Believe it or not, it's been 20 years since Peter Jackson's movie masterpiece The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring™ hit cinemas across the world. Not only did it bring Tolkien’s enchanting world to life on the big screen, it begat the first edition of the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game.
To mark two decades since the Ringbearer first began his quest, here's a nostalgic look back at our own journey since then.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring™
Launched in 2001 to coincide with the movie, this was the foundation of the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game that we know and love today. Its innovative Priority system and intuitive mechanics made for a skirmish game quite unlike any other – one in which every model in your army, from the mightiest Hero to the lowliest Warrior, could be a game-winner.
The Fellowship of Ring also included Narrative Scenarios that captured the tense action in the movie, from the ambush of the Nazgûl at Weathertop to the Fellowship’s flight from the Balrog at the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. What’s more, the profiles of key characters were designed to echo their movie fates.
For example, when playing the Amon Hen Scenario, Boromir could face down wave after wave of Uruk-hai in combat, but his lack of Fate points made him susceptible to arrows – especially ones fired by Lurtz, who could modify his rolls with Might points to make each one count!
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers™
The second edition of the Strategy Battle Game introduced hard-hitting cavalry charges, and the Riders of Rohan could punch well above their weight, giving them a crucial edge against the formidable pike phalanxes of the armoured Uruk-hai.
This instalment added another new dimension in the form of siege rules, bringing Narrative Scenarios such as the thrilling Battle of Helm’s Deep to the tabletop.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King™
The climactic third movie in 2003 heralded the Strategy Battle Game’s third edition, which saw the rise of some of the game’s most powerful Heroes and Monsters, from Winged Nazgûl and deadly Mordor Troll Chieftains to an Andúril-wielding Aragorn at the peak of his powers. And, of course, what was for many years Games Workshop’s largest plastic kit – the War Mûmak of Harad!
The Lord of the Rings™ Strategy Battle Game
Known affectionately by many as 'The One Rules Manual', The Lord of the Rings™ Strategy Battle Game updated and consolidated all of the core rules and profiles from the first three editions into one place.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey™
Peter Jackson's return to Middle-earth in 2012 in the form of his movie trilogy based on The Hobbit™ ushered in a new era for the Strategy Battle Game. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey™ introduced Thorin Oakenshield and company to the setting, and pitted them against deadly new adversaries, including Azog and the Goblin King over the course of several Narrative Scenarios.
The new rulebook also made a number of key changes to the game, like Brutal Power Attacks for Monsters, and adding granularity to the way weapons could be wielded with Special Strikes and a layer of nuance to Magical Powers.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug™
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug introduced a number of new Heroes to the range, including Bard the Bowman, Tauriel, Beorn, The Master of Lake-town – all of whom would soon become firm fan-favourites.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies™
The saga concluded with The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies™, which came as a special supplement included with White Dwarf magazine. It brought with it the largest miniature in the range, Smaug the Magnificent, who broke to mould with a whopping 20 Wounds on his profile – twice that of a Mûmak!
The Middle-earth™ Strategy Battle Game
We come to it, at last, the great rulebook of our time – the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game! This edition stands on the shoulders of giants, the pinnacle of 20 years of development.
It's more narrative-driven than ever before, with some Heroes even changing how they act on the battlefield if certain events trigger them. For example, should King Théoden fall in battle, Éowyn will fight her way to his side and defend his body, while Éomer will succumb to a berserk, reckless rage and throw himself into the enemy line to mete out vengeance – just like in the story!
Join in the Celebration
Here at Warhammer World, we're marking the 20th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring™ with a Middle-earth display in the exhibition hall. It includes impressive army displays from some of the Middle-earth community's most fanatical hobbyists, and three stunning dioramas depicting three key scenes from the movie – Weathertop, Balin's Tomb, and Amon Hen.
But that’s not all – early next year, you can look forward to a special Made to Order series in which you’ll be able to get your hands on a selection of classic sets that date back to first edition of the Strategy Battle Game, and include some of the most popular miniatures in the range's history:
Attack at Weathertop™
Escape From Orthanc™
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Battle at Khazad-dûm™
Ambush at Amon Hen™
We hope you enjoyed our look at the past, present, and future of the Strategy Battle Game. Sign up to our newsletter for the latest information on when the Made to Order kits will be available next year. During which edition of the game did you start your Middle-earth journey? Let us know on the Warhammer Official Facebook page.