The "Battle of Five Armies" boxed set was also removed. For those who don't know, Battle of Five Armies is a Hobbit-based version of Warmaster.

I am not spending another penny on LOTR SBG/Hobbit rules/books until all the movies have been released. I am absolutely tired of dumping so much $$$ for slight changes as I am content with playing my metal hobbit figures using the current SBG rule set and although I have all of the new source books for the various armies, I do not agree entirely with the changes.

Apparently the rules have been "tweeked" to make heroes and monsters more powerful!

Fantastic! I have always felt that monsters have lacked any meaningful punch (apart from those that knock to the ground). In the way the Mordor troll chieftain just charges through ranks of men when the eye of Sauron disintegrates, and the way anything that isn't wearing a mithril shirt is going down, or sent flying when hit by a swing from a monster.

I also like the heroic strike and channelling meaning that its not all one sided, and monsters still have something to fear from losing fights to heroes and the magic of wizards!