TORn Staffer Balin was able to attend Games Day in Chicago this year. Here’s his report:
Games Day Chicago 2003
Games Workshop, makers of the LOTR Tabletop Battle Game, brought their GamesDay event to Chicago this weekend. GamesDay is a celebration of all their tabletop battle games, which include Warhammer and Warhammer40K as well as LOTR. This was my first time at such and event.
My day began at 10 AM when I arrived. After buying my ticket I entered the world of tabletop war gaming. I wandered around looking at all the different tables that were set up. There were several dedicated to each of the games. Every table was richly decorated with buildings and scenery, the perfect place to play at war. Seven of the tables were set up for LOTR. The largest of these was set up for the battle of the Last Alliance. Sauron was there in the middle towering over the others. All the miniatures were beautifully painted and the sheer number of them made for a breathtaking panorama. It would be easy to get lost in playing on this game board. Several players did just that.
While this was the largest, Helm’s Deep was the most complex and drew the most interest. I wandered about going to the store area to make my own purchases and take in all the other tables. I came back to the Helm’s deep table and found the same players, Erik and Zak defending the walls and Russ and Brad just as diligently moving wave after wave of miniature Uruk Hai up ladders to take the battlements. There were Uruk Berserkers with a ‘new deviltry’ attempting to blow a hole in the walls. Warg Riders in the ready to enter the breach and attack the Rohirrim Riders garrisoned inside. I think they must have played for at least 90 minutes before they needed to move on to other business.
There was one table for the escape into Lorien. A couple tables were generic landscapes to use for almost any battle scene. The last table was the scenario at Amon Hen. I got lucky and was able to play this one. The object of the forces of Good (the fellowship less Gandalf) was to get the Hobbits to safety. Getting 3 or 4 to safety is a win. Getting 2 is a draw. One of the Hobbits that get to safety must be Frodo. The other characters are expendable. The Hobbits start out in the company of Boromir. The other characters are spread across the board. The Uruk Hai are in the middle. The game combines strategy with a bit of luck. You have to use strategy to give yourself an opportunity but you roll the dice and sometimes luck is not with you. In my case, I was lucky and got some really good rolls and all 4 Hobbits made it to safety. This game can suck you in. You find yourself getting pumped up when that crucial roll goes your way. It is a great experience and very exciting.
There was one seminar on the LOTR game. It was given by Gordon Davidson. He talked about what was coming up for the LOTR Tabletop Battle Game. He gave a slide presentation and the images were awesome. Most have been on the web but there were some new ones from the upcoming ROTK update. There were banner bearers and soldiers of Gondor. Most of the images were of the latest section called Shadow and Flame. This will be in stores in America in a week or so. For some reason I am particularly drawn to Balin’s Guard. This is a box set and I can’t wait to get it. There will be about 9 other box sets and 21 blisters. Shadow and Flame is a first departure from the movies. It introduces characters that are familiar to the books of JRR Tolkien and this will include The Hobbit (look for Smaug and the likes of Beorn in the future). While the movies are out it makes sense to stay with them but this game is not going away any time soon. After the third movie, ROTK, there will be even more added from the books. He also talked about what was coming out for ROTK. There will be box sets like the siege of Gondor and Heroes of the West. There will be much more in the way of scenery. This will be along the lines of the Helm’s deep set that is out in conjunction with TTT. The image of the Fell Beast was great. It was a very tantalizing taste of things to come. I can’t wait.
After the presentation I wandered back to the Gaming room and took in some of the other contests and tournaments going on. There was a speed painting contest area. A gaming area where you could test your skill against each other or some pros. I focused on LOTR but there was much more there. All the games were represented and the national Blood Bowl Tournament was in another room. The day passed quickly and soon it was time to leave. I had a great time and indulged in a little gaming. I know I will be back next year. I hope to see you there!
Balin bows.
Posted in:
Share:
We’ve got two very detailed reports from WizardWorld 2003 which is currently wrapping up in Chicago at the moment. Telcontar & Naomi both send in their report and photos from the event! [More]
Posted in:
Share:
We’ve got two very detailed reports from WizardWorld 2003 which is currently wrapping up in Chicago at the moment.
The first is from Telcontar:
Yes, it was a comicbook convention, but the Chicagoland fans were thrilled to welcome Sean Astin to our home town yesterday. The line was already snaking through the convention floor when we arrived just after 10:00 a.m, and some attendees had to wait for the the second autograph session, but Sean was his usual personable self. Unfortunately, there were only autograph sessions: no question-and-answer sessions at this con. Sean however made everyone feel like there was plenty of time for everyone, chatting and joking with the crowd.
Last year, Sean had requested that LOTR fans become community volunteers in honor and memory of the 9/11 tragedy, and Chicago Fellowship answered the call by founding Pippin’s Apples, to support local anti-hunger organizations. In appreciation of Sean’s being the inspiration of this charity, we presented him with a green glass apple.
The Chicago Fellowship also gave Sean a copy of “The End of the Third Age” by Christopher Tolkien, in which Sean was astonished to discover the fabled LOTR Epilogue. [Rather fitting as it’s about Samwise Gamgee and his daughter, Elanor.]
Sean makes every minute count, and we were fortunate enough to get a group picture with him before he had to dash off to his next appearance. It was a wonderful and too brief time with the actor; we look forward to seeing him again!
The second is from Naomi:
I arrived at the Rosemont Convention center on Saturday, shortly after 3 pm. My first mission: to find the signing booth with Sean Astin (Sam). This was quite a challenge, but I finally received direction from some ladies whom I overheard mention his name. They told me that I would probably get no more than a glimpse of him, however, because the line was so long and earlier they had to turn people away. My spirits dropped significantly, but I couldn’t just give up. Sean was the main reason I came for this convention (although I was glad I did for other reasons, as well… I met Star Wars actors Jeremy Bulloch and Leeanna Walsman), and I just had to meet him now.
I made my way back to his signing booth, and sure enough, the line was extremely long and pretty daunting. The security guard said that we probably wouldn’t get up to him before his time was up, but I decided to hang around for a while anyway. Eventually, they officially “capped” the line, and it appeared that if I was patient, I would eventually get up there!
My waiting-in-line time is hardly exciting, so I’ll get to the good stuff 🙂 My heart was pounding as I approached Samwise himself… but he was enthusiastic and really welcoming! I asked him if he could sign a few things for me, and he replied, “No!” We laughed and he said, “That’s my new joke.” I had a “Lord of the Rings Official Movie Guide” for him to sign, and he drew an arrow pointing out Sam in the line of the Fellowship. He also signed my “Rudy” DVD, and a picture of Sam for my best friend. She’s a huge fan as well. As he was signing my things, I thanked him for playing Sam in the films, because “…When I read the books Sam made me cry, and I when I watch the movies you make me cry…” and he chuckled and said something like, “Aaaaw, nah.”
I’m afraid I was quite star-struck so I could’ve said more, and Sean, if you’re reading this, I meant to tell you I’m really looking forward to seeing your daughter in Return of the King! I think it’s so cool that she’ll play his daughter in the movie, too. I also meant to ask him some questions, but my mind went pretty blank by the time I got up there. But he was so friendly and nice, and he gave his full attention to whoever was talking to him (which I’m sure was no easy task, with all the people and noise around him and in the line). I asked for a picture with him, and he was even patient when the camera didn’t seem to be working for my little brother.
Then he asked, “Is this your boyfriend?” I thought he was referring to the cute guy behind me, but he was actually pointing to my brother I think. Oh well, then it was his turn. He told Sean he thought it was cool to meet him, and Sean said, “Well I think it’s cool to meet you too!” My brother had a shirt with the Fellowship characters on it, and Sean pointed to Sam and said, “Look, that’s me!” I thought it was cool how he took the time to notice things like that – he commented on some of the things people had him sign, and a few T shirts. He signed my brother’s shirt and I took a picture of them.
And that was my moment with Sean Astin – others have said it before, I’ll say it again. He’s such a nice guy! It was really exciting to meet him in person. And the day I went, it was free, which was a relief. He didn’t rush, and was really personal with everyone. Thanks Sean, you’re great! Definitely a day I’ll never forget.
[Click here to view all the WizardWorld 2003 Images]
Posted in:
Share:
Murky Majare is a new name to me, I”ve never had a report from him/her before. However he/she does have a few interesting details on the FULL ROTK preview we shall see on the TTT DVD (and yes the trailer we posted is part of it). Take a look! !!!SPOILERS!!! [More]
Posted in:
Share:
Murky Majare writes: I have just gotten a sneak peak at the 10 min preview of RotK and can confirm that it is on the TTT DVD which will be out on the 26th.
The ‘teaser’ that many of us have already seen is the end of the preview, where we get some short interview from Sean, Viggo, Eliah and PJ as well as a few other directors, Alan on Minas Tirith etc.
We get to see a lot other short clips from diffrent stages of the film. A few scenes of Frodo running in Shelob’s cave. (awesome) The entrance to the Path of the Dead Sequence.
A scene between Merry and Pippin, where Pippin is informed that Sauron now believes that Pippin has the ring and thus is after him.
A scene with Denethor, who is not pleased about this “ranger of the north”
Several snap shots of Minas Tirith, and also a sequence about Massive, their program for making the armires move. (In which we get to see some flyby scenes from the battle).
There is a long sequence from Pelenor Fields, where we get to see lots of horses attacking, a cool scene (in Massive) where an Oliophant tries to stomp some horses. Merry charging (in full armor).
And lots more than I can remember.
Posted in:
Share:
..And seems to have a rather hard time of it as well it seems. Thesun.co.uk website has posted a few ‘new’ images from ROTK (not really new at all in fact). The website lists a few scant details and even manages to lable a picture of Merry and Pippin as Frodo and Sam…’nuff said! [More]
Posted in:
Share:
