Apart from the horses, the rest of the Rohan force is now (almost) ready for painting. Here’s a pic of the models on four transport trays, similar to the five you’ve seen earlier holding the Isengard force:
Tray 1:
On the first tray, you can see Théoden’s Guard Battlehost with Théoden, Gamling and Déorwine (Eorl the Young is used as a proxy) in a formation of four companies of Royal knights, and another formation of four companies of Royal knights with the banner bearer and hornblower you already saw in another photo. Also on the tray: Théodred’s knights formation (4 companies; regular rider figures + banner bearer and hornblower), Elfhelm’s riders (6 companies strong, with a son of Eorl acting as Elfhelm, plus a banner bearer and a hornblower), a separate Éored (3 companies strong with a captain), an outrider Éored (3 companies), plus on-foot models of Déorwine (Eorl the Young again), Gamling, Théoden (2 variants + the mindless Théoden from ukfreddybear), and Théodred.
Tray 2:
Plenty of models on foot. First, the formations of the Warriors of the Westfold Battlehost: Grimbold’s Helmingas (3 companies, including Grimbold, banner and a hornblower), two formations of oathsworn militia (3 companies each, including captain, banner bearer and a hornblower), and one formation of oathsworn bowmen (3 companies, with captain, banner and king’s huntsman). There are also a number of separate formations: Royal knights on foot (four companies, with two alternate poses of Hama, a banner and a hornblower), two archer formations (2 companies and 1 company, each with a captain, a banner and a king’s huntsman), and a mixed bunch of loose models that could make a single oathsworn militia company (even though a couple of the soldiers have bows). The three bare metal Royal knights on foot are the latest addition from Orc-Ward Battles (thanks JT!), and I haven’t had time to basecoat them just yet – hence the “almost ready” for final painting...
Tray 3:
The main force on tray 3 comes from the Riders of the Westfold Battlehost: Erkenbrand’s riders (6 companies, with banner + horn), and three Éoreds (3 companies each, all have captain + horn and one has a banner as well). In addition, there’s a larger outrider Éored with four companies. One surplus rider can be seen, as well as Erkenbrand on foot.
Tray 4:
The fourth and final tray has the fourth Battlehost, Éomer’s Knights, with four Éoreds (4 companies each, with captain and banner in three formations and a hornblower in all of them). There is also Haldir’s elves legendary formation with four companies of archers, and two variant poses of Haldir himself. A foot model of Éomer can also be seen, as well as two foot variants + a mounted one of Éowyn.
All told, a bit fewer models that in the Isengard force, amounting up to 5,310 points excluding fortunes and Haldir’s elves. Adding those, as well as Aragorn, Gandalf and other heroes, the good side could potentially wield 6,500 points’ worth of soldiers.
But, you say, never mind the unpainted minis - when will the campaign continue? Rest assured, the “second season” of our Lord of the Rings campaign will commence within a few weeks. As you might have seen in the October hobby challenge thread, I’ve completed an alternate pose of Gimli, and also Boromir (pictured below).
I’ve got three Aragorns almost finished, and three Legolases half-way there. Then it’s plenty of hobbits, as well as three Gandalfs (plus an additional fourth in the guise of the Knight Models 35mm model – that is probably still very useful in some situations).
When all these are painted, we will re-commence the campaign gameplay, and I’ll also post an updated campaign chart and schedule. Namely, we have added “Plains of Gorgoroth” scenario near the end, and will also have an epilogue (“Season 9: the Scouring of the Shire”, with several scenarios). “Seasons” you ask? Well, it seems that the flow of the campaign quite naturally divides into 6-9 month pauses for painting & terrain construction, followed by about six months’ stretch of gameplay with 3-6 scenarios each. There will be eight more of such groupings of games – just like seasons in a TV show, complete with cliffhangers and all! Season 1 concluded with the proto-fellowship reaching Rivendell, and Season 2 will include Moria and will end at Amon Hen. Stay tuned…