The December Desolation of Smaug release thread

Erunion · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2013 9:47 pm

18 of them? Crikey! (as Steve Irwin used to say). I only have 4 of the old Giant Spiders, but I suppose I'll be using some sort of alternate model to make up the difference, at that price.

Unfortunately, I won't get my DOS book until next week.

The Arkenstone · **Joined:** Sat Feb 02, 2013 1:12 am **Posts:** 94

Creaky wrote:

I gave up on the spiders when I saw that you needed 18 of them to play one of the scenarios. That's nearly £200 for one sides worth of troops for a small scenario.

Throw in the fact that they're not that good, liable to be surrounded because of their base size and terrible points per pound value and I'm looking for alternatives.

I was so so shocked when i saw them in packs of two on huge bases - I guess I just expected a plastic six pack, like the wargs. Then I'd grab three boxes for the scenario, and be fully happy.

I just need to get some 60mm bases, and hunt down some alternatives. The ebob ones are attractive, so i might get one, and see how it works on a 60mm base. If it looks the right size, i'll grab a load.

Need a Bolg mini, pronto.

I wonder what we'll get in January. Laketown?

The good news is there appears to be a number of good alternatives for Giant Spiders, whether it be Ebob, Heresy, D&D Minis, or something else. I've been trying to convince myself that the Battle of Skull Pass Spiders could be used, but I'm not sure I'd be happy with the look. But, they are plastic and cheap, so conversions would be easy.

Farmer Maggot · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:10 pm

The Mirkwood Spiders come as 4 sprues. 2 identical (as far as I can tell) sprues of legs plus then 2 more sprues (labelled A and B) with bodies and more legs.

I’ll try and post some photos tomorrow if someone else doesn’t do it first.

GothmogtheWerewolf · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:37 pm

Farmer Maggot wrote:

The Mirkwood Spiders come as 4 sprues. 2 identical (as far as I can tell) sprues of legs plus then 2 more sprues (labelled A and B) with bodies and more legs.

I’ll try and post some photos tomorrow if someone else doesn’t do it first.

That makes three of us then, including Harfoot who posted an almost identical post further up.

Furthermore, I will soon start a thread to discuss the Mirkwood Spiders in which I will discuss why I don't think they're as bad as you lot are all making them out to be. Just bear with me.

Farmer Maggot · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:58 pm

I got the impression from Harfoot the 2 bodies were identical, but I don’t think they are. The sprues are labelled differently and while they do look almost the same I think the legs fit slightly differently so the model ends up looking different.

GothmogtheWerewolf · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2013 11:06 pm

Only if you stop reading at "identical spiders" I thought it clear he meant to identical spider bodies. But it doesn't matter anyway, carry on.

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2013 11:33 pm

GothmogtheWerewolf wrote:

Farmer Maggot wrote:

The Mirkwood Spiders come as 4 sprues. 2 identical (as far as I can tell) sprues of legs plus then 2 more sprues (labelled A and B) with bodies and more legs.

I’ll try and post some photos tomorrow if someone else doesn’t do it first.

That makes three of us then, including Harfoot who posted an almost identical post further up.

Furthermore, I will soon start a thread to discuss the Mirkwood Spiders in which I will discuss why I don't think they're as bad as you lot are all making them out to be. Just bear with me.

I think a spider thread is a good idea

I am not inclined to purchase any more fine cast. I would like to see a photo.

Bucket of plastic spiders.

Draugluin · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 2:41 am

I've never been too much a fan of any of the old metal (troop) spiders, and using toys that I didn't have to assemble and paint myself just makes me feel... weird. There really isn't too much you can do with a spider on a flat surface, so I was hoping the new ones would be climbing a tree stump or something. I had also hoped they would be plastic and come in boxes of 6 for the same price as 2, but that's just me.

Farmer Maggot · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 9:22 am

Here are photos of the Mirkwood Spider sprues.

Spider A

Spider B

Legs (there are 2 of this sprue in the box)

mertaal · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 9:33 am

Draugluin wrote:

I had also hoped they would be plastic and come in boxes of 6 for the same price as 2, but that's just me.

No, no it isn't

.

Harfoot · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 12:35 pm

I can't see any difference in Spider A compared to Spider B, any one else?

Coenus Scaldingus · **Joined:** Sat Aug 17, 2013 9:14 am **Posts:** 1121

Well, the first one has an A on the sprue, the second a B...
Other than that, all I can see is that the abdomen seems to be slightly tilted.

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 1:05 pm

Thanks for the photo.

Farmer Maggot · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 1:19 pm

My guess is that the slots where the legs fit are slightly different, the photos on the box show one spider with the front legs on the ground and the other with them in the air. We’ll see once someone puts them together.

Bilbo · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 2:29 pm

[quote="Creaky"]I gave up on the spiders when I saw that you needed 18 of them to play one of the scenarios. That's nearly £200 for one sides worth of troops for a small scenario.

What is also worth noting is that the battle takes place in Mirkwood and is subject to the special rules, and it is unlikely that you will have anything less than at least 1 spider infested grove that will generate on average 1 spider every 6 turns. If the guidelines are to be followed for tree coverage on the 48" x 72" board as suggested, I would have said that there should be 12 woodland groves odds on 2 will be spider "infested", this would mean a free giant spider every third turn. If the evil player holds back for a bit and/or has a bit of luck you are likely to need more than 18 spiders!

Throw in the fact that they're not that good, liable to be surrounded because of their base size.

That is an issue, but en masse and move eight buys you a lot of "Spider webs" effectively "Paralyse" that can be used on the move, and with a move of eight they are fast!

I was so so shocked when i saw them in packs of two on huge bases - I guess I just expected a plastic six pack, like the wargs. Then I'd grab three boxes for the scenario, and be fully happy.

I have to say that I very much feel the same. This is the first time that I have not bought a single figure with a Tolkien based mass release!

I was very much looking forward to fielding an army of spiders, but not at that price! I am tempted to cast my own with white silicon moulds and order the bases from GW.

mertaal · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 2:43 pm

I shall be doing just that- I have a bunch of rubber spiders which have well shaped abdomens, so I've just snipped the legs off and am waiting for an order of copper wire to make leg armatures. once I've got them sculpted I shall be making a cast. I'll probably be able to snap the leg joints, pin them and greenstuff the gaps so that I have a verity of poses too.

I'll put it in my WIP when I get started.

orc-archer · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 2:58 pm

Have anyone bought the plastic Legolas mini?

How does his face look? Could someone please take a picture of his plastic face unpainted?

Thermo · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 3:12 pm

His face looks great, it's the GW paint job that doesn't do him justice

If you're on Facebook, check out the GBHL page as someone has done a good job on his there http://www.facebook.com/groups/472128942815892/746977741997676/?notif_t=group_activity

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 3:35 pm

mertaal wrote:

I shall be doing just that- I have a bunch of rubber spiders which have well shaped abdomens, so I've just snipped the legs off and am waiting for an order of copper wire to make leg armatures. once I've got them sculpted I shall be making a cast. I'll probably be able to snap the leg joints, pin them and greenstuff the gaps so that I have a verity of poses too.

I'll put it in my WIP when I get started.

Good idea

My WOTR spider bases.

I can put the Mirkwood trees on 60 mm bases and add spiders and webs. I think I will start some on my WIP too.

Erunion · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 3:48 pm

Love the WotR Spider trays, Charles!

The December Desolation of Smaug release thread

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