Alright so this is not a topic to debate which 1 is the best this is simply a topic to see which 1 you like the best and why. I would like to hear varying opinions on what makes you happy when you build an army.

Personally fallen realms all the way. Not only do they have good units but they have peasants too lol. I like the varying degrees of skill. Also while there is some magic it doesn't rely on it. There are varying special rules which are cool as well.

I love Isengard from the movies but I like the idea of far harad too.

There's just so many choices. Also I prefer their colors. I like the dark armor the reds everywhere and the haradrim options. I'm jot a fan of blues and greens.

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BLACKHAWK 2010 2013 2015 DYNASTY

game wise I think fallen realms book offers more variety on evil side armies, really nice cause there ain´t like goblins which tactics plays all the same, on this book you can combine very exotic type of units, not them overall powerfull units (except like the mumakill which is nasty) but in general they are cheap choices to pick and contribute for a better army overall

I see a couple of hobbit votes. Id like to see what you guys have to say too.

And yeah Galanur, having a thing like the mumak too with all those special rules, I think is really cool.

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BLACKHAWK 2010 2013 2015 DYNASTY

I like the variety offered with Angmar/Arnor armies. They're quite unusual, both aesthetically and in terms of their rules. I mean, who doesn't enjoy fielding an army of ghosts?

Also, Arnor can be supplemented with dwarves and elves without ruining the story line, which is nice.

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Honba

the fallen realms is great, as already mentioned, for the variety. You can have a swarm of Orcs or Dunlendings OR the Elite fighting uruk hai from isengard alone. Then there is Harad and Umbar, with some of the most exotic and inteeresting choices, Camels, Mumaks, masses of poisoned arrows and a great selection of cavalry. The only flaw in the book is its lack of Mighty Heroes such as Aragorn/ Boromir/ Gothmog/ Shagrat. It think the Free Peoples book is winning for the good guys for the same reasons.

I also rather like Mordor. Being the single biggest list to choose from with all the games big nasties and evils greatest heroes. Its fun using mordor and realising you can have a single warband with orcs, uruks, trolls, knights and spiders.

I like the Free Peoples book simply because it contains my single favourite race, the Dwarves. I didn't really get into the game until Shadow and Flame came out and I realized I could build an entire army of Dwarves. That's when I went all-in with the game.

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Gondor: 2339pts
Rohan: 1318pts
Dwarves: 2482pts
Elves: 1091pts
Mordor: 2305pts
Isengard: 1762pts
Moria: 1463pts
Evil Men: 381pts

I'm surprise Kingdoms of men didn't get more votes. I love the flexibility the heroes like Damrod, Beregond and Denethor give you as well as the range of troop types.

That's true and any ring wraith you want for that matter....

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BLACKHAWK 2010 2013 2015 DYNASTY

I agree, but I think it's because even though they defeated Saruman and Isengard, and held off the vast hordes of Mordor, in game terms they are somewhat under-powered.

Men of rohan are the second weakest humans in the world!

I honestly feel like they didn't get enough special rules. Their heroes are average but they often lack special rules.

Like for example there are a lot of cool profiles for Theoden people made up.

There needs to be more heroic stuff...not rules but like abilities to add to your troops. For rohan and Gondor IMO there are almost no abilities that are as cool as channeled fury.

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BLACKHAWK 2010 2013 2015 DYNASTY

Malbeth has channelled fury...

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12th GBHL 2013.
13th GBHL 2014
9th GBHL 2015


Mid Sussex Wargamers

Back then there were only a very few special rules (like Bodyguard and...uh, Bodyguard...), in fact a lot of people started getting irritated when more special rules showed up, they tended to unbalance things. Like Harad (plain warriors), they only recent fixed them. Harad went something* like:

1. Return of the King: Warrior with bow (poison arrows), but armed with a knife (-1 on the Fight and Wound roll). So these guys would suck in combat, as they should.
2. One Ring book: Warrior with bow (poison arrows), all models have a hand weapon, same point cost. Now they're even in combat with a WoMT.
3. Fallen Realms: Warrior with bow (poison arrows), all models have a hand weapon, +1 point cost. A bit more balanced.

So "Kingdoms of Men" suffers from being some of the first profiles created, with limited special rules, and no factoring for their role in either book or movie.

I'd love it if they did a revamp of the entire system after TABA, but I can't imagine they'd invest the effort.

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*"something", because I don't remember exactly...

If it becomes clear that GW won't continue supporting this range (and at some point, they'll stop), I think we, as a community, can rewrite some of that ourselves then. It's a pity that the colourful realm of Rohan isn't all that interesting in terms of rules (although Outriders and Sons of Eorl have given them some variety - and strengths), not to mention those poor Númenóreans. This is especially true when you compare them to the the much more expanded parts like Harad (where you often have too many nice figures to choose from). And that's just the warriors - heroes like Théoden are even worse off.

As for the best book, my preference definitely lies in the Free Peoples. Dwarves, all manner of Elves, the few monsters Good has (Eagles, Ents) and of course those lovely Hobbits. Huge variety in models (from the enchanting might of Galadriel to the mighty appetite of Fatty Bolger), each of them great to play.

Kingdoms of men, because Cirion! Okay, he isn't the only reason, I just really like to play as reality anchors. Dwarves, elves and orcs are cool, but as an author I need the anchor to connect the fantasy to reality and the kingdoms of men do that for me.

First I said almost none and second I said Rohan and Gondor lol.



And @ WHAFROG Yeah I understand man I'm not like faulting them I'm just saying.

@

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BLACKHAWK 2010 2013 2015 DYNASTY