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Post by Michael O'Brien on Jun 2, 2020 15:15:46 GMT
Thanks again to everyone who submitted new ideas and took part in the discussion so far. This round of ideas are open to vote on now and it is a blind vote so you will only see the current status of the poll after you submit your vote. The 2nd round will include the top 2 or 3 contenders ideally. Remember you can support ideas via comments even if you did not submit them originally. There will be plenty of undecided voters that can be swayed with a convincing post on the value of one idea over another.
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Post by olivier on Jun 2, 2020 15:44:53 GMT
Spiders are becoming rarer and rarer in the heart of Mirkwood... ...as civilization advances and wildlife disappears. Vote for biodiversity! Vote for spiders!Mirkwood Spider attackingOnce again, there is only one Mirkwood Spider reference.... It's not enough for biodiversity !!! I suggest to complete this reference with a spider attacking. With both fangs visible, seems essential to me! I'll leave it up to Chris to decide if it's Lazy Lob or Crazy Cob
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Post by khador on Jun 3, 2020 17:35:22 GMT
The three-farthing stone of the Shire, with an elder hobbit near it, a walking staff in his hand.
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Post by ddaines on Jun 5, 2020 14:04:26 GMT
Draught Beast of Mordor I don't envisage a piece larger than a Mithril Troll as a team of these beasts would be harnessed much like an Ox team pulling a large wain, therefore they need not be giant-size, just strong and hardy animals. Although specifically mentioned for pulling Grond…. "Grond was said to be 60 feet high, 150 feet long, and as thick around as an enormous tree, making it much larger than any other such battering ram in Middle-earth. Fire burned in its great maw. It was operated by a team of great beasts, escorted by a band of orcs, and several trolls were needed to utilize it. The creatures pulling it would occasionally go mad and run through the battlefield, trampling anything and anyone underfoot".….. Sauron's captains must have used them for general work within Mordor, and they probably hauled the large siege towers and other siege equipment to Minas Tirith. Description? I would see it as some form of four-legged horned creature, but of mammal origin rather than reptilian/pseudo dinosaur type, with matted hair around the fore-part of the body (similar to the Bison), but with larger horns (perhaps the recent Troll-Hornist is blowing on the horn of one of these beasts? )
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Post by barliman on Jun 5, 2020 20:52:32 GMT
Like your concept, Dave.
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Post by olivier on Jun 5, 2020 22:24:52 GMT
And it also goes in the biodiversity direction!
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Post by ddaines on Jun 6, 2020 9:31:13 GMT
And it also goes in the biodiversity direction!
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Post by hsf62 on Jun 6, 2020 18:35:22 GMT
Draught Beast of Mordor I don't envisage a piece larger than a Mithril Troll as a team of these beasts would be harnessed much like an Ox team pulling a large wain, therefore they need not be giant-size, just strong and hardy animals. Although specifically mentioned for pulling Grond…. "Grond was said to be 60 feet high, 150 feet long, and as thick around as an enormous tree, making it much larger than any other such battering ram in Middle-earth. Fire burned in its great maw. It was operated by a team of great beasts, escorted by a band of orcs, and several trolls were needed to utilize it. The creatures pulling it would occasionally go mad and run through the battlefield, trampling anything and anyone underfoot".….. Would perfectly fit my battering ram!
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Post by maxtarna on Jun 8, 2020 8:39:50 GMT
Draught Beast of Mordor I don't envisage a piece larger than a Mithril Troll as a team of these beasts would be harnessed much like an Ox team pulling a large wain, therefore they need not be giant-size, just strong and hardy animals. Although specifically mentioned for pulling Grond…. "Grond was said to be 60 feet high, 150 feet long, and as thick around as an enormous tree, making it much larger than any other such battering ram in Middle-earth. Fire burned in its great maw. It was operated by a team of great beasts, escorted by a band of orcs, and several trolls were needed to utilize it. The creatures pulling it would occasionally go mad and run through the battlefield, trampling anything and anyone underfoot".….. Sauron's captains must have used them for general work within Mordor, and they probably hauled the large siege towers and other siege equipment to Minas Tirith. Description? I would see it as some form of four-legged horned creature, but of mammal origin rather than reptilian/pseudo dinosaur type, with matted hair around the fore-part of the body (similar to the Bison), but with larger horns (perhaps the recent Troll-Hornist is blowing on the horn of one of these beasts? ) LOVE the idea…. though I imagined them more similar to prehistorical mammals ancestors, like permian dicynodon, or therapsid (but I guess the one red circled in the picture is a reptile)… very 'primitive' animals Tolkien wrote that in Mordor many ancient and horrible animals survived used as servants, like the fell beasts mounted by the nazguls The description ddaines quoted ("The creatures pulling it would occasionally go mad and run through the battlefield, trampling anything and anyone underfoot") seems to paint them as big as rhinos; but I guess they could have more primitive aspect, if we combine these brief lines to the ones where the autor describes the fell beasts. By the way it reminds me an old description made by the classical poet Lucretius, about the first attempt to use animals in war by prehistorical men… Attachments:
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Post by Milo on Jun 8, 2020 10:24:24 GMT
Friendly Hobbit having breakfast at the Prancing Pony. I feel like I don't need to describe more than that do I ?
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Post by ddaines on Jun 8, 2020 12:08:47 GMT
Draught Beast of Mordor Description? I would see it as some form of four-legged horned creature, but of mammal origin rather than reptilian/pseudo dinosaur type, with matted hair around the fore-part of the body (similar to the Bison), but with larger horns (perhaps the recent Troll-Hornist is blowing on the horn of one of these beasts? ) LOVE the idea…. though I imagined them more similar to prehistorical mammals ancestors, like permian dicynodon, or therapsid (but I guess the one red circled in the picture is a reptile)… very 'primitive' animals Tolkien wrote that in Mordor many ancient and horrible animals survived used as servants, like the fell beasts mounted by the nazguls The description ddaines quoted ("The creatures pulling it would occasionally go mad and run through the battlefield, trampling anything and anyone underfoot") seems to paint them as big as rhinos; but I guess they could have more primitive aspect, if we combine these brief lines to the ones where the autor describes the fell beasts. By the way it reminds me an old description made by the classical poet Lucretius, about the first attempt to use animals in war by prehistorical men… I'm in a sort of 'strange' camp regarding Tolkien's 'creature' creations/useage. While I accept creatures like dragons, trolls, Oliphaunts (as he describes them), Fell-Beast etc. without question, I do prefer a certain 'believe-able realism' to be involved in other creatures. The idea of dinosaur type creatures (Fell-Beast notwithstanding) doesn't quite fit in with my personal images for Tolkien's World as dino-types seem to be used in other fantasy genres. Ancient mammals yes as I can more readily identify with these beasts having evolved or even survived hidden in far areas of Middle Earth, but hey, who knows what the good Professor had in mind?
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Post by maxtarna on Jun 8, 2020 13:00:00 GMT
LOVE the idea…. though I imagined them more similar to prehistorical mammals ancestors, like permian dicynodon, or therapsid (but I guess the one red circled in the picture is a reptile)… very 'primitive' animals Tolkien wrote that in Mordor many ancient and horrible animals survived used as servants, like the fell beasts mounted by the nazguls The description ddaines quoted ("The creatures pulling it would occasionally go mad and run through the battlefield, trampling anything and anyone underfoot") seems to paint them as big as rhinos; but I guess they could have more primitive aspect, if we combine these brief lines to the ones where the autor describes the fell beasts. By the way it reminds me an old description made by the classical poet Lucretius, about the first attempt to use animals in war by prehistorical men… I'm in a sort of 'strange' camp regarding Tolkien's 'creature' creations/useage. While I accept creatures like dragons, trolls, Oliphaunts (as he describes them), Fell-Beast etc. without question, I do prefer a certain 'believe-able realism' to be involved in other creatures. The idea of dinosaur type creatures (Fell-Beast notwithstanding) doesn't quite fit in with my personal images for Tolkien's World as dino-types seem to be used in other fantasy genres. Ancient mammals yes as I can more readily identify with these beasts having evolved or even survived hidden in far areas of Middle Earth, but hey, who knows what the good Professor had in mind? I know what you mean; I was thinking of uncommon protomammals and used these 2 pics to give all of you the idea: though probably proto mammals were pretty similar to reptiles. For sure, no one knows how the professor imagined them.
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Post by maxtarna on Jun 8, 2020 14:04:29 GMT
Friendly Hobbit having breakfast at the Prancing Pony. I feel like I don't need to describe more than that do I ? H MR. MUGWORT??
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Post by barliman on Jun 8, 2020 17:07:08 GMT
Friendly Hobbit having breakfast at the Prancing Pony. I feel like I don't need to describe more than that do I ? Needs to include his portly but genial host (purely for scale purposes, of course.....).
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Post by barliman on Jun 8, 2020 17:11:59 GMT
Friendly Hobbit having breakfast at the Prancing Pony. I feel like I don't need to describe more than that do I ? H MR. MUGWORT?? Yes, Dinosaur types have been suggested amd rejeced on other ovcasions before now, but I too wouldn't regard proto-mammal types to be out of place.
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Post by Gerold on Jun 9, 2020 12:23:14 GMT
I would like to resuggest this character:
Gamling's grandson at Helm's Deep
I don't think his name is mentioned, but Gamling himself was in charge of the forces defending Helm's Dike, and his own grandson was one of the defenders. Gamling's words were: "Maybe we have a thousand fit to fight on foot, but most of them have seen too many winters, as I have, or too few, as my son's son here."
So it should be a young guy, maybe in a mailcoat a bit too long for him.
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Post by Halbarad II. on Jun 9, 2020 15:16:21 GMT
Another Resuggestion: Inspired by the very last passage and last words of the novel: 'Well, I'm back, ' he said.
Samwise with baby Elanor
Samwise Gamgee the Hobbit sitting on/in an Hobbit-sized chair, (maybe an comfy armchair with fitting footstool) with his firstborn tiny, tiny Hobbit baby girl (six months old) upon his lap, both looking at each other, smiling and laughing.
The Lord of the Rings The Return of the King Chapter IX The Grey Havens
At last the three companions turned away, and never again looking back they rode slowly homewards; and they spoke no word to one another until they came back to the Shire, but each had great comfort in his friends on the long grey road. At last they rode over the downs and took the East Road, and then Merry and Pippin rode on to Buckland, and already were singing again as they went. But Sam turned to Bywater, and so came back up the Hill, as the day was ending once more. And he went on, and there was yellow light, and a fire within; and the evening meal was ready, and he was expected. And Rose drew him in, and set him in his chair, and put little Elanor upon his lap. He drew a deep breath. 'Well, I'm back, ' he said.
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Post by Axel on Jun 11, 2020 23:05:37 GMT
Swordmaid of Rohan
I am quite sure Eowyn was not the first female to wear mail, helmet and sword and do battle with the foes of Rohan, even when "Helms Klamm" suggests that the place of the female in Tolkins Rohan is in the cave rather then on the parapet. So I suggest one armored, half helmet, sword drawn in a relaxed position, either awaiting the enemy, standing guard, or debating in a council of war.
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Post by gondolin on Jun 12, 2020 10:11:07 GMT
Dunedain of Arnor with Palantir
A high ranking Dunedain officer or official using one of the three palantiri of the Northern Kingdom.
Of the 3, the one at Weathertop (Amon Sul), might be better for a military commander to use?
Or, for the one at the Tower Hills, which only faced westwards, a Numenorean exile in the early years of the 3rd Age, gazing into the stone with regret.
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Post by gilgaladtolkien on Jun 13, 2020 14:17:58 GMT
Eowyn fighting the Nazgul-Lord - on the ground there is the cutted head of the fell-beast
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Post by ddaines on Jun 17, 2020 13:22:11 GMT
Just a quick concept of what I had in mind for the Draught-Beast of Mordor should it win. But as ever, final design should be down to Chris Tubb as he has to bring it to reality.
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Post by hsf62 on Jun 17, 2020 19:03:09 GMT
Very nice Master ddaines!!
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Post by Halbarad II. on Jun 17, 2020 20:13:18 GMT
great as usual but pose should be pulling something, maybe even with a harness or something... So it can be used in dioramas ( IMHO )
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Post by ddaines on Jun 17, 2020 20:49:09 GMT
great as usual but pose should be pulling something, maybe even with a harness or something... So it can be used in dioramas ( IMHO ) That would be the idea if it wins and Chris takes it further Harry, as it would be more practical as a figure for a wider use with a harness etc.. The sketch was just to put my concept idea down on paper
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Post by ddaines on Jun 18, 2020 8:36:40 GMT
If it was chosen then maybe some form of leather armour as protection, along with a harness
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Post by ddaines on Jun 24, 2020 9:22:35 GMT
Should the Draught Beast of Mordor be first past the post, just a quick update sketch to refine the idea. Some form of protective head armament and front of body and spine protection. I imagine this would be of some thick leather or similar that allowed a degree of flexibility for the beast. However, as ever I do believe the final choice should be down to Chris Tubb as he is the sculptor and may have an image in mind and/or type of creature, e.g. it may already have its own natural armour
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