Is Lord of the Rings Warhammer DEAD???

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Lord of the rings Warhammer, or the Middle Earth strategy battle, isn’t just arguably the best game that Games Workshop has or ever will make, it’s also one of the primary reasons Wargaming is so damn popular today.
But will it last forever? With so many systems popping up in a hugely flooded marketplace, can Lord of the Rings Warhammer survive both as a system more generally, and what about here on Zorpazorp?
Over the past couple of months here at Zorpazorp we’ve been diving deep into the Horus Heresy and it’s prompted a whole range of comments from people anxious that I’m leaving Middle Earth behind and with the Lord of the Rings Amazon series just around the corner we could be about to see a huge change in our Middle Earth Wargaming landscape.
So if you’re terrified I’m abandoning Middle Earth for a million space marines, Or your desperate for your Middle Earth Zorpazorp fix, buckle up because I’m about to expose some high value secrets known only to the Zorpazorp Inner Circle.
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+++++ Disclaimer +++++
This video reviews content from the Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game formerly known as Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game and The Hobbit Strategy Battle Game. MESBG is a skirmish style war game developed by Games Workshop, based off the incredible artwork from the three films by Peter Jackson as well as drawing inspiration directly from the books. Players take control of the forces of good and evil and play out epic moments from the Lord of the Rings in anything from small heroes driven scenarios to epic battles utilising hundreds of models. To find out more, head over to www.games-workshop.com
This video reviews content from Star Wars Legion. Star Wars Legion is a squad style war game developed by Fantasy Flight Games, based off the incredible artwork from the anthology of Star Wars Films created by George Lucas and now conintued by Disney. To find out more, head over to www.fantasyfli...
This video reviews content from Warhammer 40000. WH40k is a squad style war game developed by Games Workshop set in a grim dark universe, 40000 years in the future. Across a million worlds the Imperium of man is beset from all sides by alien horrors and the forces of chaos, the evil machinations of the warp itself. To find out more, head over to www.games-workshop.com

[@Zorpazorp]

Get 20% OFF + Free Shipping @Manscaped with code ZORP at → mnscpd.com/Zorpazorp #teammanscaped What system got you started in the hobby and what year did you start wargaming?

[@footrot17]

North or south? Central Otago and the east of the south island is the best. Auckland is just another city. Alexandra has the blossom festival every year, it's beautiful dude

[@Zorpazorp]

@@markus_glevera Video coming soon!

[@severintw]

@@Zorpazorp Is there any chance you could do an introductory series for the Middle Earth game? I heard only praise for the rules and while there is plenty of information on the lore, there is hardly any content on the game on KZbin for beginners interested in getting into the game. Like all the available factions and how their playstyle differs from each other. Which units and heroes are actually available for a certain faction. These are things I would love to know before I spend any money. I am very interested in the elves of Rivendell, Lothlorien or Mirkwood for instance, but a comparison for someone new to the hobby is nowhere to be found. I am sure that lack of information is a reason for many people to give up on the game before they even started. YT is the first choice for many players to get first information. And the game is competing here with other systems that got plenty of introductory videos helping to get into the game and choosing factions and units. It is probably more difficult to find a game with less beginner friendly videos available. :-) But even in written form it is very difficult to find good introductory explanations online. A video I enjoyed a lot and so far provided the most information for people unfamiliar with the game is the 50 min long Unboxing of the Pelennor Fields by OnTableTop they did 3 years ago. Shadow Wraith did 2 videos on the armies in LotR (good and evil) the ones in the Hobbit were not included. Though all heroes available for a faction weren’t covered it does go in the right direction. A year ago Conquest Creations did a 25 min video that included all factions, but with that many factions he only had time to talk about each for a minute, hardly mentioning any troops. It’s great to have but it is more like a ranking of their competitiveness. And by the way he explains it you realize that he is usually focusing on competitive play. These 4 videos are pretty much it on KZbin for beginners.

[@elladrinn4318]

@@severintw Check out Conquest Creations, they have some guides for beginners

[@SimonMoston]

Got into this in about 2001, my Dad bought me a box of Grey Hunters and the Space Wolves supplement and so started my love of miniatures. I remember looking in my local GW window as the LOTR stuff dropped, they had a Fellbeast and I thought "Man, that looks awesome". Got into LOTR SBG in 2016 after major 40k burnout, and it quickly became my favourite system. Haven't looked back.

[@Centaur255]

Space Wolves Rule! Haven't played 40k since 5th Edition, but have absolutely loved the current edition of Middle Earth (been playing since 2010).

[@IcarusGames]

I have such a deep love for the Strategy Battle Games in Middle Earth Magazine. I 100% would not be where I am working in this industry without it. Those films, and that magazine completely changed the course of my life and what I wanted to do. Excited to see more Middle Earth content on the horizon!

[@calebbilling4984]

Those terrain tutorials at the end of each issue were a real treat for me. When I got the second edition of Wargaming Terrain (the blue book) it felt like a refresher course because I'd learned so much from... what, 5 or so pages at the very end of the magazine?

[@Jonas-yp4sz]

In the long term, you could probably establish some kind of museum in New Zealand with all that lord of the rings terrain. As long as you are in a central enough location, you should receive a lot of attention and visits from tourists and locals alike. But I feel that such a thing might already be on your mind :)

[@Zorpazorp]

Maybe it is Jonas ;)

[@sirallenrider8796]

@@Zorpazorp Do it! It would be epic!

[@MrSagaTeller]

@@Zorpazorp Gonna visit it for sure!

[@BuchanDuck]

I remember it fondly, I was but a young lad, living in England at the time, I went to the corner store to buy kind of weird British candy no doubt, I was a massive fan of the films and had just started reading The Fellowship of the Ring for the first time. I looks down and a magazine rack and there it was, issue one of the Battle Games in Middle Earth with those 12 Goblins, 4 glorious paints and a single dice, for the low price of 2 pounds (About 6 NZD at the time.....6 NZD for 12 Goblins.....its now 83NZD for 24, ouch) and from that day I was hooked, for awhile anyway, about 3 years later I gave it up because I was a silly teenager who thought playing with toy soldiers was uncool, but the call would eventual come back when it got rebooted to Middle Earth SBG

[@Freeman-bt9od]

Exact same here hah. Miss those magazines and the nostalgia of it!

[@geoffbushill5587]

I feel so old when I see people who discovered Warhammer/table top gaming through LOTR. I always see battle games of middle Earth as a new thing but it’s nearly 20 years ago 😮

[@shaunbates49]

Wow I literally just read that and thought of myself. I was only thinking about it all a couple of hours ago as I've just got back into Warhammer. So as I was building some Space Marine Infiltrators I thought of my journey from being in year 5 of primary school and being bought that magazine, I thought I'd be the cool guy on Monday morning but turns out all the boys had got the issue! From then on that was it we were all hooked and all my pocket money went to Games Workshop. Until my first year of high school and as you say it didn't seem cool anymore so I stopped. Then I got my first proper girlfriend at 18 and one day I had them out admiring them and when she came round the face she gave me when she asked what I was doing was like wow you geek so not long after that it all went in the bin 😭 But I'm back now at 30 years old!

[@RKaudio]

Sorry to hear the Horus Heresy series hasn’t been as popular as hoped. I’m definitely more into the Lord of the Rings universe but have really enjoyed watching your Horus Heresy games, the effort you’re putting in really shows in the quality of the videos and has been highly entertaining. Please keep it going as long as you’re able, but also rest assured people will keep watching your fantastic videos wherever you take the channel!

[@TrippyTheShroom]

I think Horus Heresy hasn't been nearly as fruitful for many people, GW included. GW hyped it to the moon then let it fall straight on its face by dragging out the release window for each kit pertaining to it and keeping most of it on Forgeworld. Silly business on their end.

[@somethingfromnothing8428]

I got into it when the battle games magazines came out and spend thousands of pounds to build a huge collection. A few years later my ex gf persuaded to put it all on ebay and sold the lot for less than £300. Then last year i got back into it and have probably thousands more rebuilding my old collection and getting more newer stuff i never had before

[@SwordsandBrushes]

My first experience of Wargaming was when someone showed me their GorkaMorka Box set (cant remember what year) loved the models and and card fortress that you could build and the love for the hobby grew from there! Now its pretty much all about Middle Earth thanks to your channel and Battle Streams of Middle Earth - so thanks Lachie!! :):) I wish you luck on the impending move and also the projects that you still have to finish off before you go - please do let me know if you need anything else from me and i'll be happy to help where I can! :):)

[@itsallfunandgames723]

While I think we've moved into an age of "content" where great adaptations aren't going to come from big name companies anymore, there's still going to be a lot of appreciation for the actual books and the three incredible films (which seem a little more miraculous every year we move farther from them), and GW would be wise to keep supporting their most affordable and best designed battle game.

[@SWProductions100]

I think big name streaming companies have the ability to allow for great adaptations, though how often is a flip of the coin.

[@BCEFilms]

Started in 2017, my friends and I in law school were starting a DnD campaign and I needed an elf miniature. Somehow came upon an eBay listing of some Warriors of the Last Alliance. From there I looked into MESBG more and ever since I’ve been hooked.

[@robbylava]

I started in 2005. My mum brought me to an LGS on my 11th birthday and I remember staring in awe at their Helm's Deep diorama for like a solid 20 minutes. I went home with a starter set of the LotR SBG that day and went on to collect, paint, and play the game for about 5 or 6 years. Your channel has single-handedly rekindled my interest in the game. I'm amazed that so many other people have had a similar experience to myself here!

[@timeenoughatlast3368]

I always loved looking at the models my dad painted when i was younger. I think i first got my own when i was seven and he bought me some Tyranids which are still my favourite faction. Over the last 3 or so years i've started properly painting my own models and i've been rapidly completing projects ever since. Just about to finish a Necromunda board over the next two days!

[@RocketHarry865]

Rings of Power should never get a miniatures game. That abomination should just die and be forgotten.

[@PClaud]

Hey Zorp! You guessed right: I am from Italy and I started wargaming with the DeAgostini Battle Games in Middle Earth Magazines. I was at high school... Was it 2002? I moved from Italy to Japan last march and had to leave all behind, but your channel is responsible for making me dig out my old magazines and miniatures, having them sent here, and buying the Battle in the Pelennor Fields to start all over again after all these years with my son! Btw, I don't mind you diving in the Horus Heresy. It's such a cool setting and I've loved your videos all the same!

[@the98themperoroftheholybri33]

The problem with the middle earth game is the lack of customisation. Basic troops should have an option for bows, swords and spears/pikes. I shouldn't have to buy multiple boxes to have a contingent of bowmen or swords

[@JacopoSkydweller]

That's quite a dang lot of effort and specific skillset for a decent outcome when it could so easily be tweaked. @@Skullman989

[@briandhaze5906]

I intend to completely ignore ANY Amazon content for this game, the same way I ignore ANY Star Wars sequel content for ANYTHING.

[@cavemanbum]

I was introduced to miniature war gaming in early 1993 at a convention. I had overslept, and arrived late to the convention hall, missing the RPG that I was scheduled to run. As I aimlessly wandered around the gaming hall, someone tapped me on the shoulder, and asked, "Hey, would you like to play Warhammer 40,000?" What transpired after that was the beginning of a nearly 30-year odyssey and addiction to war games that persists to this day.

[@benkylo8015]

I remember collecting the magazine series back in the early 2000's. It got me into war gaming as a 12 y/o. Me and my buddy went splitsies on the big Two Towers set with like twenty Uruk-Hai and a bunch of Rohirrim, he had the Uruks and I got the Riders. Man, those were the days...........

[@anexistanthuman2435]

I’m a newbie, know no fear in eighth edition got me into war gaming, but I’ve expanded quickly, getting into a crap ton of indie skirmish games

[@MasterJediDude]

I’ve been playing every version of this since it came out, including the massive War of the Ring game. I know there were some slow years between movies, but I stayed with it. However, I do not like what Amazon is doing with “The Rings of Power” and will never support that series. And I hope the game does not shift in that direction. Tolkien would be furious at the liberties that Amazon is taking with his work and I have no problem calling it an abomination. I’ll stick with the classic game the eras that it covers.

[@brianp6859]

Totally agree. The books and the LotR trilogy by peter jackson are excellent. Wasn't crazy about the hobbit films but the first one was decent. Based on the Amazon trailers it will be an abomination of Tolkiens works. Think i'll just skip it and listen to some reviews of it on youtube. Hope GW doesn't touch that thing with a 100 foot pole.

[@rokassan]

I agree 100%. They are injecting modern politics(left leaning) into something they have to business doing. The stories and gaming are supposed to be above all of this. Most gamers whatever their politics are moderate and can befriend and play with others from across the political pond. Some want to poison this.

[@thomassaxon8254]

Tolkien would hate Jackson's movies too. And would have despised the liberties that he took. Honestly if you think that Rings of Power is going to be any more divergent from Tolkien than Jackson was that kind of says more about you I think.

[@rokassan]

@@thomassaxon8254 bet you he’d hate Rings of power more.

[@willbournerv2259]

@@thomassaxon8254 PJ made changes that he had to make to translate the books into movies, movies which appealed to both tolkien fans and general movie goers alike, and which put the trilogy effectively into the movie hall of fame. You could say tolkien wouldve hated it, but most people, including tolkien fans, would agree PJ captured the spirit and soul of middle earth. It was a labour of love and passion, and it showed as its a timeless depiction of middle earth regardless of how much it deviated from the source material. Look at interviews with Christopher Lee, who was arguably one of the biggest tolkien fans, where he's in tears at how proud and humbled he is with what they accomplished. What did amazon do? They fired their on-site tolkien scholar and replaced him with a diversity student from a university. A corporate driven woke fest is not on par with what PJ and their amazing crew achieved.

[@WaggerFiggot15]

I dont want any models from that amazon trash fire lol But i have seriously been considering trying out the middle earth table top game . Looks super fun !

[@chromedog68]

I started gaming back in mid 1987 (I was 18 - there was no younger adolescent school-age gaming for me - I was a chemistry nerd), with "modern period" (WW2) in HO scale - helped out some friends run a demo at a con. There I found Battletech, which was the first miniatures game I collected, painted models for and played. Warhammer 40,000:Rogue Trader followed but that was only the start of the downward spiral.

[@Shepo04]

Lord of the Rings was my intro into wargaming back in 2001. They used to release a magazine with paints and miniatures which was the perfect intro to miniatures.

[@stevewagstaff7250]

Started wargaming in 1990 with Rogue Trader. I was just leaving all GW games behind in 2001 and saw the LoTR flop hard locally so assumed it was the same everywhere. The local GW employees I knew confirmed they were selling way less than expected and couldn't see it being a success.

[@fulcrum8583]

Started tabletop wargaming in 1988 with Warhammer Fantasy Battles, brought my roleplaying games friends from school into it. Became fed up with GW marketing and sales shenanigans as well as clunky rules after coming back to the hobby as an adult after a break of over 20 years, and I'm very, very happy with Star Wars Legion now, which is a setting I knew and loved well before I knew anything from GW. Being a special effects movie geek since my childhood, the LotR movie's production design is very dear to me, and I love the terrain you guys have built. Scratch-building filming model-accurate scale models of Star Wars ships, vehicles and terrain myself, I know what amount of effort and love goes into something like this!

[@EntmootVideos]

Thanks for the shout out man! Lord of the Rings warhammer will never die with people like you making ace content! I think GW may already have the licence for the Amazon stuff... BUT WE'LL SEE!!

[@nickthejack]

I can still picture the first time i encountered lotr sbg. I was in primary school at the time, and my mum used to let me get one thing from the local newsagent as my reward for helping her with grocery shopping. Usually i just got a booster pack of magic the gathering cards, but that day i saw the first issue of the magazine, and i fell in love. I've left the hobby several times over the years, but i always inevitably return to it. Discovering this awesome channel is actually the most recent reason i picked up the game again. Watching the entire back catalogue of videos during lockdown and being inspired to start painting again was one of the few things that kept me sane, and I'll always be thankful to the great zorpazorp for that

[@strochnis33]

First wargame experience: Warzone, from Target Games, circa 1994, in the south-west of France, in a small game shop on my way to rugby training... Probably not the most popular gateway into the hobby!

[@Jonas-yp4sz]

Used to play the lord of the rings tabletop game at a friend's house when we were maybe about 12 years old. Now, more than 15 years later, that friend and a couple other regularly meet up for our Mordheim campaign. So lord of the rings was definitely the gateway drug.

[@EvidensInsania]

All the character and armour designs of Amazon abomination are shockingly awful. GW would be right to avoid this crap like the plague.

[@Glorfindel_117]

I started playing wargames back at around 2004 or 2005, I cant recall fully. There used to be a GW at a mall semi-near to my house, so my brother and I would ask for excuses for our parents to go there just to look at the display cases and paint the free Space Marines at their little table. Then a few years later, my brother and I had saved up to buy the Moria/Balin's Tomb starter set, and we've been playing ever since. I've now got over 2k points of Mordor, all painted at various times and talents. Thank you, for being the best and biggest mesbg channel on the platform, you really have done so much to keep this game and hobby alive for so many of us.

[@patrickbateman69420]

I got into the hobby when my dad bought me the Warhammer 40k Battle for Macragge box set in 2004. I was 9!

[@euansmith3699]

I started wargaming back in the 1970's and my first tabletop game was probably 4th or 5th Edition War Games Rules from War Games Research Group; playing a Phil Barker's flat. The Strategy Battle Games seems like GW's best rule set this side of Space Hulk.

[@darthchu48darth92]

I unfortunately didn’t start wargaming when the LoTR movies came out, or start wargaming with LoTR Warhammer, or even play LoTR Warhammer, I can’t deny I wanted to play it. LoTR is my favorite movie series and I will play the game eventually, but I’m balls deep into the Horus Heresy and life is about to become busy again, so I don’t think I can get into the game. Also I started wargaming in 2018 with Star Wars Legion.

[@H0urg1ass]

This is very interesting to me as this is totally not the experience I had with the LoTR game. I lived in central California when it came out, and no one at my very very busy local store played it. I moved to central Texas and no one at the two local, and also very busy, stores played it, then I moved to Virginia and no one at these local stores played it. In fact, in 25 years of wargaming, I've never seen anyone play any of the LoTR games at any of the shops I visit, so it's very weird to me finding out that it was massively popular. That just doesn't add up with my varied experiences at all.

[@SevenStarsandSevenStones]

It might be more popular in Australia/New Zealand. My local shop doesn't even carry LotR miniatures, and your experience checks out with mine in the Northwest.

[@DougWIngate]

2001, Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game. I was 8 years old and our local toyshop (that's right, TOY shop, not games shop) stocked the first line of Fellowship box sets: Attack At Weathertop, The Fellowship of the Ring and the huge Last Alliance vs Goblins 2 player starter. It blew my mind. This was my idea of 'big kids toy'. And this was in New Zealand so the excitement over LOTR was everywhere. The fellowshop and weathertop box sets were about 20 NZD. adjusted for inflation that's about 32 NZD or 20 USD today

[@tomz8743]

i think it was 2009 when my uncle got me the LOTR mordor troll (still own it to this day), went into my LGW to have a painting lesson and ive been fixed ever since. such a good way to enter the world of miniture wargaming.

[@brandonchaplin9782]

*GW a week later* "is that right mate?" Man I am excited to see what the two towers stuff is they announce. God I hope they don't make the Pelenor fields box disappear though

[@bretts7072]

I started with the LoTR game when I saw the Fellowship of the Ring starter set (Moria Goblins vs Men and Elves) at Barnes & Noble of all places. Without that I never would have picked up fantasy and 40k. To this day the LoTR game remains my favorite and Moria remains my main army! I still use those same 24 original goblins in my list every time :)

[@caseybox7816]

I got into MESBG with the release of the Battle Games in ME series. It was a place for me to focus my LOTR obsession, and after many years of being away from the game, I’ve dusted off my old models and am back into it. Thanks for being an inspiration to the community and I hope to see you at some MESBG tourneys in NZ!

[@Zorpazorp]

Hell yeah Casey!! You are most welcome, I'll be at the Christchurch league final this november!

[@ScottBowman]

Good to hear Middle-Earth alive and well at Zorpazorp. I look forward to your arrival on our fair shores and hope we get the chance to meet! Hope the move goes smoothly!

[@thegreatangel8251]

I started 40K and Fantasy in 1999 but as soon as LOTR’s table top came out I jumped into that as well.

[@Lesandira]

The first ever miniatures I ever collected were the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Mithril metal minis in 32mm and 54mm scale, way back in the early 90s.

[@MasterJediDude]

I remember those. It was my first exposure to wargaming in the LotR setting. All lead minis too!

[@johnmcconnell9979]

I'm very likely outside your usual viewership base, and because of that, my start into miniature gaming requires me to reach back prior to the dawn of Games Workshop, Warhammer, and of course, Middle Earth SBG. My first miniatures game was historical, the American Revolution to be exact, which started in 1978. Around the same time, I started painting characters for D&D, mostly using Grenadier figures, but also some historical knights because fantasy figures were pretty rare at that time. I first became aware of the Lord of the Rings SBG in 2001 when one of the old GW "Outriders" ran a demo at the small (200 attendees) convention that I helped organize. I didn't have much interest at that time because I was heavy into Warhammer Fantasy Battle (WFB), and didn't see the need to pursue two fantasy games simultaneously, as much as I loved Middle Earth. My gaming situation changed in 2012 when two things happened around the same time: I was growing tired of the edition changes, and a friend suggested that we try out SBG. As it happened, WFB was going to be dead within 3 years, so I was lucky to have a jump on getting several armies painted for SBG prior to that happening. I've painted up many factions now by this point, organized seven tournaments at my local shop since 2018, have attended a number of tournaments run by others in that time, and have this past year started a weekly game night at my FLGS as well. I won't be stopping any time soon!

[@wadekothmann431]

Alright, here’s a throwback. Got started with miniatures in 1986, and the first game system I played was Wargames Research Group’s Ancients rule set. Gauls vs early Roman Empire was my very first game (I played Gauls :D)

[@michaczerwinski4044]

It was 2010 I believe. I just started the primary school and there was a bunch of guys who were playing with minis. I didn't have any clue about what were they. I didn't even know Lotr at that time XD But as I got more into it, watched the films, read the books I also enjoyed the minis more and more. When I left the primary school I dropped the hobby, cause I had no one to play with. Then, in 2018 I discovered a small YT channel with a massive Osgiliath build. I was hit with nostalgia so hard I decided to get back into the hobby and here I am now. Great vid Lachy! I do enjoy the essay format, although I cannot wait to see some MT again :P

[@windsweptjoe442]

People need to give games other than 40k a chance. Not every wargame has to be about space marines and more space marines. I wish more people would step out of the GW bubble.

[@Yoshis_Studio]

For me it was 1998, Warhammer Fantasy Battles. Dark Elves specifically. It's interesting to see how LOTR game has held on, as where i'm at in the US it seems to have only a niche player base, it's far from a "staple" game. Wish it would have been bigger here, would have been fun to play.

[@Green-wd8xz]

My first experience was 2020 so around the end of 8th Ed for Warhammer 40k. A couple friends took me to a Warhammer store and bought a Dark Imperium box of which they split the armies. I bought an ork start collecting box. After getting annihilated over and over I devoted myself to expanding my army to have a chance of winning. Now I have a Waaagh that takes up half the table against their meager armies. I Krump'd Dem Gitz Good!! Oh and I didn't know LotR was a thing until I saw their boxes in a store. Been debating getting into it or not.

[@BBQSAC]

I started in 1998 playing panzerfaust (1/72 scale WW2) but my grandfather bought me the boxed set of the fellowship in 2001 and it's been a mainstay ever since

[@Chesterbigwigful]

I didn’t realise tabletop war gaming was a thing until my Grandmother bought me BGIME when they first came out, which I think was when Two Towers was released. I was pretty much obsessed with it through most of my childhood. Like a lot of people, I stopped in my late teens and sold my ME and WFB collection and didn’t interact with the hobby for about 10 years. I didn’t even realise WFB was canned until a friend told me a few years after the fact. Again like many people I know, I got back into it through the Pelennor Fields box when a LGS opened up in my town. It’s nice to see the game has been revitalised since then and there are rumours of a new edition at the end of the year with a new starter set. Hopefully the futures bright as it is along with Mordhiem the best system GW has ever created.

[@markbrown8154]

Strangely enough, I had started wargaming with Battletech in early 1986, and never even knew anything other than Historical games even existed.

[@finnmeiners7363]

I started last year after finding my Khazad-Dum Dwarves from 8 years ago. This Game really helped through dealing with depression while Covid.

[@GreatWolf1987]

If GW embraces the Amazon series, I'd wager a lot of ACTUAL Tolkien fans will be turned off by it and not consume that product.

[@yagsipcc287]

Oh god yes 100% seeing as it is crapping on everything Tolkien created and wanted.

[@paladinwiggles7896]

I started very late in 5th edition warhammer fantasy, and was around when Lord of the Rings was first announced, I actually hadn't read the books yet when I first started seeing minis on the back of White Dwarf magazine and this prompted me to read the books. Initially I wanted an "army" of "those cool black robed ghost guys" only to learn later they're the Nazgul! Still I did end up with five of them from the Weathertop boxed set. My first lotr force was Moria goblins from the starter set, playing against my friends elves & men.

[@billb8698]

My journey started way back in 1986 with D&D but 1988 was when I stared playing warhammer fantasy. Dwarves have always been one of my favorite armies.

[@thundergoat421_6]

If GW does anything with this. Please do not link hands with Amazon and that god awful looking show. Besides that I started wargaming back in 2013-2014 time with Warhammer 40k. I didn't know MESBG existed, nor even Horus Heresy. If I knew, I'd have tried to get into it instead. LotR that is, I enjoy Heresy now but back then I'd have dove right into LotR

[@GentleBen_86]

I got into the hobby in 1995 with 2nd edition Warhammer 40K. I was a massive fan of the LOTR books as a kid, obsessed with the films when they came out, but was never really bothered by the game. I don't remember the magazine at all; I didn't play the game, and never knew anyone who played it. Tbh, before this video I had no idea it was all that popular. In my experience, 3rd edition 40K was responsible for getting a lot of my people my age into the hobby. It's nice to hear that the Middle-Earth game had a similar effect for lots of other people and that it's still so beloved.

[@S.A.S.H.]

1992, and Epic scale Space Marines. So I remember vividly the release of the Games Workshop. Then after 15 years away I came back about two years ago to see, quite gladly, that is was not only still around but was still somewhat active for one of the mid-tier GW games.

[@Jathom]

Started in 2001. My parents bought my brothers and me the Fellowship of the Ring 2 Player starter. Battle Game in Middle Earth never came to the US. Seeing people post about them on the Last Alliance and One Ring, I was always jealous.

[@bryce3907]

It was 1996 or 1997 and I was walking into my best mates shed out back and seeing this massive castle that his Dad had built (he is a professional carpenter), and it was Bretonnia Vs Lizardmen vs Chaos; I remember just being absolutely in awe of these models and the whole layout and going home and begging dad for an army.

[@darthrevan4376]

Great format. I started in 2001 because my best pal was playing lotr, but when we got to the store we saw space marines, and as they say, the rest is history.

[@darkeraeris]

I started in 1996 with some Assault Marines, an attack bike, and a tactical squad. Then I got the 5th edition WHFB starter. The rest is history. Personally, MESBG was never my cup of tea, but I REALLY loved War of the Ring. Still do, wish they would bring it back.

[@edyoungstrom2854]

Hmm. First miniatures game, not counting role playing games, was in 1983. Was slightly “busy” in Nov/Dec 2001 being in the Air Force at the time, so missed out on the original release of the FOTR movie and the SBG. I didn’t start playing SBG until Christmas of 2004. I thoroughly enjoy your SBG content and look forward to more-Amazon or no Amazon.

[@PaintsOnA4Up]

I started in 2003 with Middle-earth which was amazing! :D Thank you also for the shout out! :D the models are on their way to you :D hope you like them! :) I can’t wait to see all the Middle-earth stuff coming :D take care!

[@PaintsOnA4Up]

Also, you forgot to link us :p here I am 🙋‍♂️😂 if you wanna check out my Feifdom video please do!!! :D

[@C0m3TSw1tch]

So LOTR got me into war gaming in 2005 but I never played it. The Mt Gravatt Games Workshop was right by where my mum went to the chiro. When I was going on 10 years old my mum would let me wander around as I was bored waiting during her appointment. The building used to have art from Battle for Macragge on the windows but I had no idea what I was looking at. Still, I was curious about what was inside and went in. It was so cool, and I recognised the LOTR models as I had watched the movie on DVD with my parents that year (after mum made me and my brother sit through 36 hours of behind the scenes so we knew the blood and violence wasn't real - and it was cool seeing the movie magic). My first kit was a pack of 12 Moria goblins with a paintbrush and tiny pots of paint. I got some Easterlings next as they were so cool, then I saved my pocket money for the starter set. Now I wanted to get into Warhammer Fantasy as I love fantasy settings andI didn't see many people playing LOTR when I went in but heaps of people played WFB and 40k. My parents wanted me to go LOTR and didn't like WFB due to the magic and demons and stuff (good conservative Christian parents there). If only I realised Bretonnia was a thing that faction was screaming my name, but I digress. So, in the end got the Battle for Macragge, and have had heaps of fun, but I wish I had gotten into LOTR and WFB back then too.

[@aleopardstail]

first wargaming was WW2, using 1:72 stuff and a book from the library.. in the mid 1980's had LotR:SBG about a decade ago with the Mines of Moria set, only had a few games but its recently taken off at local club, Pelenor Fields is a good set. currently into a Battle Company campaign, after one of the others saw your channel

[@TheBioRules]

Got into MESBG back in 2004 while in high school, a friend told me about it since I was so obsessed with Lord of the Rings at the time. Got a mixed pack of Warriors of Minas Tirith and Morannon Orcs, before immediately jumping to Sauron himself. My painting is a lot slower nowadays, but I still love the hobby, and have finally started to try making terrain thanks to this channel.

[@shadowkynn]

Yep I remember it well, me and my friend heading to the local corner shop on weekends to pick up our copy of the middle earth magazine, then spending the rest of the day at my dining room table painting and building what ever it was that week before battling. We never knew the rules properly, but we had fun!

[@mursey40k14]

1988 Warhammer 40K Rogue Trader. My aunt bought me the Metal Harlquin box and the original plastic beaky marine box for my Birthday.

[@sachikozeingor1077]

I guess that creating new content for this game is way more difficult than with AoS and 40k because there is nothing new coming out. I truly hope that GW won't make the new Amazon series into miniatures and we can all quickly forget it ever happened. But you can release the heroes of the saga only so often before it gets dull. The only thing I could think of are figures from the Silmarillion that haven't appeared yet but apart from that there cannot be a lot of new content (except maybe a few more varieties of infantry)

[@DenePaintsThings]

Battle Games in Middle Earth was my introduction, 20+ years later I'm still here! Good to see you're sticking with Middle Earth too - I WILL get some Minis Tirith stuff done for you when my collarbone heals 😂

[@hushmypuppy]

It’s funny to watch a pre release video of the Amazon LOTR series these days when it was just the WORST

[@davidchristie1200]

brothers friend got mines of Moria for his Birthday - think that was around 2006 as first white dwarf we got was when plastic easterlings were released and been jumping around the different systems since.

[@michaeltremaine4356]

I started in 2017. My Grandma gave me a box of Men of Minas Tirith and Orcs, so my love for the game started! I now have 300 models and 5 years under my belt. Love this video! Thanks!

[@Brabbel93]

I started in 2007 when I was 14 with the "Balin's Tomb" starter set (or whatever it was called). Currently I'm mostly playing Age of Sigmar but I am planning on giving my Mordor Orcs an overhaul when I'm done with my Bachelor thesis

[@luciogibilisco3047]

I remember seeing the ad on TV for the Battle Games in Middle Earth Magazine, I must have been 8 years old or so. Immediately went to buy the first 3 issues (I believe they came in a bundle, or maybe I was lucky to find the first two when the third was already out). From then, my grandma started buying it for me and I used to find the latest issues when I went visiting her. I have really fond memories of those times. Also, I was shocked to learn just recently that the magazine was published worldwide by De Agostini, whose main headquarter in Italy is really close to where I live!

[@ZeeDoktor]

A little GW pamphlet that was inside the RotK Extended DVDs back in 2004 advertising SBG and was obsessed with the minis. Was told of a local store that sold them and picked up a Warriors of Minas Tirith starter paint box set. Later found out there was a game for it and have been obsessed with it ever since.

[@hazzagnarly96]

I’m so excited for you bro, you deserve all the success and more

[@What2Have4Dinner]

I was literally talking to Ollie on friday about getting back into this. I have 30 very broken uruk-hai and a lot of nostalgia, cant wait

[@claudeheinrich3613]

I first came into contact with Warhammer 40k in 2017, passing a shop and then started in 2018. Now I did a 2 year break and im back at 40k. I remember my mom running out of the Warhammer shop in disgust at the prices, ah yes R.I.P bank account.

[@CesarIsaacPerez]

I got into Tabletop games with Age of Sigmar in 2015 when I was 35 years old. I had learned about Warhammer when I started college in 1998 but it was way too expensive for me to even consider getting into. Now I have 7 AoS armies and 6 armies for 40K with a bunch of warbands for Warcry and Necromunda. I've never played Lord of the Rings, but I love the films and books.

[@kentang2426]

I started 40k in 2000. Between then and now I dabbled in WHFB and played BFG and Mordheim. Started Aeronautica late last year. 2022 I got my first MESBG minis. I absolutely love painting these and the rules look good. Hoping to have my first game in a month or so.

[@zekearendt5933]

my miniature wargaming start was in 2015 I got my first blood angels tactical squad and Chaplain Lemartes love 40k ever since DAWN OF WAR. I would have to say that you and this channel got me into the middle earth miniature game because of the all the epic builds and keen to see more osgiliath.

[@admiraldick]

Started wargaming in the late 80s/early 90s (not 100% sure what year) when I was around 7 or 8. We owned HeroQuest and played it over and over again. Me and my older brother used to buy blister packs of metal minis from a whole bunch of different manufactures - just whatever fantasy minis we liked the look of. The Fighting Fantasy series of books were also an important influence. I remember later buying a box of monopose Skaven as my first GW wargaming product proper. Seeing the amazing knights and biotitans in the brand new Titan Legions game in WD made me really want to really get into wargaming. So when my friends played 40k it was natural that I did the same. I started with a 2nd Ed GSC but moved onto Chaos after that as the codexes were released and they have been my preferred armies ever since.

[@admiraldick]

As for LotR SBG, I didn't get much into it at the time of it's release. The audience for it was much younger than me and the monopose minis, although pretty, didn't appeal. It wasn't until the game was rereleased by Warhammer Historical as Legends of the Old West that I really started to enjoy the system, which lead me back to Middle Earth. I am a massive fan of the Hobbit book (I genuinely think it is superior to LotR). The Nicol Williamson version audio book has had a huge impact on me since childhood. So I'm aiming to recreate the Battle of the 5 Armies as I always imagined it.

[@WargamingHistory]

Started wargaming in 1979. Played Napoleonic’s first then ww2. Started with GW in 1987. Started wargaming GW middle earth when it released and still have a lot of figures to paint. Looking forward to the new films

[@johnporten8303]

The Amazon Lotr series is going to be an abomination. I hope it doesn't destroy the magic of the Jackson films or the original but anything is possible after the things I have seen.

[@cakalafatides]

Super excited for some new Middle Earth content! I’ve gotta say, I am blown away by how you’ve managed to get all of these amazing projects underway while in the midst of a big move. I understand the utter chaos of moving, so, keep up the good work!

[@Zorpazorp]

Thanks Certex it's been an absolute slog I won't lie.

[@timfortune9]

Always had been familiar with 40K, but hadn't quite actually gotten into. I had been thinking about trying miniature wargames after talking with a buddy about his 40K collection. That was when I noticed that GW had made a LOTR game. And since LOTR is one of my favorite all time series (movies and books)... So two years later, I've painted hundreds of miniatures and now I'm contemplating moving to 40K, but I love my massive armies of Orcs and Men (as far as "complete" armies go, my project over the last year was collecting and painting every miniature necessary for the Pelennor Fields module. I'm nearly finished).

[@wolf40k]

Started playing 1998, played a GorkaMorka demo game, came back the next day to play a 40k mega battle, which then inspired me to buy the second edition 40k starter set

[@timlewis1776]

2004 and the Return of the King starter set was the start of my hobby journey that continues to this day mainly with 40K now but been a veteran with all 3 of GW’s main systems for more than half my life

[@jvteepee]

Great update, thanks Lachie! Glad that ME will remain central on the channel, but I also like that you've been branching out and experimenting with different content. Your Horus Heresy videos have been my first introduction to that system.

[@Zorpazorp]

Thanks Tyler, glad you're enjoying it across the board mate!

[@elias1579]

I’ve been playing Warhammer for 15 years and have never seen an actual game of Lord of the Rings. I started with 40K but found my home in the Mortal Realms

[@MichaelWCannon]

Been wargaming since 1965. Started with board games and Airfix box sets. Did not get involved in GW games until the 80s when I played Warhammer Fantasy. Then I jumped in to Necromunda in a big way. Now I do 40K, Heresy, LotR, Titanicus, Underworlds, and 3D printing (shhhh,…). Plus historicals.

[@lasselippert3892]

Games Workshop products are irrelevant to LotR lore, or wargaming using that lore as a backdrop. The GW LotR ruleset is solid, possibly among the best rules GW has ever produced, but there are many other excellent rulesets out there that can easily be used for games set in, or based on the LotR universe. There are so many historic and fantasy multi-part plastics made by other companies, that the same is true for useable miniatures.

[@ReverendPONT]

For me it was HH 2.0. I'd been a 40k lore fan for a few years but it really kicked into gear when my Daughter started 1st grade. I started reading more of the books waiting in line to pick her up and started getting the minis to build. I was building a NL and SOH HH army, starting with Armor when 2.0 was announced. Using the box set and new Plastic goodies to finish them up and will be going to play my first game soon. I have a WH store about 10 minutes away and the Manager is a really good dude.

[@brunswicklord6365]

A couple of months after the Amazon series and frankly all it did was to re kindle my interest in the world of Middle Earth by re re reading The Lord of the Rings, re watching the movies and start painting all the unpainted miniatures from my Deagostini collection and more importantly get some figures on the table and play... and also recruit two friends who each bought a Battlehost boxed set.

[@drewbakka5265]

Locke: "I know the 30k kid has been rough but I love all my kids" I mean even if the game isn't as mainstream as it was doesn't mean you should be discouraged on your projects. The magic of this hobby is pulling places from our imaginations and making them come to life. And as long as you are inspired to make it im willing to watch (I'm kinda hoping you'll tackle some elven/nolder stuff) On the other hand variety is tye spice of life and throwing in new genres is fun too and keeps things from getting to stale Though I'm gonna be real I have 0 faith in the Amazon show.

[@mathurindorel8444]

Funnily enough I started around 2000, before the Lord of the rings strategy battle game came out with Warhammer 40k, there was a vibrant community in Toulouse back then. I never had a defeat leading space marines in the... three games I played until Lord of rings came out and I knew that's what I wanted to play. The first games workshop piece I ever owned was Grombrindal from White Dwarf 100 bought on holidays, it's also the only age of sigmar figurine I have. I did not buy so many figurines from the Fellowship edition, only the fellowship and goblins because those metal orcs were so damn expensive. But when the two towers came out I got about 60 uruk-hai and 20 riders of rohan. When the return of the king came out I was starting an army of elves but received the 120 euros "forces of the dark lord" box instead of the 25 euros warriors of the last alliance I ordered so I stayed with the dark lord for a bit. Which was perfect because my brother was starting to collect a minas tirith army. I think that's about when the serial magazine came out in France and we subscribed because the figurines were incredibly cheap and the painting guides were really nice to improve our techiques. Nowadays I can field 1000 points of most Lord of the Rings armies. Or about 500 points in War of Rings, which is the reason I bought so many base troops.

[@pforson]

Started in 1989 with Heroquest and then Warhammer Fantasy. I think most people of my generation started with either Heroquest or Space Crusade. They were perfect entry-level games for 10 year olds!