Well this morning I went in search of a Gandalf Lego figure.
( The free one from the Daily Mail )
Here it is:
For most lotr and Lego fans a mini birthday present,
I was surprised to find spare parts and a spear, which Gandalf uses at some point?
The problems though:
The cloak fits nothing like what is shown (has pointy part), and is difficult to attach to the neck piece.
The sword's handle is slightly too wide, making it uneasy to clip into the hand.
The beard has a larger hole, meaning it wobbles slightly. Even when compressed between the head and the cloak.
The instructions were suitable.
The plant vine was too flexible but works well with the rest of the pieces.
The good points:
The spider was a good touch and the lamp a nice addition.
The detail on the map is great, the same for the torso which has details on the front and back.
Analysis
Creativity: 3
Practicality: 3
Cost effectiveness: 4
Quality: 2
Overall a 3 out of 5, pretty decent for a free figure.
Although I can't use it:
 |
| (ages 6 to 12 :( ) |
Until then
Fish
The past five turns have comprised of 12 battles, 8 in which Mordor and Gondor fought each other.
Gondor have won 7 of these conflicts, and Mordor only one of them.
The board at the moment stands like so:
Faction spending
Gondor gathered a total of 9259R, 5600R from the settlements and the capital.
and they expended 5556R.
Mordor gathered a much smaller 4634R, 3700R from settlements and the capital.
and they expended 3475R.
Territory
Gondor has control over 43% of strongholds and 45% of all settlements, overall 44% of all strongholds/settlements.
Mordor has control over 57% of strongholds and 36% of all settlements, overall 44% of all strongholds/settlements.
Which still leaves 12% to be claimed.
Unit(s) strength
Gondor have a combined experience of 620
63 soldiers and 20 peasants
35 heroes (52 who are above 5 exp.)(23 who are above 10 exp.)(and 5 who are above 20 exp.)
Mordor have a combined experience of 357
62 soldiers and 18 peasants
22 heroes (25 who are above 5 exp.)(8 who are above 10 exp.)(and 1 who is above 20 exp.)
The tide has turned in the Gondorian's favour, for now at least. With less soldiers, heroes and overall experience, things look very bleak for the orc-kind, hopefully there victory over the Gondorians at Osgiliath will inspire the orc warriors to fight for the devastation of Middle earth!
To spice things up, by adding more rules :)
One banner bearer may be bought for each company, if there is a hero with over 30 exp. present, for a cost of 200R. The recruit carrying it must relinquish all other weapons, but may still gain experience as usual
Previously I referred to the leader as the Steward or the dark lord, who gives out the orders and so forth.
I thought it would be a nice idea if each faction had a General and a third in command (in case the General is killed).
- The general is granted +1 will.
- And acts as a banner to all friendly models within 3"/8cm of him.
- If the general is killed in battle no army of that faction may move, and all models have a -1 courage penalty, for that turn.
- Second in command are granted one re-roll which they can use for anything while they are in office (Note: rule is voided if they are promoted)
Mordor's candidates included the goblin captain and Lieutenant Morge.
Despite the goblins efforts, the dark lord did not wish his armies to be commanded by a goblin.
So Morge was promoted and the goblin captain was given second in command.
Gondor had a wider variety of candidates, from the killing machine Luthyre, the experienced Dengond, or the more resourceful Mainz.
The steward chose Mainz as he had not a single defeat to his name,
Luthyre was given second in command for the number of injured enemies due to his blade.
Dengond was omitted, since he disobeyed the stewards orders at the Third siege of Minas Morgul, leaving Osgiliath open for capture.
The most recent rules will only take action at the end of the 11th turn.
Until then
Fish
More recently I've been focusing on Gondor in flames, here's a break from the action:
As shown in Battle games in middle-earth 27.
In case you don't have an issue here's the rough process:
Cut out a piece of card 12"/30cm by 2"/5cm, although I've used 2"/5cm by 6"/14cm as my sheet of card wasn't big enough
Cut out a 1"/2cm by 1"/2cm by 12"/30cm section of polystyrene (triangular prism)
Glue to the front of the card base
At this point the magazine made the fire-step, but I had already continued with the fence spikes at this point :S
Cut barbecue skewers into 5cm and 3cm lengths and glue against the earthworks
Cut out a piece of foam board 1"/2cm by 12"/30cm and glue behind the wooden spikes, then glue a thin scored sheet of balsa wood of similar size above it to look like boarding.
My fire-step was made of lots of matchsticks
Glue halved cocktail sticks to the front of the earthworks, around 2 per inch of palisade.
Giving a total of 36 inches of fortified ground. I'm quite pleased with the result, although I was surprised that not many other attempts are shown at all on the blog-o-sphere.
If you know of a website or blog that has done something similar, I'd be pleased to look at it.
Now all that's left is to paint this piece, the magazine doesn't suggest a paint scheme so I'll just wing it :)
Until then
Fish
Lieutenants Aerun and Luthyre win the first toe-to-toe battle, at the crossroads, without fleeing.
Lieutenant Anersk is pushed back by Nethar after the assault on north Druadan.
The goblin captain pushes the Gondorian forces from Osgiliath, for the first time.
And Lieutenant Mainz secures his fourth victory over a rogue warband.
Lieutenant Vashner had to retreat north of Osgiliath, and Morge south-east near to the Ithilien forest.
Similarly Lieutenant Anersk retreats south-east towards Cair Andros.
Lieutenant Oira also retreats west to Minas Tirith
Both sides are vulnerable at this point, Minas Tirith can be attacked from Osgiliath by the Goblins.
Cair Andros also, given that there are two companies and the riders of Rohan against the poor Anersk, moreover Cirth Ungol is left almost undefended.
|
Good |
Evil |
|
| Capital |
300 |
300 |
|
| Settlements |
1200 |
400 |
|
| Battles |
1000 |
800 |
|
| Other |
40 |
0 |
|
| Supplies |
-110 |
-65 |
|
| Expenses |
-1600 |
-600 |
|
| Total |
830 |
835 |
|
|
|
|
|
Giving Gondor a supreme total of 4068R, and Mordor a smaller total of 1403R.
Right now Gondor is weakened, Osgiliath has been lost and it will be very difficult to retake it, since there is a troll and a considerable force of goblins behind the walls. Even through there a series of defeats, a shot at taking Minas Tirith is considerable.
Anersk has some back-tracking to do so he can ably defend Cair Andros and the position it provides.
Morge and Vashner are in similar positions as they have to find some defend-able walls to regather their strength.
Rathin at north Harnen has spent turns preparing for Mainz' arrival, by not purchasing a single peasant or recruit.
Nethar and Haldran are in lazy mode chasing down Anersk and trying to secure Cair Andros, which could be done, but first they must consider cornering him to deliver the fatal blow.
Mainz finally approaches north Harnen, they face greater numbers, with only skill as an advantage.
Luthyre, Dengond and Aerun must some how retake Osgiliath, Cirth Ungol against three numerically superior units, again with only skill on their side.
Oira has the greatest challenge to backtrack to Minas Tirith or prevent the goblins from leaving Osgiliath.
Until then
Fish
