The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game/Tactics/The Shire

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Why Play The Shire

Cons

its the fricking shire

Army Bonus

• • Fear! Fire! Foes!: Hobbit models in your army get the Woodland Creature rule. Useful.

Unit Analysis

Heroes

• Frodo of The Nine Fingers: If you don't know who he is, you're not playing this game, but this is Frodo on his return, so he works a little different. He acts as a Banner for all Hobbits within 6, but can never charge and can't strike blows if his side wins, so he's best at holding back and acting as the only banner in your army. He's also the most expensive hero in your force (outside of Gandalf) at 60 points, and he only comes with 1 point of Might and 1 point of Fate (even if he has Defense 6 with his Mithril Coat), so make sure to keep him in the backlines.

• Samwise The Brave: One of the highest strength models in your army (at S3, with Sting) and comes with 2 might, 2 will and 3 fate. But without any neat special rules, you're probably better off taking Merry or Pippin first, as they're Heroes of Valor instead of Fortitude, and they actually come with some interesting rules. He only really takes off as a hero if you have Rosie Cotton nearby.

• Meriadoc, Captain of The Shire: Hero of Valor with 2 might, 2 will and 2 fate. Only S2 but comes with armor and can take a shield to make him D5 (very high for Shire). He also comes with a Warhorn that gives all Hobbits +1 Courage and can make Hobbit Militia in his warband Battlin' Brandybucks, making them S3 for 1 point a model, which is invaluable. Should be one of your first choices for heroes in this army.

• Peregrin, Captain of The Shire: Identical stats to Merry (S2, D4, plus the option for the shield, 2M/2W/2F), but trades in his warhorn for an ability to reroll wounds against Monsters and Heroes which is less useful. Can also upgrade Hobbit Archers into Tookish Hunters, giving them Fight 3/3+ for 1 point. That part is...okay, but it's usually gonna be wasted on Hobbit Archers. Merry is more valuable, but Pippin is pretty good too.

• Paladin Took: Basically just a Hobbit Militiaman in combat, but comes with 1 Might, 1 Will and 2 Fate, and 2 wounds. He can also give his Archers Fight 3/3+ for the same +1 point as Pippin, but it's just as meh here. The real reason to take Paladin (aside from being a 25 point way to unlock 12 more troops) is that his Stand Fast is 12 inches, even if it only applies to Hobbits.

• Farmer Maggot:

• Lobelia Sackville-Baggins:

• Fredegar Bolger:

• Farmer Tolman Cotton:

• Rosie Cotton: 15 point Independent Hero with no Might, 1 Will and 2 Fate, and combat stats significantly worse than a Hobbit Militiaman (Fight 1, unarmed). The reason you take her is she gives Sam +1 Attack for being within 6 inches and if she's in a Fight within 4 of him, he can declare a free Heroic Combat to try and get closer to her. Take her with Sam and keep them close together or don't take her at all.

• Whil Whitfoot, Mayor of Hobbiton:

• Folco Boffin:

• Holfoot Bracegirdle, Shiriff Leader:

• Robin Smallburrow, Hobbit Shiriff:

• Hamfast "Gaffer" Gamgee:

• Baldo Tulpenny:

• Lotho Sackville-Baggins:

• Bilbo Baggins:

• Bandobras Took:

• Gandalf the Grey:

• Dunedain:

Troops

• Hobbit Militia:

• Hobbit Archer:

• Hobbit Sherrif: