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What a fantastic video. Such a nice watch down memory lane. Also very relaxing as well for a Sunday evening. Thanks Ben. Hope to be able to say hello at Salute.

This brings back so much nostalgia, loved the old style and layout of these books! I only got the plastic goblins and a few metal captians when I was younger so I'm glad GW have brought back the old metal sculpts through MTO's. I picked up a few metal fellowship models and they have so much character 👌🏼 The GW in Merry Hill is my local, popped in a few times to get a few paints

Fantastic retrospective! I love all the personal stories. Thanks so much! ☺️

Awesome, thanks for sharing a look through the book - I've never seen that before. 'YOU SHALT NOT PAAASSSSSS'

Enjoyed it a lot. Being a father myself I enjoyed the part about your dad especially. Hope I can create equally nice memories for my kids, once they get a little older.

Hey dude, great video as always, this sort of retrospective natter is my absolute jam so thanks so much! I've actually watched this three times now because I keep forgetting to comment so it's clearly got rewatch value too! In terms of good memories of the launch of the game, my God yes, far too many to mention, I remember getting the starter set on Christmas morning 2001 and just adoring every page of that book :-) We talked at length about it and went through the book in our Fellowship special stream in December 2021 (episode 50) so I won't repeat everything from there but suffice to say I'm a big fan. It's funny that you mention the Close Encounter scenario with the goblins against the Elves and the Numenorians - I'm writing an article for SBG #13 about 20 years of the game and me and Tom played that scenario and there's even a teeny tiny bat-rep of it in the forthcoming issue - twas great fun :-) Cheers for the shout out about the Mithril edition but it wasn't me I'm afraid, must have been Nerd of the Rings. Finally, as for the Lothlorien sequence where the Goblins chase the Fellowship into the forest, if you're curious you can watch the animated storyboard of it on the Special Features of the Fellowship Extended EditionDVD, it's nothing like seeing it in the film of course but it gives you an idea of how it was going to play out - enjoy! Cheers for the video, on to the Two Towers one now! Damian

Good Job Ben, enjoyed that retrospective. I often lament the last alliance was not fleshed out more, they are among the most lovely miniatures I have ever come across. I am finishing up my mega army of Moria/Uruk hai at the moment and playing around assembling a Numenor/Eregion elf force. Needs more variety.

Got the FotR starter box when it came out. Only starting to play the game now (having picked up various other bits and boxes along the way - including the last two starter boxes). Love the fact that so many minis from the original book are still in use (and still to scale). Mind you 20 odd years to get a game to the table is not unheard of for me!

Nice ! Started playing through the scenarios last october as an excuse to paint my old minis and craft terrain. Prepping for Amon Hen atm.

Unfortunately for me, this box came out a couple of months after I moved into my first flat, so funds were a bit tight. I do remember it being all the rage, but having to buy some of the models in metal and three-at-a-time was a bit off putting. I can imagine a fair few people supplementing their 240 Orc scenarios with WHFB goblins.