As many of you know already, we are working on the War of the Ring Collector Edition - a limited version of the game in which our goal is to upgrade every single component to the maximum quality we can achieve.

There are a lot of choices involved in a project like this; many choices we have to do ourselves, of course, but there are several things I would really like to have feedback from the gamers potentially interested in this Edition.

First thing, the WotR Collector Edition will feature painted figures - yes, all 205 of them and we are now investigating adding all the figures from Battles of the Third Age which are used with the "Twilight of the Third Age" rules expansion (i.e. not the additional figures used only in the operational games).

Given that we will try to achieve the best quality on the paint job that is achievable on such small figures and massive numbers (which by the first samples we received, is going to be very good!) we are unsure how we should handle the bases.
There are two choices: to make the coloring of the bases FACTION BASED (e.g. blue for the FP, red for the Shadow) and leave the overall paint scheme of each figure tells the difference between, say, Rohirrim and Elves - or make the coloring NATION BASED with every one of the 8 Nation with a different paint on the base.

What would you prefer to find, when you open your copy of the WotR Collector's Edition?

I really look forward to your feedback on this question (and more will follow in the next weeks...)

Oooh, that sounds interesting. I haven't played the game yet, but hope to soon, but I would prefer if they were Nation Based. But in similar schemes.

Like lighter colors (White, Yellow, Light Blue) for good.
Darker Colors (Forest Green, Red, Black) for evil nations.

I'm sure there are more fluid schemes, but something in that vain would be better I think.

I like some nod towards the bases pointing to the nation. I think it keeps things moving faster.

I would prefer Nation-based.

It's important to be able to distinguish nations.



I would also recommend differentiating basic and elite dwarves a little better, giving the figure bases more weight (especially the Nazgul), making the region borders more pronounced (perhaps subdue the map?), and having larger text on the cards.

Are you going to include all the errata/faq info in the new rules?

I think nation-based is probably best.



As a side note, STOP MAKING THINGS THAT YOU KNOW I MUST BUY. This is wildly irresponsible of you.

Nation-based is definitely the way to go.
Also, as someone above mentioned, the Nazgul have the nasty habit of tipping over all the time. A weightier base or some other solution would be ideal.

I had no idea you guys were working on a collector's edition. This is amazing news.

I reckon Nation Based is the way to go. You could tie them in with the colour of the nation boundaries on the board.

Of those two choices, I definitely prefer Nation-based.

However, if it's practical, I would really prefer the base to be colored based on Faction (red or blue) with a stripe around it at the edge that is the color of the figure's Nation:

Sauron - medium red bases with dark red stripes around the edges
Isengard - medium red bases with yellow stripes around the edges
S&E - medium red bases with orange stripes around the edges

Gondor - medium blue bases with dark blue stripes around the edges
Rohan - medium blue bases with dark green stripes around the edges
Elves - medium blue bases with light green stripes around the edges
Dwarves - medium blue bases with brown stripes around the edges
North - medium blue bases with light blue stripes around the edges

This would allow both affiliations to be represented.

The same color schemes could also be used on Character figures. This would help identify which Nations a Companion can activate.

Nation-based, for sure. I do like Krieghund's idea of nation and faction based. I can't wait to see it!

Nation-based, for sure! That way Gondor looks like Gondor, Rohan looks like Rohan, and so on.

I like Krieghund's idea for sure. Solid yellow bases aren't that appealing to me.

I think nation based.

Yep, I concur, colouring should be nation-based.

By the bye, what kind of price range are we talking about here..? If it's going to be like the Settlers of Catan 3D Deluxe edition, then no way will I buy it. No game is worth 300 euros. However, if the price will be a reasonable, chances are high that it will go on my wish list.

I concur with all of the above - Nation based.

The indication seems very clear and fast - thanks! We'll investigate the dual coloring - everything is possible, but each step in the coloring adds to the cost of the figure, and if to keep things even, to have one extra step of coloring on the base means that we have one less on the figure, may be it's not worth it (or is it?).

Regarding the board, cards and so on, as I said EVERY component we'll be upgraded, and I will follow up with more questions on the other items shortly.
We'll definitely have a revised version of the rulebook and the card wordings, which hopefully will have a much shorter FAQ (I can't promise there will be NO need of a FAQ!). And we'll make the revised rulebook available on the web, of course, for people who already own the game.
Most likely this rulebook will become also the reference for future reprints of the game - but of course the way it will be printed will also be special to the Collector's Edition.

Regarding the cost, we don't plan to cost the same as 3D-Catan, but I can't say for sure yet as lot of things have still to be calculated. But I can promise that, whatever the cost, there will be a good ratio between production value and cost, as it was the case with the "regular" edition of the game

This may potentially be solved by including the Nation color in the figures' general color scheme somehow. For example, Rohan figures' cloaks being the same dark green as the base ring. This may or may not work for all figures, but it would probably help with some.

Nation based would be nice.

By the way, do you intend to make new figures for Elessar and Gandalf the White, instead of the little chips you put under the figures of their earlier avatar?

Nation based (although I hope people realize this will increase the cost ) I personally don't mind, as I am sure this is going to be a prett penny any which way you decide to go. I am looking foward to it.
Any absolutely new stuff being included? That you could mention, anyways?

I'm not really interested in buying another copy of the game after having painted my current set, but I would be VERY interested in the new cards.

Perhaps you could offer them separately as well? At least consider doing so.

*drools*

I can't wait to hear about the board upgrade. Bigger please!

Will you be using he same figures as in the regular edition, or will you be replacing them with something of better quality?

This may give several people hard attacks, but after playing the game for the first time in ages last night I wouldbn't mind getting proper chits so you don't have to use minis. The board just isn't suited to them.

Very Cool! I'm really glad you are including the extra figures and rules from battles of the third age that apply to war of the ring.

I would like to see the painted minis have their bases colored according to their faction within an alliance.

My extra 2 cents is that it would be nice to have a bigger board and larger font type on the cards if that can be managed.

Looking forward to it. This will be a must buy for me.

Great news...

1. Nation based paint job

2. A reworked board that either makes the settlements easier to see or add in settlement minis (I painted up some settlers houses to show them).

3. Larger font text on the cards

4. If the board can't be redone, please give us a set of army unit counters to use as an option.