Has anyone else noticed that Games-Workshop is having problems sculpting smooth round bits? I know some of the paint jobs are bloody awful but, come on guys, horses with square-section legs?

The SKoDA Mark 2 are better, but still not with the almost half-elven aspect that was hinted at in the book. Some of the other minis are interesting, but where did it al go wrong for Faramir? Too many fried breakfasts...

The ruins set is interesting, but I will not explain why...

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Published ebooks:
Instrument of the Empire
A Note of Defiance
Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla
More to come!

Looks good!
The ruins kit looks great.
I like the Blackroot Vale command, but I haven't much need for them. Duinhir looks, well, rather odd.
Mauhur and command looks OK.
Faramir I think is unnecessary, but would make a nice Dol Amroth Captain perhaps.
Dwimmerlaik is quite nice, but I have the Nine and I personally don't really like the named Ringwraiths concept.
The plastic knights sets look great, and the command options included is good.
Battlehosts looks very interesting. I love WoTR, so I will get this.

All in all quite a lovely release. Fortunately for me, the sculpts I don't like I wouldn't be getting anyway.

Can't wait for them to come out!

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Better, though difficult, the right way to go, than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe. John Bunyan - Pilgrim's Progress

Some of the new releases are pretty good, but i think they should release a dwarf hornblower instead of alot of extra musicians for legendary formations.

They've only released one dwarf model for about four years.

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"Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!"

-Dwarvish war cry

This is a wonderful release: most of the models are great exceot maybe Mauhur. However the Faramir model cannot be Faramir: he isa fat dressed in a wring way and carries a shiled with the emblem of Elendil which was borne only by the guard of the Fountain court and the King. It is still a nice model to be used as Anarion or Eldarion but not as Faramir.

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Durin the Deathless
Lord of Khazad-dum

I think I'll buy a couple of those Osgiliath ruins.

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"There are few left in Middle Earth like Aragorn, son of Arathorn." - Gandalf, Many Meetings

Copied this from the WOTR forum:

Well from what i can see battlehosts looks to be an interesting step because GW are introducing a hero based supplement for a game that was based on large amounts of troop and not just heroes.

Still....we know now that that model seen before is infact Faramir, not much of a likeness but i guess in SBG this will mean a revamp of his stats much like Eomer.

The fiemdom troops look great, but remeind me of rangers of middle earth a bit too much, but if i had a fiefdoms army they would be top of my list.

The plastic Knights look amazing, as had already been said, it is a great relief they have removed the 'Cone-heads'.

Dwimmerlaik looks ok i suppose, there is alot of cloak on that model but i looks better than some of the other wraiths.

But i have to say the Uruks are not my cup of tea, i mean, Vrasku was already made up to be a scout hero, do they need another one? Looks like GW are following what they did with the Helmingas by releasing a hero and then the command.

Overall a good release, but nothing that i will be buying.

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Sun is by sea-men always hoped for,
when they fare away over the fishes' bath,
until the brine-stallion they bring to land.
OERP

I like the ruins, the uruk-hai and the arnor dudes xD

I dont like faramir, I think that model was the most ugliest thing I've seen in LotR for a long time.
Sure, the pose on the horse and the design for the shield,clothes and weapons are ok, but the face.... that is not Faramir... he looks like som drunk guy taken right from the swedish streets. Oh my god...


But I will buy Mahudur and his command and probably Dol Amroth too.
And I guess my brother will buy Dwimmerlake and Mrgul Knights so then I can take a closer look at them

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My WIP

I agree with you that the sculpting this past year has been very blocky. You take a look at the legs of horses and of men, take a look at the hair and clothing on some models. Everything looks edgy or rocky, nothing is smooth anymore. Maybe GW hired cheaper sculpters to meet their quota for their shareholders.

I hate that everything is becoming plastic, guess I'm the only one on here that likes metal. Why the hell should plastic models cost $40 Cdn. I'm not buying any of their new stuff because A) it looks like Devlan Mud and B) because it looks like Devlan Mud and it's plastic it should be cheaper.

But is it the Perry's who have sculpted them?

Does'nt seem like that.

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My WIP

I really don't think it is those Perry twin bros doing the sculpts because if you compare what came out this past year from when lotr first started. The sculpting looks way better a long time ago. I'm not sure it's the painting, though I wouldn't be surprised if GW cut people from 'Eavy Metal to hire cheaper talent. Everything now seems to be about making a buck for GW, off of our blood, sweat and backs or the wallets of some kid's parents who doesn't understand yet the value of a dollar.

Hell no, it is NOT the paiting who makes the "ugly"... it's definately the sculpting.

it's harder and sharper, not as smooth like the olde models....

The last release must been sculpted by the same person as these.

But sculpted the Perry's only plastic boxes or did they sculpt metal miniatures to back in the days?

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My WIP

I know there were four main sculpters for lotr when the trilogy was being released. The twins and 2 other guys but I'm not sure who did what. The Morgul and Dol Amroth kits look good/great, but the metals don't look the same as they did back then.

And it's not just lotr. Take a look at their Warhammer section. I've seen older models from years ago that look way better than their new stuff. Demons of Khorne for example. The metals looked way more badass than the plastic versions.

Im actually a bit dissapointed..
I had hoped for some "value" kits, like the wardens of the west gate, and the muster of Rohan.

I like the plastic Dol amroth sculpts, but.. that's all to be honest.
Faramir looks like he went way to much to the McGondor, for some fries :S And.. that shield (oh yeah.. I know.. a lot of people said this).

This is a no-go for me
Perhaps later some more miniatures, but I doubt it.. I had so much hopes for the may release.

Exactly my opinion! I was expecting a lot more.

I thought it would be this big release with new stuff for most armies....

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My WIP

Wow its been out for half a day and 10 pages of comments!!!!!

BTW the Black Boxes are coming Thursday!

I'm really curious what kind of Easterling stuff will be in Battlehosts.

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A shadow rises in the East...
The Easterlings march to war!!!

LOL!!

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No one feels as helpless as the owner of a sick goldfish.

Actually, I think the new Faramir looks like PJ before he lost all the weight.
I like the new SKoDA, about time and the Black Nums, too. When will we get plastic Kataphracts and RRG?
The Blackroot Vail Archers look interesting, but I agree they look a little too much like Rangers of ME.
No big deal with the Dwimerlaik. I'm not crazy about the "named" wraiths.

Same here

Yeah, it'll be very interesting to see what the Fallen Realms has in store. Personally, I think the Mumak War Herd GW described sounds like it takes awesome to new heights... 6 Mumakil! It's just too cool!

Also, did anyone notice they changed the cover of the Battlehosts book? Before it had Rohan and Dunland miniatures, and now it has Dol Amroth, Morgul Knights and some Orcs. I'm a little confused, is the miniature who is helmetless in the first Swan Knight formation the old Imrahil, or something else? It looks different, but then again it may just be the paint job. I also like the conversion of the Men-At-Arms with banner on the cover, nice work there.

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" I think I'm... quite ready for another adventure!"

Bilbo