middle earth strategy battle game rules

Well now, let me tell ya somethin’ about this here “Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game Rules.” Don’t go gettin’ all fancy on me, it ain’t rocket science. It’s just a game, plain and simple, like checkers but with more little plastic fellers.

First off, ya gotta have them little army men. They call ’em miniatures, but I call ’em army men. Ya get some good guys and some bad guys. Orcs and elves and whatnot. Reminds me of them old cowboy and Indian toys, but these here are, well, different.

Now, this game, it’s all about points. See, each army man, each sword and shield, they got a point value. Kinda like when ya go to the store, everything costs somethin’. Ya can’t just go grabbin’ whatever ya want. Ya gotta have enough points to pay for it.

• Points Match: This is the regular way to play. Ya and your friend, ya both agree on how many points, like say 500. Then ya pick your army men, add up their points, and make sure it don’t go over 500. Fair and square. Usually ends up with about 50 little guys on each side, give or take.
• War Party: This here is like a small skirmish, ya know, a little fight. Only 250 points. Not as many army men, but still fun. Quicker too, for when ya ain’t got all day.
• Big Battles: Now, sometimes ya want a real barn burner. 700 points or even more! That’s when ya get a whole mess of army men, a real battle like in them movies. They even have tournaments where folks fight for the title of “Champion of Middle-earth.” Sounds fancy, don’t it?

So, ya got your army picked out, now what? Well, ya gotta move them army men around on a table. They say it’s Middle-earth, but it looks like a table to me. Ya measure how far they can go with a little stick. And when they get close enough, they can fight. Ya roll some dice, see who hits who, who gets hurt. It’s all kinda like playing pretend, but with rules.

The rules themselves, well, they ain’t too bad. Some folks say they’re the best rules ever made for a game like this. I don’t know about all that, but they seem to work alright. Ya can play big battles or small ones. Ya can have a few heroes or a whole bunch of regular soldiers. The rules, they kinda bend to what ya wanna do. That’s good, I reckon. Keeps things interesting.

The book with all the rules, they call it a manual. It tells ya everything ya need to know. How far the army men can move, how they fight, all that jazz. It’s a bit thick, but ya don’t gotta read it all at once. Just start with the basics and learn as ya go. Ain’t no shame in askin’ questions neither. Even us old folks gotta learn sometimes.

One thing I like about this game, it ain’t just about who’s got the biggest army. Ya gotta be smart too. Ya gotta think about where to put your army men, who to attack, when to run away. It’s like a puzzle, ya know? And sometimes, even a small army can beat a big one if ya play it right. Reminds me of David and Goliath, that story from the good book.

And ya can play it however ya want. Ya wanna make it like the big battles from the movies? Ya can do that. Ya wanna just have a small fight in the woods? Ya can do that too. It’s all up to you. That’s what they mean by sandbox, I guess. Ya can build whatever ya want.

So, if you’re lookin’ for a game that’s fun and makes ya think, this here Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game might be just the ticket. Don’t be intimidated by all them fancy words. It’s just a game, and it’s meant to be enjoyed. Just get yourself some army men, read the rules, and start playin’. You might be surprised how much fun ya have.

Now, remember, the most important thing is to have fun. Don’t get all worked up if ya lose. It’s just a game, after all. And if ya don’t understand somethin’, just ask. There’s always someone willin’ to help. Now go on, git out there and have a good time.

Tags: [Middle-earth, Strategy Battle Game, MESBG, Rules, Miniatures, Wargaming, Points Match, War Party, Tabletop Game, Games Workshop]