New Release Rumours & Smaug

the marshal · **Posted:** Mon Dec 08, 2014 11:07 pm

I think the late change from 2 to 3 movies may have been a factor in the amount of support DOS received compared to AUJ. I wouldn't be able to say for sure either way, but I'm not writing off the chance of more plastic and extended releases (to cover the full range from BOFA properly) just yet. We could see everything in finecast from here on in, which sadly doesn't seem too unlikely, but we may yet see plastic Gundabad orcs if we're lucky, and if we get those and it does well enough, it opens the door for more finecast to plastic down the track. I wouldn't get my hopes up, just wouldn't be too quick to call it a day.

As for the poor performance of the DOS book, it was just so starved of content I don't really know what they expected. Army of dale stuff was basically released early with rules in the box, gundabad orcs released late and in finecast, and had no real role in the actual DOS scenarios and movies (to the point where they had to put the dwarf orc battle in as a 3 part scenario) and laketown guard are far from a playable army in terms of actual concept, let alone finecast minitures. Even in plastic I doubt many people would be wanting to run lake town guard armies. the sourcebook was basically reduced to a mirkwood army book, covering a force with a whopping 2 warrior options and 5 heroes.

If the break down had been based on the old 2 movie model (with the first movie suppose to end with barrels out of bond) the mirkwood stuff would have been in the main rulebook with the dale units and laketown and gundabad orcs would have had proper spotlight for There and back again (BOFA). The DOS book was an awkward stop gap from the start

Draugluin · **Posted:** Mon Dec 08, 2014 11:32 pm

The only reason I don't have a Lake-Town Army is because of the price. 3 full warbands for under 400 pts? Heck yes.

Gene Parmesan · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2014 12:24 am

the marshal wrote:

I think the late change from 2 to 3 movies may have been a factor in the amount of support DOS received compared to AUJ. I wouldn't be able to say for sure either way, but I'm not writing off the chance of more plastic and extended releases (to cover the full range from BOFA properly) just yet. We could see everything in finecast from here on in, which sadly doesn't seem too unlikely, but we may yet see plastic Gundabad orcs if we're lucky, and if we get those and it does well enough, it opens the door for more finecast to plastic down the track. I wouldn't get my hopes up, just wouldn't be too quick to call it a day.

As for the poor performance of the DOS book, it was just so starved of content I don't really know what they expected. Army of dale stuff was basically released early with rules in the box, gundabad orcs released late and in finecast, and had no real role in the actual DOS scenarios and movies (to the point where they had to put the dwarf orc battle in as a 3 part scenario) and laketown guard are far from a playable army in terms of actual concept, let alone finecast minitures. Even in plastic I doubt many people would be wanting to run lake town guard armies. the sourcebook was basically reduced to a mirkwood army book, covering a force with a whopping 2 warrior options and 5 heroes.

If the break down had been based on the old 2 movie model (with the first movie suppose to end with barrels out of bond) the mirkwood stuff would have been in the main rulebook with the dale units and laketown and gundabad orcs would have had proper spotlight for There and back again (BOFA). The DOS book was an awkward stop gap from the start

It wasn't all that bad a suppliment either. The army showcase was a little sub-par, but overall not that bad. I'm annoyed that they released man-beorn early, then another one came with the bear. That was a sly move.

I can't see why they wouldn't throw a few DoS books in a bundle if they've sold so poorly. Say, spend 50-60 get a free suppliment. That'd generate a bit of interest, and take the sting out of the nicest models in the range - mirkwood rangers.

Creaky · **Joined:** Thu Nov 07, 2013 9:26 pm **Posts:** 424

Free? FREE?!

Absolute twaddle! Twaddle I say!

Although BoFA is almost free, so there's that.

LordoftheBrownRing · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2014 3:33 am

Sacrilege83 wrote:

I felt that the goblins and goblin king held that set down. If they had a plastic Yazneg instead with hunter orcs, then maybe that set would be more worth while than it is.

As for having a set per film it would've made sense, but GW isn't really backing Hobbit a whole lot in the first place especially if sells are the way Creaky says they are. We're likely not going to see any extended releases once BotFA runs its course, this may very well be the last hoorah. AUJ was limited 2 or 3 months of releases, DoS even less so. I'm not expecting anything different after the BotFA wave. Lotr range continued with new releases long after RotK, here the Perry twins are already released from their contract.

IDK people tend to not like the Goblins. The King isnt the best looking model but he does look cool and the goblins look awesome. And theyre a really good army as well. I just loved the battle in the movie so I couldnt wait to buy it.

Sacrilege83 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2014 4:01 am

^You must be in the minority or those goblins are polarizing "love them or hate them". I found the whole Goblintown scene to be too ridiculous for my taste; the cgi, their overall design, the over the top action, and the King's mannerisms especially in extended edition. Just awful, I missed the Moria goblins. I saw the EFGT set as buying a plastic Thorin's company with Radagast, goblins were just a side bonus.

Gene Parmesan wrote:

I'm annoyed that they released man-beorn early, then another one came with the bear. That was a sly move.

Yep, hope you haven't bought a mounted Thranduil yet. You never know when that elk model is coming.

It's true I've forgotten how the 2 converted to 3 films screwed up GW's timeline, and a new Azog, Bolg, and redesigned Smaug also sent them back to the drawing boards. That's a perfectly good reason why the DoS wave was lacking. Now in BotFA we're seeing plenty of new things in the trailers that they can make models based off of. So this has to be the biggest wave of releases yet.

Draugluin · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2014 4:07 am

I love the new goblins, although I do hate painting them. 40 some odd miniatures get's old really fast when you wanna paint something.

Sacrilege83 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2014 4:21 am

^Factory line painting makes you feel exactly like that; working in a factory. I'll cringe painting those models for their ugly design. Pass me 40+ Haldir's Elves, I'll happily paint those. Anyway somewhere down the line I must paint 48 Haradhrim, think I'll run three different paint schemes for the sake of keeping my sanity.