The Two Towers Table Top Battle Game

[The Mystic]

Has anyone else seen TTT by Games Workshop? Not a bad boxed set in my opinion. Twnety Urak-Hai and twelve riders of rohan, not to mention the runied building, dice, rulebook as well. Odd though, I didn't see the little range sticks GW usually puts into their boxed games.

Anyway, I did have time to check out the boxed set at my GW store (unfortunately no time to play)., the models looked pretty good and the forces seemed fairly evened out.

If anyone has a couple of cents to drop in feel free.

~ The Mystic ~

[Fatty]

Not tried it yet, looks good. Some cool figures coming out, siege troops etc. :-)

I will try and see it in action this week.

[The Mystic]

Oh yes, I have seen a lot of the images of the siege troops and such, exciting. Indeed exciting. I am also quite happy to see more horses, just seeing the ring wraiths and a few other characters on horseback was a little bit of a downer. I do like this new boxed set though, I just wish that GW gave you a little more, but for what, 40 bucks its a pretty good deal. Not to mention the masses of Urak-Hai and Rohan troops are in boxed sets now, fairly cheap too for GW.

[Treebeard]

Hehe I got my package through the week before it was released - the wonders of mail order!
Needless to say GW have spent as much effort on the preparation of TTT as they did on the FOTR. The new rules for Frodo are excellent, and its nice to see the entrance of Gollum. I wont give any more away

[The Mystic]

Oh, you know Alan Perry (and I think William Perry) did the sculpting for them? The Two Tower Pieces that is.

[Treebeard]

Two of the finest artists in the world

[Fatty]

Ah the Perry twins, yes they have been at this since I bought my first White Dwarf, many moons ago. :-)

[Treebeard]

The question is have you still got your copy of the first WD. They sell for a mint.

[The Mystic]

Haldir's elves as miniatures. Have you guys seen them yet? I think they look almost too impressive to be used as a warrior or elite class for TTT, I understand that in WHFB they have so many very unique and impressive looking miniatures, but in the TTT game thse units really overshadow the drab armor of the Urak-Hai or the viking-like appearance of the Rohan warriors. I mean, the bows alone on the Haldir Elf Archers look so well crafted they almost shouldn't be used for war. Now, dont mistake this post as complaining, I'm not, I really appericate how beautiful their armor looks and I am looking forward to purchaseing a few blisters. :) It is just like going to play a board game with a few friends and with everyone wearing casual clothing you come in a suit or tie, you may look a little silly, but you also look respectable and impressive.

~ The Mystic ~

[Treebeard]

I know the models look good but sometimes I get a bit fed up with GW for bringing out yet another alternative to an already available model. Still, there are enough people to buy them to keep the GW brand alive.

[Cormack]

Hey there chaps, so do you all play the GW game? Me and the guys at GW Cardiff are currently planning a refight of the helms deep seige in the store for the end of Feb, we currently have 200 uruk hai painted and theres more on the way. We don't do things piece meal!

[The Mystic]

A recreation of the battle of Helms Deep (yes, I understand you're fighting it your way, but the general recreation is the same)? Must be fun! I have to get the boxed game next paycheck (since I have new paints I can now!), what is the forces listings? Since I'm in America, and have a GW store near me I think I am going to check my local store and see if they are doing one. I take it you're in England or at least the UK? I've been wondering when the Helm's Deep boxed set (the actual gate and walls) will be released in the US. I thought it's release date was on Dec 18th, I've been checking everywhere and not seen it.

~ The Mystic ~

[Tirinvon]

The Helm's deep set is going to be very hard to find. They do have it at the GW website under U.S. section but... they are fresh out. Which figures because that set looks awesome! But I think that it has already been released in the U.S.

[Treebeard]

Nice to see the games are spreading worldwide!

On a personal note, its nice to live in the UK - I have 3 local dealers, and a main GW in Brighton.

On the set, although I like to see GW getting bigger, cant you make the scenery? Theres plenty of literature on the subject

[The Mystic]

Are you suggesting to make a helm's deep from scratch? Surely it is possible (Andy Chambers did it, it shows how he did it in the rule book), but also very difficult. It is really nice to have it pre-made because it would be a pain and hassle to have to search for everything needed and then fit it all to 25mm scale. I like building scratch built models, I am working on a little farm house right now (it's looking rather nice, I'm using hardboard rather than foam card so it would last me a little longer).

But, in the long run it is just easier to hvae one pre-casted for you to just assemble and paint, and since we're not all master craftsmen it is understandable why they made this.

And strangely, I've not seen it at all for the US part of the GW site, it's not under the main section or under their online store. I will have to check on it later

~The Mystic~

[Tirinvon]

Here is the address for the Helm's deep set on the GW website http://us.games-workshop.com/thelordoftherings/us/twotowers/catalog/essentials/tt_essentials.htm.
As I said before it is sold out but there are a couple of cool pictures of just the set, and some with a bunch of pieces all over, very nice.

[The Mystic]

Hmmm I have to say I do not really like it too much, they offer so little! Not even the deeping wall (though you can buy warhammer fortress walls). They are expecting I think it was $75 just for the gates and the wall? What about the keep and the area behind the walls? I know it really isn't asking too much though I do understand New Line's part in it. They could at least attempt to add two sections of the Wargammer Fortress wall to this so you can play the Deeping Sceneario. In the end you're paying $95 bucks just to have the deeping wall, and the gates, and nothing more. I know games workshop is perhaps the most expensive miniature gaming system and models, but that is a tad much for them. Isn't it?

~ The Mystic ~

[Treebeard]

Sorry to change subject, but has anyone seen the Treebeard miniture?

Cant wait to get mine!

[The Mystic]

Yes, I'ves seen it. Not too bad looking, though I'm in no real rush for it. I eman, $45 for it? Thats a bit much. I'm still working on painting my original boxed set too. I am impressed though at the new rules in it, I really like some of the changes they've added. Not to mention more hobby and terrian ideas as well. I just wish they sold the rule book itself.

~ The Mystic ~

[Warrior Alien]

I don't see why people are so upset over the Helm's Deep set. All you need to do is use styrofoam.

[The Mystic]

It isn't that simple. First off, the price for Helms Deep is extremely high, I mean, just to get the gate alone is 100 dollars? Granted anyone can make one but it would be a lot of work, I've seen the mock-up the GW team in England did and that is a lot of wok involved. By the way, do you play any wargames at all?

[Warrior Alien]

Yes. I just started playing the LOTR wargame. I'm planning to get some Woodelf Archers this Saturday.

[Warrior Alien]

Booyah. I've got three Elven Archers. They look sweet.

[Nala Greenleaf]

well 100 dollars for the gate of helms deep is alot but here in england its £40 dont know if its round about the same price but i love the game got about 100 men of rohan when i practiced playin a full army game!!!

[The Mystic]

Well yes, it is a tad more expensive in america since the game is imported from england, I just still think it's far far too much for just the game and grame. It's been a few months since my last game of TTT (which I perfer much more over the LotR game, I still think they should make a plastic set of orcs, it's the one thing they need most!). I've still been working on my Riders of rohan, I think so far these have to be some of my favorite models, they look very nice and I've always loved to paint horses. The Warhammer horses I thought looked too cartoonish and I was very pleased with the realism of the horses of Rohan, especially how their tongues were hanging out of their mouths for some of the models.

~ The Mystic ~

[Warrior Alien]

IMHO, it feels a lot more rewarding to have a metal model. It's almost like more work has been put into it.

[The Mystic]

I agree and disagree. Granted the LotR line of miniatures that are plastic are slightly lower quality, you're spending a very large amount for getting 3 miniatures while you could be buying 10 to twenty. Example: The price for three Spearmen of Gondor runs about $8.99-$9.99 right? The price for say, 24 Warriors of Rohan or 24 troops of the Last Alliance runs about $20. See the difference? Also, take into consideration that most of your common foot troops are not going to be the ones people will look at. Do you seriously think fans of the movie will rather look at one warrior or Rohan over Legolas, Strider, or Gimili? I believe the pewter figures for heroes and other special characters are a good idea (though 8.99 for one figure is a bit much...), but just buying enough to fill one platoon of twenty troops for the pewter figures would cost roughly upwards of say, $65.00 american when you could get 24 men for $19-$22, do you catch my drift? A lot of people need to stop looking at end results and focus more on gaming itself, besides, it's in the modeler and painter that make the figures look good. And if you do not believe that, look at the box cover to your boxed set or any boxed set, years of talented modelling and painting can do wonders.

~ The Mystic ~

[Khamul]

Yeah, I was checking out the GW stuff the other day out of curiousity. Been playing GW games for about 12 years now, and have been shocked at how much more expensive they get each time I go into a phase of wanting to buy them (the last phase was with the release of the current 40K, when they properly introduced the Dark Eldar, which was a couple of years back now I guess). But they dont seem tohave gone up that much of late. I dont have the time, or the company (or maybe even the inclination these days) to play the game, but I would like to start painting again, so I was thinking about buying some of the plastic sets rather than the game itself... maybe an Uruk-Hai box, a Uruk-Hai Siege Weapons box, a Warriors of Rohan box and maybe a Last Alliance box for the time being to keep me busy. Anyone got any other figures to recommened, bearing in mind I wont be using them to play the game with...
Also, please bear in mind I am going on the pictures on the GW website (or any links to painted or unpainted models that you guys can suggest would be helpful), as ideally I'd like to do this WITHOUT actually having to step foot into a GW store. No offence to GW fans or staff(on the contrary in fact) but I've always felt very uncomfortable in the stores since I was old enough to go in on my own, dont know why. Maybe its because everyone is SO into the games and the modelling, the staff are very friendly but sometimes you just want to be left alone rather than having someone quiz you about tactics, armies, paint schemes and the like... Like I say, dont get me wrong, GW stores are great for most people, but if like me you basically detest the general public :angry: then they can get a little, how shall I say, 'claustrophobic'?

[The Mystic]

As for the LotR sets I strongly suggest the Moria Goblin Boxed sets, really fun and easy to paint. As for the warriors of the last alliance you have a split, the warriors of Gondor are rather easy, while the High Elves are a tad more difficult. If you're ever going to get a blister to paint I really suggest getting High Elf Spearmen, and the Haldir's Elves (both the bows and the swords), these look absolutely beautiful. But remember that these models are indeed smaller than the normal 25mm that GW makes, they are about 1/4th the size I think, the most difficult part I had to overcome was painting the faces of the high elves as they were wearing their helmets. Also, the LotR Urak-Hai from Amon Hen are also a blast to paint, really cool figures to paint. As my last suggestion I would say perhaps a mounted troop from the TTT line, to make them look really cool try doing a starndard.

~ The Mystic ~

[Khamul]

Oh, are they smaller than the Warhammer figures are they? I didnt know that, thats a bit of a pain isnt it?

[Warrior Alien]

No. I sized one of my Uruk-Hai up with a WarHammer 40k commando. Same size.

[The Mystic]

Yes, much smaller than warhammer figs, and yes they are indeed a pain to paint to some degree, but if you're a decent painter they won't be too much of a challenge, but (even though you dont like to) I would suggest going to your local GW store and asking if they have any on display, and also ask if there are any people who have painted them lately and get some tips and triclks. Oh, about your store, I find it odd that they would seem so... haughty and intense, the guys at my local store are more helpful, and since my area basically has very little contact with miniature games in general (outside of going to a specality section in a major hobby shop) so they are awfully helpful, though the store is a touch small.

On a small note, I share sympathy with you that you dont have the company to play GW games with, many of my friends really either don't have the money or don't want to put forth the time and effort in painting or modelling, makes you sort of feel like a big fish in a small pond when you hear some other people are becoming novice painters doesn't it?

~ The Mystic ~

[Khamul]

I guess so. Never really thought of it like that...
The guys in my local GW are a little strange. Well, maybe not the guys that work there NOW, but the ones in the past certainly were. Me and a pal from back in the day used to call one 'The Bully', I swear this guy got off on terrorising kids...mecry . Not just any kids mind you, some scally 12 year olds threw a stink bomb in the store and he did nothing... too scared probably because those kids would just give him verbal abuse back. But the other kids, the nice, well behaved kids were the ones he used to pick on. I remember him actually COMPLETELY BOLLOCKING a kid one time because on a in-store exhibition game the lad wanted to set up the new Lizardman army in a village... Well, The Bully proceeded to tell the poor kid off "Why would Lizardmen want to set up in a village etc etc etc", which I thought was completely out of order! This was the kind of thing he would do on quite a regular basis... :rolleyes:
I used to try my best to ignore him at first but eventually I would either just tell him I was "just looking" or that I was fine and "No, I am positive I dont want your help"...
He used to literally stack items by the till that he thinks that you would want, a hassler of the highest order. I remember one time a kid was left in the shop by his mother to have a look around, well The Bully had him collect about £150 worth of stock at the tillpoint/checkout, when his mother came in she went mad at the kid and wouldnt let him buy any of it. The thing is, I dont remember hearing the kid actaully say he wanted any of it to The Bully, and needless to say The Bully skulked off elsewhere in the store despite actively trying to get this poor kid to buy all that stuff in the first place...
He should have had a career selling dictionaries door-to-door, illiteracy would be a thing of the past! lol
But back to his GW job, he would use any excuse he could to either interfere with your shopping/gaming ideas, or just generally make a nuisance of himself by ruining other peoples games...
I think he may well have spent his lunch-breaks torturing small animals and/or children... :fanboy:
Can you imagine the reaction from this guy if he disagreed with my paint scheme ideas??? :nono:
Maybe it is him that is responsible for my reluctance to go into GW stores, even though I think he left a couple of years back (probably got sacked or is in the nick, I wont say why I think that because its a family board!)... But I think that is just a contributing factor because I would feel awkward going into ANY GW store... I think the guys that work there generally take the >HOBBY< a little too seriously...

[The Mystic]

Well, they do take it too serious, thats why GW hires them. They want fanatical players that will work their rears off for not too much pay, a rather brillant idea to say the least. Though, for all their expertise some of them really lack the finest social skills and rub people the wrong way. But then again you do get a few of the finer players/sales persons that can help you out. I guess in some ways it is worth taking a shot going back, just because you're a little uncomfortable from some guy years ago who isn't there anymore isn't a reason to paralyize yourself today is it? No, it is not. Try going, you may find a new employee there you may enjoy speaking to.

Oh, check their website for some interesting hobby ideas, they have an interesting templete for making Rohan homes.

~ The Mystic ~

[Gil Galad]

going back a lil, i like the Plastic models they are much easier to convert then the metal pieces which can be awkward to modify.

[The Mystic]

Actually, the plastic models are more difficult to convert. Reason being that the majority of their parts are far from interchangable, their hands dont always even look like hands (I know everyone's seen the plastic orc hands, they're bloody awful in most cases, one side is jut the end of their forearm while the other has fingers!). The metals are easier, just harder to hack apart without the help of a pin vice and miniatures saw (or jewelers saw). I've found more interesting conversions being done on the metals, their yeild far more detail. In conversions you want that detail to shine because you draw more attention towards your conversions so it helps you out picking them from the metals.

~:~ The Mystic ~:~

[Gil Galad]

ok my post was a lil hasty, i ment for simple small coversions(so the bulk of the force has small differences) the plastic ones are good, but for proper major conversions yes the metal mdels are much beter