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.