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Hello,

I'm going to be playing a game of LOTR with a friend in a few days. It'll be his first game ever. Any tips for making it the best game possible?

Well what are you both playing? That would help alot to know, but keep the game rather smal, like 500 to 800 points. And dont trow a troll at him in the first round

Well, to start, we're doing a 200 point game, using my collection.

He's playing as Elves (Legolas at the head).

I'm using Uruk-Hai.

Also, we're using the original Mines of Moria rule set (no specific warband composition).

Well for start I would look at the new source books, due to them being better than the old rule set. But pointy ears Vs Uruks are ok starting point, So I am guessing you will be using either Scouts or rank and file uruks? What units will he have? Lotrien or other elfs?

I'm taking:
Uruk-Hai Captain w/ Heavy Armor, Shield
5 Uruk-Hai Warriors with Shield
5 Uruk-Hai Warriors with Pike
4 Uruk-Hai Scouts with Bows

He's taking (as far as I know):
Legolas w/ Armor
And High Elves of a various sort. (He gets to design his list)

I'm not into LOTR much, but after all its what got me into wargaming. I think I was playing Uruk hai against my mates Elves (^^LOL), and I loved it! Even though he tabled me and I didn't manage to kill any of his elves......

Though I'd suggest you to try to make it a close game, as they are more fun.... Also try to use well painted models, as his first impression of the game will be better that way. I doubt bare plastic and primer look too good to a newbie....

MrMerlin wrote:I'm not into LOTR much, but after all its what got me into wargaming. I think I was playing Uruk hai against my mates Elves (^^LOL), and I loved it! Even though he tabled me and I didn't manage to kill any of his elves......

Though I'd suggest you to try to make it a close game, as they are more fun.... Also try to use well painted models, as his first impression of the game will be better that way. I doubt bare plastic and primer look too good to a newbie....

Also this is a big deal. Make sure it looks nice

I don't have tips, but could you give a report once you played it? (curious mind)


S.

I'm playing Saturday with the new player.
And hopefully soon with an old friend with Harad.

How went the battle?

Well, it went well. He got a quick grasp of the rules and had some decent strategy (except that he kept volleying...). In the end I won (but it was close). He said he enjoyed it and we're hopefully playing again soon.

Well good to hear, hehe yea volley can be fun but not always

It was actually successful for him, lol. He killed both of my Barrow Wights with it.

Haha nice, well then volley was fun, for him at least, and how dose that all spirit army work?

I'm not sure if it should be deemed pure cheese, brilliance, or too evil for Morgoth.

The Spectres could break trolls with ease. They could make even elves walk 1 by 1 into a horde and slaughter.

The Barrow Wights are great for getting rid of trolls, ents, wizards, anybody with a fate point. I like to think of it like somebody falling down, then the zombies (spectres) eat them.

The Shade made me win over Eowyn and a bunch of Royal Guard. In the end, only Eowyn escaped, then my Spectres "possessed her" and we pulled her back into the fray. She didn't make it.

That sounds pure TFG damnation, I would not certanly enjoy playing againt, but oh how I would grin after I crush you with the wrath of the east

Sorry Trondheim it's my invention and I don't think your likely to see it but it has it's weaknesses, wood elves prevent their strengths and also don't waste the points that most other races do against them.

It's not TFG damnation, it still has to be played right and your priorities need to be in right place with your max fight being 3 and that's with the BW's who you don't want in combat. Wouldn't recommend easterlings particularly to play them but it would be an interesting match-up for sure, the Kataphrakts would be hard to keep at bay.

A pair of ringwraiths would do the trick with their high will and courage but it's an expensive answer for 2 50pt barrow wights.

Your rigth, sorry about that. Its just its that kind armies that killed of my local gaming club, both in Warhammer and LOTR. And yes it is most likly a okay army to face once I would have gotten the chance to read their stats and all. And Easterlings have Black Dragon upgrade witch increases their figth and courage to 4.

And yes, ringwraiths are too expensive for that kinda answer, Kataprakts and Amdur would work better, alongside a Warpriest

Oh no man, without mentioning the possible weaknesses it is a TFG damnation, but I assure you but once broken down it is probably like most other armies, it's just that the opportunity to face one is so rare people will find themselves going 'WTF? Never seen anything like it!' and that's probably half the value to be honest. You also pay for the models in spades, 15pts being the cheapest! Movement with the list is paramount as you need to clear the way to unleash paralysis on the enemy and then shield your BW's with a 2nd row of spectres lest you want him dead

Yeh once you have C4 the odds are rolling into your favour against it seen as the average roll on 2D6 is statistically 7.

You are very keen on this Amdur fellow like many other Easterling players, care to shine some light on him as I know nothing really of the golden lads?

You havent heard about us boys in gold Well then my boy let me enligthen you! Easterlings is a army that relies on their infateri to win battels. Anything else is simply support for said warbands, the most effective is shield & pike supported by bow warbands. Our captains can also take a Easterling haleberd witch counts as a elven blade. We also have good stats on our rank & file. As show below

F - S - D - A - W - C
3 3 5 1 1 3

Now we can also take the Black Dragon upgrade witch gives us better figth & courage by 1, witch will save the day alot of times
As for allies that is useful to take are Harad raiders or Warg riders if you need more mobility or Trolls if you need another linebreaker when facing Dwarfs and such.

We also have the Wardrummer upgrade for Kataprakts witch gives us the Sound The Advance special rule with, will gives us 3 inches more mobility althou we cant charhe when using this. This comes after any heroic actions.
Kataprakts are amongst the top three cavalry in the game, but do suffer from the fact that they can not take bows. But except for that they are very usefull. This however can be solved by taking a band of khandish horsemen who provide eccelent cav with bows.

As for our Heros Amdur is baiscly a force of nature if he is played correctly. Put him on a horse and watch him rain hell. Althou he should be keept away from the likes of Elrod or Aragorn unless you have enough units to back him up with. I prefer either Kataprakts or a walking Amdur in a warband with pikes & shields for maximum survivalness. This comes from the fact that he also acts as a banner for your army so no sucidal charges with him.
He also have several rules who will keep him in the figth, one exampel of this is that he regains migth after killing a moddel, or that he keeps his footing on a 4+ if he is knocked down no mather what struck him.

As for our Nazgul who goes by the name of Khamul The Easterling, well he is definit a high priority target if you ever meet him. for his pointcost he can and will help swing the pendelum of war. He has a great statline and several nasty spells and may take a armourd fellbeast who makes him even harder to kill. Althou watch out for mobs of Dwarfs and Uruk Hais

Brother-Captain Scotti and Trondheim, although it will probably never happen, I'd be honored to face either of you in battle.

And although I do love wood elves (more so than their "high" counterparts (even though I have a force of them), I will probably play Moria for that game.

Trondheim wrote:You havent heard about us boys in gold Well then my boy let me enligthen you! Easterlings is a army that relies on their infateri to win battels. Anything else is simply support for said warbands, the most effective is shield & pike supported by bow warbands. Our captains can also take a Easterling haleberd witch counts as a elven blade. We also have good stats on our rank & file. As show below

F - S - D - A - W - C
3 3 5 1 1 3

Now we can also take the Black Dragon upgrade witch gives us better figth & courage by 1, witch will save the day alot of times
As for allies that is useful to take are Harad raiders or Warg riders if you need more mobility or Trolls if you need another linebreaker when facing Dwarfs and such.

We also have the Wardrummer upgrade for Kataprakts witch gives us the Sound The Advance special rule with, will gives us 3 inches more mobility althou we cant charhe when using this. This comes after any heroic actions.
Kataprakts are amongst the top three cavalry in the game, but do suffer from the fact that they can not take bows. But except for that they are very usefull. This however can be solved by taking a band of khandish horsemen who provide eccelent cav with bows.

As for our Heros Amdur is baiscly a force of nature if he is played correctly. Put him on a horse and watch him rain hell. Althou he should be keept away from the likes of Elrod or Aragorn unless you have enough units to back him up with. I prefer either Kataprakts or a walking Amdur in a warband with pikes & shields for maximum survivalness. This comes from the fact that he also acts as a banner for your army so no sucidal charges with him.
He also have several rules who will keep him in the figth, one exampel of this is that he regains migth after killing a moddel, or that he keeps his footing on a 4+ if he is knocked down no mather what struck him.

As for our Nazgul who goes by the name of Khamul The Easterling, well he is definit a high priority target if you ever meet him. for his pointcost he can and will help swing the pendelum of war. He has a great statline and several nasty spells and may take a armourd fellbeast who makes him even harder to kill. Althou watch out for mobs of Dwarfs and Uruk Hais

Wow they sound like a lot of fun to play! I once had some but didn't enjoy painting all that gold

That Amdur seems to be someone to avoid, I imagine he sure ain't cheap but hell for someone who gains a might for a kill I'd pay an arm and a leg! Some would say that's almost as good as aragorns free might seen as he will be in combat where you can get him. The banner effect is also great, didn't realise evil had a hero with that other than the dark marshall, much better suited as you don't really want a ringwraith in battle too much.

Thanks for the info, never really encountered Easterlings so it's all good to know, cheers!

Dr. What wrote:Brother-Captain Scotti and Trondheim, although it will probably never happen, I'd be honored to face either of you in battle.

And although I do love wood elves (more so than their "high" counterparts (even though I have a force of them), I will probably play Moria for that game.

Me too man, I'd like that a lot

Good luck, I'm sure ayowyn is looking for revenge so watch out!

Yes, you do need some love for gold. But I prefer to use Molten brass from Privater Press, it gives a more LOTR feel to the figure.

And Dr What & Brother Captain Scott you will both have a beer & game waiting for you here in Norway

Yeh not a fan of GW gold on models too much, it's just........well.... too much I suppose Far too shiny and bright!

Damn i would like that, need to make some serious money first! Better get on with my accounting revision then! But the beer is more in reach at the moment

I know, it needs alot of Delvan mud to look somewhat okay. But it seems I cant get more Molten Brass from PP, could not find it on their website.

Your not wrong, copious amounts of the stuff!! If only they still have brazen brass... *sigh*

Damn, I hope you can get it elsewhere on sites with stock left or have enough left yourself!!

Well I am empty, so a replacement will be needed, but I think Tin bitzs may work too, to differ betwen the different tribes or simply make a warband stand out witch can be useful since I always run at least 1 Black Dragons warband.

My Haradrim are all painted Shadow Grey and Liche Purple. With discontuned bronzed flesh as a skin tone.

Trondheim wrote:Well I am empty, so a replacement will be needed, but I think Tin bitzs may work too, to differ betwen the different tribes or simply make a warband stand out witch can be useful since I always run at least 1 Black Dragons warband.

I like the thought of having different Easterling tribes, is that a standard LOTR lore thing or something you have brought to the forefront?

Shadowbrand wrote:My Haradrim are all painted Shadow Grey and Liche Purple. With discontuned bronzed flesh as a skin tone.

Never really liked that flesh paint but I can see it coming in handy with a tanned race such as the haradrim

@ Scotti : No that is just my invetion, I dont think its requierd to make them stand out but hey, if it makes me more motivated to paint a whole heap of guys I don`t mind. And beside I adore Tin Bitzs and Red Gore althou they may have changed the name of those collours now