The Fellowship of the Ring

 After many years away I am returning to Lord of the Rings, now known as Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game.  I last played in 2012, just prior to the release of The Hobbit.  There were many reasons for leaving the game I had grown to love, but I won't get into that now.

I purchased the first edition of the game - The Fellowship of the Ring - sometime in 2001 or 2002.  Soon after I purchased this set.

Gandalf.  Painted in 2003.  I don't think I ever used him in a game.

This is the original metal Fellowship from 2002, I think, I got them right around that time.  Back then, there were no 'armies' or 'match play'. It was all open play and there really wasn't much available.  There was a focus on recreating events from the books/movies so it made sense to buy these.  Beside, they are COOL!

Aragorn.  Also painted in 2003.  I used him in a couple games but I felt guilty so he went in a box.  Back then, we did not use to many heroes and most of my group felt they were overkill and gamey.

Intially, I painted Gandalf and Aragorn.  The rest of the fellowship was primed and I started the flesh.  I am not sure why I stopped work on these but stop I did.

Boromir.  Painted last week.

Several years later GW released the campaign books and I really wanted to work through all those narrative scenarios.  I would definitely need the Fellowship for that!

Gimli.  He could use a little more work but he is fine for gaming.

Sadly, that plan never really worked out and so these excellent figures sat in a box...for about 20 years.

Legolas.  I am not happy with his face.  Too much contrast makes him look undead.  I think I will need to redo the face.

Now that I back, I am renewing my desire to play the campaign through.  I will definitely need the Fellowship!

Frodo.  Hobbit feet are kind of tough and my eye are not too good anymore.

The Hobbits are the earliest member of the Fellowship you need for the campaign scenarios so I worked on them first.  Then you need Gandalf and Aragorn and finally the rest of the Fellowship.

Merry.  I really love this sculpt.  Ne seems so serious and determined.

I am using the old The Fellowship of the Ring campaign book from 2005.  That book has some great tutorials for building the terrain you need.  Much of it is modular in design and can be used for several scenarios and functions.  Cool old school stuff.

Pippin.  Another great sculpt!

Sam.  Not happy with this face either.  Not as bad as Legolas and I probably will not redo this one.

This one checks a lot of boxes for me; first figure painted this year, first figure painted in many months, first LOTR figure painted in more that 10 years, painted items that have been in the backlog for 20+ years!  That is a big win!

Out with the Old in with the New Year

 Another year has passed and more regrets have piled up.  I had some high hope for 2022 on the hobby and game front, but you couldn't tell by looking at this blog.  I actually did OK on the game playing front last year.  I got in several mid-war FoW games and played in a small tournament (and won).  I played some Team Yankee and a late war FoW game too.  Before the year ended I eve managed to get in a game of Middle-Earth Strategy Battle game (forever to be known to me as LOTR:SBG or just Lord of the Rings).

Painting was really not a good last year.  Most of what I painted I blogged about and that was not very much.  Without strong game inspiration I find it tough to paint.  I did acquire some new models and managed to build some.  I worked on some Necromunda models and added some of the new plastic Scum to the paint queue.  My friend, Tom, printed some 15mm M47 Patton tanks for my 6 Day War Jordanians and I did get some paint on those.  With the return of Lord of the Rings I dug out my LOTR project box and started work on some of those items.  I even bought the current and previous starter sets for the game.

On the topic of the blog, I am really not sure what to do.  For years and years the blog has been a major part of the hobby.  It served as a journal for tracking my painting and gaming interests, and as a form of motivation.  The desire to put up quality content inspired me to create.  With only 8 posts in 2 years that is no longer working.  I am really not sure what to do.  Should I redouble my efforts to get the blog back on track or should I accept the reality that is part of the hobby is dead?  I'm not sure anyone even comes here any more.

Looking ahead to 2023.  Strangely enough, it looks like '23 will be the year of the return of LOTR gaming.  It has been 10+ years since this has been a thing and I am super excited to get this back on the table.  There are several local people who will be joining in and we will be running a slow grow league for the first half of the year.  We might even do a tournament!  

I will continue with all the FoW variants.  I have several projects that I would like to get to.  I would love to get back to Necromunda and I do plan to paint stuff but I would love to play it again.  Not really sure what else might be on the horizon.