Thorin Oakenshield is a Dwarf of noble birth, the son of kings and heir to the treasures of Erebor. If he is to lead his kinsmen safely to The Lonely Mountain and reclaim the incalculable wealth that lies there, he will need every ounce of his considerable cunning and skill to triumph.

It was in Rivendell that Frodo made the decision to carry the Ring to Mordor and cast it into the fires of Mount Doom, thus ending its power forever. With him went eight companions, and collectively they were known as The Fellowship of the Ring.

Once the leader of the Council of the Wise, and the eponymous head of the White Council, Saruman the White allowed himself to be corrupted by the persuasive powers of the Dark Lord as he gazed jealously into the Palantír of Orthanc. In so doing he embarked on a road that would see him stripped of his nobility and twisted into a treacherous parody of a true Istari. So aligned, he turned his prodigious intellect to building an army to rival the Dark Lord’s own. What Saruman hoped to ultimately gain from his betrayal is shrouded in mystery, but he nonetheless used his magical knowledge against his former friend Gandalf the Grey and, in a stroke, sentenced thousands to die by fire and sword as his legions invaded Rohan.

Following his victory over the Balrog, Gandalf returned to Middle-earth to see his task completed. Stripping Saruman of his power as Lord of the Istari, Gandalf is now a more powerful Wizard than ever. During the battle for Minas Tirith, it is Gandalf who rallies Gondor’s armies, inspiring them to hold back the Orc invaders.

The Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game is the tabletop game for 2 or more players that allows you to play through the events from The Lord of the Rings™ and The Hobbit™ with your collection of Citadel and Forge World models. Take control of your favourite heroes, villains and armies, recreate scenes from the movies and books, and gather your forces together to do battle with your opponent in a test of wits and prowess. This 208-page hardback rules manual is a comprehensive guide to the hobby of building, painting and playing games with your Middle-earth models, whether you choose the forces of Good or Evil.

Minas Tirith's armies are the greatest of all the realms of Men - disciplined, superbly equipped and led by veterans of the wars with Harad and Mordor. Each warrior in Minas Tirith's army is trained to wield a variety of weapons, from the humble sword or bow, to the deadly knight's lance. It is these valiant warriors who defend the walls of the White City against the legions of Mordor, and protect her lands from the threat of invasion. Of all the men in Middle-earth, it would be hard to find a better armed or armoured warrior than a man of Gondor.

Those warriors who excel in riding a horse will join the Knights of Minas Tirith. Tall and stern, these knights are truly the pride of Gondor's armies. It is often the knights who lead the charge against Gondor's enemies, leaving the broken remnants of enemy formations in their wake.

Rohan has seen much war and turmoil in its relatively brief history, and many watchtowers and small forts have been erected across the Riddermark to warn and protect its people from attack.

When the Fellowship of the Ring was broken at Amon Hen, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli chose to pursue the Uruk-hai who had abducted the Hobbits Merry and Pippin. These Three Hunters tracked the enemy to Rohan, where they fought alongside King Théoden at Helm's Deep, before turning to ancient paths in search of allies – and Aragorn's destiny.

The Armies of The Hobbit™ is an expansion for the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game that enables you to recreate your favourite scenes from The Hobbit™ Motion Picture Trilogy with your collection.

Orcs are the foulest creatures to walk Middle-earth. They are evil-hearted monsters that rejoice in slaughter and destruction. The Orc's natural aggression makes them the perfect tool of evil intent, their numberless hordes forming the core of the Mordor army. While they're individually cowardly, they gain strength through numbers - a mass of Orc warriors can be a terrifying sight for any enemy of the Dark Lord.

Easterlings are amongst the most fanatical followers of the Dark Lord and the best equipped of all the warriors at his command. Unlike the rabble of Orcs that spew forth from the Black Gate, the armies of the East are well-trained and disciplined warriors that will fight fiercely for Sauron

The breaking of the oath pledged to Isildur lies with this King of Ages past. Though cursed, and his body long since reduced to dust, his spirit lingers on until he honours his word. Upon the arrival of Aragorn, this king agrees to take up arms against the armies of Mordor – the oath that was promised will finally be fulfilled and the dead will at last find the peace they so desperately crave.

The armies of Harad often employ Mûmakil, massive war-beasts trained by the Mahud, to trample their enemies under colossal hooves. A Mumak is nigh unstoppable once it begins its charge, tossing aside enemies like broken dolls. A Mûmak can break through an enemy line while Haradrim warriors rain deadly arrows from atop the howdah on its mighty back.

The Armies of The Lord of The Rings™ is an expansion for the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game that enables you to recreate your favourite scenes from The Lord of the Rings™ Motion Picture Trilogy with your collection of Citadel and Forge World models. It includes all the information you need to take control of all the Heroes and armies on the tabletop

The Ringwraiths, or Nazgûl, were once the Kings of Men, the bearers of the magical rings created by Sauron. Their rings granted endless life but gradually enslaved the Kings to Saurons will. Together with their leader, the Witch-king of Angmar, they are known as the Nine and are the most deadly of Sauron's servants.