esque as our friend Azreal13 put it. You can read all the complaints about paying more and getting less and having to buy more again with something we already have.

I know we all have been conditioned now to accept this because "everyone does it now". All I am saying is this is one of the reasons why I left. I am sure it is also one of the reasons why lots of people left and to have one of the reasons for leaving still here just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. That is all.

Will I get it? Eventually when I have the spare money to do so. Will I accpet it? Yes, I know it's a buisness. All I am saying is how I feel. I am not saying anyone has to feel as I do. Just a shame one thing upset me is still around. At least everything else is so much better and the good out weighs the bad. If anyone sees it differently great. I am not saying anyone is wrong.



Automatically Appended Next Post:
Now can we buy all this stuff from our LFGS and 40K shops or do we have to go through Forge World to get all the LotR stuff now?

Davor wrote:

 Azreal13 wrote:
A single codex for one army in 40K is CAD$50. One book for all the rules for all the units is CAD$70.

Sorry, not seeing the problem beyond you need to buy stuff beyond the starter to play bigger games, which is true for basically all games?

More of principle. To each their own I guess. Thing is what if you are not buying the starter set? You still have to buy the rule book and the other book. So not sure what you mean you need to buy more from the starter to play bigger games.

Also this is not 40K. This is LotR. If you want to compare to another GW game system, how about Age of Sigmar? It goes both ways.

You mean the game with yearly book to buy?

Big Rules Changes: Magical Powers on Warhammer Community

Personally the price is a deal breaker for me, as a potential curious new player in a place where no other players exist with experience in the game to teach, so the new book are necessary *.It is just too much money for just books.

*Unless you want to play Rohan and/or Mordor then the starter set is more than worth since it also comes with all the profiles

Is so refreshing to see magic that does "strenght X" impacts back and not only Mortal Wounds... I'm loving everything here! I know many things have always been like this but after like 10 years not even looking at this game everything looks fresh and new



Also, I like that they are making the magic more proper Tolkien. Before it was a little too warhammer-y.

Also, I love that now "common sense" is part of the actual rules



OMG, They have already reboxed nearly all infantry of the game?! I tought only uruk-hai and gondor infantry for now!

£56 for basically every rule you'll ever need seems pretty cheap to me.

I'm splitting a starter, so it's all ridiculously good value as far as I'm concerned

Anyone know if you can assemble the witch king model in the starter set as a normal ringwraith?

As a long term player, I kind of already have the original version...



On that note, I'm really glad that GW are going back to the original box sizes for the models.

This genuinely might be the first GW purchase I make in 6 years.

Yes you can. You can make either the Witch King or a non titled wraith.

22€ for 20 easterlings from Element Games. What is this, 2002!?"

Am I crazy or did someone mention a new on foot Dain model that's different from the one that comes with the warpiggy? I wonder what that's about. Maybe to coincide with new men of Dale models?

Also, the starter set has the full rulebook so if you ask me it's a no brainier to wait for a 15% coupon on eBay to get it and the armies book.