Right, I wasn't really sure where to put this, so here seems the best place, feel free to move it to a more suitable area though.
As time goes by, and vast leaps are made in the creation of plastic miniatures, this is something that has been annoying me more and more.
For a very long time, since the release of the original 'Fellowship' boxed game, I was hesitant about getting into the Lord of the Rings. I'd read the books, was planning on seeing the films, had played a few games, but one thing was really putting me off - the one piece plastic models. (Yes, I know some have separate shields/spears/etc)
I don't know about anybody else, but to me it was like the older 40k and Fantasy models, or those really crappy 15mm toy soldiers you get. On cl;oser inspection, I found that the minis were of a slightly smaller scale than I was used to, and the details weren't all that great.
It was annoying sure, but I figured I could live with it, seeing as I never thought I'd amass so many of them.
Until lately, and the release of War of the Ring.
Now, I'm ploughing through about 300 Orcs, in 12 poses, and it's heartbreaking. Especially when compared to some of the new plastic releases for Warhammer and 40k, (Chaos Knights especially.)
So, it's a dream, but what I'd like to see, is plastic multi-part LotR minis, in a similar style to the Warhammer Regiments.
Something along the lines of -
2 sprues - 12 different torsos and legs, about 16 or so heads.
1 sprue - 8 sets of hand weapon and shield arms (shields optional)
1 sprue - 8 sets of missile weapons (bows or crossbows, quivers etc)
1 sprue - 8 sets of race specific armament (pikes for Uruk-hai, two handed weapons for Dwarves etc)
1 sprue - command parts (alternative torso/head for a Captain, parts to make a banner bearer, possibly a musician or shaman, also some miscellaneous 'bitz')
Think about it for a moment.
The possibilities would be endless. You could build an army where EVERY SINGLE MODEL WAS DIFFERENT! It would look great in the SBG rules, which as a skirmish game, should promote individuality, and it would be a great move for anybody collecting a WotR army. Don't want those missile weapons? Trade them for some more Swords and Shields then.
Of course, it would require a lot of re-organising of the lines, and probably a price change.
I could bear for the kits to stay the same price and have 2 sprues of 8 torsos/legs, which would give 16 minis per box, or 2 company bases. Or for a small increase to have 2 sprues of 12 (or 3 sprues of
in them.
They could also look at some of the older models too. I'd love it if my Fighting Uruks were at least as big as the Scouts, and I'm sure we'd see more interest in different armies if the models were released as plastic kits, thinking Numenor/Dunland here.
Anyway, it's just something that was bugging me a bit, and that's my thoughts on it.
Feel free to discuss/debate/ridicule/spit the dummy out as appropriate.