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Definitely agree about the vibes of the MESBG community. Very welcoming and friendly. That tournament in Manchester sounds awesome, would love to venture up to that

LoTR just so nice it fits any scale. You can play a handful of models a side or a hundred and the rules still feel clean and competitive

Give me all that Middle Earth love Benji :) I definitely need to try and play more next year!

I maintain that old Gothmog on warg is a better sculpt than the new one. I can’t get past the new wargs absolutely massive Mohawk. Same with the old metal fellowship vs the janky plastic kit. Most of the old hand sculpted minis still hold up relatively well, they’re definitely outgunned by the new plastic kits and forge world but they hold enough detail to paint up really nicely. I mainly play at home with my wife, she’s been absolutely crushing my Mordor lists with her Men of the West. Although the addition of a catapult has been hilarious in recent matches, nothing like squashing your own dudes because you roll a one and your wife is evil.

I have been playing LotR since the very beginning. The release of the Hobbit movies kinda spoiled it for me and I had to take some time off and process what had happened to my favourite universe. I dipped my toe into lots of other non-GW wargames, rekindled my love for WHFB and Mordheim and jumped into Warcry, Kill Team and Horus Heresy. A couple of months ago stores were starting to dump the Pelennor box set and I pulled the trigger to see if there was enough left from the system that I once loved so much to give it another shot. Oh boy... I'm in way too deep once again. Quest of the Ringbearer is a love letter to the system and additions like Battle Companies have canonized and streamlined some of the wonky old WD rules that we used to have such great fun with. I just got the Osgiliath box for Christmas and can't wait to get that terrain set up. This game is my 2023 project for sure.

I can’t wait to open my battle of osgiliath box. I’ve been saving it until I finish work for Christmas, which is this Friday. What’s making it extra special is that I own zero of the models that come with the new starter set. So I’ve never painted a plastic minas tirith warrior or any kind of troll, so they maybe old sculpts, but still new to me. Really exited to get to work on the new terrain though👍🏻

We need a bat rep. You’ve had me sold for a bit, but I’d like to see it played!

Thought you were going to say SPACE HULK!!!! but hey!! - Glad you're back.!!

Love the game, love the community. It was so welcoming I learned the basic rules by going to a tournament where I knew no one. I've gone head first into the range over the last 2+ years.

Great video. I’m just getting into it with the new starter. Really can’t wait to get some games in next year!

Thanks Benji I'm new to to the game only been playing for 5 months and love the system for its ease of play ,along with the players who play it . I have built models and dioramas for years but being able to play a game with what you have built is a whole new dimension for me .

I've been a Tolkien fan since I was a teen, and a fan of the SBG since the original Fellowship box set release over 20 years ago. I share your opinion that the game itself is one of GW's best and I wish more people would give it a try.

I see a lot of people talk about the same points you make here. And a lot of them talk about being able to get into the game at a better buy in than the other GW games. I'm not sure that there is really a community of players here in Southern IL in the states where I live. So likely I'd have to build a play group here in my basement. Which isn't a deterrent. What I don't see usually in these videos is a video that runs down what would be a very basic and bare bones of what you would need for two people to play and the cheapest way to buy in and start. I'd love to see some veteran players of the game, based on their knowledge of the game and experience buying and playing, go step by step on what they would do to start in an affordable manner. What books to buy, PDF options maybe(if cheaper), where to buy miniatures, 3D print options, terrain options(I generally try to build stuff out of cardboard and foamcore if I can). Tips, tricks, suggestions, lower cost stuff, free stuff. Anything that would make it easier and more affordable to get into. Because part of me hooking people on playing is A) being able to have everything needed to sit a couple people down and teach them how to play. The other part is B ) it being something that they can afford to get into if they enjoy their first games as I teach them.

I got into the hobby because of this game years ago, and after a long hiatus I got back into it during the pandemic and am finally close to finishing a full Moria goblin army. I was so surprised to find the game hadn't really changed much and besides a few additions (and the removal of the volley rule, which if I recall made hobbits one of the most fearsome armies in the game, hilariously) I technically could still use the old rulebook that came with my Mines of Moria starter set. I sadly haven't managed to get in a game (although my local GW store has started organising MESBG days) I honestly cannot wait to finally try it out after all those years. One thing I also think is really understated with regards to the game (and sadly underappreciated by GW itself, it seems) are the book-only and GW inventions. While there definitely have been misses (I still remember the old metal Dol Amroth knight that looked closer to WHFB high elves and from what I've seen most people convert their Black Numenoreans on foot - I definitely plan to myself) I think factions like Khand, Far Harad, the Fiefdoms, Moria and especially those utterly gorgeous recent Easterlings models really deserve more love. Definitely hoping the new starter set, battlehosts and coverage on YT by others like you help get this game some more attention!

Wait... I knew there was a reason you are a great youtuber.... Same name, love Lord of the Rings and you love fish keeping!!

Looks over left shoulder sees aquarium, looks over right shoulder wargame painting desk.

Loved the video! I was introduced to war gaming and GW through LotR 20 years ago as well. I had stopped the hobby, but picked it up a couple years ago due to isolation. Now I’m playing and painting on a weekly basis. Thanks for all that you do with our hobby!

It's not a game that I fancy playing but I do like to hear people passionately talk about their favourite things. I think you and zorpazorp are great channels to watch and relax to. But I have to apologise to you because of zorpazorp I can't watch you without the "why am I always the f**king pony" from the funniest thing on KZfaq the fellowship of the zorp. Have fun Benji and never lose your sense of humour 👍

Stop it !!! Stop it !!! I already said I had to finish painting all my other minis before tackling my MESBG ones. I don't need even more motivation to get to them. Super cool video as always.

I’ve recently started to get into SBG and it is absolutely amazing

May have to give this a try. Predominately a 40K player. And while I enjoy that, casual games these days are a difficult thing to come by. As an old WHFB player and fan of LOTR and hobbit films I should enjoy it. Particularly interested in the depth and less ‘spam’

My favorite game system that GW makes as well!

I’m like you in that. I love watching and reading. The Hobbit and Lord Of The Rings. I’ve got a few miniatures sadly still in there sealed boxes. Oh the pile of shame lol. Never played the game so if. I did it would need me buying the rules books. At the moment. I’m more interested in Kill Team, Kings Of War and Blood Bowl as a gamer but I’m definitely interested in the magazine online version sounds totally worth checking out. And the video is as always incredible Benji

Thank you , Benji . 🐺

Completely agree with all of this. I'm one of those mesbg tournament players that goes just to have a bit of fun. I won one wooden spoon thus far and it has pride of place in my display cabinet.

Love this video and system mate! It’s deffo our favourite!

Here spreading love for MESBG

I do like the Lotr models and use them in my DnD sessions

I've just started playing it and I love it!

I have both the starter sets and a few heroes, that i have been painting. Lots more to buy as collecting all the armies i want. Fantastic game

My father has Australia's biggest Painted LoTR army at over 30K points at last count Yet... ive never played a single game

In the hobby Venn diagram Fishkeeping and wargaming might be a tough one.. there may only be two of us 🤣

I keep thinking about putting together a corsair army using bits from other ranges, but I live out in China and don't know anyone who plays MESBG so I can't justify it to myself. Might grab the fellowship though.

most of the models just don't do it for me; I don't hate them, but I would rather be painting something else. That being said, it looks fun and I think it would be a good game to start my son with, so I plan on picking up the new box and giving it a go. Maybe since I don't like the models as much, I will feel ok giving them a quicker paint job

This better be LOTR xD EDIT YASSSS

Great video, couldn't agree more 🙂 I love the old models! I just won a bidding war on 32 of them from eBay, including the Faramir and Boromir in this video, for... £130. Is that a good deal? About £4 per mini. Either way if the gf asks it's the cheapest best deal ever and I would of been a fool not to keep bidding 😅

lol that's me next to Damian at 8:54

Heard a lot about this recently.

Wait, wait, wait. So you're telling me Age of Sigma isn't GW's best game system. I am shook. 😮

i love this system but i would argue that there are lesser played gw games like aeronautica and blood bowl

Nah, it's bloodbowl. The game we've kept alive for 30+ years, that embarces 3rd party support and isn't hung up on GW releases.

Unfortunately not so popular here in Germany. At least in my bubble over the last 20 years.

Rogue trader tho

You mean Mordheim right?

u lost me at enjoying rings of power 🤣

I’ve finally reached the end with 40k, apart from the models the rest of the game is f@ck#d. GW say yes we are listening to us then they release a book of bloat, which has lead me just like many others to find an alternative game. It’s a shame it GW but this Lord of the rings game looks just what I’m after, simple and not bloated rules, very balanced and mainly it’s fun.

I knew it was going to be about the Lord of the rings game, the best game they make is Adeptus Titanicus

really like your content. hate the call out to that amazon fan fic that really wanted to ruin the base lore, and was motived by greed not a love of Lord of the Rings. Can't wait to see a big paint video in your new setup.

Nah, Talisman is their bestest most underated game.

"Make all your games like this!" (expresses NOTHING about how you want the positives to translate to the other games)

Sigh.

Why did you a commersial about Rings of Woke (Power) the garbage Tolkien fanfiction made by Amazon? Every real Tolkien fan hates that unwatchable piece of doodoo. Please nomore Rings of Woke.