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No, the headache just means I need to put a bit more rat in the mix.
As for Durin, it's still too early to be sure that he will come out on top in the poll. I hope he does, but there probably remain about 20 regular voters who have yet to commit themselves - if they vote at all, that is.
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. . . maybe, Master B, but Durin has got 14 votes now .
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Yes, but that's only 5 votes in the lead, isn't it? Not much leaway there!
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He'll make it and a dwarf in fighting pose will be a nice addition!
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Harum-ph.
So, someplace in the back of my head, for the longest time, has been my plan to buy 12 Mithril horses to mount my 12 horse-less GW Knights of Minas Tirith. Or that, indeed, was the plan.
Then I realised something last night: I hadn't actually seen these particular figures in some time. Perhaps two years. Oh well, they are probably in one of the boxes or carry cases or...something.
And now...
Can't find the buggers. Like, at all.
And I'm wondering: did I sell them on ebay and completely forget? My once elephantine memory has gone to utter pot here in exciting East Farnham and its beginning to really bother me. That or somehow I've lost a small mithril type carry case of figures with a bunch of Gondorian figures in it. Lost. In a house with one bedroom, two bathrooms and a renovated vault. Not someplace easy to store things in, never mind losing them!
I can only figure I sold them, probably around the time I sold some Rangers of Gondor in 2006.
not the end of the world, but I wonder...
Does the barkeep have any ent-draught or something to help my fried brain?
Gavin
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Er, the sort of stuff I sell isn't known for its benign qualities. Indeed, it may be responsible for the current state of your, um, you know, the thinking thingy, er... oh yes, memory.
At least there are now plastic GW Knights of MT, so that replacing the awol ones will be cheaper than it might have been. They're not bad at all for plastics, and unlike the earlier GW LOTR plastics are now of a size that matches the metals.
Shame that Mithril don't have any MT cavalry, though, isn't it?
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Well, I figure its as good an excuse as any to get more Knights of Dol Amroth, which, I am sure, will keep me perfectly happy. Not exactly a screeching need for MT cavalry right now.
But if Mithril decided to make some, I'd be sooo there.
Gavin
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Huoommmmm .... hom .... so I'm back again .... rhuoommm ... well, Master Barliman ... no, I didn't forget to pay I just was out to find some facts and rumours to pay with .... huoommm .... so what is it you want to be payed with, facts or rumours .... huomrhuoommm ... I found both ...
ahh ... while you're filling that bowl with that honey-coloured-watery liquid it comes to my mind that you should raise the prices here as you will be in need of some amount of those coiny things this year .... rhuooommm ...
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I'm all too well aware of that particular problem, Master Tree! But is the best rumour you can come up with?
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So this was the rumour, what is the fact?
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I am fully aware of it master Theobald, I have been for months now, but still pictures have not yet been provided and announctement for selling is not up either. But it will soon I suppose
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Afraid not. Try again!
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I note that the Fellowship figure vote is getting breathtakingly close!
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A dark voice from the corner says: "Barli, certainly one should shudder at the thought of an assassin, especially when it is creeping up on you."
To say there are no assassins in Dol Amroth (or any large city in middle-earth) is like saying there are no blacksmiths in Mordor or carpenters in Bree. Just because Tolkien didn't specifically say 'an Assassin in Dol Amroth (who happens to be a female) does this that or the other' in the books doesn't mean that we can believe that one didn't exist in his concepts for the major cities of middle-earth. Is a Corsair wielding a grappling hook specifically mentioned? I don't think so, but its not hard to imagine. There are many Mithril figures beloved by most of us with no clear reference in Tolkien 'canon' that have been made by Mithril throughout the years.
Some may forget, or others may not like, that Mithril was founded as a company (a subsidiary of PA) that produced JRR Tolkien inspired miniatures based upon the MERP publications, and licensed as such. Or perhaps it is a 'female thing' with some, as though Tolkien thought all women were pure and innocent? Does that mean no female Orcs? What a shame! I'm all for producing characters that are specifically mentioned in the actual writings of JRR Tolkien, and even multiple times when their importance to the stories dictate. But why exclude ideas about other generic characters that certainly existed in Tolkien's world, but didn't happened to be mentioned because his works were edited to be only a few books instead of dozens? He said his one regret about the books was that they weren't long enough!
Tolkien was all about imagination, and stated that "other hands" would round out his fabulous story.
Do we as Mithril affectionados have imagination too?
It seems lately we've become involved in this debate about whether something not specifically mentioned by name in the books should even be considered. I think it is wrong to insist that only named characters or scenes be represented, and that it limits Tolkien's works in a way that goes against the the spirit of his writings and would restrict the options of one of the best artist, Chris Tubb, in this field.
Just words from a dark corner.
Last edited by twrich (Mon, Mar2 2009 8:26am)
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All this has been said (or muttered in dark corners by sallow-faced spies of Sauron) before, but it still doesn't convince me.
Nor do I think anyone has ever said that only NAMED characters from the books should be produced in the Mithril range - that would exclude any representations of Easterlings or Haradrim at all, for instance.
I'm just fearful that opening the door to what are obviously "Fantasy"-concept figures is plumbing the depths of GW-type degredation of Tolkien's work - have you seen GW's list of upcoming allegedly LOTR figures? "Druzag the Beastcaller"? "Amdur lord of Blades"? "Elven stormcaller"? Should the Mithril range go down that road? I think not. At least, I hope not!
I certainly can't believe it's what Tolkien had in mind when he referred to the future contributions of "other hands".
As with everything, though, it's all in the eye of the beholder.
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It is impossible for Mithril to go down this road as long as Chris is the "First Man". No Lord of blades and other funny things, but yes to female orcs, female assassins and other not named "villagers".
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I love a good scrumpy fueled, er, debate. I'm one of those who has an interest in CT's vision of ME. As far as what might be termed 'implied' characters, as long as they're done with love and respect for Tolkien, I say, 'bring 'em on'. This is what I like about the ICE Merp stuff. When done well, it lets one wander around in ME. There should be some limitations though. I trust the 'other hands' of Tubb, Seeman, Fenlon, etc. Not the marketing department at GW.
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I suspect that the factor which keeps the door firmly closed to stupid crap is Chris himself, and the fact of there just being one of him. If he thinks its dumb, he won't do it. And there'll be little pressure to make a *cough* Goblin beastcaller from PA or us.
I am sure the assassin, if she gets made, will be a beautiful and a lovely nod to the late Angus McBride. If the assassin gets made I shall buy her. If she does not get made, I won't worry in the slightest.
Gavin
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I have strictly no doubt a female assassin made by Chris would be a masterpiece... no doubt at all and I would take a lot of pleasure in painting it because it is Chris' work...
Also I for one, did not say only named figurines had to be made either.
As for canon or not canon... which is somewhat the main debate... I never played MERP... I never and will never play LOTR Online either... I may be a Mithril fan, but alas, I am one of those who possess, work and remain as strict as possible to all the books published OR NOT published but known. When it comes to matters we have no certainty about, I have another forum and another mailing list with tolkien experts (including the official translators of all new Tolkien books in french) to debate and form hypothesis about it without ever applying any of our hypothesis only debating My wife even administrates the "twin-site" of mithril Faerylands : Ardalie Faerylands (http://ardalie.faerylands.eu) which is a tolkien encyclopedia referencing all names (peoples, places, events, etc) from all the books (including and mostly "History of Middle Earth" vol1-12 books) (the site is in french though)
But as I said several times before, this is my point of view. I don't want to force it to anybody and I am not upset nor mad with people who enjoy adding their own "stone" to the tolkien universe.
please don't take my personal view of how tolkien universe should be taken care of as generalist and don't be upset if sometimes I am not sharing a "wider" point of view. Everybody is free to see and love tolkien the way he wants I think and all in all, Chris Tubb has and will ever produce great figurines I'll enjoy painting.
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I suspect this isn't the last time this debate will arise, but for now it's over. It is now 20 minutes past the voting deadline and the vertically-challenged lord of Moria has won - albeit by just two votes. However, I doubt that it's the last time the assassin person will be suggested...
Drinks all round! - but only small ones (Nob's paying).
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Huoommmm ... thank you, Master Barliman ... but may taller creatures have a slightly larger drink? .... huom
All in all I'm very much satisfied with that Durin-Dwarf having won the race as I really like those tiny dwarvish figures created by The Man ... hom
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You may certainly have a larger drink, Master Tree. I'll just pay Nob even less than usual.
Yes, I can't pretend to be disappointed about Durin's victory either.
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Please, let me pay this round. Not surprisingly, Durin was my suggestion.
I really do expectations for the outcome of this development
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The funny thing is that Barlimans Bombur - as backed by me - just got one vote less in the initial round, and had he got one more the two dwarfs would certainly have cancelled each other out of the race.
Hail to the King, and lets have some barrels to feast the event. Durin is back.
BTW: Where is Dain, to watch the back of Brand?
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