Don is solo in this episode for the first time and presents a new segment for the podcast. If you like Battle Companies, Angmar or Sorcerers, this episode is for you. If not, give it a listen anyway, you may enjoy it. 

Don is solo in this episode for the first time and presents a new segment for the podcast. If you like Battle Companies, Angmar or Sorcerers, this episode is for you. If not, give it a listen anyway, you may enjoy it.

Episode 35 – The Shadow of the North

In this episode Garrett and Don discuss many of the resent releases for MESBG and what we’ve all picked up. They also discuss a recent 600 point tournament they attended along with what armies they took. Don answers a listener question about possible Micro-warband, and lastly they discuss the Troll Hoard. We had some audio trouble in this one, but hopefully it’s still enjoyable. 

In this episode Garrett and Don discuss many of the resent releases for MESBG and what we’ve all picked up. They also discuss a recent 600 point tournament they attended along with what armies they took. Don answers a listener question about possible Micro-warband, and lastly they discuss the Troll Hoard. We had some audio trouble in this one, but hopefully it’s still enjoyable.

Episode 34 - The Troll Hoard

Garrett and Don discuss their time at a recent Battle Companies tournament. Some unique scoring mechanics, and it’s greater focus on narrative play, make this a very welcome break from the standard MESBG tournament. Garrett also introduces the LOTR collectible Card game. Although no longer in production this was a popular game and sounds like loads of fun. 

Garrett and Don discuss their time at a recent Battle Companies tournament. Some unique scoring mechanics, and it’s greater focus on narrative play, make this a very welcome break from the standard MESBG tournament. Garrett also introduces the LOTR collectible Card game. Although no longer in production this was a popular game and sounds like loads of fun.

Episode 33 – Battle Companies Tournament

Andrew and Don catch up after a short hiatus.  Don talks about hobby stuff while Andrew postulates on how awesome the new Dragon Emperor is going to be. Garrett then joins Don to recap their time at a recent small tournament. Finally, they discuss some questions from a couple of players from Finland.  Some pretty random content to be honest. So you know, Flotsam and Jetsam.

Andrew and Don catch up after a short hiatus.  Don talks about hobby stuff while Andrew postulates on how awesome the new Dragon Emperor is going to be. Garrett then joins Don to recap their time at a recent small tournament. Finally, they discuss some questions from a couple of players from Finland. Some pretty random content to be honest. So you know, Flotsam and Jetsam.

Episode 32 – Flotsam and Jetsam

Andrew and Don discuss highlights of the new FAQ and how they will affect the competitive meta.  Other topics include the 3D printed miniatures and play-testing new army lists and Legendary Legions.

Andrew and Don discuss highlights of the new FAQ and how they will affect the competitive meta.  Other topics include the 3D printed miniatures and play-testing new army lists and Legendary Legions.

Episode 31 – FAQ, A New Meta is Born

Are you interested in learning how to win at Lords of Battle?  If you are, join Andrew and Don for the definitive analysis of Lords of Battle.  They assess all the different ‘army types’ in this mission and evaluate each in turn.  They also get carried away in answering a listener question on ‘how to make Numenor great again’ in MESBG and nearly turn this into the main topic of the episode. 

Are you interested in learning how to win at Lords of Battle?  If you are, join Andrew and Don for the definitive analysis of Lords of Battle.  They assess all the different ‘army types’ in this mission and evaluate each in turn.  They also get carried away in answering a listener question on ‘how to make Numenor great again’ in MESBG and nearly turn this into the main topic of the episode.

Episode 30 - Reigning over Lords of Battle

For the first time all four of our hosts make an appearance in this episode as we gaze into Galadriel’s mirror.  I know, exciting right?  Well anyway....  We look back into 2021 and try to look into the future of the hobby for 2022.  Join us as we discuss how we all did with our hobby challenge for last year (spoilers, not too well) and the new challenge for 2022.  Listen on as Chris goes all Azog, and challenges the team of Andrew, Garrett and Don to a painting challenge. 

For the first time all four of our hosts make an appearance in this episode as we gaze into Galadriel’s mirror.  I know, exciting right?  Well anyway....  We look back into 2021 and try to look into the future of the hobby for 2022.  Join us as we discuss how we all did with our hobby challenge for last year (spoilers, not too well) and the new challenge for 2022.  Listen on as Chris goes all Azog, and challenges the team of Andrew, Garrett and Don to a painting challenge.

Episode 29 – Gazing into Galadriel’s Mirror for 2022

In this episode Andrew and Don take a close look at the Hold Ground mission.  They rate how the different army types perform in this mission depending on if they win or lose priority on turn one.  Of course, there is the usual banter and discussion around the all things Tolkien.     

In this episode Andrew and Don take a close look at the Hold Ground mission.  They rate how the different army types perform in this mission depending on if they win or lose priority on turn one.  Of course, there is the usual banter and discussion around the all things Tolkien.

Episode 28 – Standing your Ground in Hold Ground

Andrew and Don take a deep dive into the matched play scenario To The Death.  They also discuss their recent hobby activity and in ‘What Have I got in my Pocket’, they touch of the new Vanquishers Legendary Legion.   

Andrew and Don take a deep dive into the matched play scenario To The Death.  They also discuss their recent hobby activity and in ‘What Have I got in my Pocket’, they touch of the new Vanquishers Legendary Legion.

Episode 27: Surviving To The Death

Andrew and Don celebrate the one year anniversary of North of the Shire.  They’ve also collected all the sections to their Oath Bound, MESBG narrative story, into one place and added the final installment to complete the first chapter.

Andrew and Don celebrate the one year anniversary of North of the Shire.  They’ve also collected all the sections to their Oath Bound, MESBG narrative story, into one place and added the final installment to complete the first chapter.

Ep 26 – Anniversary!  Oath Bound, an MESBG story

Welcome to North of the Shire, a podcast where we discuss the Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game by Games Workshop, the Lord of the Rings in general and other sundry gaming topics.  We will discuss all aspect of the game and the hobby.  Favorite topics are new releases, army lists, competitive play, miniature painting, and terrain.Our four hosts are all active players in the OSBGL,the Ontario Strategy Battle Game League in Ontario, Canada and occasionally travel to international events.email: Northoftheshirepodcast1@gmail.com

In this episode, Andrew and Don discuss the matched play scenario Domination.  Don talks about returning to a tournament after an 18 month hiatus.  Plus another installment of their original narrative story, Oath Bound.

In this episode, Andrew and Don discuss the matched play scenario Domination.  Don talks about returning to a tournament after an 18 month hiatus.  Plus another installment of their original narrative story, Oath Bound.

Episode 25 – Dominating Domination

In this episode, Andrew and Don discuss the whereabouts of Evil Saruman and Gandalf the Grey in the MESBG meta....Where art thou Saruman and Gandalf?  Plus another exciting segment of the TBD Chronicles.   

In this episode, Andrew and Don discuss the whereabouts of Evil Saruman and Gandalf the Grey in the MESBG meta....Where art thou Saruman and Gandalf?  Plus another exciting segment of the TBD Chronicles.

Episode 24 – Where Art Thou, Saruman & Gandalf

Andrew and Don discuss four kings, and all of them top tier heroes: King Elessar, The Witch- King of Angmar, Thror and The Goblin King.  They also answer a listener question about designing scenarios as well as much of the usual banter about MESBG.

Andrew and Don discuss four kings, and all of them top tier heroes: King Elessar, The Witch- King of Angmar, Thror and The Goblin King.  They also answer a listener question about designing scenarios as well as much of the usual banter about MESBG.

Ep 23 – Aragorn, King Elessar and other Top Tier Heroes

In this episode Andrew and Don discuss the mysterious micro warband.  Join them as they build a micro warband army using the Isengard faction, the best in the business. In the All that is Gold Does not Glitter segment, the guys answer a listener question about their favorite un-competitive lists and how to improve the Lothlorien faction.  Last but not least, Andrew steps up to the plate with the longest segment yet for our narrative short story. 

In this episode Andrew and Don discuss the mysterious micro warband.  Join them as they build a micro warband army using the Isengard faction, the best in the business. In the All that is Gold Does not Glitter segment, the guys answer a listener question about their favorite un-competitive lists and how to improve the Lothlorien faction.  Last but not least, Andrew steps up to the plate with the longest segment yet for our narrative short story.

Ep 22 – Isengard, King of the Micro Warband

In this episode Andrew and Don discuss the Silver Medalist’s, the Mid-Tier heroes of MESBG.  Rather than taking an analytical approach to the topic they discuss six popular heroes in this bracket: Tauriel, Balin the Dwarf, King of Moria, Cirdan, The Shade, The Spider Queen and Gorulf Ironskin In their other usual segments they give their thoughts on what we may see  in the next edition of the MESGB rule set, how they go about building an army list and Andrew navigates through a little MESBG word association.  Finally they revisit their narrative segment where they follow the adventures of Garthur the Dwarf Ranger and the mysterious nameless woman he’s traveling with.

In this episode Andrew and Don discuss the Silver Medalist’s, the Mid-Tier heroes of MESBG.  Rather than taking an analytical approach to the topic they discuss six popular heroes in this bracket: Tauriel, Balin the Dwarf, King of Moria, Cirdan, The Shade, The Spider Queen and Gorulf Ironskin In their other usual segments they give their thoughts on what we may see  in the next edition of the MESGB rule set, how they go about building an army list and Andrew navigates through a little MESBG word association.  Finally they revisit their narrative segment where they follow the adventures of Garthur the Dwarf Ranger and the mysterious nameless woman he’s traveling with.

Ep 21 – Silver Medalist’s - Tauriel, Balin & The Shade

The Combined Arms Army Build is up for discussion in this episode.  If you like big heroes, wizards, rank and file troops, archers, cavalry, and siege engines, then this is the army for you.  In the All that is Gold Does not Glitter segment Don and Andrew answer a question about the popularity of different armies in the different MESBG communities around the world.  Andrew finally gets some revenge on Don in the What Have I got in my Pocket segment with a difficult list of trivia questions on Special Rules.  Last, but not least they roll out the second segment in their new narrative segment tentatively named the TBD Chronicles (until a proper name is found).

The Combined Arms Army Build is up for discussion in this episode.  If you like big heroes, wizards, rank and file troops, archers, cavalry, and siege engines, then this is the army for you.  In the All that is Gold Does not Glitter segment Don and Andrew answer a question about the popularity of different armies in the different MESBG communities around the world.  Andrew finally gets some revenge on Don in the What Have I got in my Pocket segment with a difficult list of trivia questions on Special Rules.  Last, but not least they roll out the second segment in their new narrative segment tentatively named the TBD Chronicles (until a proper name is found).

Episode 20 – The Combined Arms Army Build

Andrew and Don discuss Low Tier Heroes of MESBG.  Who are they, why take them and how are they used in armies?  They visit their regular segments All that is Gold Does not Glitter and What Have I got in my Pocket and roll out a new narrative segment where they will take turns writing an original Middle Earth story.

Andrew and Don discuss Low Tier Heroes of MESBG.  Who are they, why take them and how are they used in armies?  They visit their regular segments All that is Gold Does not Glitter and What Have I got in my Pocket and roll out a new narrative segment where they will take turns writing an original Middle Earth story.

Episode 19 – Low Tier Heroes

Garrett makes an appearance on the show for the first time to discuss the army he’s building for our North of the Shire Army Challenge – Lurtz’s Scouts.  We discuss the list, his army build, as well as his plans for painting and displaying the army.  Also up for discussion is The Battle of Eight Armies virtual tournament in which Garrett participated, as well as an assortment of usual MESBG ramblings.    

Garrett makes an appearance on the show for the first time to discuss the army he’s building for our North of the Shire Army Challenge – Lurtz’s Scouts.  We discuss the list, his army build, as well as his plans for painting and displaying the army.  Also up for discussion is The Battle of Eight Armies virtual tournament in which Garrett participated, as well as an assortment of usual MESBG ramblings.

Episode 18 – Building Lurtz’s Scouts

In this episode Andrew and Don talk about the Mobile army type.  These are fast moving armies that are commonly ‘all mounted’.  Along with this we discuss such important issues as dressing up as a dwarf and our ‘not-too-farfetched pipe dream model and profile’.

In this episode Andrew and Don talk about the Mobile army type.  These are fast moving armies that are commonly ‘all mounted’.  Along with this we discuss such important issues as dressing up as a dwarf and our ‘not-too-farfetched pipe dream model and profile’.

Episode 17 - The Mobile Army Type

In this episode Andrew and Don answer the question, ‘has shooting has become too strong in the game’.  They also discuss their favorite army special rules, Shelob and Andrew asks Don to describe his “Tolkien Beginnings”.  Not to mention the usual amount of MESBG musings.

In this episode Andrew and Don answer the question, ‘has shooting has become too strong in the game’.  They also discuss their favorite army special rules, Shelob and Andrew asks Don to describe his “Tolkien Beginnings”.  Not to mention the usual amount of MESBG musings.

Episode 16 – Tolkien Beginnings

Welcome to North of the Shire, a podcast where we discuss the Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game by Games Workshop, the Lord of the Rings in general and other sundry gaming topics. We will discuss all aspect of the game and the hobby. Favorite topics are new releases, army lists, competitive play, miniature painting, and terrain. Our four hosts are all active players in the OSBGL,the Ontario Strategy Battle Game League in Ontario, Canada and occasionally travel to international events. email: Northoftheshirepodcast1@gmail.com

North of the Shire

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