big factor, but also raw efficiency is huge. In this series we look and compare a couple of heroes and weigh in our take on how they compare to each other.
For this article, we're going to look at one, if not the most popular hero in the game. Coming in at a hefty 160 points without upgrades, he certainly takes up a big wedge of your list, and in 500 point games, he's going to take up nearly half of your army! The hero in question is obvious, the one and only Tom Bombadil!
We'll be comparing him to some guy called Aragorn today, surprisingly, this bozo clocks in as a hero of legend, despite showing up maybe twice in the books? Jay Clare, please see to this error, as I assume he is meant to be a Minor/Independent hero.
Let's have a look at their stats, to start with. Aragorn has a decent statline, all things considered. A fight value of 6, with 3 attacks all backed up behind strength 4 will make short work of some of the most popular warriors in the game, such as Ruffians or even some hardy heroes, like Meriadoc! He's let down by his defence value of 5, however he gets 3 MWF, to make up for being so embarrassingly easy to wound. He has access to a horse, if you want a bit of extra movement, very useful when you're running away from fights (which you'll be doing a lot with this guy!). On the heroic action front, he has access to all of them, which is very handy, as you'll definitely be needing them to get over his weaknesses. Finally, he has a pretty decent courage value, a surprising trait for such a minor character.
Tom Bombadil on the other hand, has one of the most impressive statlines in the game. Rather than telling you his stats, the cheeky rascal leaves you in surprise and you must read on to see his stats (giving you more hobby time for your money vs Aragorns boring stats). The only stats Tom permits you to see are his move value of 6”, and his Will of 15, a whole 12 more than puny Aragorn. Reading deeper into Tom's rules, he is completely immune to shooting and magical powers, models being hurled stop 1” away from Tom, presumably in awe at his plump podge. To top it all off he can never be charged, and if he chooses to charge in to embarrass the enemy, he AUTOMATICALLY wins the fight! There's something about him not being able to make strikes, but I'm pretty sure your opponent would let you ignore that bit.... It is Tom, after all! Tom also passes all courage checks he needs to make, and whilst Aragorn has a decent courage value, Tom's is just better in every way. On the heroic front, Tom doesn't need any, he is powerful enough, unlike Aragorn who needs to have access to them all to be considered worthwhile.
On the magic front, Aragorn has nothing. What a loser!
Tom has access Refreshing Song, and Banishment! He's going to be sending spirit models straight back to Sunday, believe you me! Refreshing Song is a very interesting spell too, it heals your friends (What a nice guy, Tom!) and casts on a 3+! When casting you must sing:
“Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo!
Ring a dong! hop along! Fal lal the willow!
Tom Bom, jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!
Hey! Come merry dol! derry dol! My darling!
Light goes the weather-wind and the feathered starling.
Down along under Hill, shining in the sunlight,
Waiting on the doorstep for the cold starlight,
There my pretty lady is, River-woman's daughter,
Slender as the willow-wand, clearer than the water.
Old Tom Bombadil water-lilies bringing
Comes hopping home again. Can you hear him singing?”
can offer versus Aragorn! Lets have a quick look at their biggest downsides and upsides then, now that we've had a dive into their profiles.
Love this a lot - minor note: Refreshing Song is cast on a 2+ (Banishment is cast on a 3+).
ReplyDeleteTom Bombadil is master.
ReplyDelete