Jeffery A. Dobberpuhl
2nd February 2008, 11:51 AM
>
> Gents: The most detailed board game dealing with Middle Earth
> was the old SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.) trilogy "Middle
> Earth." It had one large board game, 24" by 36" map, and two
> "folio" sized, (Small games with a 12" by 24" board). The three
> games were:
>
> 1) Large- "The War of the Ring." It was a full sized standard
> paper and cardboard counter game. It was an army based game with
> counters for leaders and troops. It had a card based character
> game, with the Nine, the fellowship, etc. The basic idea was
> that the free had little chance to win the military game but had
> to hold out until they could stuff the ring into Mt. Doom. The
> DS had to try and either nab the ring or win militarily before
> the ringbearer succeeded. It was a pretty good game with
> standard SPI "combat strenght- movement allowance" counters and
> an odds based CRT. It was closer to the actual book than our
> game in some ways. Certain characters, Galadriel, Elrond, etc.,
> who did not leave their locations during the trilogy, could not
> move. Our "neutrals", who all went DS in the books, started DS.
>
> Their was a "three player" option in which Saruman and the
> Dunlendings were a third side who could go either way so their
> was an option for a neutral player.
>
> Fun Game all around.
This was an ABSOLUE hoot. There were three games playable of the War of the
Ring: A character game of FP v. DS (stinko), a military/character game FP v.
DS (excellent beyond reproach), and a military/character FP v. DS. v.
Saruman (even more Excellent). The biggest problem with the game is a few
rules questions (the Shadowfax express was ugly). I'm hoarding copies of
this baby! It is too much fun...
>
> 2) "Minas Tirith." A straight military simulation board game,
> small folio sized, which covered the Pellenor Fields. Started
> with the attack on Minas Tirith and the Riders, Imrahil and the
> Knights of the White Swan, our SG, and Aragorn with the
> "post-dead" fleet from Pelargir all arriving as reinforcements.
> The DS, led by Murazor, basically had to try and take Minas
> Tirith before the reinforcements arrrived. Fun Game.
>
I found this pretty well balanced. Very enjoyable. The actual name was
"Gondor".
> 3) "Barad-Dur"- Another straight military game, with a bit of
> character action with "personal combat" allowed which coverd the
> "Last Alliance" siege of Barad-Dur at the end of the Second Age.
>
> The problem is that it has been out of print for almost 20 years.
> It was released by SPI in the late 1970's and the company went
> broke in the early 80's. I have the game and have seen it for
> sale, used copies, at the occasional Con and/or game show.
Called Sauron. EXTREMELY fun but unwinnable for Sauron. That was the best
part...
Later, Jeff
> If you see it, pick it up. Fun Game.
>
> Luck to us all.
>
> Jonathan Shushan
>
>
> In a message dated Thu, 5 Jul 2001 11:02:09 AM Eastern Daylight
> Time, "Jeffery A. Dobberpuhl" <webguys@...> writes:
>
> << TSR had a Battle of the Five Armies game as well...
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ray Devlin [mailto:hurly_burly_69@...]
> > Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2001 3:37 AM
> > To: mepbmlist (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
> > Subject: [mepbmlist] Battle of the Five Armies Board Game
> >
> >
> > I think Richard wants to know the film details like
> > director etc?
> >
> > Anyway, ICE once released a board game based on 5
> > armies and it was cool (unfortunately our postal
> > system lost the game when I posted it home from Uni).
> >
> > The map covered the area between the two southern
> > spurs of Erebor - the ruins of Dale were also
> > represented. The free player could set up the elves
> > on the Western spur and the men and dwarves (Khazad!)
> > on the Eastern spur. All the major characters are
> > represented, e.g. Thorin and co are based behind the
> > Erebor gate.
> >
> > The army of Bolg attacks in several waves (including
> > an attack from behind the mountain) until the Great
> > Orc himself appears with his elite guard. Beorn skins
> > him alive though.
> >
> > Nice game but very tactical, not grand strategy at
> > all.
> >
> > Ray
> >
> > --- Aaruman <aaruman@...> wrote:
> > > -Well, I don't know if you count animated films, but
> > > there is a Hobbit
> > > -animated movie. I've got the tape myself, so I'm
> > > certain of this.
> > > -
> > > -RD: well, give us the details then, please!
> > > -
> > > -Richard.
> > >
> > > What details are you looking for? If you want to
> > > know who the 5 armies were, that's
> > > easily answered. I don't recall the names of the
> > > Kings, but the armies were...
> > >
> > > Dwarves (from Iron Hills)
> > > Elves (from Mirkwood)
> > > Men (from "Laketown")
> > > Goblins (from the north)
> > > Eagles
> > >
> > > I don't know how they counted Eagles as a separate
> > > army, but there you are.
> > >
> > > Mike
> > >
> > >
> > > Middle Earth PBM List - Middle Earth and Harlequin
> > > Games
> > > To Unsubscribe:www.egroups.com
> > > http://www.MiddleEarthGames.com
> > >
> > >
> > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> Gents: The most detailed board game dealing with Middle Earth
> was the old SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.) trilogy "Middle
> Earth." It had one large board game, 24" by 36" map, and two
> "folio" sized, (Small games with a 12" by 24" board). The three
> games were:
>
> 1) Large- "The War of the Ring." It was a full sized standard
> paper and cardboard counter game. It was an army based game with
> counters for leaders and troops. It had a card based character
> game, with the Nine, the fellowship, etc. The basic idea was
> that the free had little chance to win the military game but had
> to hold out until they could stuff the ring into Mt. Doom. The
> DS had to try and either nab the ring or win militarily before
> the ringbearer succeeded. It was a pretty good game with
> standard SPI "combat strenght- movement allowance" counters and
> an odds based CRT. It was closer to the actual book than our
> game in some ways. Certain characters, Galadriel, Elrond, etc.,
> who did not leave their locations during the trilogy, could not
> move. Our "neutrals", who all went DS in the books, started DS.
>
> Their was a "three player" option in which Saruman and the
> Dunlendings were a third side who could go either way so their
> was an option for a neutral player.
>
> Fun Game all around.
This was an ABSOLUE hoot. There were three games playable of the War of the
Ring: A character game of FP v. DS (stinko), a military/character game FP v.
DS (excellent beyond reproach), and a military/character FP v. DS. v.
Saruman (even more Excellent). The biggest problem with the game is a few
rules questions (the Shadowfax express was ugly). I'm hoarding copies of
this baby! It is too much fun...
>
> 2) "Minas Tirith." A straight military simulation board game,
> small folio sized, which covered the Pellenor Fields. Started
> with the attack on Minas Tirith and the Riders, Imrahil and the
> Knights of the White Swan, our SG, and Aragorn with the
> "post-dead" fleet from Pelargir all arriving as reinforcements.
> The DS, led by Murazor, basically had to try and take Minas
> Tirith before the reinforcements arrrived. Fun Game.
>
I found this pretty well balanced. Very enjoyable. The actual name was
"Gondor".
> 3) "Barad-Dur"- Another straight military game, with a bit of
> character action with "personal combat" allowed which coverd the
> "Last Alliance" siege of Barad-Dur at the end of the Second Age.
>
> The problem is that it has been out of print for almost 20 years.
> It was released by SPI in the late 1970's and the company went
> broke in the early 80's. I have the game and have seen it for
> sale, used copies, at the occasional Con and/or game show.
Called Sauron. EXTREMELY fun but unwinnable for Sauron. That was the best
part...
Later, Jeff
> If you see it, pick it up. Fun Game.
>
> Luck to us all.
>
> Jonathan Shushan
>
>
> In a message dated Thu, 5 Jul 2001 11:02:09 AM Eastern Daylight
> Time, "Jeffery A. Dobberpuhl" <webguys@...> writes:
>
> << TSR had a Battle of the Five Armies game as well...
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ray Devlin [mailto:hurly_burly_69@...]
> > Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2001 3:37 AM
> > To: mepbmlist (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
> > Subject: [mepbmlist] Battle of the Five Armies Board Game
> >
> >
> > I think Richard wants to know the film details like
> > director etc?
> >
> > Anyway, ICE once released a board game based on 5
> > armies and it was cool (unfortunately our postal
> > system lost the game when I posted it home from Uni).
> >
> > The map covered the area between the two southern
> > spurs of Erebor - the ruins of Dale were also
> > represented. The free player could set up the elves
> > on the Western spur and the men and dwarves (Khazad!)
> > on the Eastern spur. All the major characters are
> > represented, e.g. Thorin and co are based behind the
> > Erebor gate.
> >
> > The army of Bolg attacks in several waves (including
> > an attack from behind the mountain) until the Great
> > Orc himself appears with his elite guard. Beorn skins
> > him alive though.
> >
> > Nice game but very tactical, not grand strategy at
> > all.
> >
> > Ray
> >
> > --- Aaruman <aaruman@...> wrote:
> > > -Well, I don't know if you count animated films, but
> > > there is a Hobbit
> > > -animated movie. I've got the tape myself, so I'm
> > > certain of this.
> > > -
> > > -RD: well, give us the details then, please!
> > > -
> > > -Richard.
> > >
> > > What details are you looking for? If you want to
> > > know who the 5 armies were, that's
> > > easily answered. I don't recall the names of the
> > > Kings, but the armies were...
> > >
> > > Dwarves (from Iron Hills)
> > > Elves (from Mirkwood)
> > > Men (from "Laketown")
> > > Goblins (from the north)
> > > Eagles
> > >
> > > I don't know how they counted Eagles as a separate
> > > army, but there you are.
> > >
> > > Mike
> > >
> > >
> > > Middle Earth PBM List - Middle Earth and Harlequin
> > > Games
> > > To Unsubscribe:www.egroups.com
> > > http://www.MiddleEarthGames.com
> > >
> > >
> > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >