The Fellowship of the Ring Scenario Project. Pt1: Planning.

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So this afternoon I asked Marouda what miniatures games she’d like to play if she could choose anything that I (we) have – any force, any game, any scale or scale of conflict. I even used the example that if she decided that she wanted to play WW2 Finns or Hungarians or French (I don’t have any of those) then I’d just buy them. She came up with two answers:

Gaslands, and Lord of the Rings SBG scenarios. Since I’m still waiting on the Gaslands rulebook to arrive in order to have some idea on what things to chop up and add to the little Matchbox collection that we picked up last week, I’ve started to look through the scenarios to see what we (I) need to get painted to run through the scenarios from the Fellowship of the Ring book (plus Moria Starter)

So I’ve created a list of the figures needed for all of those scenarios, then subtracted those that I’ve already painted, leaving a list of things that I’ll need to paint up at the end. I’ll also no doubt need to scratchbuild some terrain, that should vary from pretty easy (Buckleberry Ferry & Docks) to really quite painful (Amon Hen, the internals of Moria).

So here we go! (feel free to skip this post if you’re already bored. I’ll pepper it with painted examples, but there ain’t anything new here if you’ve been reading for years.

Scenario 1: The Hunt Begins

9 Dunedain

The Witch King of Angmar

2 Ringwraiths

 

Scenario 2: The Trust of Arnor

9 Dunedain

The Witch King of Angmar

8 Ringwraiths

Aenur will be my Gildor.

Scenario 3: Short Cuts Make Long Delays

Frodo

Sam

Pippin

Gildor (Subbed by Aenur)

3 Ringwraiths

 

Scenario 4: Buckleberry Ferry

Frodo

Sam

Pippin

Merry

3 Ringwraiths

Scenario 5: Fog on the Barrow-Downs

Frodo

Sam

Pippin

Merry

Tom Bombadil

Goldberry

4 Barrow-Wights

 

Scenario 6: The Grey Pilgrim and the Black Riders

Gandalf the Grey

The Witch King of Angmar

8 Ringwraiths

 

Scenario 7: Pursuit Into The Wilds

Gandalf the Grey

6 Dunedain

4 Ringwraiths

 

Scenario 8: Amon Sul

Frodo

Sam

Pippin

Merry

Aragorn

The Witch King of Angmar

4 Ringwraiths

*The Witch King of Angmar (Twilight)

*4 Ringwraiths (Twilight)

Scenario 9: Flight to the Ford

Frodo

Sam

Pippin

Merry

Aragorn

Glorfindel Mounted or Arwen Mounted

Glorfindel Foot or Arwen Foot

 The Witch King of Angmar Foot

8 Ringwraiths 

The Witch King of Angmar Mounted

8 Ringwraiths Mounted

 

Scenario 10: The Hounds of Sauron

Frodo

Sam

Pippin

Merry

Aragorn

Gandalf

Boromir

Legolas

Gimli

Warg Chieftain

18 Wild Wargs

I had this exact use in mind when I painted these.

Scenario 11: The Watcher in the Water

Frodo

Sam

Pippin

Merry

Aragorn

Gandalf

Boromir

Legolas

Gimli

6 Tentacles

 

Mines of Moria Scenario 1: Into the Dark

Frodo

Sam

Pippin

Merry

Aragorn

Gandalf

*Moria Gandalf

Boromir

Legolas

Gimli

4 Moria Goblins with Bows

 

Mines of Moria Scenario 2: Ambush!

Frodo

Sam

Pippin

Merry

Aragorn

Gandalf

*Moria Gandalf

Boromir

Legolas

Gimli

4 Moria Goblins with Shields

4 Moria Goblins with Spears

 

Mines of Moria Scenario 3: Surrounded!

Frodo

Sam

Pippin

Merry

Aragorn

Gandalf

*Moria Gandalf

Boromir

Legolas

Gimli

8 Moria Goblins with Bows

8 Moria Goblins with Shields

8 Moria Goblins with Spears

Mines of Moria Scenario 4: Battle in Balin’s Tomb

Frodo

Sam

Pippin

Merry

Aragorn

Gandalf

*Moria Gandalf

Boromir

Legolas

Gimli

8 Moria Goblins with Bows

8 Moria Goblins with Shields

8 Moria Goblins with Spears

Cave Troll

 

Scenario 12: Balin’s Tomb

Frodo

Sam

Pippin

Merry

Aragorn

Gandalf

*Moria Gandalf

Boromir

Legolas

Gimli

2 Goblin Captains

8 Moria Goblins with Bows

8 Moria Goblins with Shields

8 Moria Goblins with Spears

Cave Troll

 

Scenario 13: The Escape from Dwarrowdelf

Frodo

Sam

Pippin

Merry

Aragorn

Gandalf

*Moria Gandalf

Boromir

Legolas

Gimli

2 Goblin Captains

8 Moria Goblins with Bows

8 Moria Goblins with Shields

8 Moria Goblins with Spears

Cave Troll

Scenario 14: The Bridge of Khazad-Dum

Frodo

Sam

Pippin

Merry

Aragorn

Gandalf

*Moria Gandalf

Boromir

Legolas

Gimli

The Balrog

2 Goblin Captains

8 Moria Goblins with Bows

8 Moria Goblins with Shields

8 Moria Goblins with Spears

Cave Troll

 

Scenario 15: Lothlorien

Frodo

Sam

Pippin

Merry

Aragorn

??Gandalf

Boromir

Legolas

Gimli

2 Goblin Captains

8 Moria Goblins with Bows

8 Moria Goblins with Shields

8 Moria Goblins with Spears

Warg Chieftain

18 Wild Wargs

 

Scenario 16: Aragorn’s Stand

Frodo

Aragorn

Legolas

Gimli

Lurtz

1 Uruk-Hai Captain

6 Uruk-Hai Scouts with Orc bows

12 Uruk-Hai Scouts with Shields

 

Scenario 17: Borimir’s Redemption

Boromir

Merry

Pippin

1 Uruk-Hai Captain

6 Uruk-Hai Scouts with Orc bows

12 Uruk-Hai Scouts with Shields

 

Scenario 18: The Breaking of the Fellowship

Aragorn

Legolas

Gimli

Boromir

*Wounded Boromir

Lurtz

1 Uruk-Hai Captain

6 Uruk-Hai Scouts with Orc bows

12 Uruk-Hai Scouts with Shields

Painting List:

8 Ringwraiths on Foot.

8 Ringwraiths Mounted

The Witch King of Angmar on Foot (Robes) 

The Witch King of Angmar Mounted (Robes)

*The Witch King of Angmar (Twilight)

*4 Ringwraiths (Twilight)

Pippin

Merry

Tom Bombadil

Aragorn

Glorfindel Mounted or Arwen Mounted

Glorfindel Foot or Arwen Foot

Gimli

Boromir

*Wounded Boromir

Warg Chieftain

18 Wild Wargs

The Balrog

Lurtz

1 Uruk-Hai Captain

6 Uruk-Hai Scouts with Orc bows

12 Uruk-Hai Scouts with Shields

So… that’s “only” 48 figures (edit – 59 – apparently I can’t count when I have a headache!) needed to have the above ready to go. Unfortunately, a lot of them are essentially “hero” models, so they’ll need that extra amount of care and time to paint. I’ll probably also want/need to batch paint several of the heroes who have multiple alternative sculpts, to retain colour consistency across their many models.

I do have models I could sub in for quite a few of the “faceless” models there – for example I have about a bunch of wolves I could sub in for the Wargs for example, or use Uruk-Hai warriors/berserkers for the Uruk-Hai scouts – I’ve got the proper models for all of those, and so I’d much rather use this as motivation to actually paint those models instead. Gildor being the exception for that sort of thing as I don’t have the proper model, and Aenur makes a good proxy. Also, Goldberry, I guess as I don’t have the official model, but do have a RBG model that I specifically purchased to be Goldberry in LotR.

30 thoughts on “The Fellowship of the Ring Scenario Project. Pt1: Planning.”

  1. Well, you’re sounding pretty organised with it all and nice to have a reprise of some of your minis! Have you got a deadline in mind for completing it, or are you maybe working through the scenarios for figures from first to last?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Theoretically, from first to last – but in practice I’m going to dig out the figures that are part painted (neglected!) and finish those off first for some easy wins and getting the numbers up quickly. I believe I have a bunch of Nazgul that I started, so those fit perfectly.
      Finshing the earlier scenarios also allows us to start playing sooner, so then there’s more impetus and inspiration for more painting.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

    • Well, the Fellowship are one (or several of each sculpt) and done – as they continue to be used throughout the entire campaign.
      The hordes of Wargs and Uruks can just be done with the usual “I’m painting units” mentality without too much trouble.
      The Balrog may be a bit trickier.
      I’ve got a Bombadil that’s been started, so it’ll just be a mater of *forcing* myself to finish him.
      I’m not looking forward to painting Arwen or Glorfindel.
      But it’s the scenario scenery that really does scare me…

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

    • The great (sad?) thing is I don’t need to buy a single one of them! I’ve got all of those already. If I can only get her to do some painting as well, though – that would be perfect. Takes some pressure off me for the simpler stuff like the basecoats, washes and such and gets her involved. She’s actually been a decent painter when she’s been willing to do some.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

  6. Well now you’re involved with a quest that is spouse-blessed, so on the good side that’s sharing time etc. On the contrary you’ll feel the pull of the promise, which might keep you from other stuff, but all in all I’d say that’s great. Long list, but the terrain scares you? Ha! Gotta share that, can’t see any terrain daunting your productivity Azazel. Good luck!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • I’m lucky enough that it’s pretty much all spouse-blessed. My secret plan with this one is to get her involved in the painting. She reads these comments, too – so yes! I need someone to do basecoats and apply washes! 😉
      Minis are well within my comfort zone and wheelhouse. Scratchbuilding terrain though… I can do it, I’m just good at getting it done. And the amount of work in the Weathertop ring and Moria… sheesh!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  7. Well, I should say “Sounds like a great project. Really nice that you have all the minis all in hand and the motivation of game time to finish them off!”.

    But all I can keep thinking about is that stunning Gandalph mini! If I had just one mini in my collection that looked that good, I’d call it quits while I’m ahead!

    Ok, good luck with your project. I’ll quit obsessing over your Gandalph now. Really, just one more look. Ok. I’m done. That is a really nice cloak and beard, and the shadows…

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thanks mate. I’m flattered. It seems like I’ve never posted that figure up before, too. But then, I didn’t post all that much to begin with, and didn’t post at all for large chunks of time in the early days. I’ve got another three or four other sculpts of Gandalf to paint and try to match to that one as well, it seems…

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  9. Just reading all the headings is giving me so much nostalgia. My dad read me the books when I was a little boy and then I’ve read them myself at least a couple of times as an adult. Now you’ve given me the itch to read them again, although weirdly I’ve realised I don’t actually own them. Something to rectify before long I suspect.

    Anyway, good luck with that little lot, it’s quite a heap of models but knowing you it’ll take you about a fortnight! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thanks mate – I read the books when I was very young myself – in Grade 6. I kept getting Sauron and Saruman confused. Crazy, since their names are SO different, eh?
      Working my way through the Nazgul first, then perhaps the Wargs? I know I should move onto The Fellowship and Arwen/Glorfindel ASAP, but they’re all a bit painful to think about compared to hordes of Wargs and Uruks…

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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