“ “ W W e e come to it come to it at last... the gre at last... the gre at battle at battle of our t of our t i i m m e e ” ” - Gandalf - Gandalf ™ ™ the White, TheLord of the Rings: TheReturn of the King the White, TheLord of the Rings: TheReturn of the King ™ ™ CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ ........................................................................................ 4 4 THE RULES THE RULES ................................................................................................... ................................................................................................... 12 12 TURN SEQUENCE TURN SEQUENCE .................................................................................... .................................................................................... 18 18 PRIORITY PHASE PRIORITY PHASE .................................................................................... .................................................................................... 20 20 MOVE PHASE MOVE PHASE .............................................................................................. .............................................................................................. 22 22 Priority Priority .......................................................................................................23 .......................................................................................................23 Moving Models Moving Models ........................................................................................23 ........................................................................................23 Control Zones Control Zones ..........................................................................................24 ..........................................................................................24 Charging Enemies Charging Enemies ..................................................................................24 ..................................................................................24 Pairing Off Pairing Off Fights Fights ...................................................................................26 ...................................................................................26 Terrain Terrain ........................................................................................................26 ........................................................................................................26 Jumping Jumping ......................................................................................................28 ......................................................................................................28 Leaping Leaping .......................................................................................................29 .......................................................................................................29 Climbing Climbing .....................................................................................................30 .....................................................................................................30 Descending and Falling Descending and Falling ........................................................................31 ........................................................................31 Prone Models Prone Models ...........................................................................................32 ...........................................................................................32 Reinforcements Reinforcements ........................................................................................33 ........................................................................................33 SHOOT PHASE SHOOT PHASE ........................................................................................... ........................................................................................... 34 34 Priority Priority .......................................................................................................35 .......................................................................................................35 How to Shoot How to Shoot ............................................................................................35 ............................................................................................35 Who can Shoot? Who can Shoot? .......................................................................................35 .......................................................................................35 Moving and Shooting Moving and Shooting ............................................................................36 ............................................................................36 Rolling to Hit Rolling to Hit ............................................................................................36 ............................................................................................36 Rolling to Wound Rolling to Wound ....................................................................................40 ....................................................................................40 Recording Wounds and Removing Casualties Recording Wounds and Removing Casualties ............................40 ............................40 Taking Shots Together Taking Shots Together ..........................................................................41 ..........................................................................41 FIGHT PHASE FIGHT PHASE ............................................................................................. ............................................................................................. 42 42 When to Fight When to Fight ...........................................................................................43 ...........................................................................................43 Resolving a Fight Resolving a Fight .....................................................................................43 .....................................................................................43 Multiple Combats Multiple Combats ...................................................................................47 ...................................................................................47 Defended Position Defended Position s s ................................................................................48 ................................................................................48 Fighting Multiple Opponents over Fighting Multiple Opponents over a Barrie a Barrie r r ...............................50 ...............................50 COURAGE COURAGE ..................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................... 52 52 Taking Courage Tests Taking Courage Tests ............................................................................53 ............................................................................53 CAVALRY CAVALRY ........................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................ 56 56 What is a Cavalry Model What is a Cavalry Model .....................................................................57 .....................................................................57 Cavalry and Movement Cavalry and Movement ........................................................................57 ........................................................................57 Cavalry and Courage Tests Cavalry and Courage Tests .................................................................59 .................................................................59 Cavalry and Shooting Cavalry and Shooting ...........................................................................60 ...........................................................................60 Cavalry and Dismounting Cavalry and Dismounting ...................................................................60 ...................................................................60 Cavalry and Fights Cavalry and Fights .................................................................................62 .................................................................................62 HEROES HEROES ........................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................... 64 64 Might, Will Might, Will and Fate and Fate ..............................................................................65 ..............................................................................65 Might Might ...........................................................................................................66 ...........................................................................................................66 Will Will ...............................................................................................................74 ...............................................................................................................74 Fate Fate ...............................................................................................................75 ...............................................................................................................75 MONSTERS MONSTERS ................................................................................................... ................................................................................................... 76 76 Monsters and Cavalry Monsters and Cavalry ..........................................................................77 ..........................................................................77 Brutal Power Attacks Brutal Power Attacks .............................................................................77 .............................................................................77 War Beasts War Beasts .................................................................................................80 .................................................................................................80 WEAPONS AND WAR WEAPONS AND WAR GEAR GEAR .............................................................. .............................................................. 82 82 What Wargear does a Model have? What Wargear does a Model have? ..................................................83 ..................................................83 Close Combat Close Combat Weapons Weapons .......................................................................83 .......................................................................83 Special Weapons Special Weapons .....................................................................................84 .....................................................................................84 Special Strikes Special Strikes ..........................................................................................87 ..........................................................................................87 Missile Weapons Missile Weapons ......................................................................................88 ......................................................................................88 Equipment Equipment .................................................................................................89 .................................................................................................89 The One Ring The One Ring ...........................................................................................90 ...........................................................................................90 Armour Armour ........................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................ 91 91 MAGICAL POWERS MAGICAL POWERS ................................................................................ ................................................................................ 92 92 Using Magical Powers Using Magical Powers ...........................................................................93 ...........................................................................93 Resisting a Magical Resisting a Magical Powe Powe r r ..................................................................95 ..................................................................95 Magical Power Durations Magical Power Durations ....................................................................95 ....................................................................95 Magical Powers List Magical Powers List ...............................................................................96 ...............................................................................96 SPECIAL RULES SPECIAL RULES ....................................................................................... ....................................................................................... 102 102 Passive and Active Passive and Active Special Rules Special Rules ....................................................103 ....................................................103 AD AD VANCED RULES VANCED RULES ............................................................................... ............................................................................... 108 108 Water Features Water Features .......................................................................................109 .......................................................................................109 Carrying Objects Carrying Objects ..................................................................................109 ..................................................................................109 Passengers Passengers ...............................................................................................111 ...............................................................................................111 Sentries Sentries .....................................................................................................111 .....................................................................................................111 SIEGE ENGINES SIEGE ENGINES ....................................................................................... ....................................................................................... 112 112 Demolition Charges Demolition Charges .............................................................................118 .............................................................................118 Siege Engine Upgrades Siege Engine Upgrades .......................................................................119 .......................................................................119 SIEGES SIEGES ........................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................... 120 120 Castles and Fortresses Castles and Fortresses ........................................................................121 ........................................................................121 Assaulting the Assaulting the Fortress Fortress .......................................................................122 .......................................................................122 Siege Ladders Siege Ladders .........................................................................................122 .........................................................................................122 Battering Rams Battering Rams ......................................................................................123 ......................................................................................123 NARRATIVE P NARRATIVE P LAY LAY ................................................................................. ................................................................................. 124 124 Participants Participants .............................................................................................125 .............................................................................................125 Special Rules Special Rules ..........................................................................................125 ..........................................................................................125 Objectives Objectives ................................................................................................125 ................................................................................................125 ISBN: 978 1 78826 412 9 ISBN: 978 1 78826 412 9 Produced by the Produced by the Middle-earth Middle-earth team in the Specialist Product Studio. team in the Specialist Product Studio. Thanks to ‘The Ringwrait Thanks to ‘The Ringwrait hs’ hs’ for their playtesting end for their playtesting end eavou eavou rs, special thanks to Frank rs, special thanks to Frank Barron, Wen Barron, Wen dy Ryan, Steven Carter and Chaz Fitzhugh dy Ryan, Steven Carter and Chaz Fitzhugh from Warner Bros, and Fredrica Drotos, Joseph Mandragona and Sam Benson at from Warner Bros, and Fredrica Drotos, Joseph Mandragona and Sam Benson at Middle-earth Middle-earth Enterprises. Enterprises. © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved. THE © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved. THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURN HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURN EY, THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG and EY, THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG and THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES and the names of the characters, items, events and places therein are trademarks of THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES and the names of the characters, items, events and places therein are trademarks of The Sa The Sa ul Zae ul Zae ntz Co ntz Co mpan mpan y d/b/a y d/b/a Middle Middle -earth -earth Enterpr Enterpr ises un ises un der li der li cense cense to Ne to Ne w Line w Line Produc Produc tions, tions, Inc. Inc. (s18) (s18) © 2018 New Line Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and © 2018 New Line Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and the names of the characters, items, events and places therein are trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Middle-earth Enterprises under license to New Line Productions, Inc. the names of the characters, items, events and places therein are trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Middle-earth Enterprises under license to New Line Productions, Inc. All quotations from J.R.R. Tolkien’ All quotations from J.R.R. Tolkien’ s literary trilogy s literary trilogy The Lord of the Rings The Lord of the Rings (including any of the volumes thereof) © The Tolkien Estate 1954-55, 1966. (including any of the volumes thereof) © The Tolkien Estate 1954-55, 1966. © Copyright Games Workshop Limited 2018. Citadel and © Copyright Games Workshop Limited 2018. Citadel and Games Workshop are ® and all associated logos are Games Workshop are ® and all associated logos are either ® or TM either ® or TM and/or © Games Workshop Limited. and/or © Games Workshop Limited. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopyin mechanical, photocopyin g, recording or otherwise, withou g, recording or otherwise, withou t the prior t the prior permission of New Line Productions permission of New Line Productions and Games Workshop. and Games Workshop. British cataloguing-in-Publication Data. A catalogue record for this rules British cataloguing-in-Publication Data. A catalogue record for this rules manual is available from the Britis manual is available from the Britis h Library. Pictures are used h Library. Pictures are used for illustrative purposes only. for illustrative purposes only. G G a a m m e e s s W W o o r r k k s s h h o o p p w w e e b b s s i i t t e e F F o o r r g g e e W W o o r r l l d d w w e e b b s s i i t t e e www.games-wo www.games-wo rkshop.com rkshop.com www.forge www.forge world.co. world.co. uk uk UK UK Games Workshop Ltd, Games Workshop Ltd, Willow Rd, Lenton, Willow Rd, Lenton, Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2WS NG7 2WS NORTHERN EUROPE NORTHERN EUROPE Games Workshop Ltd, Games Workshop Ltd, Willow Rd, Lenton, Willow Rd, Lenton, Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2WS NG7 2WS NORTH AMERICA NORTH AMERICA Games Workshop Retail, Inc Games Workshop Retail, Inc 6211 East Holmes Road, 6211 East Holmes Road, Memphis, Memphis, Tennesse Tennesse e e 38141 38141 AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA Games Workshop Oz Pty Ltd Games Workshop Oz Pty Ltd 23 Liverpool Street, 23 Liverpool Street, Ingleburn, Ingleburn, NSW 2565 NSW 2565 OPEN PLAY OPEN PLAY ................................................................................................. ................................................................................................. 126 126 MATCHED PLAY MATCHED PLAY ..................................................................................... ..................................................................................... 128 128 Points Valu Points Valu es es ..........................................................................................129 ..........................................................................................129 Size of Size of Game Game ...........................................................................................129 ...........................................................................................129 Objective Markers Objective Markers ................................................................................130 ................................................................................130 Choosing an Army Choosing an Army ................................................................................130 ................................................................................130 Warbands Warbands .................................................................................................130 .................................................................................................130 Heroic Tiers Heroic Tiers ............................................................................................132 ............................................................................................132 The Leader The Leader ..............................................................................................133 ..............................................................................................133 Army Bonus Army Bonus .............................................................................................133 .............................................................................................133 Adding Allies Adding Allies ...........................................................................................133 ...........................................................................................133 Alliance Matrix Alliance Matrix ......................................................................................134 ......................................................................................134 The Armies The Armies ..............................................................................................136 ..............................................................................................136 Layout Layout ........................................................................................................136 ........................................................................................................136 Starting Positions Starting Positions .................................................................................136 .................................................................................136 Initial Prio Initial Prio rity rity ........................................................................................136 ........................................................................................136 Objectives Objectives ................................................................................................136 ................................................................................................136 Special Rules Special Rules ..........................................................................................136 ..........................................................................................136 Sudden Death Sudden Death .........................................................................................136 .........................................................................................136 Good vs Good and Evil vs Evil Good vs Good and Evil vs Evil ........................................................137 ........................................................137 SCENARIOS SCENARIOS ................................................................................................ ................................................................................................ 138 138 Scenario 1 Scenario 1 – Domination – Domination ...................................................................139 ...................................................................139 Scenario 2 Scenario 2 – To the Death! – To the Death! ................................................................140 ................................................................140 Scenario 3 Scenario 3 – Hold Ground – Hold Ground ................................................................141 ................................................................141 Scenario 4 Scenario 4 – Lords – Lords of Battle of Battle .............................................................142 .............................................................142 Scenario 5 Scenario 5 – Reconnoitre – Reconnoitre ..................................................................143 ..................................................................143 Scenario 6 Scenario 6 – A – A Clash by Clash by Moonlight Moonlight ...............................................144 ...............................................144 Scenario 7 Scenario 7 – Seize – Seize the Pri the Pri ze ze .............................................................145 .............................................................145 Scenario 8 Scenario 8 – Contest of – Contest of Champions Champions ..............................................146 ..............................................146 Scenario 9 Scenario 9 – Capture – Capture and Control and Control .................................................147 .................................................147 Scenario 10 Scenario 10 – Heirloom of – Heirloom of Ages Past Ages Past ............................................148 ............................................148 Scenario 11 Scenario 11 – Fog of War – Fog of War ...................................................................150 ...................................................................150 Scenario 12 Scenario 12 – Storm – Storm the Camp the Camp ........................................................151 ........................................................151 THE ARMIES OF MIDDLE-EARTH THE ARMIES OF MIDDLE-EARTH ™ ™ ........................................... ........................................... 152 152 The The Fellowsh Fellowsh ip ip ...........................................................................154 ...........................................................................154 Númenor Númenor ......................................................................................155 ......................................................................................155 Minas Tirith Minas Tirith ................................................................................156 ................................................................................156 Rohan Rohan ...........................................................................................158 ...........................................................................................158 Rivendell Rivendell ......................................................................................160 ......................................................................................160 Lothlórien Lothlórien ...................................................................................161 ...................................................................................161 Barad-dûr Barad-dûr ....................................................................................162 ....................................................................................162 Mordor Mordor .........................................................................................163 .........................................................................................163 Moria Moria ...........................................................................................166 ...........................................................................................166 Isengard Isengard .......................................................................................168 .......................................................................................168 Harad Harad ...........................................................................................170 ...........................................................................................170 Umbar Umbar ..........................................................................................171 ..........................................................................................171 Easterlings Easterlings ...................................................................................171 ...................................................................................171 Thorin’s Company Thorin’s Company .....................................................................172 .....................................................................172 Army of Army of Thror Thror ............................................................................173 ............................................................................173 Erebor Reclaimed Erebor Reclaimed ......................................................................174 ......................................................................174 Garrison of Dale Garrison of Dale ........................................................................175 ........................................................................175 Iron Hills Iron Hills .....................................................................................176 .....................................................................................176 Army of Army of Lake-town Lake-town ....................................................................178 ....................................................................178 Survivors of Lake-town Survivors of Lake-town .............................................................179 .............................................................179 Halls of Thranduil Halls of Thranduil .....................................................................180 .....................................................................180 Radagast’s Alliance Radagast’s Alliance ....................................................................182 ....................................................................182 The White Council The White Council .....................................................................183 .....................................................................183 Azog’s Legion Azog’s Legion ..............................................................................184 ..............................................................................184 Azog’s Hunters Azog’s Hunters ...........................................................................186 ...........................................................................186 Goblin-town Goblin-town ................................................................................187 ................................................................................187 Smaug Smaug ..........................................................................................188 ..........................................................................................188 EXAMPLE ARMIES EXAMPLE ARMIES ................................................................................ ................................................................................ 190 190 Adam Troke’s Adam Troke’s Minas Tirith Minas Tirith ..............................................................192 ..............................................................192 Dan Huckvale’s Dan Huckvale’s Isengard Isengard ..................................................................194 ..................................................................194 Jay Clare’s Jay Clare’s Defenders of Erebor™ Defenders of Erebor™ .................................................196 .................................................196 David Whitaker’s David Whitaker’s Azog’s Hunters Azog’s Hunters ..................................................198 ..................................................198 WHAT’S NEXT? WHAT’S NEXT? ........................................................................................ ........................................................................................ 200 200 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION “I “I t’ t’ s s a dangerous business a dangerous business Frodo Frodo ™ ™ , going , going out y out y our do our do or. or. Y Y ou ou step step onto the road and if you d onto the road and if you d on on ’t ’t keep keep your feet, t your feet, t he he re re ’s ’s no knowing no knowing where where you might be swept you might be swept off off t t o o ” ” - Bilbo Baggins - Bilbo Baggins ™ ™ , The , The Lord of the Ring Lord of the Ring s: The s: The Fellows Fellows hip of the hip of the Ring Ring ™ ™ MIDDLE-EARTH MIDDLE-EARTH ™ ™ IN IN MIN MIN IATU IATU RE RE Many of us who Many of us who have foll have foll owed the journeys of the owed the journeys of the characters characters of of The Lord of the Rings The Lord of the Rings TM TM and and The Hobbit The Hobbit TM TM have at some point have at some point dreamt of being part of the dreamt of being part of the action, fighting in one of the epic action, fighting in one of the epic battles of Middle-earth or strolling along the paths of battles of Middle-earth or strolling along the paths of The The Shire Shire . The Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game unlocks the . The Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game unlocks the potential to relive all of your favourite moments from the potential to relive all of your favourite moments from the books books and films, transporting you to and films, transporting you to Middle-earth and letting your Middle-earth and letting your imagination run wild. imagination run wild. If you are reading this, then there is a good chance that you have If you are reading this, then there is a good chance that you have already seen a selection of the stunning range of Citadel and already seen a selection of the stunning range of Citadel and Forge World models of the various characters and creatures from Forge World models of the various characters and creatures from Middle-earth, in fact it is a distinct possibility that many of you Middle-earth, in fact it is a distinct possibility that many of you may already own one or two! may already own one or two! This rules manual is here to guide you on your journey through This rules manual is here to guide you on your journey through building, painting and gaming with your own collection of highly building, painting and gaming with your own collection of highly detailed Middle-earth models, so that you can get the most fun detailed Middle-earth models, so that you can get the most fun and enjoyment out of them. Whether you simply want to collect and enjoyment out of them. Whether you simply want to collect your favourite characters and creatures from the world of Middle- your favourite characters and creatures from the world of Middle- earth, or if you wish to gather a mighty army of Men, Orcs, Elves earth, or if you wish to gather a mighty army of Men, Orcs, Elves or something else and do battle with your friends, this manual will or something else and do battle with your friends, this manual will take you every step take you every step of the way. of the way. HO HO W W TO TO US US E E TH TH IS IS RU RU LE LE S S MA MA NU NU AL AL The Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game rules manual contains The Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game rules manual contains within its pages all of the information that you will need to within its pages all of the information that you will need to organise your collection and play exciting games set in the world organise your collection and play exciting games set in the world of Middle-earth. The game allows you to faithfully recreate all of of Middle-earth. The game allows you to faithfully recreate all of your favourite scenes and battles from your favourite scenes and battles from The Lord of the Rings The Lord of the Rings TM TM and and The Hobbit The Hobbit TM TM trilogies, as well as collect armies of the numerous trilogies, as well as collect armies of the numerous and varied factions, realms and races of Middle-earth. This and varied factions, realms and races of Middle-earth. This manual contains all of the rules that you will need to play games manual contains all of the rules that you will need to play games set within Middle-earth; including moving and shooting, fighting set within Middle-earth; including moving and shooting, fighting in close combat, and in close combat, and even how to use Magical even how to use Magical Powers and fight Powers and fight epic siege battles. epic siege battles. This rules manual also contains a selection of specially written This rules manual also contains a selection of specially written Matched Play Scenarios, perfect for use in Matched Play Scenarios, perfect for use in organised play organised play events or to test your