Games Workshop’s LotR war game leaves the new film’s heroine out of the expensive starter set
Games Workshop maintains many different product lines. There is of course Warhammer 40,000, but also its many spin-offs Necromunde, Dead teamAnd Legions Imperialis just to name a few. With all those little figures clamoring for attention, it can be difficult for any product line to grab the spotlight. This is especially true for Middle-earth strategy battlewhich rarely gets more than a few major releases per year.
The new starter set, which is now available in stores, is called The War of the Rohirrim – Battle of Edoras. Although a bit pricey compared to similar sets, it comes complete with a rule book and all the associated ephemera needed to play the game, such as a paper mat and small plastic rulers with a stick. In short, it’s a real starter set – just what you need to get enthusiastic new players for the holidays. It even features some very nice terrain, in the form of a few on-screen little thatched Rohirrim cottages, and of course dozens of warriors on foot and horseback (56 in total).
But what is not included is the film’s main character, Héra.
Hera will be available as an addition. She is sold in a size that reflects her introduction in the film, a miniature with the title Héra, the bride of death. She is also sold as a set of two miniatures, in which she is depicted later in the film, a pair of figures with the title Héra, daughter of Helm. But you’ll have to spend more money – about $30 to $40 each – to get these miniatures.
Her brothers Haleth and Háma are in the coffin. This includes Héra’s childhood friend and potential suitor, Wulf, and the warlord, General Targg. But there are absolutely no women in the film, which is particularly strange considering it’s a film about… two women.
Just this month, Games Workshop was included in the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index, thanks in part to a reported global market capitalization of nearly $6 billion. Middle-earth strategy battle was first released in 2001, and its success in the market has undoubtedly helped the company turn a financial corner on its way to a successful career. the juggernaut that it is today. But the Middle-earth line in particular often feels like an afterthought.
Admittedly, the set’s subtitle accurately reflects the action it depicts: the battle for Edoras, where Héra was not the main leader of his warriors. But perhaps a slightly different framework could have ensured that the film’s central heroine was on board from the start. In a particularly creepy move, because female characters take center stage on screen, Games Workshop failed to actually properly include them in the major release of the related retail product.
Strategy Battle for Middle-earth: The War of the Rohirrim – Battle for Edoras An example was previewed using a retail copy of Games Workshop. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, although Vox Media may earn commissions on products purchased through affiliate links. Additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy can be found here.