I am just looking into getting into this game i have been playing other tabletop games for a couple years now so i have experience with the hobby. I was hoping to get some advice on how the armies work and where would be a good place to start. I don't really want to buy the mines of moria starter set because im not sure if i want to play goblin or dwarf. So what would yall suggest.

Welcome! Hope you pick up the game, it's a lot of fun. If you want to start cheap, try finding the Mines of Moria rulebook (just the rules) online. This has all the same rules as the big book, just lacking profiles (though it has everything you need to start). If you want to get a feel for the rules, just use some tokens on a 2x2 board to see how things play out...though of course a lot of us do it more for the eye-candy than the game...

Once you decide you like it it's best to pick a region and build from there. The simplest way to start is a boxed set of plastic warriors, a command blister, and a medium hero. For example, if you wanted to start Gondor, a box of Warriors, a command of Minas Tirith, maybe a box of Knights, and Faramir foot and mounted will give you plenty to work with as you build up. If you don't have friends who play you might find you have to build an army for both sides. Armies that are easy to start because the boxed sets etc are in the proper proportions and medium heroes are available are: Galadhrim, Wood Elves, Dwarves, Rohan, Gondor, Mordor, Goblins and Isengard Scouts. Any army is viable, but some take a little more finessing or more expense.

Cheers

Thanks for the response the fact that all the stats are spread out across all these different books was kind of overwhelming but i think i have made up my mind. I have always liked faramir and the fact that you recommended him kind of seems like a good reason to start gondor.

My personal favorites are Rohan, Wood Elves, Goblins + Beasts (spiders, bats, wargs), and Mahud + Mordor. But Faramir and WoMT are a solid and reliable way to start.

Gondor will be a good army to start with. I would recommend the same products as whafrog, but you should get the Gondor in Flames Sourcebook; it's pretty much essential for a Gondor army, as are all the Sourcebooks for their respective armies.

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"There are few left in Middle Earth like Aragorn, son of Arathorn." - Gandalf, Many Meetings

Ah good to see you may be starting with Gondor. I myself am just builing up my own right now too. A quick question, are you thinking of playing 'Stratedy Battle Game' or 'War of the Ring'? SBG is probably an easier option because it has more starter packs & generally cheaper. WOTR is on a slightly bigger scale with larger armies. You can also base your decision if you like Evil more than Good etc..
Good luck on whatever you chose, and I look forward to seeing some of your work.

Drum