BGiMe Magazine - Issues 27-39

Here is the third part of the Battle Games in Middle-earth magazine summaries...

Issue 27

Guide to Middle-earth - March on Helm's Deep (1 page)

Playing the Game - Siege Games (8 pages)

Battle Game - Hold the Fort - Eomer, 6 Riders and 12 Warriors of Rohan versus Uruk-hai captain, 20 Uruk-hai, 4 Uruk-hai Siege Engineers and 1 Uruk-hai Berserker (4 pages)

Painting Workshop - Uruk-hai Siege Troops (2 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Palisade Fort (6 pages)

Issue 28

Guide to Middle-earth - Haldir (1 page)

Playing the Game - Fighting in a Fortress (4 pages)

Battle Game - The Helm's Deep Campaign - Rules for linking all of the Helm's Deep related scenarios (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Haldir (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Fortress Walls and Towers (6 pages)

Issue 29

Guide to Middle-earth - Theoden (1 page)

Playing the Game - Assaulting the Battlements (4 pages)

Battle Game - The Deeping Wall - Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Haldir, 4 Elves and 8 Warriors of Rohan versus 3 Uruk-hai captains, Uruk-hai Berserker, 4 Uruk-hai Siege Troops and 24 Uruk-hai (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Theoden (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - The Gatehouse (6 pages)

Issue 30

Guide to Middle-earth - Uruk-hai Berserker (1 page)

Playing the Game - The Fortress (4 pages)

Battle Game - Retreat to the Hall - Theoden, Gamling, 12 Warriors of Rohan versus 3 Uruk-hai captains, 3 Uruk-hai Berserkers, 8 Uruk-hai Siege Troops, and 24 Uruk-hai (8 pages)

Painting Workshop - Uruk-hai Berserker (2 pages)

Modelling Workshop - The Fortress Keep (6 pages)

Issue 31

Guide to Middle-earth - The Heroes of Helm's Deep (1 page)

Playing the Game - Siege Weapons (4 pages)

Battle Game - Retreat to the Hall Part 2 (8 pages)

Painting Workshop - An Uruk-hai Army (2 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Fortress Tower (6 pages)

Issue 32

Guide to Middle-earth - Brave Little Hobbits (1 page)

Playing the Game - The Last March of the Ents (2 pages)

Battle Game - Breach the Dam - Merry, Pippin, Treebeard, Ent versus 20 Uruk-hai, 12 Orcs, 3 Uruk-hai Berserkers and 3 Uruk-hai captains (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Merry and Pippin (6 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Dam at Isengard  (6 pages)

Issue 33

Guide to Middle-earth - The Battle for Osgiliath (1 page)

Playing the Game - Different Ways to Play (4 pages)

Battle Game - Besieged - a Points Match scenario (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Soldiers of Gondor (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Ruins of Osgiliath (6 pages)

Issue 34

Guide to Middle-earth - Osgiliath has Fallen (1 page)

Playing the Game - Banners (4 pages)

Battle Game - Defend the Bridge - 18 Warriors of Minas Tirith, Banner Bearer versus 24 Orcs (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Gondorian Baner Bearer (2 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Osgiliath Bridge (8 pages)

Issue 35

Guide to Middle-earth - Galadriel (1 page)

Playing the Game - The Forces of Lothlorien (4 pages)

Battle Game - Crossing the Silverlode - The Fellowship (sans Gandalf), Galadriel, Haldir, 6 Wood Elves versus Goblin captain and 24 Goblins (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Galadriel (2 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Elven Tree Platforms (8 pages)

Issue 36

Guide to Middle-earth - Ancient Elves of Middle-earth (1 page)

Playing the Game - The Army of Lorien (4 pages)

Battle Game - Watchpost Attack - Elrond, 8 Elves, 12 Wood Elves versus 12 Orcs, 24 Goblins, Goblin captain and Orc captain (4 pages)

Painting Workshop - Elrond (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Elven Watchpost (8 pages)

Issue 37

Guide to Middle-earth - The Ringwraiths (1 page)

Playing the Game - The Ringwraiths (4 pages)

Battle Game - Hunting the Ring Bearer - Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin and Aragorn versus the Witch King and 4 Ringwraiths (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - The Witch King of Angmar (2 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Amon Sul (8 pages)

Issue 38

Guide to Middle-earth - Wormtongue (1 page)

Playing the Game - Grima Wormtongue (2 pages)

Battle Game - Assault on Orthanc - Theoden, Eomer, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf the White, 12 Warriors and 6 Riders of Rohan versus Saruman, Grima, Grishnakh, 3 Uruk-hai captains, 3 Uruk-hai Berserkers, 20 Uruk-hai, 12 Orcs and a Cave Troll (8 pages)

Painting Workshop - Grima Wormtongue (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Saruman's Industry (6 pages)

Issue 39

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

Playing the Game - Wizards of Middle-earth (2 pages)

Battle Game - Assault on Orthanc Part 2 (8 pages)

Painting Workshop - Gandalf the White (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - The Tower of Orthanc (6 pages)

That's it for today - 13 more issues to come tomorrow.

BGiMe Magazine - Issues 14-26

Welcome to the second part of the run through of the articles within the Battle Games in Middle-earth magazine. This will fetaure the same format as the previous post, as well as that for subsequent posts.

There are a lot of these magazines to get through, so bear with me whilst I indulge. With regards the pictures that accompany these posts - they are all taken from the internet. As I have been unable to track down a picture of each cover, I have randomly selected an issue from each of the thirteen issue blocks to represent that bunch of magazines. I find it is always nice to have some kind of pictorial representation on each blog post, just to break up the monotony of a page of just words if nothing else.

Issue 14

Guide to Middle-earth - The Riders of Rohan (1 page)

Playing the Game - Cavalry (6 pages)

Battle Game - Attack at the Ford - 6 Riders and 8 Warriors of Rohan versus 10 Uruk-hai plus a captain  (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - The Riders of  Rohan (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Rivers and Fords (4 pages)

Issue 15

Guide to Middle-earth - Isengard (3 pages)

Playing the Game - Saruman and Gandalf (2 pages)

Battle Game - The Gap of Rohan - The Fellowship versus Saruman, Lurtz, Ugluk, Uruk-hai captain, 24 Uruk-hai, 12 Goblins  (8 pages)

Painting Workshop - Saruman the White (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Making Bridges (4 pages)

Issue 16

Guide to Middle-earth - Ugluk (1 page)

Playing the Game - The Forces of Isengard (4 pages)

Battle Game - The Gap of Rohan part 2 (8 pages)

Painting Workshop - Ugluk (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Outcrops and Ridges (4 pages)

Issue 17

Guide to Middle-earth - Grishnakh (1 page)

Playing the Game - Creating Scenarios (4 pages)

Battle Game - A Thief in the Night - Ugluk and 10 Uruk-hai versus Grishnak, Orc Captain and 12 Orcs (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Grishnakh (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Fangorn Forest (6 pages)

Issue 18

Guide to Middle-earth - Eomer (1 page)

Playing the Game - The Forces of Rohan (6 pages)

Battle Game - The Wrath of Rohan - Eomer, Merry, Pippin, 12 Warriors and 6 Riders of Rohan versus Ugluk, Grishnak, 8 Uruk-hai, 8 Orcs (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Eomer (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Wilderness Campsite (4 pages)

Issue 19

Guide to Middle-earth - The Walls of Moria (1 page)

Playing the Game - Linking Battle Games (4 pages)

Battle Game - The Watcher in the Water - The Fellowship versus 8 Tentacles from the Watcher in the Water (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Colour Palettes (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Lakes and Shores (6 pages)

Issue 20

Guide to Middle-earth - The Mines of Moria (1 page)

Playing the Game - The Forces of Moria (4 pages)

Battle Game - Lost in the Dark - The Fellowship versus Goblin captain and 24 Goblins (4 pages)

Painting Workshop - Moria Goblins (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Dwarven Mines (8 pages)

Issue 21

Guide to Middle-earth - Gimli (1 page)

Playing the Game - Warriors of the Fellowship (2 pages)

Battle Game - Balin's Tomb - The Fellowship versus Goblin captain, 24 Goblins and a Cave Troll (4 pages)

Painting Workshop - Gimli (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Balin's Tomb (10 pages)

Issue 22

Guide to Middle-earth - The Bridge of Khazad-dum (1 page)

Playing the Game - Theming your Forces (4 pages)

Battle Game - The Bridge of Khazad-dum - The Fellowship versus the Balrog and 24 Goblins (6 pages)

Painting Workshop - Painting Armies (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Khazad-dum (6 pages)

Issue 23

Guide to Middle-earth - Gondor (1 page)

Playing the Game - Forces of Gondor (4 pages)

Battle Game - Open War! - a points match battle (10 pages)

Painting Workshop - Warriors of Minas Tirith (2 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Tools and Materials (4 pages)

Issue 24

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

Playing the Game - Forces of Mordor (4 pages)

Battle Game - Open War! part 2 (8 pages)

Painting Workshop - Mordor Orcs (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - The Bits Box (4 pages)

Issue 25

Guide to Middle-earth - Concerning Hobbits (3 pages)

Playing the Game - Hobbits of the Shire (4 pages)

Battle Game - Escape from Osgiliath - Frodo, Sam and 6 Warriors of Minas Tirith versus 12 Orcs (4 pages)

Painting Workshop - Samwise Gamgee (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Osgiliath Sewers (6 pages)

Issue 26

Guide to Middle-earth - Rangers of Gondor (1 page)

Playing the Game - Lords of Gondor (6 pages)

Battle Game - Ambush in Ithilien - Faramir and 12 Rangers of Gondor versus Orc Captain and 12 Orcs (4 pages)

Painting Workshop - Faramir (4 pages)

Modelling Workshop - Pathways and Roads (6 pages)

Next post will see a summary of issues 27-39. Until next time.

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.

BGiMe Magazine - The features

Time got the better of me today, so I was not able to publish what I wanted to. However, I can at least give a brief overview of what each section of the magazine is used to portray. I will give a more expanded view of the contents of each issue from the next post onwards. The collating of the data is taking quite a bit of time, so I may not be able to post every day on these magazines; but I will try.

Each magazine is divided into the same five sections (with the exception of the three Specials)...

Guide to Middle-earth - Each issue has a basic theme and these ideas are discussed with the Lord of the Rings films and/or books in mind. This section can be mined for lots of background information on the characters, creatures and cultures that share the world of Middle-earth.

Playing the Game - This section deals with the rules of the game and introduces new items in an easy to follow step-by-step manner each issue to develop the gamer's skills. The rules start off very basic, then a wider range of abilities and equipment are added as the gamer becomes more comfortable and proficient with the existing game play.

Battle Games - Over the weeks, miniatures and card cut-outs have been supplied to enable the reader to game with them. These articles provide scenario ideas and then suggest which figures are required to allow the games to be played.

Painting Workshop - Starting off with very basic techniques, these guides take the reader through all aspects of painting a miniature; from model preparation and basic colour schemes, to advanced shading and highlighting techniques.

Modelling Workshop - From very basic cloth over books scenery to highly detailed full-on battle-boards, these articles show the reader how to create scenery pieces for their tabletop games.

In future posts, I will run through a basic summary for each issue to show what was covered in each section of the magazine, so if you are looking to find a particular issue that matches the forces you wish to muster then hopefully this will help you in your quest.

BGiMe Magazine - The free gifts

Alongside the miniatures that came with the magazine, there were the occasional free gifts to entice readers into either buying more magazines or taking out a subscription. Often there would also be card inserts of miniatures within the magazine to help with playing scenarios that the reader might not have enough figures for at the time.

I will run through the main free gifts in order first and then do a follow up of the inserts and extras.

 

Battle Games in Middle-earth - First issue gaming pack

I managed to purchase two of the boarded issue one sets, and once the collection had completed I contacted the back-issue department to grab some more issues that included miniatures of the forces I wanted to build (hence why I have goodly-sized collections of Rohan, Gondor and Mordor Orc plastic miniatures).

Anyway, onto the free gifts and specials lists...

These are the free gifts if you just bought the magazine normally from the local shop:

Issue 1: Backing Board (which I no longer have as it was very large and easily damaged), a large A2 poster of Gandalf vs. the Balrog in Moria, 4 pots of paint and a paint brush, and a single six-sided die.

Issue 2: 4 pots of paint

Issue 3: 1 pot of paint

Issue 19: 3 pots of paint

These are the subscriber free gifts:

Package 1 (Issues 2 & 3 - 31/03/03): Magnifying Glass

Package 2 (Issues 4 & 5 - 24/04/03): Tool kit

Package 3 (Issues 6 & 7 - 13/05/03): Balin's Tomb

Binders for the magazine were given away free with packages released 29/09/03 (issues 16 & 17), 20/04/04 (issues 30 & 31), 05/08/04 (issues 38 & 39) and 15/02/05 (issues 52 & 53) - further binders could be bought on the web site.

The Two Towers Special Edition magazine was released 15/09/03

The Return of the King Special Edition magazine was released 06/12/04

The Fellowship of the Ring Special Edition was released 09/12/05

And the magazine inserts (a cardboard sheet of stand-up "counters" unless otherwise stated)...

Issue 1:    The Fellowship, Elrond, Gamling, Eowyn

Issue 3:    Saruman, Lurtz, 2 Uruk Hai, 2 Mordor Orcs, Goblin Captain, Witch King, 4 Ringwraiths

Issue 7:    Mordor Orc Captain, 3 Uruk Hai

Issue 17:    12 Mordor Orcs

Issue 19:    8 Watcher's tentacles

Issue 21:    Balrog and Cave Troll

Issue 26:    12 Rangers of Gondor

Issue 32:    Treebeard, Ent

Issue 35:    8 Wood Elves, 8 Elves

Issue 37:    6 Mounted Ringwraiths

Issue 40:    6 Warg Riders and a sheet of self-adhesive Rohan banners

Issue 42:    Mordor Troll Chieftain, 2 Mordor Trolls

Issue 44:    16 2nd Age Men of Gondor

Issue 46:    Sauron, Gwaihir

Issue 55:    3 Knights of Minas Tirith

Issue 56:    The War of the Ring Campaign booklet

Issue 63:    Shelob, Mouth of sauron (on foot and mounted), Gothmog

Issue 66:    The Battle for Middle-earth Campaign Map

Issue 67:    16 Wild Men of Dunland

Issue 70:    Mounted Theoden, Eowyn & Gamling with Royal Standard, 2 Mounted Royal Guard

Issue 71:    16 Warriors of the Dead

Issue 72:    Witch King & Ringwraith on Fell Beast

Issue 77:    Easterling Banner Bearer, 12 Easterling Warriors, Arwen, Dwarf Adventurer

Issue 80:    8 Khazad Guards, 4 Barrow Wights, Elladan, Elrohir, Gildor, Goldberry

Issue 83:    13 Dwarf warriors, 2 Goblin Drummers & Drum

Issue 88:    Prince Imrahil (mounted), 5 Mounted Knights of Dol Amroth

Issue 90:    9 Ruffians, Worm, 6 Hobbit Militia

Issue 91:    8 Hobbit Militia, 4 Hobbit Shirriffs, 4 Ruffians

Looking back at this list shows that there were, in fact, quite a few little extras included in the monthly packs. I had completely forgotten about the Rohan banner stickers and campaign map - these might come in useful for games of Battle Companies in the future.

Next post, I will begin to summarise what was in each issue - I will not go into any great depth, but just a brief one-liner for each section of each magazine. I have found it difficult to track down images for  all of the front pages of the magazine, and do not have the time at the moment to scan them all in, so will just use random issue number pictures to accentuate my posts going forward.

Flicking through these magazines again after so long has really got my creative juices flowing - let's hope it can lead to something gaming orientated in the next few weeks to get ths blog ticking over again with useful painting and modelling articles that display my completed miniatures as I finish them.