"15mm Figures for War of the Last Alliance" Topic

Hello All,

I am just opening a discussion on the player's vision of the War of the Last Alliance.

To me Tolkien works have always been a Dark Age saga in the spirit of Beowulf. As such my vision of the Tolkien's world have always been tied to my historical imagery of the 11th and 12th century.

In short, when I read about Rohan, Gondor, or Arnor, I see chain mail hauberks, Kite shields, and conical helmets.

Now I am researching 15mm miniatures suitable for the War of the Last Alliance. From one point of view I can start of where I see the 3rd Age of Middle earth and work back in my historical timeline. If Gondor is my equivalent of Western Europe or Byzantine Empire in the 1000's would the end of the Second age be the same as a Greek Period or Late Roman in appearance?

Another consideration is that the Second age saw Númenórean power at its height. While the kingdoms in Exile were not as mighty as Ar-Pharazôn's fleet that sailed west, it still represented the military technology of Númenor at the time.

Would it be appropriate to represent the Númenórean military technology of the 2nd Age higher than what we have see the 3rd Age? In essence Gondor and the west have been in a period of decline throughout the 3rd Age.

With this initial thought what miniatures would you recommend for the Forces of Gondor and Arnor in the War of the last Alliance in 15mm?

Thanks

I use Normans, Byzantines, and late empire Romans.Paint and banners does wonders for getting the fantastic aspects. I use successor Greeks for elves.

Yes, the 2nd Age Numenoreans should look more hi-tech.

I'm rusty on such things, but I think there are references to plate-and-mail armour, fish-styled kit and hollow-steel arrows.

As to figs you might want to look at high-elf ranges.

Tolkien is in print somewhere saying the pics on the Bayeux tapestry were about right for his idea of troops.

I think you're right in the Gondor 3A decline, earlier in the age there is a refence (in one of the posthumous volumes) for a Gondor army with lots of knights in colourful livery. By the WOTR we see only the Dol Amroth knights.

David F Brown

I dunno, technological change seems pretty moribund, doubt there's any real difference in armour and weapons.

FWIW I used Two-Dragons Normans for my Gondorians

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