BGiMe Magazine - Issues 1-13

For these posts, I have decided to take 13 issues at a time so as not to make the posts too onerous and hopefully get across the information in as small a space as possible. First up, we have Battle Games in Middle-earth Issues 1-13...

These magazines set the agenda early on and each issue builds upon the skills and lessons learned in the previous issues. The layout is very similar in each issue to make things more familiar and easier to find, and each issue follows a theme. If followed week-by-week then all of the reader's hobby skills should develop at a steady pace, until at the end of the whole release it should be second nature to buy a new set of miniatures, prep and paint them, stat them up and ready them for battle on a fully scenic tabletop.

Which brings us nicely onto the contents of the magazines...

Issue 1

Guide to Middle-earth - An overview of the characters and lands of Middle-earth and the quest of the Fellowship, plus the story of Aragorn (5 pages)

Playing the Game - This section introduces the hobby and what you'll need to play (2 pages)

Battle Game - Goblin Ambush - Aragorn versus 12 Goblins plus some rules on how to play (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Prepping and painting the Moria Goblins that came with this pack (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - How to make a basic battlefield (4 pages)

Issue 2

Guide to Middle-earth - An introduction to the 2nd Age Last Alliance (1 page)

Playing the Game - Characteristics (6 pages)

Battle Game - The Last Alliance - 12 Goblins versus 8 Elves and 4 Men of Gondor (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - How to paint Elves and Men of Gondor, including dry-brushing and armour washes (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Tools needed to make terrain (4 pages)

Issue 3

Guide to Middle-earth - Frodo (1 page)

Playing the Game - Priority and Move (6 pages)

Battle Game - Pursuit of the Ringwraiths - Aragorn and Frodo versus five Ringwraiths (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Frodo Baggins (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Making a hedgerow (4 pages)

Issue 4

Guide to Middle-earth - The Fighting Uruk-hai (1 page)

Playing the Game - Fight phase (6 pages)

Battle Game - Elven Attack - 8 Elves versus 10 Uruk-hai (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Uruk-hai warriors (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Making a hill (4 pages)

Issue 5

Guide to Middle-earth - Lurtz (1 page)

Playing the Game - Shoot Phase (6 pages)

Battle Game - Hunt of the Uruk-hai - Aragorn and Frodo versus Lurtz and four Uruk-hai (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Lurtz (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Making a gaming area (4 pages)

Issue 6

Guide to Middle-earth - Aragorn (1 page)

Playing the Game - Movement and Terrain (6 pages)

Battle Game - Defend the Ruins - Aragorn versus five Uruk-hai (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Aragorn (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Making Ruins (4 pages)

Issue 7

Guide to Middle-earth - Defenders of the Riddermark (1 page)

Playing the Game - Defending Barriers (4 pages)

Battle Game - Repel the Marauders - 12 Warriors of Rohan versus 14 Uruk-hai (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Warriors of Rohan (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Walls and Fences (4 pages)

Issue 8

Guide to Middle-earth (This issue featured a gatefold front cover) - Weapons of Middle-earth, Lothlorien and Legolas (5 pages)

Playing the Game - Missile Weapons (2 pages)

Battle Game - Raid on Lothlorien - Frodo and Legolas versus 8 Goblins and a captain (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Legolas (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Trees and Forests (6 pages)

Issue 9

Guide to Middle-earth - The Uruk-hai invasion of Rohan (1 page)

Playing the Game - Melee Weapons (4 pages)

Battle Game - Burn the Village - Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli with 12 Warriors of Rohan versus 20 Uruk-hai with a captain (8 pages)

Painting Workshop - Basic Techniques (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Warning Beacon (4 pages)

Issue 10

Guide to Middle-earth - The Creation of Saruman's Army (1 page)

Playing the Game - Courage (4 pages)

Battle Game - Burn the Village II (8 pages)

Painting Workshop - Batch Painting (2 pages)

Modelling Workshop - A Rohirrim Building (6 pages)

Issue 11

Guide to Middle-earth - Boromir (1 page)

Playing the Game - Heroes, Might and Fate (6 pages)

Battle Game - Ambush at Amon Hen - A two-part scenario; Part 1 - To the Rescue, pits Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli against 16 Uruk-Hai and a captain. Part 2 - Capture the Halflings, has Boromir, Merry and Pippin against Lurtz and 12 Uruk-hai (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Boromir (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Making a Standing Stone (4 pages)

Issue 12

Guide to Middle-earth - Gandalf the Grey (1 page)

Playing the Game - Magic and Will (6 pages)

Battle Game - Clash of Wills - Gandalf versus the Witch King and 4 Ringwraiths (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Gandalf the Grey (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - A Hilltop Ruin (4 pages)

Issue 13

Guide to Middle-earth - The Lands of the Riddermark (1 page)

Playing the Game - Battlefield Tactics (6 pages)

Battle Game - Wizards' Duel - a special board game of Gandalf versus Saruman in the Tower of Orthanc (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Rohan Horses (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Scenic Details (4 pages)

I hope you enjoyed this trip through a summary of the first thirteen issues of the Battle Games in Middle-earth magazine. The next blog post will feature issues 14 to 26.