4 Factions MISSING from the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game (Yes, Really)

Thumbnail Credit: White Dwarf - June 2019

 

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Credit: Games Workshop

The Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game (MESBG) is quite unique among tabletop skirmish games. It's a fantasy game, that runs like a historic. This means:

• Armies represent specific moments in a faction’s history, rather than the faction as a whole
• Forces are built around who was present, not who would create the most mechanically distinct playstyle
• Overlap is expected; many lists share identical units or strengths
• Army identity is defined by context (for example, Fords of Isen feels very different to Ride Out, despite them both being Rohan lists)
• Absence defines identity as much as inclusion, restrictions in heroes, troops, and allies reflect the realities of the moment being portrayed
• While points balance is generally strong, not all armies are designed for equal competitiveness (for example, Sharkey’s Rogues is not intended to stand on equal footing with The Black Gate)

What I'm trying to say with all this pish, is that MESBG armies don't necessarily need to introduce a new playstyle, mighty heroes, or even necessarily a competitive edge to be included in the game. They also don't even need access to that many units to be considered an army.

It only needs to represent something that existed, or logically did exist, clearly and faithfully.

With this in mind, the baseline I'm going to measure against when justifying my thoughts is The Beornings faction. They're:

• Not in either film trilogy (barring the man himself) , and not talked about too much in the books
• Weren't particularly well known at the time of release
• Have like three units, who appear in almost no other lists
• Generally had a fairly limited impact on the world of Middle Earth

If an army brings more to the table than that, then it could reasonably have a place in the MESBG. 

Not because it's powerful, or new, but because it was present.

So, read on as I give you the meat, and give it to you raw about which Factions need to be added to the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game

1- Bree

Home to the Prancing Pony, Barliman Butterbur, The Gatekeeper, and the occasional heir to Isildur, Bree stands as one of the last settled enclaves of Men in the North.

It's a walled town, with a gate, security, and above all - a genuine place in the story. It's the place where Frodo intends to meet Gandalf the Grey, and the place where Saruman recruits many of the thugs he uses in the Scouring of the Shire. 

It's not grand, but it does exist; having a defined presence in the narrative, a culture, and identity. 

On The Table

I imagine that the forces of Bree would be made up of militia, rather than professional soldiers. Who'd be supported by utility heroes like Barliman and the Gatekeeper.

Depending on how many lists the Faction is broken down into, you could even include the likes of Strider, Gandalf the Grey, or even the Hobbits. 

Credit: John Howe (I think, some sources credit Alan Lee!)

2- Ered Mithrin

Of all the great dwarf settlements in Middle-Earth, Ered-Mithrin is often the most forgotten. 

Founded after the abandonment of Khazad-dûm, the Grey Mountains became a new centre of Dwarven power...until they were broken by the Dragons of the North.

This is not a minor footnote. It is a defining conflict in the history of Durin’s Folk, including:

• The rise of a new kingdom
• The return of dragons in force
• The deaths of kings, and the scattering of their people

What's more, the Dragons of the North list already exists in MESBG, and (for those who don't know), the holds of Ered-Mithrin were destroyed by this very faction.

The bad guys are already present, it only makes sense to include their counterparts. I'm sure we can all agree that it would be a bit weird to include a Assault Upon Helm's Deep list, without including the Defenders of Helm's Deep list as well. 

Credit: Artist Unknown (I really tried here, but if you know - let me know!)

On The Table

Ered-Mithrin was founded after the fall of Khazad-Dum, so the core list should mirror many of the units available - Dwarf Warriors; Rangers; Iron Guard and so on. 

Where it distinguishes itself is through its heroes, which could include Dain I ; Borin ; Thror ; Fror ; and Gror. Much like the Arnorians, this would Faction would represent the side that was actively losing the war. 

Their army identity could reflect their ongoing conflict, by giving:

• Bonuses when facing monsters
• Increased resilience against terror
• or maybe even improved objective holding abilities

 

3- Numenor (Yes, Really)

I know what you're thinking here, but the Numenor we have in the Armies of The Lord of the Rings book is not a Numenor army. It's just the human half of the Last Alliance, as shown in the Peter Jackson movies. 

Now, I'm not talking about representing Numenor pre-sinking (nobody needs a Karl Marx-looking Ar-Pharazon wandering the field), I'm talking about a full representation of Numenor's might in Middle-Earth,  in the lead up to the Last Alliance. 

Credit: New Line Cinema - Lord of the Rings 

On the Table

This requires one key thing - more unit options. 

Even the films, we see a Numenorean banner bearer, and mounted Numenorean Warriors (for like 1 second - but if that's enough for us to get Riders of the Dead, then it should be enough for us to get Numenorean Riders as well). 

Beyond that, there are also clear character absences, like Anarion, brother to Isildur. He played a key role in the war of the Last Alliance, but for some reason has never been shown, despite repeated teasing from Games Workshop.

This period has a distinct culture and aesthetic, and a key role in the playable history of Middle-Earth - it really deserves the love. 

4- The Other Realms of Arnor

Finally, we need to talk about Arnor. 

Much like Numenor, the Arnor we have isn't really Arnor, it's Arthedain.

You see, before Arnor fell, it divided into three realms:

• Rhudaur
• Cardolan
• Arthedain

Only one of these is represented in-game.

Although not explored in depth, neither of these are minor factions, they're both actually essential to understanding Arnor's collapse.

I'll try to separate these as best I can, as both nations fell in very different ways, and were led by very different rulers.

Rhudaur was the first to fall. The line of Kings ended, and soon the nation was ruled by a series of Hill-Kings, many of which threw their lot in with Angmar! (Which puts them in the unique position of being both a Good and Evil Army)

Cardolan on the other hand endured at first, but was worn down by plague and war. There's very little to say about their leadership, other than that there was a figure known as the Last Prince of Cardolan, who led the nation in its dying days 

On The Table

As with Arnor, both of these factions should be quite limited.

Rhudaur could have access to more 'hill-men' style units. While Cardolan remains more defensive and professional. 

Visually, you'd see a lot of contrast:

• Rhudaur: fur, scavenged armour, more dirt and grime
• Cardolan: Worn yet noble, clinging to what remains

A Note

With a bit of imaginative converting, you could actually create both of these armies using the Realms of Men list.

I'm doing that myself. My current project is a 500pt list to represent the Defenders of Cameth Brin - Rhudaur's capital

 

Final Thoughts

The Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game does not need invention to grow. It does not need new mechanics, exaggerated heroes, or bloated unit lists. It just needs clarity and place.

It needs to look at what already exists within Tolkien’s world, and represent it fully, respectfully, and in context.

As a fan, expanding the scope of the MESBG is always fun. But sadly the businesses involved are always locked up in licensing, profit profit projections, marketability and so on. 

What this means is that sadly, these lists may never happen, but we probably will get stats for Elanor, Daughter of Samwise, when Shadows of the Past comes out. 

 

A Question For You

So...what have I missed? 

What moments of Middle-earth are still unrepresented, not because they lack potential, but because they’ve been overlooked?

Set aside what would be cool for a moment.

Look instead at what is there.

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