Overpowered BOLG

Hürin · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2013 11:24 am

So yesterday i bought the hobbit rulebook and read the stats for the dwarfs, elves, orcs etc etc. Is it just me or is Bolg waaay to overpowered? For instance his special rules for each kill. He gains from each kill and when he has killed 11 he gains one free will point each turn. Not only to mention that he gains Terror earlier on when he has killed enough...

I personally think he's overpowered, he is even stronger than Aragorn even though Aragorn still has Anduril:P

What is your opinnion in this matter?

The Horde Lord · **Joined:** Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:58 pm **Posts:** 301

First of all I don't think you have read the special rule properly (only minor details though)

Second of all, I don't think he is overpowerd for his points cost, compared to the book version however, you bet.

Thirdly, he is not better than Aragorn because Aragorn get's free might every turn, Bolg needs to wait 15-20 turns for that.

Hürin · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2013 11:43 am

Yeah i know, but i haven't got the book with at the moment so i can't remember it all. He's a little bit overpowered as an orc hero i think, but it makes sence since they'll need a strong hero and leader instead of just orc captains

The Horde Lord · **Joined:** Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:58 pm **Posts:** 301

Don't get me wrong. I hate that he is that powerful, and Azog as well. I would much rather see Bolg in the 80-100 point area ang Azog somewhere around Gothmog but with a more combat oriented profile. And Orc for 175 point is just redicilouis. However they are not what I would call overpowered.

Hürin · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2013 12:17 pm

Agreed!! Azog should definately be the strong one as in the movie. But still it's Bolg who leads the attack of goblins/orcs at the battle of five armies, so that's probably why! Nonetheless looking forward to seing some azog figures

And i totally agree

Hirumith, the Grey Knight · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2013 1:52 pm

I don't have the book, but only going off of the profile listed on the GW site and what I've read/heard he doesn't sound overpowered strictly in terms of a points costs to utility ratio. Depends on exactly what his special abilities do and his M/W/F.

From a thematic or design perspective, however, I think he's overpowered in a few regards. Giving him a fight value of 7 suggests that he's as skilled a fighter as some of the most powerful elves, and surpasses every human and dwarf (that I can think of, anyways). I always envision orcs relying on brutality and raw strength rather than actual skill with a blade, so while his fight value is IMO too high the high strength seems fitting. His defense is a point higher than I would have given him too - not unreasonable, but uncharacteristically high for an orc hero (or pretty much any non-dwarf hero).

I've always been a proponent of giving the evil side some combat heroes that were on par with the real heavy hitters on the good side, but if they're going to be orcs I prefer that they load up on strength, wounds, attacks rather than fight value.

It is worth noting that trolls have a pretty high fight value, even though they're not the most skilled of combatants. To me this could always be rationalized their imposing size and reach on the battlefield, which would give them an advantage over smaller opponents which is reflected in their fight value. Bolg, while big for an orc, is not troll-sized and therefore to me the same rationale doesn't apply.

KnightyKnight · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2013 2:27 pm

I wouldn't advise posting the rules like that, could get the site into quite a bit of trouble.

As for Bolg himself, I think it's good to have a big heavy hitter character, seen as the good side are full of profiles like Thorin's Company and Great Eagles.

Also, in regards to his special rule, people tend to forget or overlook the fact that its situational. He doesn't instantly have those abilities - he has to earn them. A good good player will work to deny Bolg gaining his kills and thus his buffs.

The Horde Lord · **Joined:** Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:58 pm **Posts:** 301

You should really change your post due to copyright reasons.

Dead Marsh Spectre · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2013 2:50 pm

Please refrain from posting stats on the forum - it is breach of copyright.

I have deleted the post in question.

RangerofTheNorth · **Joined:** Tue Feb 15, 2011 6:54 pm **Posts:** 483

Im actually exited to play orcs again because of him, anytime I wanted to take a heavy hitter its almost always a Wraith, on fell beast or a troll and all of those are easy targets. Having an infantry based power house is great on paper. I can't wait to get him.

Hirumith, the Grey Knight · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2013 5:05 pm

KnightyKnight wrote:

As for Bolg himself, I think it's good to have a big heavy hitter character, seen as the good side are full of profiles like Thorin's Company and Great Eagles.

That's a good point, and I think within the context of The Hobbit releases alone he's fine, because there's less of an established trend. If you're just looking at The Hobbit then he's a big nasty orc and that's it. In the context of all of the Lord of the Rings releases, though, he seems too strong in comparison to the likes of a lot of good heroes.

RangerofTheNorth wrote:

Im actually exited to play orcs again because of him, anytime I wanted to take a heavy hitter its almost always a Wraith, on fell beast or a troll and all of those are easy targets. Having an infantry based power house is great on paper. I can't wait to get him.

Yeah I definitely agree with the sentiment that there should be some more powerful combat heroes for orcs, I just think that with Bolg GW took it a bit too far. Having a heavy-hitting hero and creating a hero that outshines nearly every good hero in combat ability aren't the same thing.

I would like to have seen his fight value dropped 1 or 2 and his defense 1, and either removed the "Burly" rule or dropped his strength 1 as well. That would still make for a very nasty, very scary orc hero that's a combat monster without being inexplicably better than centuries-to-millennia-old elf and dwarf lords or the greatest heroes of mankind.

KnightyKnight · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2013 5:31 pm

I do agree that perhaps his Fight value should be lowered. Personally I'd say his Defence should be lowered as well. However, he would then be an exact match in statlibe to Azog, which poses a bit of a problem...

Hirumith's note regarding F7 representing only the Elves of legend is a fair one, and one that on a concept and lore basis I agree with. Both Azog and Bolg should have one point off their Fight value.

Also, remember that the profile was created when Bolg originally had a primary role in An Unexpected Journey. It's safe to believe that had the changes to film sequence and structure not taken place and Bolg's scenes had stayed, we would've seen him perform feats of strength and brutality. Since we only caught a glimpse of him we have nothing to go on, thereby making his profile look unjust and overpowered.

-Bolg- · **Joined:** Sat Jan 05, 2013 8:45 pm **Posts:** 120

Bolg isn't overpowerd, his rule isn't really important.
wow, when he has 10 kills he gets a free might a turn, But you don't want him to kill warriors, you do want to use him to kill enemy heroes with +1 on the roll, that's mutch better. F7 is good, but heroic strike makes it able to beat him with ease, if you opponent plays smart he can make bolg rubbish. (but he's still strong)

azog

Draugluin · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2013 6:22 pm

Actually no, you want Bolg to slaughter warriors, get a fair amount of kills, THEN go after heros. While I agree that he is way too powerful for an orc, he is about the right price. If you ever face him, bring along Saruman, good or evil, and immobilise him. After he spends his 3 will, just keep immobilising him.

-Bolg- · **Joined:** Sat Jan 05, 2013 8:45 pm **Posts:** 120

but every turn 1 warrioir or 2, that will take at least 6 turns (mutch luck)
and then the game ends...

magic brings him out.

Lucas

SouthernDunedain · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2013 7:25 pm

Gandalf works just as well. Not everyone takes a wizard though. I dont think he is OP just good. Just the kind of badass orc I need to lead my armies. Best thing as already said though is to head straight for the biggest group of basic troops and start mowing them down. Couple of heroic combats and you'll be well on your way to 10 kills. If you ally in a taskmaster, you may well be able to get 'free' might.

Overpowered BOLG

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