There and Back Again

It's funny how watching a movie can bring emotions and feelings flooding back again for something! It happened this weekend, and sort of took me off guard, let me explain.

As most visitors to this little section of the inter web know, I loved the Lord of the Rings game by Games Workshop. I built many armies, built many terrain pieces and ran just a few events for the game. I was a LotR Fan boy for sure with Games Workshop and the movies that came out were visually appealing too me and GW captured that in their models.

But then, like that, I was done with the game! Games Workshop did what they usually do and made some sweeping changes to the game that broke a lot of the rules in my opinion. They also focused on the Hobbit which did not hit the same level as the LotR movies and the visual appeal was lacking. I started getting rid of armies and swore off GW products and most of the guys I played with did the same. The LotR game was lost like the One ring to time.

But then Games Workshop decided to go back and revamp their Specialist Game line, starting with Blood Bowl. I watched and waited to see what would happen. Blood Bowl as well as Necromunda went back to the versions that I had played in the past. Yes there were changes, but they returned to what was familiar to me, I bought both games and much money went back to the GW coffers!

But yet, I still waited to see what would happen to my favorite game. There were rumors and rumblings but I waited and watched. Then about six months ago, Games Workshop released the Battle of Pellnor Fields box set with a whole new set of rules which were toted as being for both LotR and Hobbit. I still watched from afar.

Then they came out with an Army list book for LotR and a separate army book for the Hobbit, I noticed and I started to wonder, what if? Then most recently they released a Battle Companies book for the game which is about developing your own hero and characters and playing smaller games. But yet I still waited.

Then this past weekend, the extended version of the Fellowship of the Rings was on cable, I stopped what I was doing and was drawn in to watching it. And as i sat there watching it, the love of the books, movies and more importantly the game came flooding back. I remembered that I still had lots of un painted models in the closet of shame and after the movie went and dug them out and started working on a few.

First up was Radaghast the Brown which GW did a sculpt for LotR but was never seen in the movies (I dislike the one in the Hobbit, he is a wizard that they make out as a buffoon!)

Radaghast the Brown GW style

 I figured painting one model would scratch the itch and I would be good, but like the pull of the ring on men, I could not stop with but one model. After working on this model, I pulled out 8 Morannon Orcs. I had just recently did a few rusted out cars for Gaslands, and I thought why not use the same paint technique on them.

8 Morannon Orcs

While I was waiting for the paint to dry, I took a look through my unpainted box and saw the Nine Nazgul on foot. I had forgotten about them and I was drawn to them as they are drawn to the one ring. So Nine kings of men landed on the paint bench!

9 Nazgul waiting for the wash to dry!

 I had forgotten the power of these models and while the washes and paints dried, I decided to look at some reviews of the new version, I also tweeted out and messaged a few friends that have the new game. Everything I was hearing was making me see that GW did go back to the core of the game that I enjoyed. I then watched a few youtube videos that confirmed what friends said and the minor changes were not that big of an issue.

So now, as I sit here writing this, I am planning on picking up the rules and LotR army book and will look to get it back to the tabletop once again. So it would seem I am coming full circle wit the game and look forward to working on more LotR models. And since hindsight can be so damm clear, I am missing the armies that I sold years ago. As it will cost more money and more importantly, more time to get those back.

So here is to looking forward to many more adventures in Middle Earth!

TK