The advanced orders have now gone up on the site so lets talk about them.

Knights of Dol Amroth

Morgul Knights

Ruins of Osgiliath

The Dwimmerlaik

Blackroot Vale Archers Command

Faramir, Captain of Ithilien

Mauhúr's Marauders Command

Duinhir

Mauhúr


Ok my opions of them are as followed
Knights of Dol Amroth - They are actually nice and i'm happy.
Morgul Knights - Not bad and it appers you can convert a captain too with the kit.
Ruins - Probbaly the nices LOTR scenary every done really. Very happy with these.(and unexpected)
The Dwimmerlaik - Hate his face. He is probbaly the worst looking Nazgul out of them all(there was a reason for him being last then?)
Blackroot Vale Archers Command - Quite nice but i feel they wouldn't lookm out of place for Dunadian or Gondor Rangers. Not too bad but not fantastic.
Faramir, Captain of Ithilien - Nice modal but why did he need another modal? that makes this one his 5th.
Mauhúr's Marauders Command - Not bad but not great. Don't like the head atop the banner and why to scouts carry drums?
Duinhir - Another one i hate. Looks awful really.
Mauhúr - Ok he's good. I love twin weapons so he's not too bad.

Over all most are quite good but the Nazgul and Duinhir are plain garbage for me. We just need to get the rules for them in SBG.

p.s. If the pictures are too big them feel free to edit this post to make them smaller.
p.p.s. there is also the battlehost rule book but we don't know much more about it.

Interesting selection, here's my opinions:

SKoDA: They look alright, definately better than the metals, although I hate the pennants on the lances - way too big for my liking, as is the banner. I think it would have been beeter with smaller pennat flags on the lances and having the banner be halfway between the banner and the pennants they've ended up with. It's a shame that they're all photoed with the shields covering up the knight's bodies as you can't see what their armour looks like :/

Morgul Knights: They look fairly good. They look like they'd make good Chaos Knights for WH.

Ruins of Osgiliath: Just beautiful. This look like a great kit, just hope it doesn't cost too much.

The Dwimmerlaik: Urg, I just hate this one. The foot version doesn't lok too bad but the mounted one is just down right horrible - where does the wraith end and the horse begin? O.o That said, it could also have a lot to do with the colour scheme. If painted in more natural tones, it'll probably look better (still bad, just not as bad as the GW version)

Blackroot Vale Archers' Command: Really noce, like the look of this, although I'm not too sure about <i>Rangers</i> having a banner :/ That said, the banner bearer could make a good Halbarad in a Grey Company army

Faramir, Captain of Ithilien: So we finally know who that mystery mini is. It looks alright, although I think it'd be better as a King of Gondor/Numenor than as Faramir. Plus, why doesn't he have a dismounted version? I can understand not adding in dismounted versions to Saruman and Eomer in the last release as they had valid infanty counterparts already in circilation, but this guy doesn't! If they'd kept the armour the same as the current armoured Faramir on foot, then they could have gotten away with bundeling in a spare shield for conversions, but from the little I can see, it looks like he's got different armour on.

Mauhúr's Marauders Command: These are ok, although a banner and a drum seem out of place for <i>scouts</i> if you ask me. Would far rather had seen a horn for them. Hopefully the banner is seperate, as the bearer looks like he'd make a great captain.

Duinhir: I like this guy, he looks fairly good to me Shame he'd probably about £5

Mauhúr: He alright. Could do without the topknot and cape if you ask me.



Over all, I doubt that I'll gey anything from this lot, although if I was, then the ones that would tempt me are:
the Ruins if I ever needed some nice terrain.
Duinhir and the Blackroot Vale command for use in a Grey Company army.
And the Morgul knights if I ever wanted to redo my Chaos Warriors army for WH.

i think now you said it i would most likly get the Knight of Dol Amroth as i have a large(22+) gondor cavalry force. I would also like the Ruins as they are great. I might also consider the Famarir be he is soo being converted into a king of Gondor.
I doupt i would get the morgul knights as i all ready have 5...which GW sent to me for FREE by accident and i find you never really need more than that for SBG or even WOTR really.

Ok. I think that a lot of these new minis look quite good.
Swan Knights: Quite like these guys just that their pennants are a little on the large side. Also seem to contain a great amount of detail for plastics. - Which they are and this is a good thing (rather than buying one for $24NZ!).
Morgul Knights: Really, really like these guys! Just in time for my new army list! Excellent detailing and I’m sure, they would be a sight to fear on any tabletop.
Ruins of Osgiliath: Exceptional kit here. It’s a very nice addition to this bunch of releases from GW. A real treat!
The Dwimmerlaik: I really don’t mind this guy too much. I think that the mounted one is definitely a little over the top, but I really don’t mind the face-mask and LOVE the foot version! (He looks a little like a sith lord! )
Ranger Command: Quite a nice looking model! Really like the Banner Bearer but not overly sure about the Hornblower. I think he’s a bit short and portly plus his bow is just slightly thick in my opinion, but that could just be the close-up shot.
Faramir: Not too bad. I think that the colour scheme is a bit too adventurous, but nice to see a Captain of the White Tower escaping the traditional silver and black colours.
Mauhur’s Command: Like both models, but especially the Banner Bearer! I admit the drum is a little out of place and a banner is unnecessary, but they help to ‘fill out’ the models. ie without them, the models would have looked small, unfinished and in the end, just too plain and simple.
Duinhir: I think he is nice, and fits the Southern Gondor colour scheme quite well. However, I think they have added too many highlights to his face (looks like he hasn’t eaten in a month). Loose the tan trousers and he’s a excellent mini.
Mauhur: A very nice model. I don’t think the top knot does him any justice, but if it does anything, it gives him an identity and sense of uniqueness.
All in all I think it is a great new set of releases, with my favourite being the Morgul Knights and The Ruins of Osgiliath. With foot version of The Dwimmerlaik in a close second (yes, I really think he deserves it!). Well done GW.
And even if they aren’t all great, new releases are new releases, which can only mean a spotlight on LOTR. (Even if it is for only 15 minutes )

i just noticed the statues on the ruins too and it looks that they are moveable. I'm going to have fun with them.

Alright, let's see...

Knights of Dol Amroth and Morgul Knights are great looking...

The Ruins are even better

The Dwimmerlaik looks great I think! He'll be a nice addition to my Angmar army

Blackroot Vale Command looks great too! I have an idea as to what I can do with them

Faramir...why why why why WHY? Since when did he develop that receding hairline and eat nothing but fast food for a few years...he looks like most of the gamers up at my local shop, and that's NOT a good thing. Plus, why a shield, and why the Numenorian inspired armour? And better yet, why no foot model...if you're going to ruin a good model, you may as well make him actually usable

As I've said before, I'd rather they did the Scout command like in that old scout conversion article, with a hornblower and a banner made from an animal skeleton...

Duinhir and Mauhur are disappointing...Duinhir's ruined for me by the chainmail, Mauhur, the topknot.

Well, at least more than half of the models get the Fenrir stamp of approval...the rest make him wonder where they dig up their concept artists

I think Faramir could be partially salvaged if they'd called him 'Prince of Ithilien' instead of 'Captain'. It'd still fall short, but at least the fancy armour and shield could be hand waved as part of his new royal regalia.

Duinhir's mail doesn't bother me that much - will have to check what is said about him and his followers in RotK. If they're not mentioned as scouts/rangers, then his armour is feasable as that of a feudal lord (it'd also make the Blackroot Vale command easier to accept). If they'd made new minis for the Blackroot Vale archers instead of having them as blue rangers, then it'd probably be easier to accept Duinhir's un-rangerly gear.

As a feudal lord, I'd have thought he'd be able to get some nicer gear...he looks kinda poor...given what they've been doing to make the captains look more epic, he's kinda a let down...Hell, even the "ranger captains" and lords in SotDL look lordly...</shameless plug for GW to hire a concept artist with actual talent>

True, but I suppose it depends on how wealthy he is. If his lands aren't profitable/are rustic, he's not going to look overly lordy. I think another problem, is that he fits into an early medieval interpretation of Middle-earth rather than the Renessance interpretation of gondor from the films. If you put him next to the alternative SKoDA I'm working on <shameless plug of my own > and got, say, eBob Welsh longbowmen to represent his followers, he'd work very well, but put him next to the RoG minis or the GW SKoDA and New Line WoMT and he sticks out. Probably isn't helped by their paint job either (looks like he's got scars on his cheeks that make it look like he does impressions of the Joker in his spare time )

The problem is that the models are becoming a looking a lot more like typical fantasy miniatures. Is that something to do with the licence and not being allowed to copy film imagery or are they just trying to personalise them into definite GW models?

Anyway, I do love those KoDA, and will be buying some. Also will get Faramir. Though not to use as Faramir. A simple headswap and he'll make a good commander. Now that I know who he's supposed to be, the head does bear a resemblance to Faramir. Seems like they're wanting to seperate slightly from the actors though.
Ruins are really nice. May get some, may try and make my own based off them.
Blackroot Vale Command is nice. They're merely fiefdom bowmen, not rangers, so the banner suits. Can't say I think Mauhur's Raiders would be equipped like that though, and Mauhur himself looks a bit more fantastical compared to established Uruks. Ah well...

Cal585 wrote:

The problem is that the models are becoming a looking a lot more like typical fantasy miniatures. Is that something to do with the licence and not being allowed to copy film imagery or are they just trying to personalise them into definite GW models?

That's what makes me so angry about the latest models, like Faramir, Eomer, Saruman, the Three Hunters, etc...They're making the faces "more generic" and are adding embellishments onto the armour more and more often...

Well, it's close...I don't think they're embellishments...I think their blemishes

The reason I liked the LotR game so much (aside from being LotR and a superior system) was that here, at last, you have fantasy models that look real, they had a very grounded basis in reality because they were all WETA designs.

But now we have more and more and more "fantasy" basis, which is beginning to soil the game I loved. I rarely buy models anymore, and when I do, it's always he old ones

you just wait till we have the human sized Warewolfs! Then all LOTR feel will be flung ou the window on the nearest trebucet.

jaws900 wrote:

you just wait till we have the human sized Warewolfs! Then all LOTR feel will be flung ou the window on the nearest trebucet.

While I can perceive how they could make wolf-like werewolves on infantry bases, I think they'll go for Hollywood style werewolves But depending on how they look, I'll buy them anyway for my Angmar army

LordFenrir wrote:

While I can perceive how they could make wolf-like werewolves on infantry bases, I think they'll go for Hollywood style werewolves

And if they do, hopefully they'll go for werewoles rather than wolfmen *shudder*

SBG rules for these minis?

quick post! - have to run out door!!!

No doubt they'll appear in June's White Dwarf.

I know that Duinhir will have a similar Special Rule to Grimbold in that his Blackroot Vale Archers can be 'upgraded' to have S3 bows.

Faramir could be similar to Eomer, King of the Pelennor with improved stats and additional M/W/F?

Could The Dwimmerlaik's rule be along the lines of 'If an enemy hero within 6" of The Dwimmerlaik elects to use a point of might, he must spend a second in order for the effect to work'? Similar to his WotR rule like all the other wraiths...

After a quick look at the character descriptions on GW site, I have come up with a guess for what Mauhur's Special Rule could be.

Games Workshop says:

Quote :

Mauhúr is one Saruman's foremost Uruk-hai Captains, an instinctive and relentless hunter. Mauhúr and his warband of Marauders are almost completely tireless, able to cover great distances at speed - once the prey is in their sights, there can be no escape.

They mention their great tireless-ness and speed so it would be my guess that Mauhur's Special Rule would be quite similar to Grimbold's in that you are able to 'upgrade' Uruk-Hai Scouts to Mauhur's Marauders. By doing this their movement value increases to 8" or something.

p.s Here's the funny bit about what I just said. My suggested Special Rule means that the Uruks get an 8" move. However, because the command blister comes with a drummer it means that potentially Mauhur's Maruaders have a movement rate/value of 12"!!! Pretty good for Uruk-Hai infantry...

p.p.s I'm probably completely wrong but it was worth a shot anyway...

well GW keeps throwing us curved balls so it could be that. I would think that we would only see 1 "upgrade" hero but atleast we will get a fair few modals unlike last time when we only had 3 new rules.

Just saw this on TLA:

Quote :

I just returned from GW. I was given the chance to assemble the sprues, which I did. I was pleasantly surprised to find a bare head on the Dol Amroth sprue. It was also nice to see that there were unexpected details in the Swan Knights, such as one of them having a beard.
The Morgul Knights were also a surprise. As you can see, on the sprue pictures, the face masks have to be put on separately. However, the riders have faces sculpted as well, skull-faces to be exact. I disliked this, but the face masks cover this up nicely.

I also had the chance to take a look at the new book. Basically, it's a list of smaller armies that can be incorporated in your WotR armies (or used as armies themselves). It's very apocalypse-like (as expected)

A completely fictional example (not from the book but just to give you an idea of the what the book is about):

Grishnakh's Orc Rabble
Cost: 50 pts. + models

Must include:
Grishnakh's Trackers (3+ companies)
2-4 Mordor Orc Warbands (3+ companies)
etc.

Insert special rules here. These would apply to the entire battlehost


The book also includes army-specific fortunes and fates. Of particular note (and probably my favourite battlehost in the book) is the Gorgoroth Orc Warband. This is a 12-18 company Mordor Orc formation (yes, you read that right), armed with any kind of weapon possible for Orcs to field. They must include a captain and a taskmaster, and whenever the captain is killed, you nominate a new Orc to become captain. That Orc immediately gains D3 Might and becomes a captain. Rinse, repeat, as it is stated that the formation can go through multiple captains in this way.

ok now it's startign to sound good but it will make the all ready complicated rules even worse.

Found this on TLA:

Link to pic of the sprues

they look quite good but they don't give much "fluff". And by that i mean those little extra bits that you wanjt for conversions other than an extra lance arm or a sword arm or helmet.

Yeah but if they did, they'd probably charge something like £30 for them

too true. they all ready charge £20 for 10 space marines when you can get 12 thought those pop fit basic things