What's the dilly-o on this "SBG Reboot"?

[HRM]

What's the word? I've been out of the loop a long time and thought I'd check back in. I only played WOTR, but not in over a year - been on a huge WarmaHordes kick of late. Thing is, WM/H was my first ever "skirmish" game and I think I like the scale. Go figure - a game like WM/H getting me BACK into LotR.

Is this a "relaunch" or simply GW giving the game some love (ie, is it safe to buy the rulebook)? Have the rules changed much (not that that'll matter much as I never played the SBG)? I hear there's "army books" now for the different forces, how's that shaking down? Is WOTR still alive and kicking?

Bottom line, I think I'm itching to bust out my Sons of Eorl again and kick some Isengard tail, but in the SBG this time. What say ye, Warseers?

Thanks in advance!

[Whitwort Stormbringer]

All the core rules are still in the SBG rulebook, whether you go for the big hardcover or the manual from Mines of Moria is up to you, but the new army books replace old profiles (to my knowledge) and there are some specific new force-building rules, mainly that you now build a force out of "warbands" - every warrior in your force is assigned to a hero's retinue, and you must have no more than 12 warriors per hero.

So the reboot doesn't really change the game mechanics, just organization. There are some new profiles, as well, and some existing profiles were given new upgrade options or special rules.

[HRM]

Huh. OK, cool. Thanks. I picked up the big rulebook yesterday, but I'll have to wait till next pay to get the "Kingdoms Of Men" book.

As an aside... I haven't bought any Gee-Dub product in a while, over a year at least... The sticker shock on some of the Finecast stuff was horrific to me. Theoden, King of Rohan (thank God I already own him) is $39 Canadian, for ONE dude on horse and ONE dude on foot??? *shudder*

[Avatar of the Eldar]

I haven't bought any Gee-Dub product in a while, over a year at least... The sticker shock on some of the Finecast stuff was horrific to me. *shudder*

Indeed, it's appalling. In a fit of hope triumphing over experience, I bought the new WFB Empire army book yesterday. $41 - twice the amount it was when I got into the hobby 10 years ago. I get there's inflation - but 100% while the game itself continues to degenerate.

[The Devourer]

The base game hasn't really changed. Rather than a reboot it's more of a clean up. Nothing major has changed however they have restructured it to make it more user friendly. The new books are great- they have collected all the profiles that were spread over many WD and put them in single books. Rather than needing multiple sourcebooks and WD issues all you need is a single army book. They have also made some small changes to profiles to balance some models and some changes to how you build armies but these are very minor.

[Peregrin]

I am a WotR player first, but like the OP, I find it hard to build up large armies with the price point as it is currently. And yes, prices are worse in Canada than in the US or GB.

For that reason I did pick up the new SBG sourcebooks for KoM and Free Peoples. I had the hardcover rules already. I'm really enjoying it, and it is easier to justify picking up a few metals at a time. Eventually I want to build some of the things I'm buying into a WotR force, but for now at least I'm getting use out of smaller numbers, and SBG is a great game on it's own.

BTW, I'm located in Moncton and a couple of players sometimes do day trips to Halifax. We should try to get a game in sometime.

[HRM]

BTW, I'm located in Moncton and a couple of players sometimes do day trips to Halifax. We should try to get a game in sometime.

I actually moved outta Halifax; I live just outside of Shubenacadie now, which would technically be closer.

[Peregrin]

Is that near the mammoth?

[HRM]

Not even 5 minutes past it.

[Peregrin]

Heh... this conversation must look funny to someone not from the area....

FYI, We are having a LotR SBG demo Tuesday night (April 17th) at the Moncton Gamezilla on Mountain Rd.

[HRM]

Heh... this conversation must look funny to someone not from the area....

FYI, We are having a LotR SBG demo Tuesday night (April 17th) at the Moncton Gamezilla on Mountain Rd.

Wish I could make it. Weekends are the only time I can make a road trip.

A demo would be good - I've read the rulebook but the rules themselves are so sparse that I need to see it in action, honestly.