The new edition of the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game is in full swing. Hosts have been mustered, collections have grown, and numerous events have been played across the globe. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the third supplement – Armies of Middle-earth – which is up for pre-order this weekend. Lead Games Designer Jay has taken some time to discuss the most interesting changes to the profiles therein.
Jay: The Armies of Middle-earth supplement focuses on the characters and factions from Middle-earth which aren’t specifically seen in the movies. Many of them are found within the novels or the wider world of Middle-earth. Additionally, all the profiles and Army Lists found within the Armies of Arnor and Angmar PDF are included here, and the PDF will be superseded upon the release of this supplement.
Just like with the profiles within Armies of The Lord of the Rings and Armies of The Hobbit – many of which saw a major improvement – we have taken the opportunity here to rework and rewrite every profile to ensure they better represent the characters they are depicting. With the supplement including over 130 profiles, there are far too many to highlight in this article; instead we have picked our top five profile changes to give you a taste of what’s to come.
Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth
To go alongside his gorgeous new plastic miniature, Prince Imrahil has had a few notable tweaks to his profile which make him even more impactful. Perhaps most important is the boost to Fight Value 7, which will tie him with the likes of Aragorn, Elrond and Azog for sheer bladeskill. As a noble of esteemed valour and intellect, Imrahil has a suitable Intelligence characteristic of 3+, meaning he will pass almost any Intelligence Test thrust upon him.
Khazâd Guard
Though on the surface it may seem that nothing much has changed with the elite warriors of Khazad-dûm, there is one important change that cannot be understated – their increase to Fight Value 5. This is a huge improvement, and allows the Khazâd Guard to act as the pinnacle of the Dwarven armies that they were always meant to represent, and even stand toe-to-toe* with the likes of Elven warriors and many heroes!
Tom Bombadil & Goldberry
Tom and Goldberry have always been tricky profiles due to their nature within the stories of Middle-earth. In this edition, they no longer have a Control Zone, meaning they can no longer block off parts of a battleline by just standing there, and they can’t now cast Magical Powers.
Instead, they can both now spend their Will Points to sing a variety of songs, each inspired by those they sing in the novels. Each of these songs has its own unique effect, from allowing models to pass Courage Tests, increase their Move Value, regain lost Wounds, improve their Fight Value in a turn in which they Charge, and more! Tom and Goldberry each have distinct songs that only they can sing, meaning there is a real reason to want to include both in your army list.
Dragon
The first thing players will notice is that Dragons have had a points drop to 200, and are now on 130mm round bases. They are inherently smart creatures and now have an Intelligence of 5+, while they have also had a bump to Fight Value 8. As for their special rules, Dragons have gained Dominant (5) and Large Target.
Superior Intellect
Passive
The Dragon automatically passes any Intelligence Tests it is required to take. Additionally, each time the Dragon spends a Might Point, roll a D6. On a 4+, the Might Point is free and does not reduce the Dragon’s store of Might.
However, perhaps the biggest change comes in the options that can be taken to upgrade them. Breathe Fire no longer requires a Will Point to use. Wyrm Magic now grants the Foil Magic Magical Power in addition to its previous effects. And there is an entirely new option: Superior Intellect, which allows the Dragon to automatically pass any Intelligence Tests. What’s more, every Might Point you spend is restored on a 4+.
Black Dragon Warrior
Black Dragons now have their own profile, rather than being an upgrade to standard Easterling Warriors. They still possess the Phalanx special rule, and have access to Easterling Halberds and can even take a banner if they wish. They also possess the Black Dragon keyword, which is important as their Warrior of the Dragon Cult special rule means they can only be taken in the Warband of a Black Dragon Hero – such as Amdûr, a Dragon Knight, or the mighty Dragon Emperor himself. It also means that they get a bonus of +1 to their Fight Value whilst within 3” of a Black Dragon Hero, taking them to an impressive Fight Value of 5!
Of course, these are just the profile changes. There are also plenty of new Army Lists allowing you to field your models in new ways, each with their own special rules to evoke the alliances and battles they are representing. Come back later in the week for more previews!
* In fighting ability, of course, if not in height!
