Quest for the Ringbearer: What I REALLY Want From The Legendary Legions

 Good morning gamers,

Earlier this week, we were given a few hints from the Warhammer Community Team via Jay Clare about what was officially coming in Quest for the Ringbearer. If you haven't read the article yet, you should. As a long-time lover of the Felllowship of the Ring movie (and as a proud owner of the old Fellowship of the Ring Journeybook), Quest for the Ringbearer has been the sourcebook I've been most excited about to date. While I've been guessing for a while about the Legendary Legions that were coming (I had seven in mind, five-and-a-half of which showed up in the book), I figured I'd get my guesses on paper before they're spoiled so I can either say "I called it!" or "But I had this really great idea . . ." Without futher ado, let's get into those Legendary Legions!

1) The Rangers of Ithilien

Credit: LOTR Fandom

This was my "and-a-half" legion - I knew they were releasing two new Rangers (Anborn and Mablung), but I was thinking there would be a pure-Ranger list that wouldn't include any of the Minas Tirith "tin-cans" in it. Imagine my surprise when the one Legendary Legion I really like from Gondor at War (which I don't own) is getting re-cast in this book! Two new Minor heroes to join Damrod as great-Ranger-leading-guys, yes please! I assume there'll be no new rules for the Legion, except that these two guys can bring 12 MORE Rangers that don't count towards your bow limit. I may have to get more Rangers (currently I have enough for Faramir and Damrod to have full warbands, but I might have to get Madril, Anborn, Mablung, and 24 more Rangers of Gondor . . . or maybe not).

2) The Breaking of the Fellowship

Credit: Slashfilm.com

I heard a lot of people on the Facebook groups saying that the Fellowship wasn't getting a Legion because their army already WAS a Legion. The problem is that the Fellowship list includes characters and gear items that cover its entire lifetime - Gandalf, Bill, Smeagol, and Arwen (available if you include Aragorn in your list thanks to the February 2020 Errata) only appeared for a short time in the Fellowship but are available to be taken alongside the "big eight" who are at Amon Hen. Similarly, Aragorn and Legolas are always given armor (at least, I always give them armor), but they don't have this gear until after the Fellowship splits up. One of the most thematic ways to take the list is the "Breaking of the Fellowship" at Amon Hen, so here's what I expect:

• Units/Gear:
• Frodo Baggins with Sting, Mithril Coat, Elven cloak, and the Ring (no optional gear)
• Samwise Gamgee with Elven cloak
• Meriadoc Brandybuck with Elven Cloak
• Peregrin Took with Elven Cloak
• Aragorn - Strider with Elven Cloak (option for bow, perhaps option for Anduril if they go with the book version, but I doubt it)
• Legolas Greenleaf with Elven cloak
• Gimli, Son of Gloin with Elven cloak
• Boromir of Gondor with Elven cloak (option for shield)
• NOTE: I think because they're going with the post-Lothlorien version of the Fellowship (vs. Moria), I think the Elven Cloaks won't be optional. For 40 points, it's a good way of making due without Gandalf when dealing with archery-heavy armies (like Lurtz's Scouts probably will be - more on that in a few). The biggest hit to this Legendary Legion (besides not getting Gandalf or Bill) is that Aragorn and Legolas won't have options for armor (which they pick up at Helm's Deep after the Fellowship is broken) - this makes both of these heroes REALLY squishy.
• Rules:
• I Wish the Ring Had Never Come To Me: You have to bring Frodo and he has to be your Army Leader - we all want Frodo as our army leader anyway if there's not chance we're playing Contest of Champions (but even then, as all Hobbits do, he might surprise you).
• The Fellowship Is Broken: Heroes from this Legendary Legion may deploy as a single warband or may deploy in the folowing groups:
• Frodo Baggins & Aragorn - Strider
• Legolas Greenleaf & Gimli, Son of Gloin
• Boromir of Gondor, Meriadoc Brandybuck, & Peregrin Took
• Samwise Gamgee
• I Would Have Gone With You To The End: All members of the Fellowship gain the Fearless rule while Frodo is alive and on the battlefield (or escapes off the board edge in relevant scenarios). Additionally, the force never counts as being broken while Frodo is alive and on the battlefield (or escapes off the board edge in relevant scenarios) - basically, giving the Fellowship its normal army bonus.
• Gifts of the Elves:
• Nice Shiny Daggers: Merry and Pippin have Elven-made daggers (in addition to their normal daggers).
• Real Elven Rope: Samwise Gamgee (and any friendly figure within 3" of Sam) gain +1 to Climbing tests they need to make. Additionally, when Sam wins a fight, he may attempt to tie up his opponent: both players roll a D6 and add the Strength of their characters: if Sam's roll ties/beats his opponent, they suffer the effects of the Paralyze magical power.
• The Light of Earendil: At the start of the Move phase, Frodo may choose to pull out the Light of Earendil or put it away. For the duration of the round, while Frodo has the Light of Earendil out, he gains the benefits of Blinding Light (including its illumination bonuses).
• The Bow of the Galadhrim: Legolas may reroll one To Hit, In-The-Way, or To Wound roll he makes during the Shoot phase.
• Three Locks of Hair: Gimli's player has to wax eloquently about the beauty of Galadriel the entire game (I have no idea what the benefits of this would be in-game, probably a 6+ Fate save or something, but I like my previous thing better). 
• Elven Throwing Dagger: Once per game, Boromir may make a shooting attack with a throwing dagger. When using it, he may reroll failed to Wound rolls (basically Erestor's throwing-dagger-oriented rule).
• Elven Dagger: Whenever Aragorn loses a fight, he may choose to use his Elven dagger to make one Strength 4 strike against one of the models that was Engaged with him. He will not benefit from any bonuses that come from his war gear.
• Admission: Aragorn shows up in 4 Legendary legions and 3 army lists - so how do you make him good in this list when he doesn't get Anduril and he can't take armor? You allow him to attack when he loses . . . from the movies, we see this in his fight with Lurtz, his fight with Sharku, and his fight with the Mordor Troll Chieftain - he loses a fight, grabs his dagger, and stabs someone with it, hoping to get a reprieve, so I think it's good.

3) Lurtz and "All Those Uruks"

Credit: Comicvine

In the Fellowship of the Ring movie, we all got excited to see the horde of Uruks fighting our beloved heroes. With lots of Uruks to kill, the heroes are trying and trying and TRYING to cut through everyone in their way to not only buy time for Frodo, but to save Boromir, Merry, and Pippin. What a great sequence, am I right? In the books, we know that Boromir was pierced by may arrows, so depending on which story they're going off of, here's what I expect to see:

• Units/Gear:
• Lurtz (option for shield, but might come with it standard)
• Maybe Vrasku because he doesn't show up in the Ugluk's Scouts LL, but I'm not sure about this
• Uruk-Hai Captain (standard wargear options)
• Uruk-Hai Shaman (no armor option)
• Uruk-Hai Scouts (standard wargear options)
• Rules:
• My Fighting Uruk-Hai: Your army must include Lurtz and he must be your Army Leader (no duh, here, right?).
• You Do Not Know Pain, You Do Not Know Fear: Uruk-Hai models from this force do not need to test for being broken until they are reduced below 66% of their starting number. Additionally, everyone has Woodland Creature.
• Relentless Pursuit: Uruk-Hai Captains in this list may call a Heroic March each turn for free. In addition, if an Uruk-Hai Captain calls a Heroic Move, he may roll a D6: on a 4+, the Heroic Move is free.
• Hordes Without Number: When an Uruk-Hai Scout from this list is killed, place him on the side. On the following turn after Priority is rolled but before the Move phase starts, roll a D6 for each Uruk-Hai Scout that was killed on the previous turn: on a 6, that model may walk onto the board from the controlling player's board edge.
• Admission: this sounds REALLY powerful - getting free Uruks is great, after all. I'm not sure that the controlling players' board edge would be THAT unreasonable (it's not a Goblin-town pop-up-everywhere thing), but they might dumb it down to Oblivious to Pain on everyone. Or they may not do anything like this at all. Given that this army is D4-5 and has no spears, I think they need something to help them out - and this is what I'm predicting.

4) The Mines of Moria

Credit: Filmmusiccentral

This list to me is pretty simple: cut out all of the named Goblins, cut out all the weird creatures, and just go with what's in the movie - the Balrog, some Captains, Moria Goblin Warriors/Drum, and Cave Trolls. Simple, straight-forward, fun. My thought is that since the Balrog already works as a super-Shaman with regard to his auto-passing Courage bubble, why not extend that a bit to make him a true uber-Shaman. Also, no shamans in this list (don't need them).

• Units/Gear:
• The Balrog
• Moria Goblin Captain (standard wargear)
• Moria Goblin Warrior (standard wargear)
• Moria Goblin Drum
• Cave Troll (standard wargear)
• Rules:
• A Demon of the Ancient World: Your army must include the Balrog and he must be your Army Leader (exactly where he belongs).
• Attack from the Ceiling: Before deployment begins, you may set aside one warband of models led by a Moria Goblin Captain: starting on turn 3, you may choose a terrain object on the board and the Moria Goblin Captain and his warband deploys completely within that terrain piece. Any models that cannot do so are removed from play and count as casualties.
• Fear of Failure: Whenever a Moria Goblin model suffers a wound while within 12" of the Balrog, roll a D6: on a 6, the wound is ignored exactly as if a point of Fate were spent.
• A Foe Beyond Any Of You: The Balrog counts as in range of a banner if he is within 18" of at least one Moria Goblin Drum.
• Admission: I want to give the Balrog Might in this Legendary Legion (and perhaps a point of Fate), but he doesn't need Might for much (except Heroic Moves/Marches). He really needs help getting his high dice boosted, which can be managed pretty well with a banner-like reroll. So that's what I've chosen here.

5) Cirith Ungol

Credit: Tumblr

Thematic players have been using this list for ages with no Legendary Legion, so obviously it was showing up in this supplement. On paper, my thoughts are trending the same way that the Ugluk's Scouts Legendary Legion went, where there's competition between the Uruks and the Orcs for "who is better." I've taken it a step farther to allow outright animosity, which could be a fun little back-fire and cause more strategic decisions.

• Units/Gear:
• Shagrat, Warleader (standard wargear options, nothing by default)
• Gorbag (option for shield)
• Mordor Uruk-Hai Captain (standard wargear options)
• Orc Captain (option for shield or bow)
• Orc Shaman (no warg option)
• Shelob (still an Independent Hero)
• Mordor Uurk-Hai (standard wargear options)
• Orc Warrior (standard wargear options)
• Rules:
• Rival Leaders: Your force must include Shagrat and Gorbag and one of them must be your army leader.
• Hands Off That Shiny Shirt - That's Mine! Shagrat will never take part in a Heroic Action called by Gorbag, and Gorbag will never take part in a Heroic Action called by Shagrat.
• Animosity: When a Mordor Uruk-Hai in this list is within 3" of a Mordor Orc Warrior in this list and there are no heroes within 6" of either of them, they must charge each other and attempt to kill each other in the ensuing duel (neither may use the Shielding rule if they have shields).
• Two Factions: Keep count of how many models have been killed by Mordor Uruk-Hai models and Mordor Orc models: while more models have been killed by Mordor Uruk-Hai models, Mordor Orc models gain +1 FV. While more models have been killed by Mordor Orc models, Mordor Uruk-Hai models gain +1 To Wound when making Strikes.
• Ancient Terror: Shelob gains an additional Might point, an additional Fate point, and an additional Attack.
• Admission: a lot of people complain that Shelob isn't good. Most of them have never used her. This boost might be unnecessary, but would at least silence objections.

6) The Riders in Black

Credit: Fumichronicles

Okay, I love Ringwraiths and we all knew this was coming - so here's my very moderated, very hopeful prediction: an all-Ringwraith army needs more Attacks (hence why the Flying Circus was a thing in previous editions) and it needs ways to manage its Will. The old Fellowship of the Ring Journeybook also had a Cry of the Nazgul special rule in every mission they were used in, so I expect that to be here too:

• Units/Gear:
• The Witch-King on horse (standard M/W/F options, option for Morgul blade)
• Ringwraith on horse (standard M/W/F options, max of 8 choices)
• Rules:
• The Lord of the Nazgul: The Witch-King of Angmar must be included in your force and must be your army leader. He remains a Hero of Valor and may reroll a die when making casting or resisting attempts.
• The Nine: Unlike other armies, all heroes in this warband deploy together in a single warband. Additionally, all heroes in this army list must have the cavalry keyword.
• Minions of the Dark Lord: All Ringwraith heroes gain +1 Attack if they did not charge this round. Additionally, all Ringwraiths in this list only lose Will points for the Will of Evil special rule if they lose a fight.
• Cry of the Nazgul: Once per game, at the start of the Move phase, the controlling player may declare that he is using the Cry of the Nazgul: all Ringwraiths that choose to use the Instill Fear spell during this round get a +1 bonus to cast the spell, may channel the spell for free, and get +1 die to cast the spell if they spend at least 1 Will from their Will store to cast the spell.
• Admission: I doubt that the Crown of Morgul will make it into the list, so Ringwraiths need a way of getting more attacks to be viable. This set of rules makes them all 2A models, which is better than normal, but not as strong for the Witch-King as having the Crown. Whatever . . .

7) BONUS LEGENDARY LEGION SPECULATION: The Guardians of the Road

When War in Rohan came out, there were two Legendary Legions that were not spoiled for us: Dunland and Helm's Guard. One of these showed up in the Appendices in the back, since it didn't fit in the timeline of the rest of the book (Helm lived a LONG time ago, right?). With a Wanderers in the Wild Battle Company that includes Wood Elves, Rangers of Gondor, Dwarf Rangers, and a Hobbit Militia, as well as appendix-worthy scenarios in other books (like the Scouring of the Shire) AND because of how influential characters like Gildor Inglorion and Glorfindel were in the books to the early stages of the Ringbearer's journey, I would LOVE to see a "Guardians of the Road" Legendary Legion that showcases these characters. Here's how I figure it'd work:

• Units/Gear:
• Glorfindel, Lord of the West on Asfaloth
• Aragorn - Strider
• Barliman Butterbur
• Dunedain
• Gildor Inglorion
• Noldorin Exile (standard wargear options)
• Rules:
• The Dunedan: Dunedain may be included in Aragorn - Strider's warband as if they were Independent Heroes.
• The Exiles: Noldorin Exiles may only be taken as part of Gildor Inglorion's warband.
• The Lord of the West: Glorfindel has spent many nights dueling with Ringwraiths to keep them from getting to Imladris. Glorfindel gets +1 To Wound against Spirit models.
• Admission: I want to put Tom and Goldberry in this list, but have a feeling that the prejudice against them will cause them to be omitted. Still, I wants it!

Well, those are my guesses for the Quest of the Ringbearer Legendary Legions - I fully expect most of the Legendary Legion rules to be spoiled a head of time. For now, here are my predictions, leave your thoughts below if you like. Until next time, happy hobbying!