The One Ring
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Post-Hobbit rules and army list tweaks.
http://test.one-ring.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=27594
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Author:  Hodush [ Thu Jan 23, 2014 7:39 am ]
Post subject:  Post-Hobbit rules and army list tweaks.

Hi all!

Over the last few months I have noticed an increase in threads regarding the future of the game after the Hobbit is done and dusted. Along with this has been some threads looking for opinions on new rules changes. As the to go together, I thought of starting this thread where we can hopefully come to a bit of a consensus on what we would like to see in a re-mastered version of the rulebook should GW go ahead with this.

If we can try to stick to one topic per week or so would be good, but feel free to mention something you think should be discussed - maybe the GBHL guys will make a vid on some of the topics?

I was intending on using a poll, but I'd prefer to reset it every week other than making a new thread but I don't think this can be done.

TO START OFF
Do you think Numenor needs some improvement? How do you think this army should function (EG Elite, basic, harass etc.)What are your suggestions?

Author:  Hodush [ Thu Jan 23, 2014 8:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Post-Hobbit rules and army list tweaks.

My thoughts are unsurprisingly, yes they could do with some changes.
I see them currently as a weak elite or expensive basic-type army. I would like to see them improved to a more elite force, but only slightly, and less so than elves. If possible it would be good to get some better synchronization between them and high elves.

Why? Warbands makes them a bit too restrictive and you can't get many good fill in options which carry on the 2nd age or Last Alliance theme.

What I would like to see:
A profile for Anarion or another 2nd age numenorian to be better than a captain but less than or equal to Isildur.

Cavalry options for troops. They are in the films and heroes and captains have access to them, so why not let the troops. Of course Numenor was mostly a ground fighting force, as they didn't have many horses due to the downfall of Numenor and other factors, so cavalry would need to be a higher cost than Rohan or restricted to an elite bodyguard troop. Citadel guard have a very similar profile and access to a horse, but can't be included without a hero due to warbands. I'd like to see that inadvertant restriction gone for Numenor.

An upgrade option to give units +1 strength, maybe some sort of charge or wargear bonus to reflect their physical strength in lore. These guys single-handedly took Sauron down, then did it again with the elves, then the memory of their strength kept him at bay for much of the 3rd age and all they have to show is an increased fight value. For something so central to lore, I think they could do better.
They fought with a shield wall formation using their superior strength and reach to wear the orcs down. Our game reflects this with spear support which leaves all those men with swords and shields out in the dark. Maybe a +1 Defence, +1 fight value or to win the fight if supported by a swords & shield numenorean. This would reflect the difficulty of getting through a shield wall without giving them +1 D base and taking away from the benefits of a Minas Tirith list. The second rank should be able to give way as normal so this shouldn't be an issue. The only other thing is you don't want to make actual spear warriors useless.

Numenorean bows were almost equivalent to elven bows so this is another option but a bit harder to work around. Maybe they could have the volley fire rule? I don't think they should have elf bows and I don't think that an 18" S3 bow reflects them correctly, so maybe this idea will need to be benched. Maybe they should just have better shoot value and remain S2?

Also, I had been thinking about an increase to strength to bump basic troops up to S4 and increase their base points by 1 - the result is equal to an Uruk scout in all stats and at a top of defence 5, still easy to kill. This would work as an upgrade as I mentioned earlier - I'd call it "pure blood". This would give a last alliance army some S4 options - giving some slightly more hard hitting choices other than heroes and knights of rivendell. The only down side I would think would be that it might seem necessary to increase the heroes/captains to S5 to match the uruks if the base troop has S4. This might then be expected to flow on to Aragorn which I think would be the wrong choice and I'm pretty happy with Elendil/Isildur as they stand, so I think an upgrade choice is the way to go.

Finally, Elendil's special rule for Narsil - I like it as it is but I would consider changing the wording to a free heroic action. If an orc or uruk captain called a heroic strike they could be expected to tie or better his fight value 50% of the time, which is perfectly fine, but why not give him the option to choose? If he was to call a heroic strike also, he cannot benefit from his swords special rule in that turn (only benefit from 1 heroic action per phase). While that might be an acceptable strategy, I'd like to see the choice go to the controlling player. This would enable him to take down trolls etc with less difficulty, making him a bit better at facing more modern forces.
I don't think a 4+ to wound is needed, you can get a similar result by allowing him to choose heroic strike or combat.

Author:  mertaal [ Thu Jan 23, 2014 9:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Post-Hobbit rules and army list tweaks.

Interesting thoughts. I don't have a perspective, because I've never played with or against them, or really considered an army list with them.

Unfortunately though, given their current scaling down of the range, and attitude towards investment and expenditure of any kind, I think it's very unlikely they will write new rules for models they are phasing out of production. There just isn't any financial incentive for them to do it.

I think tweaking special strikes might be high on the list of things they should do, should they decide to release a definitive rules set.

Author:  KnightyKnight [ Thu Jan 23, 2014 11:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Post-Hobbit rules and army list tweaks.

An interesting read and I understand where you're coming from, but honestly.. it's been 13 years since Numenor came out. And I think in all that time the only update we've had is Isildur on horse... I hate to be a killjoy, but I think the chance to revamp them has long since gone.

However I do hope that after There And Back Again there'll be something akin to the One Rulebook.

Author:  Batman of The Shire [ Thu Jan 23, 2014 12:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Post-Hobbit rules and army list tweaks.

It's really frustrating as in an old white dwarf they said after the scouring of the shire, they wanted to do easterlings and the last alliance as sourcebooks. Could have been amazing! I myself would love an anarion figure, but would also love some cavalry and some citadel guard like models. What i dont understand is that if they released new stuff for the lord of the rings for the same price as the current lord of the rings stuff, people would buy it. Corsair reavers, numenorian cavalry, snow trolls. Models from war in the north, conquest, the third age etc and people would buy it.

Author:  Hodush [ Fri Jan 24, 2014 11:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Post-Hobbit rules and army list tweaks.

Thanks for the thoughts so far. For any future posters please do not post you thoughts about GW's future with LOTR without posting something towards the army or rules being discussed. Thanks.

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