How To Play - Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game | MESBG

[@lutzeichmeyer9338]

'Most ballanced rules set" as someone who also plays WH40k I can confirm this is true😂

[@3gnomes1bigcoat39]

As someone with no gamestore and just me and some friends trying to learn as we go this is incredibly informative. Please do a more in depth video for the extra rules.

[@xSLOBODAx]

Intro is fire!

[@dblevins343]

As someone who has played roughly 7 different miniature games (including those 3 mentioned in the beginning), this game really is fantastic. It's use of terrain is what sets it apart for me. Just changing what terrain is available changes this game more than any other miniature game I've played. With said, X-Wing is still my favorite haha. But it's also very different to your typical ground based game.

[@HouseOfLungbarrow]

Getting back into this game after more than a decade this was a really helpful video. Would absolutely love to see more

[@twotreesgaming]

Perfect starting point for any newbies. Please don't be cross when I drop a very similar video - I've already started it but I'll move onto something else for now cause I love your content! Also, I disagree with one thing - "Bows are very good in this game," I can never hit yet alone kill!! 😂

[@intothewestpodcast]

Looking forward to your video! And your take on shooting is understandable, it’s a dice game 😅. Still, with the low points cost of adding just a few bows can threaten mounted heroes and even force your opponent’s army to come to you! -Charles

[@Malak1000]

This is THE BEST into to the MESBG Rules. Thanks. Def agree with other comments about future videos going into deeper rules.

[@NazgulNine]

Would love a video on strikes/mounts and stuff! Maybe even general rules on when/how to use them. Love your videos!

[@AlexanderGiraldez]

Would love a video on special strikes and brutal power attacks. This video was helpful and entertaining for two new players and I would like to see your take on these topics.

[@bobquinlan]

Well done! Would love to see something exploring when to best use feint, stab, two-handed, shield, etc.

[@killingsmalls6356]

I think the best way to make an army is admrials modular tabletop army builder. It was just released a week or so ago but think it deserves a mention.

[@Dirk_Daring]

My god, the best How To Play MESBG i ever seen!!!!!

[@clinchin2k862]

Needs a pt 2 for sure there’s a lot of rules to the game

[@HodgePodgeHobbies]

it is Here! guys great Video. the editing is top notch 😂

[@intothewestpodcast]

Thank you! :)

[@Tony4095]

Love it! More MESBG how-to-play videos

[@intothewestpodcast]

Maybe I'll do an updated version for the new edition :)

[@Zweihaender]

@@intothewestpodcastyes please

[@wraithpainter]

Awesome video really helped me understand the rules more as I’m just getting back into MESBG🤟

[@Dakkadez]

Great video! I've been thinking about Middle Earth a lot recently, particularly since watching Rings of Power with my oldest child. I'm also an avid tabletop gamer, so I thought I'd look into it and found this video. Absolutely love it, it looks great and you did a superb job with this introduction. I feel like MESBG is doing a lot of what I miss in Age of Sigmar, and probably did it before AoS :) I'm looking forward to more videos. Now to raise the banners and gather players in my area, and decide...Iron Hills? Lothlorien? Minas Tirith?

[@intothewestpodcast]

Glad you found the video helpful, and welcome to MESBG! Out of those three armies, Minas Tirith is probably the easiest to start with. We have a video called Top 8 Beginner Armies that goes more in-depth on that! -Charles

[@Dakkadez]

@@intothewestpodcast I watched it last night :), this is my second go through of this Learn to Play. I was watching the Lothlorien tier list video, I'm still considering and researching them all. I do have a 3D printer which is another route I'm considering. I've only found Iron Hills that I really like so far in that regard. I'm still taking in all the info, and trying to make an informed decision based on the ones I'm most interested in. Rings of Power did kick this all off though!

[@BB-pn2qv]

Yes! Awesome video! Yes, weapons video please!

[@MonnizProductions]

Thanks for the video!

[@PMMagro]

Good video!

[@zakaryperrin7126]

Truly, one tutorial to rule them all

[@kostaskalaitzidis1720]

Can you please make another video explaining how different weapons work? Great video. Keep up the good work!

[@intothewestpodcast]

We actually have a video on this, check out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6mQhXhjrdOCiassi=uzjasMbFLkbmfvak

[@kostaskalaitzidis1720]

Thank you very much. You guys are the best!

[@David-b3v2d]

For me the best tabletop game ever ,my only dread for the new edition is in the article they say something like clearer written rules ,have they not read there 40k 10th ed rules hehe

[@osoidian]

Fantastic video! Definitely going to come in handy.

[@intothewestpodcast]

Glad to help!

[@MithrandirAv]

Thanks for this video! Would love to see move like this

[@Ryan_Dye-r]

I love this game.

[@destructor134]

I love this game. Just wished the missions in matched play had some more variety!

[@intothewestpodcast]

I like the variety but I agree, I would love to see some new scenarios to spice up competitive play!

[@jacobbullard5381]

For the 1/3 limit on the number of archers (bow armed) units, is that 1/3 of the number of units, or 1/3 the number of points?

[@intothewestpodcast]

1/3 the number of warrior models.

[@JohnnyTightIips]

I'm interested in trying MESBG but GW doesn't even have the rulebook outside of the battle for osgiliath set, and seemed to have run out of stock all over their website. Not easy to find information about getting started in it :D

[@intothewestpodcast]

I'd check the Facebook trade groups lots of people selling second hand stuff, there's a very big community still! The Gandalf cover rule book is still relevant, it just doesn't have the latest FAQs but if you can a cheap one of those it does the job!

[@thomasjaeger648]

10:50 In my experience Make Way is the most commonly misplayed rule in this game. Rules as Written (RAW), this rule is only for situations where a model is Trapped. Further the ally making way should only move "the shortest distance possible to enable their comrade to escape being Trapped". I commonly see players making way with spear support despite the model not being Trapped where instead they should retreat the losing model sideways 1". Additionally the "shortest distance possible" is rarely adhered to. At a tournament it's always best to just let these things be since besides certain edge cases saving a banner, shield-wall, etc. it rarely makes a difference and additionally in a 2hr game you don't want to have to wait 10 mins for a tournament organizer (TO) to rule in your favor to then only draw 0-0 VPs after running out of time.

[@johnnicholas1657]

What you said in your first paragraph doesn't make any sense. If they are trapped the can't make way, so it wouldn't be doing anything

[@ryanhall9583]

When a combat is tied with let’s say Aragorn vs multiple combatants and only one of those combatants has equal fight value, would you only do a roll off if the attack dice that tied came from the specific model with the tied fight?

[@intothewestpodcast]

No, you always use the highest Fight Value you have on your side. So, it doesn’t matter which roll tied Aragorn, if the Fight Value of both sides are equal, it’s a tie.

[@ryanhall9583]

@@intothewestpodcast awesome that makes things a lot easier.

[@V081WLBlue]

One of the reasons I was initially attracted to this game was it was small skirmish on small table, well that didn't last long! Fek GW and their we must sell more minis shit!

[@Philographicks]

Is there a rule that says you must pair off as many one on ones as possible? Or does it say we must attempt to ensure any models in base contact with an enemy model is included in a fight?

[@intothewestpodcast]

Yes, under the 'Pairing off Fights' paragraph in the Move Phase section of the Rulebook. "At the end of the Move phase, opponents are always paired off into one-on-one Fights where possible."

[@thumb12829]

Me... I just want to play as legolas

[@alphakshorts383]

Bro I love the intro, And also when you buy models like gundabad orc warriors or Bolg do you have to paint them or when you buy them they are already painted?

[@intothewestpodcast]

Thanks! All the models come unpainted, which is either really good or really bad news depending who you ask 😂

[@alphakshorts383]

well I guess its bad that now I have to buy paint and I have to paint over 40 figures@@intothewestpodcast

[@alphakshorts383]

I dont understand why they would sell figures for over $60 and show them painted then give us tutorials on how to paint them

[@intothewestpodcast]

Painting and building are meant to be part of the hobby. It’s not for everyone though, that’s completely understandable. There are ways around it though, like buying second hand prepainted armies, or find a commission painter.

[@alphakshorts383]

Thanks ALOT man! thanks to you I will be able to play. Ill subscribe@@intothewestpodcast

[@adds157]

Would be great to get a more advanced how to play for newer players get better at the game

[@daanfranken9772]

thank you for this!

[@BIGREDRoyalBear]

More please!

[@adzi6164]

There's like, two issues I have with this system, and none of those is critical: 1) all Duels have to be resolved separately (like in old times of 2nd edition 40k), so, if players are playing battles with really high numbers of models, Fight Phases can take veeeery long. 2) the Fight stat is either equal, lower, or higher than the enemy's Fight stat. It doesn't matter how much... this means that models which have much higher Fight than present enemy models kinda waste their points. Otherwise, it's a good game, both for seasoned players and total newbs Fan fact for people who didn't know - in the 00s, game was distributed as a series of DeAgostini publishing's magazines - each issue was supplied with model sprues and supplies, the magazines themselves contained fixed scenarios to use these models, and simplified rules - which were gradually expanded and elaborated in later issues. Quite interesting way to get completely new people in.

[@intothewestpodcast]

Great points to bring up, though I slightly disagree with number 2. The "wasted" points give the higher fight value armies a natural counter. Hordes of goblins and orcs do well against elves where as elves counter f4 elite men but f4 elites counter orcs and goblins. It creates a natural rock paper scissors.

[@adzi6164]

@@intothewestpodcast personally, I think that such counterpicks on the level of whole armies aren't best game design - if the very army you pick gives one side a handicap, the game itself becomes less satisfying. Of course, maybe the effect isn't that bad.

[@errata2412]

Still a bit confused how combat works, i.e. who attacks who, i'll try and just watch a bat rep first though

[@intothewestpodcast]

There's essentially 2 steps to each "combat". The duel roll, where you roll all your attacks (1 dice for each attack), and your opponent rolls all their attacks/dice, highest roll wins. Loser of the duel backs up. Winner of the duel, may strike using his attacks (1 strike for each attack) to try to deal wounds (Strength vs Defence on the chart). If the chart says "5", it means you need a 5 or 6 to deal a wound.

[@jeffbaker2903]

but if you use might to do a heroic charge what happens? do you still do this roll off or are automatically won going first so he backs up?@@intothewestpodcast

[@intothewestpodcast]

@@jeffbaker2903 a heroic combat follows the same rules as a regular Fight. It just occurs first before all other Fights and if you kill all opposing models in the Fight your models may move again. No automatically winning Fights for heroic combats, nothing is guaranteed :)

[@beechman2943]

My 2 year old is sleeping now thanks! Also very informative looking to start playing eventually this helps a lot

[@Malisteen]

My big complaint about mesbg is that it works best in smaller skirmishes, and not the huge battles that are the most memorable scenes in the movies and the most epic moments in the books & lore. They tried to fill the gap with the war of the rings ruleset, but that game fell flat on its face because it abandoned the balance & simplicity that made the strategy battle game so good. Such a shame.

[@intothewestpodcast]

Agree, good thing we have the narrative scenarios for those scenes but yeah hard to play those seriously. -Richard

[@miguelm6997]

AoS for high fantasy... Uffffff tough start! Warhammer Fantasy was still a thing when MESBG started mate!

[@intothewestpodcast]

Yeah, there's definitely not much accuracy in the intro, just my stupid sense of humour 😂 hope the rest of the video makes up for it! -Richard

[@GrumbleGombol]

"Age of Sigmar for High Fantasy" But... WFB came out first. Out of all of them.

[@DJChipsandGarlic]

woyas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

[@Eganize]

"Warhammer" for fantasy my friends (in regards to the intro)! Not AOS! That is only the day the Old World fell...

[@intothewestpodcast]

Yeah, I know it wasn't "lore" accurate but it flowed better 😅

[@Son0fAggression]

Was considering getting into this one but damn, this sounds awful. Just "who rolls 6s better" the game. Calling this the best game can only come from someone only ever played 40k and nothing else...

[@intothewestpodcast]

Respectfully disagree, there's a reason why tournaments are won consistently by the same players. The luck part of MESBG is much less impactful than the skill part.

[@Son0fAggression]

@@intothewestpodcast that's fair i guess. I just don't see any strategy in this besides positioning. I guess people winning know where to go when and who'm to send where. But I can't see there being much thought going into the actual combat part. I'll definitely give it a go, but this does look like another GW mess. Though to be fair, nothing is worse than 40k and AoS.

[@intothewestpodcast]

Hope you give it a chance! Movement is crucial, you're right but combats can be just as important, especially the use of heroes in combats make and break games!