Well time to build some LOTR HOTT armies I think

Was just really thinking its time to move into HOTT (love DBA) and was really wanting to have an authentic LOTR look vs generic.

I use 15mm for DBA but I think I like the new armies for WOTR so Im going to likely use those figures and move up a scale and base them for HOTT.

any input or ideas or thoughts for a newbie to LOTR Id be open to your comments.

thanks

steve

If you're going with the GW-LOTR stuff ebay is your friend for picking up the absurdly priced character models.

For picking up the plastic rank and file guys check out Maelstrom Games in the UK. They sell stuff at 10-15% off the suggested retail - shipped free worldwide! With the pound in the tank right now it worked out to closer to 20-30% off what I would have paid at my local game store... I do like to support the local guys... but when I'm on a bit of a budget... 30% off...

Originally Posted by smaul1

...was really wanting to have an authentic LOTR look vs generic....

Hi Steve,

By autyhentic I assume you mean according to the films? If that is the case then the GW figures really are the go.

Cheers

Black Tree Design still sells their old Lord of the Rings line... they're just called "Legends of the Realm" now... It looks pretty extensive with some of the subacategories being "Horse Lords of the Plains", "Forces of the Wizards Tower", "Corsairs of the Coast", etc...

Black Tree could not have done a more half-assed job disguising the provenance of their background material (who is this 'Tolkien' of whom you speak?) Still, they have some nice-looking figures... and not just in the we-swear-we've-never-heard-of-something-called-the-LOTR line.

Actually I think they did - or Harlequin did - have a license to produce the figures before the movies came along... They probably lost it when Harlequin became, or was acquired by, Black Tree Design and/or the movies came out and GW got the license. They must have decided to keep producing the line but just changed the names.

I have a Wargames Illustrated circa 2000 with a full page add for the same fellows and at the bottom it says "Lord of the Rings is a trademark of Tolkien Enterprises and is used under license by Harlequin Miniatures"...

So no longer "official" - but still available and potentially useable...?

In fact, it looks like that line from Harlequin miniatures was indeed licensed from Tolkien Enterprises for no less than "one million"... Not sure if that is GBP or USD or something else... But it was a five year license that started in the late 90s. Check out this interview:

http://www.sfsfw.org/a/31/edwards.php

Still, I am glad they kept the line; there are some great generic and LotR specific figs in that line that are nice to say the least! Classic stuff. Still, the excellently designed and dirt-cheap plastics are my favourite for Lord of the Rings action!

n.

Oh I think some of Prince August's Mithril Miniatures are also still available.... but I think it would be tough to put together entire armies of them...

I appreciate the insights guys, good basis for getting started.

I was really wanting to keep to 15mm since all my DBA is 15mm and I like the size of the boards

that said I think Ill have to go with the 28mm GW plastics and Ill likely base for the new WOTR and HOTT, get double duty.

I ordered the WOTR rule book, (for the last 15 years I have been antiGW for anything cuz I dont like the rules, but after reading some reviews they might have gotten better at that.

I also wanted the book to use as a reference for units so even if the rules end up not being so good, I still win IMO.

thanks again guys.

I have mentioned this in other threads, but if you want to stay in 15mm ish scale...then try the Eureka Miniatures 18mm fantasy range.