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It’s been a while since I have blogged about going to U-Con, although if you heard last Saturday’s episode you’ll know that I talked about it quite a bit. But for those of you who didn’t, U-Con is a gaming convention that occurs in Michigan once-a-year that focuses mostly on games; whether they be board games, card games, miniatures, or role-playing. The convention itself has a pretty good following and goes from Friday to Sunday with games going on the entire time. But for me, I go for one thing and that is to assist The Fellowship get through Moria.
You see, I go to play Game Workshop’s Lord of the Rings Battle Strategy Game, hosted by a friend of mine that we met through the show, Curtis aka Talbot of Landroval. He runs three different sessions of the game that starts at the Gates of Moria and finishes up at the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. The dungeon is segmented into 5 different sections:
- The Gates of Moria
- A hallway leading to Balin’s Tomb
- Balin’s Tomb
- A series of bridges leading to the Bridge of Khazad-dûm
- Bridge of Khazad-dûm
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Throughout the experience you face different enemies such as orcs, wargs, a cave troll, and even the Balrog. Players (we had a limit of 6) control different members of The Fellowship and in each segment try to accomplish different tasks. For example, at the Gates of Moria the tasks are to:
- Rescue Frodo from The Watcher in the Water
- Have the Fellowship go through the Gates of Moria
- Defend against the Watcher, his tentacles, and an advancing pack of wargs
- Extra points are awarded if you are able to get Bill the Pony off the board before The Fellowship escapes into Moria
It really is a lot of fun, and next year I’ll make sure to post ahead of time if I (or we) will be there so that if others wish to come they may do so.
Once again I’d like to thank Curtis for a great time and some good memories. He put a lot of effort into the game including creating custom scenery and painting the miniatures. It is always an amazing display and I can’t wait until next year (or even possibly this year’s Wintercon) to play again!
November 18, 2011 at 8:39 am
I used to play this game, it is great fun!
November 18, 2011 at 8:41 am
AWESOME! That board looks like a BLAST to play on. You can see the work put in on the miniatures also. Good detail, and well done.
Game Workshop’s Lord of the Rings Battle Strategy Game is one of the best games they have put out. With the range of miniatures they have for it, its a Tolkien fans dream.
Thank you for the article and the pictures. Always groovy read something about miniature gaming and painting.
November 18, 2011 at 12:56 pm
Seeing those pictures really makes me wish I would have gone to UCon. Ah well. Also makes me think I should probably get around to painting my bajillion goblins and dwarves.
Also been thinking of using LotRO skirmishes as the basis of scenarios for the Strategy Battle Game.
November 19, 2011 at 3:04 am
That is a really good idea. They would certainly make groovy scenarios for sure! =)
November 19, 2011 at 10:56 am
I love the Games Workshop Lord of the Rings SBG, and in fact it has been cutting into my LOTRO time lately….
I’m off to paint some Galadhrim warriors…..
November 19, 2011 at 4:57 pm
When I heard about this on the podcast I thought you were talking about the ne LotR Clix from WizKids. I’ve been salavating over those since I saw the previews on Facebook. (I’ve liked their system since Hero Clix first came out) But you were kicking it “old school”. Very nice work on both the figs and the terrain. Thanks for sharing!
November 21, 2011 at 9:57 am
Thanks for the coverage Merric. On top of simply being glad you come along to play – I always like it when you do because I know you’ll photograph the even better than I do! Thanks for compliments all, being a show-off is a good chuck of the reason I do these events at the local conventions.
Definitely bring Goldenstar and Baby Hobbit next year – now that you know the hotel is a decent place
Hope to see some more of you folks at Wintercon on December 3rd!
November 21, 2011 at 3:48 pm
I won’t be able to make it to Wintercon after all, but you can definitely count on me next year!
November 20, 2011 at 1:11 am
Happy Painting! =) (always a good thing!)