Armchair Dragoons Forums

Wargaming => Sci-fi & Fantasy Warfare => Topic started by: Undercovergeek on July 26, 2021, 04:20:49 AM

Title: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on July 26, 2021, 04:20:49 AM
A place to empty my mind, and phone of Middle Earth plans, painting, and club meeting spectacular defeats and victories

Firstly my 'armies' - it is a skirmish game after all, there will be no Pelennor Fields or Helms Deep style collections here - the club i go to generally play at 800 points which varies in figures from 1 (Smaug) to about 80 if you're taking a goblin horde.

The history behind my army choices has many twists and turns - i originally started with an Azog Legion force, a small 500 pointer that was the man himself, a couple of beserkers and some gundabad orcs - in the mists of time and the passing of one club to another these guys were sold and the game was never more

A friend from the old club contacted me to say hed found a new club and would i like to come down, we'd always played Bolt Action but he was getting back into LoTR and he was a keen tournament player - after a couple of visits i started collecting a force again.

Its baddies, its always baddies, Bolt Action - the Germans, the Empire in Star Wars, the Orks in 40k, the Skaven in Blood Bowl, i cant help myself. So, the epitome of all that is bad in Middle Earth - Angmar - demons, spirits, orcs, trolls, ghosts - this was the one for me. So after a couple of months the Angmar force is mostly done, a few additions to make, therell be a 'holy crap, i really needed a XXX here' emergency, there always is, but in essence 1000 points is finished

Theres the management -

(https://i.imgur.com/z9oyzXn.jpg)

We have here Gulavhar the Terror of Arnor and Burdhur the Troll Chieftan - the entire army is in effect the anvil that these two hammers can be used upon - stop the enemy, fly over the top and eat them from behind while Burdhur smashes through from the front

(https://i.imgur.com/cFi8mB7.jpg)

The Barrow Wights - these guys can lead men, but theyre special ability is the spell Paralyse - unavoidable as a standard model, can be dispelled as a hero but at a cost - take enough wights and you can chew through the enemies dispel ability and leave them open to attack - the idea been to get the Wights within range of the enemy heroes, paralyse them, hop Gulavhar over the top of any defences and drop down to devour the defenceless Aragorns and Theodens of the world

(https://i.imgur.com/VKLBtsm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/sLAWD84.jpg)

The bread and butter of the army - the angmar orcs, and the dead marsh spectres. I have these arranged as 5 swordsmen at the front, with 5 spearmen at the back - this allows an extra dice roll in an attack as the spearmen support the swords, and then a dead marsh spectre on either end of the front rank of 5. These spectres, if successful grant you control of an enemy model if they fail a courage test, this lets you move them around the field, into the line of sight of bows or into the range of a baddie, say Burdhur. I have 3 groups of these

(https://i.imgur.com/OdgO4aE.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/jlMshOf.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/DB3hC9t.jpg)

And lastly, the mobile force - the Warg Riders - these guys have throwing spears, so just before they hit they throw in a spear for an extra attack. I have two groups, one of seven led by a captain - theres 5 here, and two on the painting desk, and another group of just 7 yet to be bought

On club night, before understanding Angmar I was suffering terribly. The main part of MESBG is a feature known as heroic actions, each hero figure has a stat line above vanilla troops granting them might, will and fate - a way to avoid Gimli getting killed by a goblin on the first turn of the game i suppose - and heroic actions are paid for using might, the more heroes you have the more might you can use. My regular opponent has a lot of cheap heroes so has a lot of might - the most effective use of this he uses is in movement - in MESBG you roll for priority at the start of each turn, this isnt simply you go, i go - now imagine i have a line of orcs within charge range of his army, I NEED to go first on the next turn to get my charge bonus and decide who fights who

i roll a 5, he rolls a 4 - YES...... BUT, he now declares a heroic move using a point of might on the nearest hero, meaning that group of figures of his can go first, before mine SO i call a heroic action on the orcs leader using a point of might - now because weve both called the action it simply comes down to a dice roll again of who goes first 1-3 for evil, 4-6 for good

would you believe in the last 17 dice rolls ive won one of these decisions!!!!!   >:( >:( >:(

Too much text here so ill carry on in a bit


Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on July 26, 2021, 06:42:41 AM
Wonderful stuff, 'geek  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bayonetbrant on July 26, 2021, 07:49:14 AM
those are pretty incredible

Nevermore would be jealous if he were around
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bbmike on July 26, 2021, 08:32:17 AM
Can you bring those over when my copy of The One Ring Roleplaying Game Second Edition arrives?  :whistle:
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Martok on July 26, 2021, 03:36:19 PM
Fantastic as usual, 'geek

Although I feel you on losing 16 out of 17 dice rolls; ouch. :( 


Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: mcguire on July 26, 2021, 03:49:12 PM
Wonderful stuff, 'geek  :bigthumb:

Yes!

But I find your choice of backdrop....disturbing.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: thecommandtent on July 26, 2021, 08:00:29 PM
Wow those are impressive. Hope you post some pictures when you get them into action!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Staggerwing on July 27, 2021, 06:46:28 AM
Amazing stuff as usual 'Geek!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Barthheart on July 27, 2021, 07:28:04 AM
Really great work 'Geek!  :applause:
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on July 27, 2021, 08:06:58 AM
Thanks chaps

......the strategy for Angmar then is to cast as many annoying spells against the enemy as possible with the barrow wights, the witch king, the spectres and wear down his might and will - and then when theres none left, you bring out the big guns he cant resist and wipe the field. Its a difficult balance of combat and magic that ive almost got together - the issue been you cant cast whilst youre in combat so you have to keep your best guys out of the fight to just the right time - its coming together

However, my friend also has a Rohan army - Angmars success has so far come against his Easterlings force. Now, Rohan, whilst he only has 19 models to my 38 its is overflowing with might, at least 5 heroes with more might than i have spells - its fearsome - he knows the force intimately and all its nuances - its a running joke that there are so many 'ah but because Theoden is doing this, whilst that, and is in range of that and so i have double attacks' that its become 'well.... its tuesday, and its raining, and the news is on TV so Theoden gets to kill 10 of your orcs for no reason' - honestly there are so many bonuses to Rohan its unbelievable. Compounding this is he has chosen an all cavalry force, double attacks against infantry, if you get knocked down, its quadruple attacks, no defence - uuuuuuuugh the list goes on - the last fight against Rohan ended in an inglorious 'tabling' - nothing of Angmar left on the table

Back to the drawing board - i cant explain how many hours have been sunk into researching countering all cavalry armies, Youtube, books, videos, podcasts - after weeks, one thing stood out - take your own cavalry army - it immediately negates the double attack bonus and at least levels the playing field and the loss comes down to bad tactics and dice rolls and not a bad force choice

So - our own all cavalry army ay???  ??? ???

Mordor Knights - cause terror, look hard as nails and are mainly black or rust - SOLD

(https://i.imgur.com/qJL9L9C.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/thqGxAL.jpg)

This particular band are led by The Dark Marshal - i mean come on, you can keep your Legolas, and Bilbos - THE DARK MARSHAL!!

(https://i.imgur.com/65YK6nv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/uWvbnWU.jpg)

The next group of 6 will be led by the big boy himself - The Witch King

(https://i.imgur.com/2n8vB9D.jpg)

and the third group will be led by The Mouth of Sauron - im at least going to win the best named baddies competition

(https://i.imgur.com/K8FqUnb.jpg)

in a stroke of marketing genius the rules for cavalry dictate you must have a mounted and a dismounted figure in case the horse gets killed - bravo GW, bravo - so a 18 horse army now needs 18 knights on foot in case the horses go - ill get prob 50% for the knights and see if thats enough - all the characters have foot and mount

I still have 12 mounted knights to paint for these guys and their pet monster.....................
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Martok on July 28, 2021, 04:18:47 AM
Man, those figures look incredible.  Fingers crossed they get the job done! 

Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on July 28, 2021, 04:19:44 AM
Cheers martok - like board games I’m afraid sometimes it’s difficult to know when to stop - there’s more to come!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Steelie on July 28, 2021, 09:47:33 AM
Serious "WOW" factor happening here! Great stuff!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Doctor Quest on July 28, 2021, 10:39:44 AM
Those are fantastic minis.  :notworthy:

More pix! More pix!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Tolstoi on July 29, 2021, 11:04:47 AM
I want to add my appreciation for your magnificent LoTR figs. Your painting skills are amazing!   :2thumbs:
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Silent Disapproval Robot on July 29, 2021, 09:22:30 PM
Was this one of your commission works UCG?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/28/hey-thats-mine-naked-mans-wild-boar-chase-immortalised-in-plastic (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/28/hey-thats-mine-naked-mans-wild-boar-chase-immortalised-in-plastic)
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Staggerwing on July 29, 2021, 09:46:20 PM
^Poor, poor Elsa. Not a lucky name it seems for either wild boar or lionesses.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Martok on July 30, 2021, 01:37:41 AM
Was this one of your commission works UCG?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/28/hey-thats-mine-naked-mans-wild-boar-chase-immortalised-in-plastic (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/28/hey-thats-mine-naked-mans-wild-boar-chase-immortalised-in-plastic)

I just saw that on Reddit today.  I didn't even know about the original photo until now.  Bizarre. 


Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on July 30, 2021, 04:26:29 AM
Was this one of your commission works UCG?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/28/hey-thats-mine-naked-mans-wild-boar-chase-immortalised-in-plastic (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/28/hey-thats-mine-naked-mans-wild-boar-chase-immortalised-in-plastic)

Heh heh no but I remember the story - not a prett sight
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 04, 2021, 08:57:14 AM
............Shelob

(https://i.imgur.com/YqCUQUE.jpg)

Last night she ate 5 Elves but then got stabbed by Gil Galad - really must remember to take photos at the club

Funny story about our little lady here - she comes in 13 parts, 2 body halves, 2 pincers, a head and 8 legs - no instructions, no idea what leg goes where - now, after many a comparison pic im sure ive got all the legs in the right holes - but because shes metal theyre not exact fits - so ive put some green stuff into the holes and molded joints - i dont know whether its heat, glue, melting greenstuff, some weird resin but underneath shes kind of leaking this clear liquid, it gathers in pools round 4 joints - weird as hell but looks great on the table, like shes actually oozing venom.

So thats 18 Morgul knights, 3 heroes and a big ass spider

But thats two evil armies you say.............. the forces of good need some representing..........

It doesnt get purer than Rivendell, and it doesnt get more in your face than Rivendell knights - the can hit you from 24 inch on a roll of 3, before they close in and hit you with lances

(https://i.imgur.com/7Ms9Dxd.jpg)

With Elrond leading the pack, the bow limit on the army is cancelled - which would be only 33% of the force as bowmen but with the big fella in charge we know have 18 archers hitting on 3s before the enemy come near

(https://i.imgur.com/WiHzDMO.jpg)

Also leading 6 Rivendell knights will be Glorfindel - the finest Elven fighter there has ever been

(https://i.imgur.com/Lhdj46Y.jpg)

I need 12 more knights to complete this army and a Legolas mounted and dismounted

So far then - 1000 points of Angmar - just need to buy and paint 8 warg riders and probably 8 wargs for dismounts
                     - 800 points of Mordor - just need to paint 12 Morgul knights and 8 dismounted knights
                     - 800 points of Rivendell - just need to buy and paint 12 knights and Legolas

But i do love monsters most of all so..........

Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bayonetbrant on August 04, 2021, 09:02:45 AM
You need a hobb...    oh.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 04, 2021, 09:09:15 AM
Heh heh I know - however a recent eBay search puts a 1000pt painted angmar army at 600 pounds and it didn’t cost anywhere near that 🤔🤔
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on August 04, 2021, 09:20:16 AM
The problem with eating elves is that 5 minutes later, you're hungry again..........
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bayonetbrant on August 04, 2021, 09:54:09 AM
The problem with eating elves is that 5 minutes later, you're hungry again..........

I'll defer to your culinary experience...   :nerd:
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on August 04, 2021, 11:02:31 AM
Who said anything about cooking them?
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bbmike on August 04, 2021, 12:17:35 PM
 ;D
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: mcguire on August 04, 2021, 02:26:00 PM
Funny story about our little lady here - she comes in 13 parts, 2 body halves, 2 pincers, a head and 8 legs - no instructions, no idea what leg goes where - now, after many a comparison pic im sure ive got all the legs in the right holes - but because shes metal theyre not exact fits - so ive put some green stuff into the holes and molded joints - i dont know whether its heat, glue, melting greenstuff, some weird resin but underneath shes kind of leaking this clear liquid, it gathers in pools round 4 joints - weird as hell but looks great on the table, like shes actually oozing venom.

Ya' know, I'm glad I'm not baching it this month with no one here to protect me from the crawling horrors except a sketchy cat.

Oh, wait....

Thanks.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Martok on August 04, 2021, 07:23:45 PM
Not gonna lie:  That pic of Shelob had me involuntarily scoot my chair back a bit.  You did almost too good a job on her.  :P 

Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: thecommandtent on August 04, 2021, 08:13:55 PM
Those elves look great and the spider, like Martok said, looks too good.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 22, 2021, 07:11:16 PM
.........so, baddies and monsters - id probably have more good armies but they have no capacity to take monsters, they can take game winning heroes and in all honesty will probably kick the ass of my monsters off the board - but..... monsters

Apart from Angmar, the most monstery army of all is Azogs legion, save maybe an all cave troll army, but thats just silly  ???

So, Azogs legion -

The beserkers - in my 800 point army, there will be 15 of these, 12 are in the post - they have a almost keeping up with a horse movement of 8 and 2 attacks, plus if they get killed, on a roll of 6 they shrug off the wound and carry on

(https://i.imgur.com/US6hkRU.jpg)

The trolls - there are three to choose from, a troll with scythes, a troll with crushing club, and the troll brute - if youve seen the hobbit hes the all white one with scythes for feet and flails for hands been steered by his eye sockets (quite frikking dark and horrific really) - hes in the post too

(https://i.imgur.com/zGgziRb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ys0MVO8.jpg)

how big and awesome are they? Heres a berserker next to him

(https://i.imgur.com/x5D8Rj4.jpg)

and the man himself - Azog the Despoiler on The White Warg

(https://i.imgur.com/soAcb9J.jpg)

So for a complete Azog army at 800, im waiting for 12 more berserkers, an orc captain, 2 ogres and the troll brute - my opponent fears azog the most, as mentioned earlier the secret to winning the game is knowing when to spend the all important might to call heroic actions, Azogs special ability is that when you call a heroic action he gets the same action for free, then you just roll off to see who goes first - so normally most top tier heroes will have 3 might and will spend these on either heroic actions or increasing failed dice rolls - Azog starts with 3, gets an extra 3 as long as hes on the warg and doesnt need to spend any might on actions if youre going to call the ones he wants to

As an aside, a chance conversation with a chap on ebay led to an unexpected offer of £200 for all the Morgul knights (£75), so theyve been sold and packed off - it leaves shelob whos for sale, the mouth on horse i threw in for free and the dark marshal who ill post on sale tomorrow

I realised (not like enough of us here!!) i had too much - so now im narrowed down to 1000 pts of Angmar, 800 points of Rivendell, 800 points of Azog - ive given up on the camel mounted Far Harad and Serpent Horde for the same reason - enough is enough

Well, enough was enough and then the dirty GW bastards announced this at the weekend

(https://i.imgur.com/XjwFKBo.jpg)

wankers
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Martok on August 22, 2021, 08:38:10 PM
Those trolls look amazing.  Dang. 


Is that the Witch-King himself at the bottom, then? 


Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 22, 2021, 08:42:29 PM
It is - having mastered beautiful sculpts in age of sigmar and 40k it looks like they’re turning their attention to LotR at last
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on August 23, 2021, 06:26:48 AM
Awesome!  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: thecommandtent on August 23, 2021, 08:37:05 PM
Man those look amazing. Hope to see some pictures of them in action.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 23, 2021, 08:37:49 PM
Club is tonight and I’m taking Rivendell so there’ll be some proxies but I’ll do my best
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on August 24, 2021, 06:54:58 AM
No un-painted figures allowed on the table was the rule for the gaming group I used to be in.  ;D
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 25, 2021, 04:26:57 AM
It’s jokingly referred to at club too, that or 3 colours minimum so people paint stripey helmets and call it done
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on August 25, 2021, 06:06:00 AM
Tsk!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 26, 2021, 08:31:21 AM
Tuesday night at Board in Brum - 3 games of LotR including mine, 2 star wars, 1 blood bowl, 2 AoS, one 40k and one Epic i think

(https://i.imgur.com/PjO10yv.jpg)

The enemy, the Easterlings - this is a certain collection of them that comes under the title of The Wain Riders legendary legion, 3 chariots and shit loads of cavalry

(https://i.imgur.com/bazgdIS.jpg)

Me, the Knights of Rivendell with proxied Rohan riders

(https://i.imgur.com/cyT40eG.jpg)

The charges comes on - the set up for the scenario was anywhere in your half of the board, he set up right on the centre line knowing his job was to just charge at me - his armies sole purpose, i stayed at the back to try and get as much shooting in as possible - what i forgot about was his heroic march and war drums - so by the end of turn 1 he was 6 inch away! Legolas here has just taken out a chariot with a single shot - from there it went downhill, so downhill that i forgot to take any more pictures

Tim is a much better player than i am, but a very honest heart on sleeve kind of player, i know his tactics will always be charge at me and target the heroes - he has nothing to fear from Rivendell yet because im just learning their nuances - im 3-1 up against this force with Angmar because he doesnt know how to deal with the magic of the barrow wights, not that one can anyway. Here the elves were simply overwhelmed, i can charge the front line and probably win that battle but he can envelope the force and come round the back and make it 2-1 on every match up. Elrond has a spell that knocks everyone off their horse, i just didnt use him properly and he got stuck at the back of the army unable to get out after having his horse shot from under him - so in the end im left with just Glorfindel and one knight - the defeat was that thorough i held back on buying the 12 knights to complete this force - all cavalry, shooty elves may not be my thing - he will never be my only opponent but for now i need a force that can stand in the middle of the field, take his charge and then push him back - this looks like the Iron Hill Dwarves so the research begins

(https://i.imgur.com/fViUp9e.jpg)
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on August 26, 2021, 08:55:45 AM
Looks great, mate  :bigthumb:

For our friends across the pond, 'Brum' is a colloquial nickname for Birmingham.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 26, 2021, 09:04:58 AM
Although it’s in Wolverhampton  >:D
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 26, 2021, 09:05:27 AM
Which is a real place and not a euphemism
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on August 26, 2021, 09:12:25 AM
Oh its real alright. I've been there enough times.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: thecommandtent on August 26, 2021, 07:29:17 PM
Good stuff ugc!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Martok on August 27, 2021, 12:33:01 AM
Yeah, looks great! 

Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Staggerwing on August 27, 2021, 05:39:10 AM
Great stuff 'Geek-

And I'd actually heard of Wolverhampton before, it was mentioned in a video game of all places- Dear Esther:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/203810/Dear_Esther/
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on August 27, 2021, 07:01:39 AM
Its one of a number of places grouped around Birmingham and collectively know as 'The Black Country' ; the reason being that its here that the Industrial Revolution started, and thus the area was always covered in soot and smoke from factories.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bayonetbrant on August 27, 2021, 07:47:12 AM
And I'd actually heard of Wolverhampton before


Not because of the soccer team that's punched well above their weight for the past 4-6 years or so?
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Staggerwing on August 27, 2021, 10:06:29 PM
... soccer?  ???

j/k  ;)


Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on August 30, 2021, 08:53:38 PM
How do the size of LotR models compare to WH40K or AoS? They seem smaller and closer to the 28mm scale of Wiz Kids or other RPG miniatures.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 31, 2021, 04:51:22 AM
They’re true 28mm with no heroic scaling for big hands or big heads which can feel quite small at times
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on August 31, 2021, 12:48:18 PM
I am a huge fan of the Tolkien books but never considered a table top game other than War of the Ring and Battle of Five Armies. WotR is a great game. However, I am is very intrigued by this miniatures game.

I am considering shifting off 40K to LotR SBG for a couple of reasons. I can get the Battles of Pelennor Fields for a decent price. And my understanding is the Rohan, Warriors of the Dead, and Mordor armies will require much less to build out to 800 pt forces than the current requirements for 2 40K forces.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 31, 2021, 05:20:57 PM
Significantly less and in my humble opinion a lot more strategy is required for MESBG
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on August 31, 2021, 08:05:58 PM
I watched some unboxing videos and was surprised that the majority of the figures were either complete or required only one or two parts to be complete. This the opposite of the 40K minis and much more inline with Perry or similar historical models. Not a bad thing at all but I do enjoy the hobby part of building a "kit".
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 01, 2021, 07:31:22 AM
I’m with you - it surprises me how many people dislike the building part - there is some room for conversion and creativity

I find that although something like the plague marines has say 10 parts it’s still a set pose with the click lock arms and legs - what I do like is the different options where there’s 2 or 3 sets of arms to choose from, different head or a different gun
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 01, 2021, 08:34:51 AM
Well being at sound mind and weak will, I broke. Thanks to Amazon delivery, I will have the Battles of Pelennor box set on my doorstep tomorrow. I still need to clean up the hobby area and clear a spot in the garage for my air brush station. Also I need to look and see if my green stuff is still usable. Definitely will need it for the horses and troll to fill in the seems.

I will need to get the two army books prior to any future model purchases.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 01, 2021, 09:11:45 AM
🥳🥳🥳🥳

It’s a great set - welcome!!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 01, 2021, 04:51:30 PM
Have you done any work with the Forge World models?
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 01, 2021, 04:55:09 PM
Yeah, practically all of azogs legion is forge world and iron hills is exclusively FW
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 01, 2021, 10:14:54 PM
I am definitely purchasing the Battle Company rules. After watching some battle reports, it seems to be exactly a type of skirmish game I want. A starting force which gains experience, loses and gains members/equipment. The best part is the number of minis to start out is minimal looks to be 6 to 9 or so depending on the faction selected.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 02, 2021, 02:36:35 AM
sounds perfect for you - do you know which force youve decided on?
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 02, 2021, 05:42:45 AM
Not yet. I actually need 2 or 3 but most like Rohan, Mordor, and something else.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on September 02, 2021, 06:33:34 AM
Dwarves! Little stunty blokes with ginger beards, Scottish accents and huge choppers!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 02, 2021, 08:11:18 AM
Jimmy crankie?
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on September 02, 2021, 08:27:05 AM
Och, aye laddie.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 02, 2021, 04:37:47 PM
My precious...a whole lot of plastic goodness awaits me.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on September 02, 2021, 04:38:22 PM
 :bigthumb:
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 02, 2021, 08:40:19 PM
Excellent
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 03, 2021, 01:34:37 AM
Well I assembled 36 Morannon Orcs tonight. Generally, due to the fact the majority are a single piece clip and glue, it went quickly. There two casts that are a bit suspect.  They have large flat spaces one behind a shield and the other a spear that are simply a support and have no detail. They will pass the 3 foot for sure but my OCD was kicking in when I saw it.

I started to assemble the Rohan Horsemen but stopped for the night. I only did one horse but the base holes are hexagon and the horse's mounting peg is a much smaller circle. I hand drilled a new hole but I need a clear mind to figure out how I am actually going to secure the figure to the base. I have some wooden Litko bases and may end up using them instead not sure yet. I also need to get some green stuff. The seams on the horse are not the tightest fit and need to be filled.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 03, 2021, 02:47:28 AM
I had the same with the Morghul knights - I used a craft knife to twist through the base from underneath and made a smaller hole and then glued in the peg- you’ll find the horse will end up with at least 3 legs on the base so glue on their hooves will secure it all to the base
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 03, 2021, 08:29:02 AM
I did notice a couple of hooves touching the ground. I am considering including the tufts of grass that came on the sprue as an anchor for one of the hooves.

Anyway, I have a secondary project in development as well. I have a 4x8 piece of MDF board which I will be using to create a 4x4 battle board and cut some bases for  terrain pieces. This is was originally for 40K but Space Marines are just going to have to duke it out on a generic field of grass and dirt. :)
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 03, 2021, 02:01:41 PM
Oh man - that sounds great

If you look for geek gaming on YouTube guy there called Luke makes some great boards
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 03, 2021, 02:46:00 PM
I have watched some of Geek Gaming videos in the past. He does nice work.

I also like a channel called Terrain Tutor. He is just enjoyable to listen to as he does the hobby. A lot of his buildings and scatter terrain is geared toward WW1/WW2 historical wargaming. However, the techniques and the landscape works for most any setting with modifications.

I need to pick up some 1" and 2" foam board, flocking, and trees to do some scatter terrain at some point.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 03, 2021, 03:09:59 PM
Sounds like an article for ACD to me!!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 03, 2021, 05:13:16 PM
I have put 8 of the horses together now. Fortunately, I picked up some super glue setting accelerator today. I am finding that only one of the horse sculpts really lends itself to putting three hooves on the ground. But I put extra glue into the hole underneath the base and they seem to be pretty solid even with only one leg glued down. The true test will come when the 6 year old are man handling them on the table.

Can you just ghostwrite the article for me?
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 04, 2021, 09:03:53 AM
Well I have the Rohan and Orcs all initially assembled. I did not glue on shields or riders to horses yet because want to prime everything first. The real positive is the dudes and I can play the first battle scenario with glorious unpainted minis and makeshift terrain comprised of things like books and legos.

I used liquid green stuff on the horse seams which is generally ok. I may still have to use the putty form to smooth out the seam on the horse's back. The rider's cloak mostly covers the seam depending on the horse/rider. I will say I am not seeing much in the way of mold lines. But due to size of minis and details, they do not stand out in the same way as a Space Marine for example.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 04, 2021, 01:59:50 PM
That was the big leap I had to make - here is an army of humans with some exceptional humans all wearing the same thing and carrying the same weapon

Compared to here is 35-40mm one man army bedecked in all sorts of detail and different entirely from the guy next to him
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 04, 2021, 02:01:20 PM
That was the big leap I had to make - here is an army of humans with some exceptional humans all wearing the same thing and carrying the same weapon

Compared to here is 35-40mm one man army bedecked in all sorts of detail and different entirely from the guy next to him

I used plastic glue for the horses back - it melts the two lines together quite nicely
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 04, 2021, 07:05:02 PM
Stopped by a games workshop store today…they carried no middle earth at all. I was sad. This is why online retailers get my business more and more unfortunately.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bayonetbrant on September 04, 2021, 07:44:58 PM
This is why online retailers get my business more and more unfortunately.


FWIW, Gamer's Armory does a huge mail-order biz, too  :nerd:
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 04, 2021, 07:53:01 PM
They stopped stocking in the uk ages ago - not even a promo board - you can have your order delivered to a GW for free but you can’t buy in there - I tried using the customer pc in store to order so FW stuff - doesn’t even link to FW, GW only
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: mcguire on September 04, 2021, 08:05:38 PM
Stopped by a games workshop store today…they carried no middle earth at all. I was sad. This is why online retailers get my business more and more unfortunately.

How many space marines did they convince you to buy?
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 04, 2021, 10:40:42 PM
I managed to not buy anything today. He did try to get me to order to the store but after I considered one factor it was easy to say no. Order to store 7-10 day delivery. Order from Amazon 2 day delivery. Not a hard decision.

I think what always gets me about the Games Workshop shops is they only have one or two game tables. You would think they would have more to host events but no.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 04, 2021, 11:08:30 PM
i think they use warhammer world for that here

It’s the only place you can walk into and buy stuff that’s not on the shelves and rumour has it if you wait and it’s resin they’ll spin it for you there and then 
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 05, 2021, 03:25:02 PM
I can only dream of visiting this mystical location you describe.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on September 05, 2021, 03:37:39 PM
https://warhammerworld.warhammer-community.com/plan-your-visit/how-to-find-us/
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 05, 2021, 05:20:46 PM
IIRC Nottingham is home to several miniature companies.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on September 05, 2021, 05:22:36 PM
Aye, Warlord being one of them :-)
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 06, 2021, 11:15:06 AM
20 Army of the Dead figures assembled last night. Today I want to assemble the Mordor Troll and perhaps the Theoden models.

The question I keep asking myself is it worth waiting to attach the shield until after I prime the models. Benefit is the black shading in the recesses prior to painting color. Given the size of the minis and the close quarters of some of the spaces particularly around the shield it'll make life easier. The draw back is time between assembly, priming, and painting. I'll have around 96 or so figures to prime. Even if I assembly line them through the process it takes time. So it realistically a couple of months out from beginning to completing priming. First world problems...I know. :)
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 06, 2021, 12:22:15 PM
On my elf cavalry I regretted putting the shields on as I then spent more time trying to get a brush in the gap and then correcting splodges
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 06, 2021, 12:51:47 PM
Yeah that is my concern which is why it's not even really a question so much as an indicator of my impatience to get the project moving toward a table ready paint job.

One a side note: I have been quite enjoying watching Zorpazorp on youtube. The channel is almost exclusively a Middle Earth SBG channel but he does also cover some WH40K and Kill Team.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 06, 2021, 05:39:36 PM
That and if you come across a few videos of him with a guy called Matt and a girl called kylie - those 2 are on the green dragon podcast and that’s all about tactics, armies, the maths of the game, and kylie is the world champion
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 07, 2021, 08:27:57 AM
Theoden's mounted figure was a pain in the backside to assemble. The number of pieces was not the issue it was the very small size and the reins which were problematic. The worst part was the reins honestly. Very tiny surface area to attach to the horses bridle. I lost some of the detailing on one side of the face due to having to glue the piece three separate times before it finally stuck. And I have no doubt it'll become separated within a game or two. While the "action" of the reins is visually very cool, I think it would have been more practical to just form them into the sculpt. Maybe on a heroic sized mini you can get away with such a feature but I am not sure at this scale it works great. Hope I am proven wrong of course.

Started to assemble the last models the Fell Beast and Witch-King rider and will complete the assembly in the next day or two. I should post some pictures from the hobby bench...
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 07, 2021, 08:49:18 AM
Look forward to pics
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 08, 2021, 12:05:30 AM
Some photos of the ongoing project:

The hobby table. Fairly clean at the moment but I have not started painting yet. Destruction will follow! The one downside of working in a walk in closet is the lighting is not so good. Really need to invest in a better lamp.

Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 08, 2021, 12:07:34 AM
Orcs! The second photo is a shot of the large flat support behind the shield. It's not really a huge issue but I am not sure how I will address it when I start painting. Most likely just some brown paint or perhaps leave it black.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 08, 2021, 12:12:16 AM
King Theoden. I really like the detail on the model. However, you can see where the super glue and my clumsy fingers met a struggle getting the reins to attach on the third photo. The result is some glue buildup and the bonding with my finger cause some detail loss. Used some green stuff to fill in the slot on the base.


Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 08, 2021, 12:17:18 AM
Let's see some Rohan riders. I love these figures a lot. A Mordor troll. I went with the easiest helmet mostly because after Theoden's mounted model I dreaded dealing with more tiny pieces on the same night. The white residue is from super glue accelerant. It comes off with a little scrapping and will be easily covered by the primer. A few of the Army of the Dead. You can see how far forward the figures are sculpted to lean. I guess its a ghost thing to have an exaggerated forward leaning posture. And finally the Fell Beast as it currently sits on my table. I will complete the build in a day or two.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 08, 2021, 12:25:48 AM
Once I get the Fell Beast and Witch King assembled, the next step is to setup the paint booth in the garage. I think I will prime in black with the exception of the Army of the Dead which I will do in white.

Its been a couple of years since I used the airbrush. But I have some Reaper miniatures for D&D I need to prime so will shake out the rust on those models. Also I plan to do most of the Fell Beast with the airbrush. The troll and horses will also receive a base coat from the airbrush. I am considering picking up some brown and black contrast paint to do the horses. Watched a couple of videos on folks painting horses with it and the effect looked good. I am not going to lie. I am not great at painting animal fur/coats, hair, and definitely eyes. The rest of it isn't going to win me any awards but in my house I am the best miniature painter right now. :) Just want colors. Generally the same. To add to the feel of the game.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 08, 2021, 12:35:55 AM
I forgot I have a trip to the hobby shop this weekend to price out and possibly pick up flocking, ballast, the green shrubbery stuff, and hopefully some 6-8" trees. I would like to start on some scatter terrain pieces with kids too.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on September 08, 2021, 06:16:27 AM
 :bigthumb:
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 08, 2021, 08:24:38 AM
Excellent bison - you’ve done a lot of work in a little time!!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 08, 2021, 06:30:59 PM
Clearly disappointed with my command of Elven forces, Timmy, my opponent suggests this week he commands Elves against me to show me how its done - i take Angmar.

This is my line up, off camera on the left flank are 7 warg riders, on the right flank are 8 warg riders led by a captain. It was such a great scenario for me - in the middle of the board, is an artefact - get to it, dig it up, pick it up, get off the board on the opponents end. You can start 12 inch from the centre, and Ghulavar seen here with the wings can fly 12 inch every turn. Turn 1, he lands on the artefact, throws a 4 for a successful excavation and now waits for turn 2. Charging towards him is Glorfindel and 5 Elven cavalry - whoever gets priority next turn will either crash into Ghulavar most likely killing him or Ghulavar will take off with the artefact and head for glory

(https://i.imgur.com/vqZPH8H.jpg)

Angmar wins the roll off and Ghulavar heads back to rear lines as the Elves cover the back of the map with archers. In the previous turn he takes 2 arrows to the chest and loses 2 of his 4 wounds - he has no fate so cannot attempt to dodge these wounds and although he is a fighty demon of doom only has a defence of 5 meaning he takes wounds on a 5 from elven arrows who hit on a 2!! Here hes trying to get behind the house and stay away from the elven bow fire. The orcs close up trying to force as many in the way rolls for the elves as possible - Timmy can still shoot Ghulavar but now needs to roll to hit, roll to not hit an orc, and then to wound him - of the 8 bows, 1 hits home - leaving Ghulavar on one wound before he can get into cover on the flank.

(https://i.imgur.com/BZBtkuj.jpg)

Here he is tucked safely behind the house and ready to dash down the flank - hes 28 inch from the board edge in the distance - 3 turns to glory

(https://i.imgur.com/QhEY0G4.jpg)

In order to do that i need to clear away the archers - Burdhur and his band crash into the bowmen on the left, hes facing the wrong way because his massive 2 handed pick always gets in the way. The warg riders and captain crash into the elf cavalry on the right, and panic ensues in the elven ranks when a Barrow Wight paralyses Glorfindel and he falls of his horse (in the middle of that grey mob) meaning certain doom next go

In the end - victory is mine, Ghulavar doesnt make it to the other side but we score enough victory points for holding the artefact at the end and scoring hits on his army leader

Screw you Timmy and your 'ill show you how its done'!!

Having received an offer of 400 pounds for the Angmar army and nearly selling it, i declined and they take pride of place on the shelf as my army of choice - next upgrade for them will be a cave troll to bulk up the orc line

(https://i.imgur.com/lnPSBS7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/lnPSBS7.jpg)
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 08, 2021, 08:14:36 PM
Excellent bison - you’ve done a lot of work in a little time!!

Yeah but I feel good to have purchased and assembled the set in short order. If I had not just pressed on, I think it would have sat partly assembled for months. And only way to play the game is to have minis build painted or not. :)
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 08, 2021, 08:15:58 PM
Great write up UCG. I like the warg cavalry a lot. What is the large brown winged monster?
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 08, 2021, 08:28:56 PM
He is Ghulavar - Terror of arnor

not from the books or the film, created by GW for the game - rarest of the rare figures wise, a metal one will go for 200 on ebay

always in the top 5 of most feared monsters

flies 12 inch, 3 attacks, strength 8, causes terror
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 08, 2021, 08:32:42 PM
Cool. He looks great. The price is certainly expensive but not unbelievable if he is OOP and metal to boot.

I honestly was stunned at the price GW was asking the Smog model.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 08, 2021, 08:44:51 PM
The whole ranges prices are screwed

GW for some reason doesn’t want to fully support the game and allocates a certain amount of resources to the figures - they used to sell the nazghul separately but now as a box of 9 saying it frees up moulds for other figures - shrug

Occasionally they do a ‘made to order’ drive and release about 20 old figures at a time and you can order them but it means the demise of 20 others to compensate

If it’s on retail sale from GW or FW I will order it from the club - if it’s OOP permanently or at a stupid price I order from some Chinese ‘friends’
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 08, 2021, 09:15:35 PM
Middle Earth is certainly the least promoted of their games. I browse the available miniatures but I do not have army books yet so its hard for me to tell what's "missing" from the range.

I think at least the initial factions I want to build out should have available models. Command units and the like for Mordor and Rohan. I want to look into an elvish army and Isengard.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: thecommandtent on September 08, 2021, 09:22:50 PM
Don't mind me I'll be over hear jealous of y'all  :biggrin:
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Martok on September 09, 2021, 01:13:28 AM
Great write-up, geek!  I enjoyed reading that.  Ghulavar looks bad-ass. 




Don't mind me I'll be over hear jealous of y'all  :biggrin:

Also, this.  ;) 


Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 10, 2021, 10:33:14 PM
I need to decide how I want to base these things and whether or not I want to do it before I prime them. I am inclined to just go PVA and fine sand with a couple of course ballast or other small stones. Prime. Brown/grey something base paint, dry brush, and wash. Followed up with a little PVA and turf and maybe a tuff. But I could just go vallejo earth texture. PVA and some turf. Oh the agony! (I secretly dread basing :))
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 11, 2021, 12:06:13 AM
Have you looked at geek gamings stuff - he has a us distributor

All kinds of pre made basing materiel - I got ‘plains’ I think it’s called - grass, small to large stones, sand, bits and bobs - PVA and then dip in that - add tufts as required
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 11, 2021, 09:45:29 AM
I had not looked at his site. I probably should do something like a base ready mix and just save my time. But I also want to learn how to use texture paints and other bits.

Planning to set up the air brush this weekend. Hopefully, I can make time to do so. Normally I just rig up a paint stick/wine cork with some poster putty or double sided tape and do one model at a time. However, I purchased the Citadel spray stick to hopefully prime 5 or 6 minis at a time. The problem is the bands are designed for the 32mm and larger bases. Middle Earth is a at 25 base, I think. Test run showed it definitely holds them but the bands can jump on if not careful. Not a huge issue but I could see that I may have to go back and hand paint spot coverage. Overall, I hope it saves me time.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 11, 2021, 11:09:21 AM
That’s way more technical than my models blu tacked to an old shoe box!!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 11, 2021, 11:17:21 AM
I have no doubt that your method is actually more practical and efficient. But I apparently like rabbit holes and have an overwhelming compulsion to go down them when it comes to hobby crafts. :(
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 11, 2021, 11:19:00 AM
I could spend everything I have and every waking moment learning how and then mass producing scenery for table tops but I can’t even scratch that itch - it would be the end!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 11, 2021, 11:22:52 AM
Well I for one am working against my own compulsion and will do a simple, tabletop paint job on the minis. Looking to produce mass not details. The scenery is a long-term side project. And more often than not ends up in me just watching youtube videos. :)
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 11, 2021, 11:25:43 AM
 ;D ;D

I’m sure theyll be great - as you said it’s the gaming not the painting

And if I wasn’t ocd about the painting details I’d head straight to 3 basic colours because as with all these games - on the night after the initial mutual ooooooos at each other’s models it really is about the game and you don’t even see your paints
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 11, 2021, 12:09:42 PM
I get the painting OCD. I have it too. And it has in the past certainly proved at times to be less beneficial to the overall paint job. Especially as many of the miniatures I have painted for RPGs, the details are a bit suspect anyway. I like the price points of Reaper and WizKids miniatures but their molds and casting process does not really produce the best detail definitions. So half the time you end up guessing what the heck this or that line, bump, or indentation actually is.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 12, 2021, 01:37:18 AM
Got the airbrush setup and going for about three to four hours this evening. I primed a couple of Reaper minis to work out the rust and then just dove into the Middle Earth minis. I primed all of the orcs, Rohan foot, six horses, and the troll. So over fifty models are primed black and ready to paint.

Tomorrow I have to put the horse riders and witch king on some sticks with putty and glue the Fell Beast flight stick in place on the body and stand. I will prime them all black as well. Then I am going to prime the Army of the Dead, the six remaining horses, and the mounted Theoden figure grey. If I can knock this out tomorrow, I will be very happy. I can then begin the much slower process of painting. I am half tempted to work some of the base colors with the airbrush.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 12, 2021, 04:08:04 AM
Do you have a colour scheme and recipes in mind?

I’ve painted some army of the dead and using contrast and dry brushing they’re very quick and easy - never painted Rohan
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 12, 2021, 08:55:56 AM
I like this look. Green cloaks as the unifying color for the Rohan forces. Some color variation(dark red, blue, maybe yellow) for shields, clothing layers, and horse blankets for variation.

(https://www.brego.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/rohirrim-by-julaxart-deviantart.jpg)

The orcs just grimy, dirty metal and leather. Skin tones in a variation between grey and green maybe.

The Army of the Dead. Yeah. I think just a grey primer and work a very light blue or green base. I thought about contrast paints or the technical they released to paint nighthaunts (I think is the faction name). However, I do have some nice inks from Vallejo. So maybe just a very water downed ink wash.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 12, 2021, 09:19:55 AM
The question I ask myself on the AotD is do I want a total ghost look or pick out some light coloring on metal or hair.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 12, 2021, 09:35:01 AM
And yet another post because I am scatter minded this morning pre-four cups of coffee. But PlanetMithril does a lot of LotR painting videos which I are a nice base line to help think about color schemes.

For example:
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 12, 2021, 09:46:57 AM
Army of the dead I looked at film shots - I think it’s mainly ghostly except the king

That eowyn figure is great
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 12, 2021, 01:20:07 PM
That eowyn figure is great

His Gandalf the White is just amazing. White and black are the two hardest colors to do for shades/highlights but when everything is one of those colors…aneurism inducing…
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on September 12, 2021, 01:45:45 PM
Total agree about B+W.

I had a chapter of Space Marines of my own devising called the Vindicators who I wanted to have black armour. I eventually painted them very dark blue with black shading, but highlighting them was something I did not ever get right.

Usually, for white figures, I tended to shade with very pale blue which gave them a cold look. Also tried it with pale grey which just made them look grubby and, surprisingly, very pale green, which didn't look too bad. I gather one technique is not to use white as the main base colour, but maybe a very light colour which can be shaded dawn and highlighted with white.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: thecommandtent on September 12, 2021, 02:25:30 PM
I like this look. Green cloaks as the unifying color for the Rohan forces. Some color variation(dark red, blue, maybe yellow) for shields, clothing layers, and horse blankets for variation.

(https://www.brego.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/rohirrim-by-julaxart-deviantart.jpg)


I like that look for Rohan!  Where is the picture from?
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 12, 2021, 02:39:59 PM
I like that look for Rohan!  Where is the picture from?

I found it on this website when I was searching for images of the movies, miniatures, or paintings for various LotR characters/factions.

https://www.brego.net/lord-of-the-rings/horses/horses-of-rohan/

I know nothing of the site or those who run it. I just really liked the look of the art and how it captures a Rohan cavalry charge.



Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: thecommandtent on September 12, 2021, 02:52:49 PM
I like that look for Rohan!  Where is the picture from?

I found it on this website when I was searching for images of the movies, miniatures, or paintings for various LotR characters/factions.

https://www.brego.net/lord-of-the-rings/horses/horses-of-rohan/

I know nothing of the site or those who run it. I just really liked the look of the art and how it captures a Rohan cavalry charge.

Agreed
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 12, 2021, 05:11:38 PM
I started a hobby AAR in the AAR section. Mostly so I can keep this thread on topic as much as that happens in these parts.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 12, 2021, 11:49:31 PM
I need to get the LotR Army book.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 13, 2021, 07:30:43 AM
For white I use the primer corax white as a base coat - it’s very clean and not until you put pure white on it do you release it’s very light grey
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 13, 2021, 05:02:14 PM
I thought I had white primer but I only had grey and black. However, the grey is quite light so it isn't horrible to base coat with white.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 17, 2021, 05:10:33 AM
Ok, so my turn again at restoring glory to the Elven empire. This is a great new scenario called fog of war - you have to secretly name a piece of scenery in the opponents half you want to capture, a hero of yours to keep alive and a hero of his to kill - I choose to kill the Dragon Knight, the weakest of his heroes, to take a ruin on his half and to keep Erestor alive

Here we go - 12 warriors to the left, 12 archers to the right, 12 warriors in the distance on the right, the left is led by the Elf captain, the archers led by Elrond bestowing his archery bonus on them and in the distance Erestor and Arwen leading the warriors.

We're 40 models versus 12, but 12 elite units, 3 chariots, Khamul on fell beast, the dragon knight, Amdul, and 6 cavalry

(https://i.imgur.com/ECi5vt5.jpg)

Heres Elrond directing the fire onto the chariots in the distance - 3s to hit (rerolling misses from Elronds bonus), 1-4 hits chariot 5-6 hits rider, 6 to wound either. The chariots are evil they can hit you on their move, every figure coming into contact with the chariot takes 2 strength 4 hits, so basically charge toward me, hit every man and roll 2 dice, get a a five on either, mans dead, keep moving, wash rinse, repeat until 10 inch move is over or you dont get a 5 - its possible to roll through a line of goblins if you come in perpendicular to the line up - and when all thats done, you get attacked by the rider in the combat phase - honestly - total bastards - so we arrow him - first round of shooting inflicts 2 wounds on the chariot out of 3 and misses the driver - he'll go down next turn

Blurry in the back ground, the fell beast has just landed next to Arwen - both Arwen and Elrond have a spell called Wrath of Bruinen (the one seen with the racing horses in the river that Arwen casts to wash away the Nazghul defending Sam) this knocks everything prone and off its horse so Timmy is terrified of it and has gone for Arwen, with her in combat she cant cast her spell but her father is 10 inches away, capable of rushing in and casting his

BUT Timmy casts transfix on Elrond trapping him away from the fight, Elrond rolls poorly to dispell it and uses all his might to increase the dice to get into the fight. Now in the fight he rolls poorly to cast his own spell and that is easily dispelled by the Nazghul and Elrond has no might left to affect the dice - so Elrond and Arwen are in the fight but no spell knocks the riders off - its going to be tough

(https://i.imgur.com/9jhEhp5.jpg)

Here come the chariots - who by the way are immune to Wrath of Bruinen and the terror that Elrond and Erestor naturally cast  ::)

(https://i.imgur.com/czN37lD.jpg)

This is the remainder of the Easterling army - Amdur, Dragon Knight, a rider and Khamul on fell beast - after chewing through 24 warriors, Elrond, Erestor and Arwen they find themselves in a bit of a quandry

(https://i.imgur.com/wq9uZmy.jpg)

Because ive put my archers here and he cant dismount to attack them - the chariots cant get them and the cavalry cant either - the Elves are broken because theyve lost 50% of their force so on a 1 or a 2 the game ends but the game rolls on and on and i can effectively just snipe the characters - i will win eventually but that doesnt seem to be in the spirit of the game

(https://i.imgur.com/4CN55UT.jpg)

in the end i get points for owning the ruin and wounding his hero (last arrow of the day), he gets points for killing erestor, keeping the Dragon knight alive, owning the watch tower and breaking me - he winds because im gracious - i would have killed him by arrows eventually

All in all im still not impressed with the elves - they are the elite warriors in the game, the space marines so to speak, but ive beaten this force with Angmar a few times and the orcs are weaker and have lower defence - its either poor dice or poor tactics - next week Timmy wants to try an Elf list and well finally decide if elves are overrated or we're crap at elves!!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on September 17, 2021, 07:25:27 AM
 :2thumbs:
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bayonetbrant on September 17, 2021, 10:20:48 AM
12 warriors to the left, 12 archers to the right,

🎶  Here I am / stuck in the middle with you... 🎶
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 17, 2021, 11:33:22 AM
 :bigthumb:
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 17, 2021, 07:03:01 PM
Nice write up. I am curious if you all can get the elves to perform better. They are on the top of my list for a future army.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 17, 2021, 07:17:10 PM
Nice write up. I am curious if you all can get the elves to perform better. They are on the top of my list for a future army.

I’d love to love them bison - you feel you’ve taken a real killer force and then it gets ploughed down by your opponent - there is always the possibility that Tim just plays in a way that doesn’t complement their style - they are famed shooters - Tim’s army can close that gap in one turn and shut that down, there are no huge strength monsters to counter his heroes - whichever the objectives are and goals of the scenario he will always come charging across the field and stampede the force in no more than 2 turns - now that might be me because I keep my armies in traditional blocks - 2 deep six wide like fantasy battle - fodder for chariots - my azog force will be Beserkers and Hunter orcs who just skirmish and charge, this might be a harder force with trolls and ogres  - the troll brute doing exactly what a chariot does but inflicting 1 s10 hit on everything it touches 

I may sit down in front of another player and see the elves destroy all in their path

We’ll see
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Silent Disapproval Robot on September 17, 2021, 07:22:14 PM
Is the cardboard terrain from Battle Systems? 
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 17, 2021, 07:32:23 PM
What is the reasoning for having no cavalry with the elf force? Points?
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 17, 2021, 08:43:47 PM
I tried an all knight force against this army and it was a bloodbath - plus he has no foot troops so their bonus is lost and lastly yeah the points 23 for a knight 11 for a warrior

Although cavalry is great i find particularly with elves with spear support their fight is higher and defence is higher and attacks the same as a charge I’d rather have the numbers - it’ll comes down to the math and how many dice you can roll
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on September 17, 2021, 08:44:25 PM
Is the cardboard terrain from Battle Systems?

It’s the clubs SDR but I’m sure that’s where they got it
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on September 17, 2021, 11:40:29 PM
I tried an all knight force against this army and it was a bloodbath - plus he has no foot troops so their bonus is lost and lastly yeah the points 23 for a knight 11 for a warrior

Although cavalry is great i find particularly with elves with spear support their fight is higher and defence is higher and attacks the same as a charge I’d rather have the numbers - it’ll comes down to the math and how many dice you can roll

Makes sense.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on October 09, 2021, 10:43:47 AM
A couple of weeks later and a couple of battles later - the Elf situation has resolved itself, they have been dispatched to ebay land for a handsome profit, thats Mordor and Rivendell now off the shelves leaving Angmar and Azogs legion - i have split his army into Gundabad and Hunter Orcs - The hunters are awesome, two attacks because theyre crazy, like the beserkers in the gundabad section. The hunters are unpainted but this is the Gundabad side of things

(https://i.imgur.com/1bMxrE8.jpg)

heres the new ogres

(https://i.imgur.com/hZFPhCW.jpg)

and the grim troll brute

(https://i.imgur.com/tXgQJ5W.jpg)

Slowly building an iron hills dwarf list and then that should be it

In the meantime another 2 orders for Badgers and Burrows have come in and these little 'villagers' are ready to dispatch

(https://i.imgur.com/9QfG043.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/chibYuO.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/YAjfCii.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Uhc0IRb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/76XQXFX.jpg)
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on October 09, 2021, 11:08:51 AM
Those are awesome  :bigthumb: :bigthumb:
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on October 09, 2021, 12:03:04 PM
The Grim Brute Troll is awesome.

I am a bit disappointed you found the Rivendell faction so non-competitive during club games. Mostly because it's one of the armies I am looking to eventually build because I really like their sculpts and I want them to be awesome. However, I think my plastic pile is gaining a new game addition in a couple of days.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on October 09, 2021, 01:39:48 PM
Oooo what’s coming?
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: thecommandtent on October 09, 2021, 05:26:37 PM
Wow those are some impressive minis!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on October 09, 2021, 06:21:36 PM
Oooo what’s coming?

It's a gift from the family for getting older but do to lack of in store availability it is not Middle Earth models. Vague answer I know but I will not know for certain for a couple of more days.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on October 09, 2021, 06:26:16 PM
Wow those are some impressive minis!

Cheers TCT
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Martok on October 09, 2021, 10:46:37 PM
That badger wielding the frying pan and rolling pin might be the most terrifying that's yet been posted in this thread. 

Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on October 10, 2021, 06:09:04 AM
The figures are for a RPG game called Burrows and Badgers by Oathsworn Minatures, who also produce the figures. Its a lot of fun to play.

https://www.oathswornminiatures.co.uk/
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on October 27, 2021, 09:37:13 AM
Game night resumes after a short hiatus -

For a long time i have suffered minor defeats, and mainly major defeats interspersed with the occasional victory and left with the feeling of WTF? - not understanding why there was a victory. However tonight's game came not only with a major victory but an understanding of why

The all new, all painted Azog army went up against Timmys new, experimental Lothlorien (wood elf) army

(https://i.imgur.com/C7VKRjL.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/zDndZp3.jpg)

The scenario was 'Contest of Champions' basically kill as much as you can with your leader and compare kills at the end - you practically start opposite each other and get straight to it. Unlike any of my other armies, I have no fear of putting Azog straight into the fight against anything and his surrounding bodyguard of ogres and hunter orcs are all more than capable of looking after themselves.

You see, despite it been a table top wargame, its all simple maths - throw more dice than the opponent in each face off and you have much better odds of winning the fight. The wood elves have one attack, the ogres have 3, the hunters have 2 - simply match one hunter to one elf and im already 50% more likely to win the fight, an ogre versus an elf - 66% - Timmy spent most of his time shielding, which means he gets to throw dice but if he wins the fight he doesnt strike back, and is unkillable on a natural roll of 6 - for the first time in 5 years Timmy had a bad dice night, really bad and for the first time in 5 years i had a good dice night - i cant remember seeing him roll a 6, and for extra fun the important 50/50 roll offs to see who makes important heroic calls that was standing at an amazing 27-4 in timmys favour since we started counting - he didnt win one tonight

So we crushed him, not in points, i won by one, but broke his army down to 25% of its starting 31 models whilst only losing 8 out of 27 - the Troll brute was amazing, stamping on 6 wood elf archers hiding in the forest, Azog cut down 6 and killed Tauriel, the beserkers wouldnt die, they were charged by mirkwood cavalry, survived the hit and turned round and killed both riders and horses - you know its a good night when Timmy starts complaining about my Bolt Action German Dice shouldnt be allowed to be used in the game - almost every thrown pair yielded a 6

(https://i.imgur.com/yOTzl7E.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/RGIuoa2.jpg)

Then the last turn, Azog had killed 6, Thranduil had killed 6, Timmy had broken, but if he could kill Azog on the last turn he would win, so he charged the big boy - both their powers and skills practically make it a 50/50 match up and for the first time he won the roll and scored 3 wounds against Azog who has 3 wounds, and one point of fate which means he can roll one dice to try and rescue one wound 1-3 fail, 4-6 succeed - it was a 4, Azog survives, Timmy gets 2 points for wounding Azog but i get 3 for breaking his army - i win by a point, but the field is littered with dead elves and a bleeding, flat Tauriel

We go again next week
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bayonetbrant on October 27, 2021, 09:42:08 AM
are those (GASP!) UNPAINTED MODELS!?!?!?!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on October 27, 2021, 09:51:24 AM
Some lovely looking figures there, though. :bigthumb:
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on October 27, 2021, 10:12:28 AM
are those (GASP!) UNPAINTED MODELS!?!?!?!

Not only that but thranduil is actually Elrond on a horse with antlers blu tacked on - it should be an elk - it’s a gorgeous model but he hasn’t received it yet!!

He scored a good bargain on eBay that convinced him to switch from Rivendell to Mirkwood - but only the other day so much painting to catch up on

I’m actually all out of LOTR to paint - I’m painting some animals for a client, some old death korps for 40k and a dreadnought - proper pile of shame reduction - I have about 2 weeks of painting left but I am waiting on some iron hills stuff
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: thecommandtent on October 27, 2021, 08:58:49 PM
Those certainly look nice on the table.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Martok on October 27, 2021, 09:47:20 PM
Congrats on the win, geek

(Although honestly, any Wood Elf army that includes "Tauriel" deserves to lose anyway... ::) >:( :sick: ) 


Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on November 04, 2021, 06:05:09 AM
A big moral question this week, pics first

Azog and the ogres battle their way thru the ruins

(https://i.imgur.com/18iLrB8.jpg)

and the hunter orcs come around the other side

(https://i.imgur.com/XYrTkwn.jpg)

whilst the trolls come on the other side of the board and head for the Rohan heroes

(https://i.imgur.com/Y9BkGat.jpg)

the scenario was sacred heirloom, the objective to go to the 6 hidden objectives, and roll a dice, on a 6 this counter would be the heirloom, on a 1-5 discard the counter, it isnt the heirloom, keep looking - therefore after 5 failures to roll a 6 - the last counter would automatically be the heirloom, and then just keep hold of it until one of the armies was reduced to 25% - at the start of each turn the holder of the heirloom rolls a dice, if its a 1 hes transfixed and cant move that turn

As is normally the case after a defeat Timmy reverts to Rohan, a force he knows inside out and is undefeated with. I saw this coming and so were ready to go again with Azog - i turn over 4 counters but am unable to unearth the heirloom, Timmy is closest to the other 2 and fails to find it with the first, meaning the last counter is the heirloom, he immediately rolls a 1 and transfixes himself!  :ROFL: - in the first photo you can just make out a foot soldier between the 2 horsemen to the left of Azog - thats who im trying to catch - whoever has the heirloom at the end gets 6VP - basically the winner

Alls fair in love and war but what Timmy does is sprint to the back of the board over a number of turns with the heirloom, as would we all, but what he does is feed my troops single soldiers against insurmountable odds in an attempt to drive down his total to less than 25% men and end the game - in short King Theoden shouts 'weve got the heirloom lads, everybody kill themselves'  :censored: :nope:

right? you decide

fair? you decide?

fun? no

After falling for this a number of times, across a variety of games i dont know whether im naive, trustworthy, or just an honest gamer immersed in the universe ive created, i once played against the fellowship in a similar scenario and the opponent sacrificed sam, aragorn and frodo with the same mindset - i mean WTF

i dont play strictly to the lore, you cant, but dear lord

Anyway, my confidence is boosted once more by applying maths to the game and outsmarting even the mighty Rohan, i had 3 chances to kill theoden, killed hama and gamling and only just missed Eomer - i know for certain it shook Timmy as for the next 3 days he kept asking me questions about Azogs force making sure i was within the points limit and the allowable force composition

in the end a technical win for the asshole horse lords, i hate rohan, but a moral victory for the Pale orc



Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on November 04, 2021, 07:34:48 AM
I would have ruled that, while tactically a good idea, its not within the sprit of 'playing fair'. Its a bit like rules lawyers looking for loopholes to exploit in board games.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on November 04, 2021, 08:36:11 AM
Another round of nice photos Geek. I am confused by the scenario. Collect and hold the treasure until a force is under 25% strength? Was there no turn limit?
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on November 04, 2021, 04:36:41 PM
No turn limit - grab the treasure - game ends when one force is at 25% of start - so because he had the treasure it’s in his interest to end the game ASAP so kill the rest of his army and win with one man holding the treasure
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: judgedredd on November 05, 2021, 07:40:13 AM
You could see a long doing that..."I've got the treasure...now you lot keep them at bay whilst I bugger off"

Nice minis pal...really good. I started painting my Alien minis but stopped because I did what I always do...over think the process - essentially debating in my head the correct colours to use for the marines rather than just doing what I think would be absolutely fine given the scale. So I've got a load that are primed and waiting paint
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: BanzaiCat on November 05, 2021, 10:08:15 AM
I'm going to start painting my Shadows of Brimstone minis this weekend, though I don't know even where to begin (three core sets, three expansions plus two more coming in, lol). I'll probably start with Forbidden Fortress.

Plus, I'm no painter, so this should be interesting.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on November 05, 2021, 01:19:45 PM
You could see a long doing that..."I've got the treasure...now you lot keep them at bay whilst I bugger off"

Nice minis pal...really good. I started painting my Alien minis but stopped because I did what I always do...over think the process - essentially debating in my head the correct colours to use for the marines rather than just doing what I think would be absolutely fine given the scale. So I've got a load that are primed and waiting paint

You’re right - just jump in - I enjoy the process much more than the result - pick a scheme and stick to it
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on November 05, 2021, 01:20:20 PM
I'm going to start painting my Shadows of Brimstone minis this weekend, though I don't know even where to begin (three core sets, three expansions plus two more coming in, lol). I'll probably start with Forbidden Fortress.

Plus, I'm no painter, so this should be interesting.

Love those minis - send pics!!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on November 05, 2021, 02:01:44 PM
Just start putting the brush to min and try not to over think it. It gets easier and your skills will get better as you paint more.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: BanzaiCat on November 05, 2021, 02:17:51 PM
Happy to share some pics...I think it would be interesting to document too, just from an attempt standpoint.

I once tried to paint a platoon of Warhammer marines many years ago, but I had no idea what I was doing and knew nothing of WH40k...much less had any intent of playing it, lol. This game, though, intrigues the hell out of me and I'm thinking even a bad paint job has more visual appeal than gray figures.

One of the big guesswork things for me is, figuring out what balance I need for washes. I almost bought a set of washes but thought, why would I do that when I can just do water to thin out the paint? That'll be some serious trial and error but I think it'll be fun finding that balance.

edit: Well crap, the sprue cutter I ordered just arrived, as did the magnets (20mm) and tray I'm going to use to store the minis. I wasn't expecting all this until tomorrow. Guess I might get started painting tonight!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: judgedredd on November 05, 2021, 05:17:39 PM
I don't want to derail the thread...but also I use tamiya acrylics which aren't great for brush painting. I should invest in some miniature paints...but I don't do it often

Anyway...I'll bite the bullet and get them done
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: mcguire on November 05, 2021, 06:23:06 PM
One nice thing about 1:6000 naval minis: Prime them in grey, slather on some black wash so they don't look entirely like grey blobs, and bob's your uncle.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: BanzaiCat on November 05, 2021, 06:25:15 PM
I thought he was my uncle, already?
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Martok on November 10, 2021, 12:18:35 AM
Nice job as usual, 'geek.  :notworthy:  A shame Timmy cares more about the letter than the spirit of the rules, but at least you put him on notice that he won't be able to rely on his beloved Horse-lords forever.  (Personally, I derive little satisfaction or joy in "winning" that way, and so I don't try.) 


Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on November 11, 2021, 02:17:43 PM
Long live Rohan!

Mostly because it’s one of the armies I’m working on…😄
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on November 11, 2021, 02:46:52 PM
 :bigthumb:
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on November 11, 2021, 04:21:13 PM
Booooooooo
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on November 25, 2021, 09:40:40 AM
Games night - a still smarting Timmy brings out the Rohan again - to be fair hes entering a tourney with them and is trying different tactics and ideas and im the sparring partner - I take Azog, because he terrifies him

On the right flank, prob 70% of his force - the only problem with my force is theres only 2 groups, compared to his 5, even if he loses the roll off at the start he can put down small bands to see where the majority of my forces are going and then place accordingly. If i win the roll off and place first theres no way for me to mask my intentions and he can change his set up on the fly. This game been a classic case of the problem, i put the hunters down first - he points all his horses at them, with the intention to sweep through them and flank azog

(https://i.imgur.com/YreAURz.jpg)

So hunters down, and he plonks theoden, gamling, eomer and durnhelm plus riders at the boys - the hunters fared brilliantly last turn becauuse he came in small groups, a full on Pellenor type charge will be a different thing  :(

(https://i.imgur.com/zJ3JfsS.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/QBLUj1S.jpg)

On the left flank i make a mistake, here he places a captain and a rider and i stupidly put the majority of the trolls and ogres and beserkers over there to get him - the scenario after all is to try and kill the heroes but this takes away any intimidation my right flank might have, no ogres or trolls and azog sat in the middle - he has no fear of this band and all his men are pointing at them

(https://i.imgur.com/MtCAH9L.jpg)

That been the case he rides straight thru the hunters - just bad rolls really - each mounted rider has the same attacks as a hunter but if he wins the fight the orc is knocked down and prone and has double the attacks so 4 to wound dice - i set it up so the majority of fights should be 2 orcs versus one horse but because most of his force is here it means its mainly 1v1 - not the maths ratio im aiming for. He also gets spectacularly lucky with his spear throws - Rohan can throw a spear one inch from the attack before crashing into the fight - he needs a 5 to hit and a 5 to wound and makes them all, to the extent he has to apologise halfway through, done brilliantly however as orcs in the way of him getting to Fimbul are speared down before the fight giving him access to the hunter captain

(https://i.imgur.com/EQVJ07n.jpg)

With the hunters mown down Timmy goes for the thing he fears most - the stumpy stomper which could effectively wipe out his front line - hes tough and strong but has no chance here - he goes down

(https://i.imgur.com/jol0al5.jpg)

With that my force is considered broken, down to 50% of its start value - to move everything now the model needs to pass a courage test and these are orcs, the remaining troll, and ogre and 3 beserkers fail and walk off the board - of my starting 800 points, 245 just left because theyre scared!

(https://i.imgur.com/ex6inRQ.jpg)

Time to redress the balance - Azog charges Durnhelm, a pain in the ass in every game, he gets to reroll missed spear throws, reroll missed wounds so hes getting it. Unfortunately Timmy calls Heroic Defence - meaning no matter how many wounds i cause i can only damage him on a natural 6 - i cant roll a 5 and use might to make it 6 - it has to be a 6 on the dice, Azog has 3 wound dice - the little w**ker gets away with it twice but i get him eventually when he runs out of might to use for the defence

(https://i.imgur.com/Nige0mD.jpg)

And in the end it comes to this - Azog versus the rest of his force - thankfully if you kill a hero you get one might back, so Azog can use might to win the fight no matter how many hes fighting, kill a hero, get the might back and off we go again - doing this he kills Theoden, Gamling, a captain and a few cannon fodder - in the end he falls to Eomer the end score been 4-2 to Timmy

(https://i.imgur.com/ldDD8o9.jpg)

Lessons learned are to keep the trolls next to the hunters and then move them among them to cause terror in the riders and to just pay more attention to the set up

changes considered are dropping a troll and Fimbul and bringing in Bolg, Azogs son, same stats as Azog, less than a troll but able to use might to address any wayward dice throws, plus he gets scarier and scarier the more he kills, and hes mounted so no cavalry charge advantage against him
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on November 25, 2021, 09:48:22 AM
Awesome!
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on November 26, 2021, 02:50:05 AM
Excellent report. I watched some ME SGG games played at a miniatures convention tournament a couple of weeks ago. A cavalry charge is a very powerful attack.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Hethwill on November 26, 2021, 03:25:48 AM
Nice report and the minis are very striking.
 
( Was never attracted to the game, even when first came out, although the Citadel miniatures were awesome. )
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on November 26, 2021, 04:08:00 AM
Cheers chaps
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on November 26, 2021, 10:44:56 AM

( Was never attracted to the game, even when first came out, although the Citadel miniatures were awesome. )

The miniatures are Perry miniatures branded by Games Workshop IIRC. Anyway, the detail is generally nice but there are some awkward parts on some of the sculpts which I think are due to the age of the mold/sculpt. I am painting some now and have enjoyed the process.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on November 30, 2021, 09:17:37 AM
I finally found a decent price on the LOTR army and company battles books. So now that I am moving on to painting the final models of the starter box, I can begin planning out the next stage of building up the forces.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on November 30, 2021, 09:46:53 AM
Excellent - elves next?
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on November 30, 2021, 12:19:54 PM
Elves and Isendor are on the list but first I want to look at the options for the Mordor and Rohan armies.
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on December 02, 2021, 09:45:16 PM
I am going to be forced into ordering direct from GW or from a Workshop store. Many of the models in the Army book are not readily available with online retailers. Why is it the one GW product at actually like is so hard to get? Poor me...:)
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on December 02, 2021, 10:37:46 PM
Yep there’s hardship amongst us LOTR fans - which is why a lot of people are ‘looking to the east’
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on December 17, 2021, 03:29:45 AM
A smaller battle this week - the tournament has passed, Timmy went 3 wins and 4 losses, and the need to practice Rohan tactics has gone. His next army will be Mirkwood, and the Halls of Thranduil, before that full goal is reached there is the Mirkwood Rangers Legendary Legion along the way. 27 rangers led by Legolas, Tauriel and a Captain are capable of firing 30 arrows a turn - the only tactic here is to run as fast as we can into combat. Any CCTV footage at the start of the journey to the games club will show me get in the car with the army in a box, get out and go back in the house, get in the car, start the car, switch off the car, get back in the house and finally set off - it occurred to me that strength 3 arrows against defence 4 hunter orcs would be devastating - i could literally lose them all in the first turn, so back into the house to swap the hunters and their two attacks for the Gundabad orcs, only one attack but decked in plate armour at defence 6 - strength 3 arrows would need a 6 to wound us. Back in the car, back out of the car - if i was taking gundabad orcs i needed a gundabad captain not Fimbul from the hunters - only one would do - Bolg.

Of the 700 points wed be playing for this smaller game - i had 500 wrapped up in azog, bolg and a troll leaving just 200 for the rest - i chose 12 gundabad warriors and 4 warg riders with hunters on - i need something to keep up with bolg and azog so they dont arrive on the front line on their own.

In the picture Timmy has used his Sentinels who play mind altering music, and if the target fails a courage test (and these are orcs with no courage) then he gets to move them as he wishes (a reason i didnt take the troll brute that stomps on anything it touches, including my own forces if timmy controls it) - Bolg and Azog under the little wood had 2 warg riders each as escort - Timmy has managed to push two 10 inch to the right under the trolls club, and one back 10 inch you can see at the bottom - exposing Azog and the white ward to the elven archery.

The guy on the surfboard there with Azog, is a Bolg stand in, its Fimbul, but thats actually the size of Bolgs base meaning he can get into combat with a lot of guys at once if need be

(https://i.imgur.com/Wx6cYJP.jpg)

And heres the evil elves. The dice in the back is just over half of the dice hell be rolling to shoot!! The scenario is seize the prize - get to the green jewel, roll to dig it up and then get it off the enemies half of the table

(https://i.imgur.com/W4sflia.jpg)

After a couple of turns were pretty much set up to try and steal the jewel, the only casualty has been the White Warg so azog under the yellow tree is on foot with everyone else. The thing about the legendary legion is if they get in that wood, they suffer no movement penalty, they can shoot out of it with no penalty, and if theyre defeated in it automatically get a ward save of 6 to stay alive like azogs beserkers. We didnt play it to this rule, but decided after, the troll would have just been able to stomp through the hedge as it is he walks around like the tiny little orcs surrounding him

(https://i.imgur.com/Q4Zovcn.jpg)

Bolg is still on his warg and goes round the back

(https://i.imgur.com/LF8fMjG.jpg)

Its not often i get this feeling, but with the girly elves a mere strength 3, needing 6s to wound me, and me needing 4s to wound them were going through them like a knife through butter. Azog is taking down 2-3 elves a turn and so is Bolg. Bolg has a special rule that when hes killed 2 he causes terror, when he kills 5 he is a harbinger of evil causing -1 to courage rolls near him and after 10 he is a legendary hero and all kinds of things happen then - he killed 14 in this game! In this turn Tauriel has managed to kill my orc carrying the prize, stole it and is now heading south to my table edge as quick as she can

(https://i.imgur.com/qQWeKVy.jpg)

Because Timmy has used all his might trying to shoot and wound Azog and Bolg and outpace my forces he has none left to counter my heroic moves which allow me to catch Tauriel with the troll, deft and bendy she maybe but shes not surviving a club to the face off old lumpy here

(https://i.imgur.com/Ofyh01h.jpg)

A turn or two later and youll notice from the picture theres no elves left - Tauriel died, her captain died and Azog and Bolg in a true representation of Jacksons vision ripped Legolas apart between them - total wipeout of the Elves, victory to the glorious forces of Azog



(https://i.imgur.com/dq7nQwJ.jpg)
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Martok on December 18, 2021, 02:46:13 AM
Dang, 'geek.  A very impressive win!  Hopefully Timmy was a good sport about the TPK.  :) 


Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on December 18, 2021, 04:22:07 AM
Semi gracious in defeat you might say - we had a spectator watching to learn the game and as the turn came where Timmy realised it was all over the spectator raised his hand to say something and Timmy  gave him a ‘not now’ 😂😂
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Bison on December 18, 2021, 10:25:16 AM
Another great report... wonder if the rest of the elves with be painted now given their initial performance :)
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bayonetbrant on December 18, 2021, 12:04:08 PM
Another great report... wonder if the rest of the elves with be painted now given their initial performance :)


yes, in red shirts
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on December 18, 2021, 04:57:08 PM
😂😂

He’s fully committed to these guys as they’ll form some part of his halls of thranduil army that he’s fallen in love with - and he’s kitbashed 6 of the sentinels to be all different poses as I think there’s only one pose - and he’s crafted flutes and harps and lutes - lot of work - it’s almost a shame to stamp on them with a troll
Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: Undercovergeek on February 16, 2022, 01:26:56 PM
ok...... a covid hiatus, some absences and busy work load but here we go -

Some context is required here - as part of building the irons hills dwarf army i have chosen Thorin and Dwalin on goats as part of that force. These models dont actually exist so some crafting is required - there is Dwalin and Thorin on foot, so we need 1 each of those and then another pair to chop in half and add to the vanilla goat rider model. As the full armoured Champions of Erebor only come in a boxed set at £80 and i need two, i got in contact with a Russian friend for two and found 2 on ebay. The first 2 have gone to Timmy with the goat rider models for him to unleash his crafting skills on and ill keep the 2 dismounted ones to paint

So, i now find myself in possession of an army by accident - the Champions of Erebor - 13 dwarves from the Hobbit film, not Thorins company which is the dwarves questing to erebor with gandalf and bilbo, but the 13 mad bastards that charge out to meet Azog - these 13 guys are a 1000 point army in the game, mainly because they are all heroes in their own right, all with might, multiple wounds and various other skills and tweaks - might as well give them ago

In a small 550 point battle with Timmy against Thranduil and his merry men they kicked ass - totally destroyed the stinky elves and routed the man on a moose - so surprising and swift was the defeat i didnt take any pictures - needless to say Timmy was shook!

So we went themey - here was a chance to create some what ifs from the film seen as both our armies are from the same era - so we decided in the first battle that the dwarves won, they found the arkenstone and escaped with it - the next battle would be the same six guys trying to escape through Mirkwood and away with the stone - basically get off Timmys side of the board

(https://i.imgur.com/aVRjtE2.jpg)

left to right is Dwalin, Dori, Thorin, Killi, Filli and Gloin - these are the warriors of the Erebor force, 3 attacks, 3 might, lots of power, the other 7 buff characters, have special skills and abilities but arent as fighty as these guys - in the distance the end zone

(https://i.imgur.com/UeQT5NB.jpg)

theyre trying to outrun about 26 mirkwood elves and rangers - all armed with bows - the bows are strength 3 im defence 8, if he hits me timmy needs a 6 and then a 4 to wound me - can i beat the maths and get off the battlefield?

(https://i.imgur.com/VyOb8Qv.jpg)

Hollywood shot

(https://i.imgur.com/xjjT73S.jpg)

I use the ruins as cover from the elves to my right, Thorin has moved back after taking two wounds out of 3 due to Timmys unerring ability to roll 6s

(https://i.imgur.com/UeQT5NB.jpg)

The elves to the right begin to move in to join the inevitable moving darts match that will be 'shoot the dwarves' before i can get to the end of the board - if i can get into combat and just mow them down it would remove Timmys ability to shoot but with a 5' move to replicate their little legs, Timmy just keeps stepping back and firing

(https://i.imgur.com/UMRYdLD.jpg)

The heroes break out of the ruins and charge for the corner of the board

(https://i.imgur.com/OzovrBN.jpg)

The elves, realising its going to be a dash for the corner mobilise, they will attempt to flank the dwarves as they come up against Legolas and his rangers - note the flute playing ass hat nearest the well.......

(https://i.imgur.com/HajmHDa.jpg)

.......hes a sentinel and plays magic crap at the dwarves!!! if the target fails a courage test Timmy moves them instead of me - he enchants Gloin who throws a double 1 and gets moved back 5 inch

(https://i.imgur.com/BqmDglO.jpg)

We finally meet in the corner but after been the target of over 150 arrows all the might and wounds have been expended and 5 dwarves are lost - Dwalin and his 4 attacks with double axes, actually gets to one inch of the line with the stone in his arms but falls at the end

Great game - the next one will be an actual Iron Hills force led by Dain sent to Mirkwood to try and rescue their captured cousins in the dungeons of Thranduil

Title: Re: A miniature journey through Middle Earth
Post by: bob48 on February 16, 2022, 01:33:55 PM
We wants to play it, precious. Yessssss, we doessss.........................