What if Saruman was good? | Battle Report: Lord of the Rings

TWO-HOUR LONG FULL GAME: • What if Saruman was go...
Members' extra board tour: • Board Tour: an alterna...
We're back in Middle Earth, and this time we're taking the Hobbits to Isengard! The Balrog we let loose from Moria has chased our heroes all the way to the doorstep of Saruman. Since we started our journey years ahead of schedule, the white wizard has not yet been corrupted by Sauron's influence...at least, we think he hasn't.
Who's in the video:
Ben: / bedgars
Lewis: / yogscast
Duncan: / @duncan
Chapters:
1:21 Turn 1
2:54 Turn 2
5:10 Turn 3
8:41 Turn 4
11:27 Turn 5
14:06 Turn 6
16:38 Turn 7
19:34 Turn 8
22:27 Turns 9,
25:19 Turn 10
Like the table we use? Get your own from www.geeknson.com and use 'yogs-01' at the checkout and you'll get exclusive Yogscast inlay and accessories for free.
Business enquiries: [e-mail]
Want to send us something? here's our address:
The Yogscast
4th Floor - King William House
13 Queen Square
Bristol
BS1 4NT

[@GamesNight]

See the 2 hour long full game here! kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4enqWOHrJp-b5o

[@boarfaceswinejaw4516]

saruman: Tell me where is gandalf, for i desire to speak to him Fatty Bolger: Gandalf the Dog-killer got imself whipped and set on fire he did. Then he was tossed straight to hell.

[@millenniumhandandshrimp2610]

A figure in full gilded elven plate armour holding an ancient high elf glaive glowing blue with magic enchantments rides in on a snow white horse. "My lord! i must speak to you about a most urgent concern! Sauron is returning to the realms of men!" Theoden yells for his guards to seize the hunched and sickly figure, but the figure fires streaks of blinding lightning out of his eyes, knocking the men about wildly. "I am Grima Balrogslayer my lord, and my council will not be denied!"

[@DJDarkDarsi]

*Gandalf Dog-Blower For his proper title : P

[@possiblepuzzles8137]

​@@millenniumhandandshrimp2610I demand that glow up!

[@user-xg5dw2gm8f]

that's gandalf dog blower to you

[@luketalbot2643]

It's hilarious to me that somehow the lore important characters, like Merry, Frodo and now Treebeard always get removed from existence. But Fatty Bolger and Gordan Treeman are apparently immortal, which is even funnier

[@Predatornc1]

I’m more invested in Fatty Bolger then I am Pippin in this campaign at this point.

[@GreenEyedDazzler]

SPOILR

[@CriticoolHit]

wheat from the chaff.

[@luketalbot2643]

@@Predatornc1 Honestly

[@Shawodiwodi]

Grima Balrogbane finds his courage and realises that all his problems stem from a lack of self confidence. Good Saruman bolsters Grima's resolve and, with the power of friendship and a training montage, Grima takes on the role of a honourable knight protecting the innocent from the forces of darkness

[@Shenaldrac]

"It's not my fault me dad's last name is Wormtongue!"

[@MeredithLikely]

Genuinely my favorite tabletop series going on right now. Cannot get enough of this custom story, you guys really are crafting something amazing! 💚

[@brettpid6416]

absolutely agree

[@frothiestsword1389]

Grima Demonbane has got to be leveled up to being a knight or something now

[@piddlepants]

I hope he's still a shit though. Spreading rumours about the other knights, putting frogs in their bedrolls, that sort of thing

[@millenniumhandandshrimp2610]

Grima Wormtongue deals 1 damage to Balrog. Balrog dies. Grima Wormtongue receives 9710000 xp Grima Wormtongue is now level 2! Grima Wormtongue is now level 3! Grima Wormtongue is now a Master Deceiver. Grima Wormtongue is now level 4! Grima Wormtongue is now level 5! Grima Wormtongue is now level 6! Grima Wormtongue is now a Gilded Tongue Deceiver. Grima Wormtongue is now level 7! Grima Wormtongue is now level 8! Grima Wormtongue is now level 9! Grima Wormtongue is now a Turner of Tides. Grima Wormtongue is now level 10! Grima Wormtongue is now level 11! Grima Wormtongue is now level 12! Grima Wormtongue is now a Ruiner of Kingdoms. Grima Wormtongue is now level 13! Grima Wormtongue is now level 14! Grima Wormtongue is now level 15! Grima Wormtongue is now a Chaos Speaker. Grima Wormtongue is now level 16! Grima Wormtongue is now level 17! Grima Wormtongue is now level 18! Grima Wormtongue is now a Mouth of Dark Gods. Grima Wormtongue is now level 19! Grima Wormtongue is now level 20! Grima Wormtongue is now level 21! Grima Wormtongue is now an Advocate of the End.

[@aro_ger_]

@@millenniumhandandshrimp2610 If leveling Up, had also Videogame achievements. They'd also be looooong

[@foreng3095]

Kind of want Farmer Maggot and Fatty Bolger to get some veterancy upgrades too.

[@scienceme9794]

@@foreng3095 Farmer Maggot is fine without it though. He's got the strength of one man, afterall

[@akathon151]

I love how this implies Saruman's garden was a summer home for Ents.

[@Mahons]

In all honesty Treebeard kind of insinuate that aswell at the least in the movies when he talks about how this area used to have friends of his (I know he probably means the woods outside of Isengard but I like this idea better)

[@tomraineofmagigor3499]

Why do you think he tore down the forest? He got tired of the Ents trespassing

[@maxboot2115]

Damn, this Grima resists the call of the ring and shanks the BALROG? I bet he actually gives good advice to Theoden in his spare time. Next time he heads home to Edoras he might even get a smile and a wave from Eowyn!

[@timothypollard6008]

This is supposed to be ~15 years before the version of the Fellowship we know, so about TA 3004, at which point Eowyn is 9, and was orphaned two years before. Which suggests an idea for a scenario: Eomund (Eowyn and Eomer's father) was a Rohirrim officer who died pursuing a Mordor raiding party in TA 3002 (17 years before the books), and then his wife got sick and died shortly after (probably from a broken heart). They could have their fantasy fellowship run into Eomund surrounded by Mordor orcs and see if they can save him and prevent that whole mess. ----- Grima himself probably around 25-35 at this time. For some reason Tolkien didn't bother to give him a birthdate and a full family tree. Almost like a normal author ;-) I'd say in this version he's a young Rohirrim diplomat who's acting as a go-between for the King of Rohan and their powerful Wizard neighbour. In this version Saruman himself hasn't got corrupted yet, and Grima hasn't got corrupted alongside him.

[@weezact7]

@@timothypollard6008 In this version Grima's deeds at the battle of Isengard are known throughout Rohan. Bolstered by his newfound self-confidence and fame, he doesn't become a toxic little shit and it turns out he actually develops a really healthy relationship with Eowyn (despite their age difference, which wouldn't really matter as much in a feudal society like that. But to make it a bit less weird, let's say he's about 25).

[@timothypollard6008]

​@@weezact7 You're right that in most societies that aren't the modern west a marriage between early- to mid-thirties man and a late-teens girl would not be considered scandalous. A little out of the norm probably, but not shockingly so.

[@ThePigKnight]

I love the idea of Grima Wormtongue being this slimey cowardly hero that steps the fuck up.

[@svenrio8521]

Truly the Luigi of this timeline 😂

[@ProjectStickman]

We had it wrong the whole time. It's Grima Wyrmtongue

[@Lordborgman]

I mean, pretty on brand for Grima. He stabbed Saruman in the back in the movie, slit his throat in the book.

[@bobluck3019]

If it ever happens, Fatty Bolger's death will hit me harder than Boromir's

[@normtrooper4392]

The mightiest man be be slayed by one arrow, fatty bolger was pierced by many

[@TristanGriffin-xe1ju]

They're taking the Hobbits to Isengard!

[@DarraghLB]

Guard Guard G'Guard Guard

[@AchySub]

"WhAtDiDyOuSaY"

[@DPSAX95]

was looking for this comment, now I am at peace

[@albrecht4067]

The hobbits the hobbits the hobbits the hobbits to Isengard! To Isengard!

[@derkylos]

Tell me, where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak with him.

[@unaiestanconapelaez2526]

To be fair to legolas he is canonicaly scared of the balrog in the book

[@benjaminloyd6056]

Dropped an arrow, if I remember aright.

[@SilimSavertin]

Man if a fallen angel made out of fire and ash is bearing down on me, I'd be shitting myself too.

[@unaiestanconapelaez2526]

@@SilimSavertin unless you are boromir in which case you just sound your horn in his face .

[@baseballjustin5]

@@unaiestanconapelaez2526 Boromir: "If it bleeds, we can kill it"

[@JohanFaerie]

Legolas really shitting the bed in this one. Well after the last time he saw the Balrog, you can't really blame him.

[@MrWyrmWood]

Grima HAS to have a new model to match is change in heart and courage! Who'd of thunk it: Grima Udunbane a member of the Fellowship!

[@alexknj1]

Grima realizing he doesn't have to be a coward and liar, he can be a true hero of he just believes in himself.

[@devilfish2684]

Nice to see this keeps going. Would be pretty funny if Farmer Maggot nursed one of the wargs back to health after the battle to replace the three dear dogs he had.

[@RAFMnBgaming]

Seconded. The dogs must flow!

[@01134man]

Such a clever idea!

[@normtrooper4392]

Farmer Maggot is honestly my favorite character in all of this

[@EternalFireseal]

I'm really enjoying the whole "everything happened slightly differently vibe". Not just because of the silliness, which is appreciated, but also because it actually feels like ti fits with the themes of the original story. What would you find if you came across Grima while he was still young enough to feel he could accomplish things?

[@tylerframpton2113]

Can't wait to see the next part where Morgan treeman takes the place of Boromir at amon hen and just hurls a statue at Lurtz

[@boarfaceswinejaw4516]

but where do the uruk hai come from if not from saruman?

[@enisra_bowman]

@@boarfaceswinejaw4516 Gandalf the Red, he overthrows the Witchking and takes Minas Morgul as Base of Operation

[@tylerframpton2113]

@@boarfaceswinejaw4516 it's an inside job

[@timothypollard6008]

@@boarfaceswinejaw4516 In the books the Uruk-hai where originally made by Sauron 500 years or so before Saruman turned evil. The ones we see in the books/movies are just a newer (possibly improved) batch made by Saruman. They have a stat line (and models) in game; their stats are identical to the Isengard Scout Uruk-hai, but with a couple of slightly different weapon options, and the Mordor keyword instead of the Isengard one. They're metal miniatures so they're a bit pricey (24 of them would cost 112gbp instead of the 31.50gbp for the plastic Isengard ones), so you'd probably want to use proxies (either the Isengard ones or one of the wide variety of non-GW orcs out there).

[@hiarchi]

grima balrog-slayer and saruman resisting the ring with 6s lol

[@barryfraser831]

I need to see a written form of this story. The legendary heroes Grima Balrogslayer and Fatty Bolger the Thrice Lived fighting to protect Sam the Ringbearer while guided by the great Saruman the White.

[@crafterofdoom]

how about live action?

[@Predatornc1]

If Gandalf ever returns on the side of evil, it could be interesting to have him come with some of the Nameless Thing’s, the monstrous, forgotten denizens of the deepest depths that we see only a scarce mention of in the books.

[@moonphire]

Between the Ent and the hobbits we've almost got ourselves a Blood Bowl team. I'll be sorely disappointed if no halfling tossing goes on in the next video.

[@psmt1234]

Grima "Gold Tongue" "Daemons Bane" "Shield of the Fellowship" "TRUE SON OF ROHAN" Wormtongue You gotta love to see it so glad he's a hero in this timeline.

[@boarfaceswinejaw4516]

im excited to see how the legend of the heroic Grima Liontongue evolves as the campaign continues.

[@anathardayaldar]

Liontongue. I like the sound of that. Especially if he gets a tan, combs his hair, hits the gym, dons some ranger apparel.

[@Sc0ts]

Such a good narrative! The Balrog just bodying Treebeard instantly and the next turn is when the courage spell fails. The dice really do know how to tell a good story. Would love the next episode to be the fellowship getting saved from orcs with a troll (To counter Gordon Treeman) by rohirrim as they cross the plains going towards Minas Tirith.

[@gwynplaine4198]

Grima Balrog-Slayer definitely needs something special going forward. Perhaps he is knighted by Theoden in an ironic twist of fate? For a future game, perhaps Boromir and his father have been corrupted by the lure of the ring and have gone as far as to lay siege to Helm's Deep to claim it for themselves. It would make for a weird Rohan Vs Isengard game and with the inclusion of orcs could even make for three way game, which is rarer in the standard good v evil Middle Earth.

[@Xoguran]

Would be great that the Fellowship takes a turn to the north by Saruman's advice for obtain the help of Grimbeorn the Old (son of Beorn) as well as King Brand of Dale and King Dain Ironfoot before heading towards south through Rohan and Gondor. That is a good chance to introduce the Easterlings as the bad guys and see some dwarfs and men of the north in action.

[@Gunnarr123abc]

My idea is that Wurmtongue and Saruman are good in this version, so let's have Rohan be not so good. Let's say they kicked out Saruman and Wurmtongue attempting to get them to help protect the ring and prepare for the evil forces, but instead Rohan decided they want the ring for themselves and are short-sighted against everyone else. Would be fun to have a battle against humans and horsemen for change

[@Gunnarr123abc]

Going east and fighting the Rhun would be good too, I wonder if they have miniatures like that though or if they will look like haradrim

[@RubelliteFae]

Yesssss, building up to a battle between the Easterlings of Sauron vs the Fellowship with the rebel Easterlings & Blue Wizards coming in to reinforce instead of Gandalf the White This alternative playthrough is better than fan fic 😅

[@Kevrik]

I really hope Grima gets a really cool glowup model from killing the balrog.

[@theangrylizard2711]

The fact treebeard got one shot was so sad.. and then the Balrog proceeded to do nothing else was just great 🤣

[@Domina7ion]

"Yes, I am gray now," said Grima. "Indeed I am Gandalf, one might almost say, Gandalf as he should have been."

[@OnionVisions]

I can't wait to see Gordon Treeman become a legendary hero of this alternate timeline

[@simonsonlyfan8600]

The one Treeman!

[@theglorioussweatward6390]

I just imagine grima throwing off his cloak and just being megga ripped and then just one punch maning the balrog XD

[@tyrannicalchocolate]

Superb! Songs shall be written about the great Grima the Balrog Slayer in the halls of the Rohirrim.

[@styfen]

Lovely to see the version of Saruman the White from Middle Earth: The Wizards rock up and be a good lad.

[@johnarnold8485]

My favorite games night content, and that is saying something. Thanks for the videos, guys.

[@TzahrDavidsson]

Oh man, Battle for Middle Earth is how I got dragged into the hobby. I still have piles of ancient, badly painted Goblins somewhere!

[@ehecatlruiz349]

I love watching this alternative LOTR timeline

[@svenrio8521]

16:19 That's the true Chad Ben voice. Smooth, silky, narration that makes me wish that Ben had a channel where he just reads Warhammer lore. 🛌💤

[@tridonFarstrider]

Grima was the MvP of that fight, I love the story that is being told.

[@foreng3095]

16:26 Maybe there will be a battle of Mordor Dam (Sauron's renewable energy project) where Sauron's Legion of Orcs faces off against New Gondorian Republic or something.

[@s1lm4r1l6]

The sheer amount of work that goes into making these videos is something truly special.

[@deadlydestroya]

Wow I didn't know Alex was so involved, but it makes a lot of sense.

[@lexusstormcrow9317]

I try. See you soon!

[@baseballjustin5]

@@lexusstormcrow9317 We love our Battleboy. Hope you enjoy the chaos as much as we do.

[@Emmaria_]

The idea that Saruman and worm toungue are now in the fellowship is such a twist, and an ent as well? Love this alternate timeline story. Will Gandalf now return as the evil wizard?

[@britishwaiter8233]

That ambush..as soon as it was said my power cut. One Heck of an ambush.

[@SamA-gh3kq]

The alternate narrative these games have created is so, endlessly entertaining, and somehow it keeps it's own continuity so so well. I love this series and can't wait wait for more!

[@XenoTechnian]

Super happy to have Sarumen on þe side of good! Looking forward to see what sort of heroics he gets up to!

[@normtrooper4392]

Amazon should have spent a billion dollars on game night so they could produce more of these lotr videos. I let out a real cheer when fatty survived!

[@Predatornc1]

I’ll have to get a membership. These videos are so good, I need more. Could be interesting to have a variant of Helms Deep. Perhaps the Balrog leaving so fiercely in Moria has caused the Gundabad Orc’s of the Misty Mountain’s to travel away from the mountain towards the lands of Rohan? The sheer quantity of orc’s ravaging the country side led by a charred figure, the fallen Maiar Gandalf the Dog-killer.

[@ZaarZaar-]

Fantastic ending and props to Alex for getting the garden together in 24 hours. This is a lovely and silly series so far!

[@JKnowlden95]

Best running gag has to be farmer maggot having the strength of one man

[@Orillion123456]

I love this alternate history campaign! Can't wait to see the final duel between ringbearer sam and ringwraith frodo at the very end.

[@oliverguy795]

Genuinely love this version 😂 I'm predicting that somehow fatty bulger will bear the ring to mountdoom, wrestle with gandalf for the ring and then be rescued by a nazgul 🤔

[@lyinarbaeldeth2456]

Grima Wormtongue is not the hero we need, but he is the hero we deserve.

[@garethharold3600]

Hail, Grima Wyrmbane! Slayer of Demons!

[@matthinton19]

Having the models move aswell as the red arrows during the stills is a nice touch

[@john98765333]

Man, Saruman being good in this one is basically what if Count Dooku never joined the Dark side.

[@normtrooper4392]

Man, a star wars alt history campaign would be so good

[@yake222]

The Legend of Fatty Buldger continues.

[@fishpop]

12:46 The way Duncan/Treebeard says "Who disturbs me at his hour?" made me chuckle.

[@Aussie_Archmage]

Truly one of my favourite KZbin series. When this is finished in 2030 I'll be very sad.

[@crusaderofkhorne]

Me and my little brother are loving this series. We're hoping Fatty makes it to the end.

[@Goomberdups]

ben u forgot the suspiciously modern looking chain fence around the tower

[@normtrooper4392]

Many are the advancements of Saruman's creations

[@joelharrison5007]

So glad you used my favourite character creamer wormtounge

[@SpaceMissile]

12:24 was a cool shot. nicely done

[@callumwest5653]

All hail Grima Flame Quencher! Hero of middle earth, truly the most noble and courageous of heroes! Never has a more honest and just a man graced the plains of Rohan.

[@semosesam]

Outrageously good! Can't wait for the next one. Thanks for all the effort you guys pour into these videos!

[@tathemrelag3123]

Canonically, Saruman had started breeding Orcs for his own use in T.A. 2990 (28 years before the Quest of the Ring) and was enthralled by Sauron in T.A. 3000 (18 years before the Quest). So Saruman would still be quite thoroughly evil even at this point. But canonicity isn't _exactly_ the priority here, now is it?

[@RAFMnBgaming]

Evidently Grima Balrog-Slayer must be a real positive influence on him.

[@ewanhogg3068]

Clearly, being able to slay a Balrog - who never die without taking at least one Gandalf-level *or higher* opponent down with them - without any preparation and with minimal backup has convinced him to fight Sauron directly now instead of trying to backstab him for power later.

[@timothypollard6008]

@@ewanhogg3068 Yeah, that makes sense, though of course he might be keeping his options open to betray them later depending on how things go.

[@scifimisc9191]

Saruman as he should have been, with his best friend Grima 'Balrog-Slayer' Wormtongue

[@user-xg5dw2gm8f]

"fantasy fellowship" as opposed to the actual fellowship of the ring which is completely real and all that stuff actually happened

[@TherealFroyoz]

YESSS!! Your series Ben has got me in to finally getting the lord of the rings middle earth strategy battle game mini's and I'm loving starting my collection, painting and making them. Please do a video on painting mini's and how you guys assemble them. Would love more in depth knowledge from you❤. Love these videos!!! And I love lord of the rings!!! Just finished painting Sauron❤😊

[@aBendorff]

You can tell the fellowship wouldn't have lasted long if they kept having to fight Tom. Glad Lewis came in to give them a big win. Gives the dark forces more poins to work with in the future.

[@vierwhey]

Seems like the good guys had plot armor for this fight xD. No particular lost except for one named treent.

[@dalochie]

Grima Balrog's Bane needs a proper upgrade now. After all, he was was once a man of Rohan and deserved to become one again.

[@klaw9776]

Loved this episode, next thing you know the wild men of Dunland are the good guys while Rohan become corrupted by the ring

[@georgeisratemint]

I'm imagining Pippin shouting at the tree, "Awake! Awake! Fear! Fire! Foes! Awake!"

[@amvkohai8436]

The lack of Book Dwarf The White and his legion of sexy elves is concerning.

[@Powoga]

Are we going to get a good version of Saruman of Many Colours instead of Gandalf the White?

[@millenniumhandandshrimp2610]

[Pride Saruman] vs [Gandalf: Returned From Hell]

[@henrycoles-abell2064]

Saruman and the Techni-colour Dreamcoat?

[@baseballjustin5]

@@henrycoles-abell2064 Someone call Dolly Parton

[@mischief.brewed]

I paused Clue (1985) to watch this as soon as i saw the notification. I love clue (1985) very much. Worth it

[@JohnKidd-up7uh]

I like the idea of a younger version of Grima learning to be a better man under Aragorn, as a part of this alternate Fellowship. Maybe Saruman too will see what his old friend Gandalf Dog-Murderer saw in those fine young Hobbits.

[@duolingo0552]

Maybe we could see Denathor get the army of Gondor to attack the Fellowship, that could be fun

[@ambiguousamphibian]

I love everything you make on this channel so much :)

[@preekja]

Time for a custom Grimar Balrogslayer mini with a flaming sword?! :D

[@johncote4055]

I'm excited, the other board would make an amazing wierd west video

[@Siliqueath]

Grima deserves an extra D6 (re-rolling 1's of course, and with exploding 6's) Might or Fate points for killing that Balrog...

[@ironrocker100]

Grima Balrog-Slayer is an absolute fokking legend! Can't wait for more of him!

[@gearyt2355]

Hey, Great! Been waiting for a sequel!

[@rocketforthree4479]

11:41 Very well done. You knew that meme's origins and utilized it beautifully and flawlessly. Whenever I tell someone that that meme is from the cover of Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Rulebook, they're surprised.

[@beanie7965]

We need a knighted hardened version of Wyrmtongue for future games, the hero we needed!

[@maxinesenior596]

This was a certified Creama Wormtongue.

[@andrewrobinson4019]

Orc Captain: “Yeah! Why can’t we have some meats?” Grima: “A just question, my liege…”

[@syphonuk]

Really enjoyed this. Fun energy, good pacing, and great post effects work.

[@smilemore7431]

I love Worm Tongue is so unsettling with his wormy tongue that he caused people to suffer a loss of focus.

[@aim1597]

I can't stop chuckling at the idea of an ent with Gordon freeman's glasses and beard

[@njames6305]

This series is so good. Grima should get a stat upgrade for the next game and be this Fellowship's Boromir, or use Eomer rules since he's Rohirrim.

[@piddlepants]

Heck yeah, loving this series, great work everyone!

[@meganobgutzkraka2398]

did we just turn Grima Wormtongue into fucking caiphas cain!? PLEASE TELL ME WE MAKE HIM CAIPHAS CAIN

[@gdfgaming9378]

still waiting for Gimli and Boromir, loving the series though.

[@TeaMsGu]

Love to see more MESBG on the channel! Awesome board

[@kiwisontoast]

Absolutely loving this series so far! Stuff like this is incredible keep it up guys!

[@KillerGaming-ns8se]

I'm loving this tabletop series, SO MUCH!!

[@jacobhayden439]

This is my absolute favorite series. Keep it up folks!