December 2020 and January 2021 is CLOSED.

[Michael O'Brien]

I apologise for the delay in the start of this month's vote. However I received the approval with some modifications (listed below) from Chris yesterday late afternoon. We will slightly impinge on February but with your co-operation we will quickly get back on track.
Most ideas were approved by Chris Tubb however the following statements show which ideas were deemed unsuitable and why.

"I have excluded Merry and Pippin trapped by old man Willow as the tree would have to be in so many parts for casting purposes to make a credible 3D shape. Also I have excluded Fili and Kili entombed as I see this rather as a scene than just a single figure. Likewise Sauron in great eye form. While I like the idea I don’t think that I can do it justice as a Mithril piece. Finally, although the Blue wizards are mentioned in the appendices of LotR, which has been a grey area for years in terms of the License, we are not permitted to make them." ~ Chris Tubb

IMPORTANT NOTE BEFORE VOTING: Remember to vote for ONE idea for [DEC] ideas and one for [JAN] ideas. DO NOT VOTE TWICE for the same month. This is self-defeating. 

The top finalists (per month) will go into the final voting round next Thursday. PLEASE ignore the normal tiered remarks (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and focus on what idea will get the most votes PER MONTH. The forum poll is unfortunately a little limited so probably will not reflect the 1st in EACH month properly but make an overall poll totaling of vote popularity.

_____________________________________________________
Traditionally we combine December and January months together as staff are on holiday over Christmas. Therefore the rules are a bit different. PLEASE read them before posting.

1. Single figure suggestions are welcome. These do not include mounted figures or lots of furniture.
   
2. All members can submit up to TWO ideas. However you must mark them with a [DEC] and [JAN] tag at the beginning so we can know which month they refer to. If this is NOT done we will assign them randomly. (e.g. [DEC] Wormtongue throwing palantir from Orthanc tower)
3. There will be an extended submission period due to holidays. So you have until 4 p.m. January 11th 2021 to submit your ideas. Then, provided I get the approved list from Chris on time, the first vote will begin on January 12th. This will run until the 21st and the second vote will begin then and run until the close of the month.
4. There is no theme for submissions, unless you personally want to mention one.
5. Standard rules below still apply...

The only other restriction is that the figures MUST conform to our license, so NO Silmarillion based characters are allowed. They have to be in the Hobbit or LOTR books. The final say is ours and no argument will be allowed. Ask if you are worried about its eligibility.

Please submit ideas in the following format ONLY:

IDEA TITLE
"this is why I think 'Idea Title' is a good idea for this month..."

Make the title stand out (within reason) and separate from any supportive text by a paragraph. This will prevent Chris accidentally overlooking it when he compiles the voting list later on. Otherwise it could be mistaken as a comment not a new suggestion.

Please add some quotes about where it is mentioned or give descriptions to promote your suggestion. Even add a picture or submit it to me to add to the gallery page. If you drum up support NOW, the you have a much better chance when it is time to vote.

You may add comments about other members suggestions as well. If you post any suggestions elsewhere it may not be seen or credited. Please post any suggestions in English. (That is all I can respond in, sorry).

[khador]

[DEC] Elven warrior of Mirkwood fighting a war bat during the Battle of the Five Armies

[JAN] Thrain, prisoner of Dol Guldur's Dungeons 

[maxtarna]

[DEC] Iron Hill Dwarf in armour marching and blowing a horn or a trumpet at the Battle of Five Armies


[JAN] Galadriel Standard bearer at the battle of Mirkwood


both these figures could complete our beloved ranges and armies.

[maxtarna]

Dec 3, 2020 21:44:45 GMT khador said:

[DEC] Elven warrior of Mirkwood fighting a war bat during the Battle of the Five Armies

I'd like the idea

[eleamar]

(DEC)Thorin alert with bow ready.

"In this way they were soon all safely on the opposite shore, at the edge of the
Arroy or delighted. Dwalin had just hurried out, the rope wrapped around his
arm, and Bombur (still grumbling) was about to follow him when something
Ahead came a noise like hooves. Suddenly, from the
twilight, a flying deer came out. He charged at the dwarves and struck them down, and
He immediately ducked to jump. He passed over the water with a big
leap, but did not reach the shore unscathed Thorin had been the only one still
kept alert and as soon as they reached land he had prepared the
bow and had put an arrow, in case the guardian of the boat suddenly appeared.
He quickly fired at the beast, which collapsed on reaching the other shore. The
shadows devoured her, but they heard a muffled sound of hooves finally
extinguished. "

The Hobbit.
Chapter 8 Flies and Spiders.


I don't recall there being a mithril miniature of an archer dwarf, not even in MW347 Iron-Hill Dwarves Warband. That is why I propose Thorin, in traveler's clothing, alert and with his bow at the ready, as described by Tolkien.

(JAN) Dúnadan of "The Grey Company" fighting on foot in the battle of "The Fields of Pelennor".

I imagine him fighting alongside Halbarad MS579, covering his back with a sword and shield.

[olivier]

[DEC] Beorn's animals

I imagine for this month a rather unusual miniature: Beorn's animals (but which could also be associated with Radagast or even Tom Bombadil). I propose a deer with a squirrel on his back, a little bird on his head and a rabbit at his feet.

Nothing heroic or historical (no reference to a character named in a book) but a subject that seems to me perfectly in the spirit of Tolkien.



[JAN] Wainrider man with whip

The appendices mentioned incursions of the Wainriders in Gondor from 1851 TA, for almost a century.
The appendices A mentionned that the Wainriders were a people, or confederacy, of Men from the East. They journeyed in great wagons, and their chieftains rode chariots in battle.
In the Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", it states that they camped in fortified camps of wagons. Their young women were also trained in arms, and they, along with old men and youths, stayed behind, able to defend their homes from attackers.
The MZ670 Wainrider girl mounted is the very first miniature representing this people (2018 December votes).
To complete, I propose another Gypsy member : a man this time.
He is bearded and has long hair. His head is covered with a bandana tied behind and he wears a thick leather bolero, a wide fabric belt and boots. He is armed with a whip that he wields in front of him and a short scimitar is passed through the belt.

[enheduanna]

[DEC] Bifur (or Bofur) with a clarinet

[JAN] Kili (or Fili) with a fiddle (Edit: See change below)

Just imagine having the whole dwarven band.

[Thingol]

Dec 11, 2020 15:14:00 GMT enheduanna said:

[DEC] Bifur (or Bofur) with a clarinet

[JAN] Kili (or Fili) with a fiddle

Just imagine having the whole dwarven band.

What about MX535 ...

[enheduanna]

Dec 11, 2020 20:15:15 GMT Thingol said:

Dec 11, 2020 15:14:00 GMT enheduanna said:

[DEC] Bifur (or Bofur) with a clarinet

[JAN] Kili (or Fili) with a fiddle

Just imagine having the whole dwarven band.

What about MX535 ...

Ah! Thanks! I knew that Nori was in that one with a flute, but I forgot there’s Kili with a fiddle. I’m revising my suggestion to:
[DEC] Bifur (or Bofur) with a clarinet

[JAN]Bombur with a drum

[barliman]

DECEMBER

A TWO-HEADED TROLL

A figure I've suggested before which, alas, garnered little support. As I explained last time, the narrator of "The Hobbit" (i.e. JRRT) implies that there were certainly trolls with more than one head; and since the principal Old English term for a two-headed troll was "ettin" or "etten" (whence Tolkien's "Ettenmoors") there are certainly valid grounds for some of Middle-earth's trolls being two-headed.



JANUARY

AR-PHARAZON THE GOLDEN

The last king of Numenor. Since we've got Castamir and Eldecar figures in the range, I'm assuming (hoping...) the LOTR Appendices are now fair game, in which case Ar-Pharazon becomes an obvious contender for a figure. I envisage him as armed up to the eyeballs in preparation for his ill-fated final adventure. Suggesting him is the best way of determining his validity so far as Mithril's licence goes.

[barliman]

[After having attempted half-a-dozen times to sort out the type-sizes here, I've finally given up....]

[Halbarad II.]

(Dec)
King Elessar in royal garments
Aragorn in Minas Tirith after his coronation as King Elessar in his kingly clothes
maybe with the throne of Gondor - if it isn't to big.
Return of the King

(Jan)
Sauron as Great Eye form
a kind of "trunk" like swirling mist or smoke raising from a base,
on top a single, 3-dimensional great eye, cat-like with vertical, slit-shaped pupil,
surrounded by flames
a figure with a "body" (though there is no body visible) somewhat the manner
of the Silent Shadow (M108) from the Mirkwood series
or the Prince August figures air and fire elemental 

---

not bigger than the amount of lead used for the other large Sauron figures. 

---

Could be the most creepiest of all mithril figures. 
with hope that with the new 3D modelling it may be easier to realize a figure like this.

The Lord of the Rings himself
as described in
The Lord of the Rings novel

[Axel]

I still think there should be only ONE vote for the two minis to allow for pairs. No extra-effort on the side of Mithril but additional interaction - all we lose is one vote and we gain a duo. If I remember correct, I did mention something alike this last year (and probably the year before). Enough smartassing...

(DEC) Samwise Gamgee at the Battle of Bywater

(JAN) Peregrin Took at the Battle of Bywater

Pippi would bear his mail shirt and robe from his service in Gondor (most certainly not the helmet, though), perhaps even a shield, commanding the forces most likely, and ready to repel any storming the stockade.

Sam would probably be armed and shielded, calm and steady, ready to protect Frodo or the Shire.

Perhaps we will get a set of Shire militia one day, to complement the characters.

[Thingol]

December 2020

Fili entombed deep under the Lonely Mountain

January 2021

Kili entombed deep under the Lonely Mountain

[rayindc]

[DEC] Beorn transforming

I don't think the book ever explicitly describes Beorn transforming, but he obviously does, and it would be a cool mini.

[JAN] Merry and Pippin trapped by Old Man Willow

It can be sculpted as one mini, with only parts of the hobbits' bodies visible.
(It would go well with the Tom Bombadil mini!)

[ddaines]

Dec 29, 2020 16:23:13 GMT rayindc said:

[DEC] Beorn transforming

I don't think the book ever explicitly describes Beorn transforming, but he obviously does, and it would be a cool mini.

[JAN] Merry and Pippin trapped by Old Man Willow

It can be sculpted as one mini, with only parts of the hobbits' bodies visible.
(It would go well with the Tom Bombadil mini!)

I love the Beorn transforming suggestion, but I have twice suggested it - mid transformation, once it was approved as a suggestion (and didn't win LOL), the second time the suggestion was rejected by Chris (I don't recall the reason). Maybe with the new sculpting tool it may be achievable  . Good luck if it gets approved  

[ddaines]

December:

A Blue Wizard conjuring up a .........

The Blue Wizards are not named in LotR (and I don't think their 'colour' is either, although these details are included in other writings), however they are referred to by Saruman after the fall of Orthanc.....

"Later! Yes, when you [Gandalf] also have the Keys of Barad-dûr itself, I suppose; and the crowns of seven kings, and the rods of the Five Wizards"

My suggestion is based upon one of these two 'other' Istari, somewhere in the East of Middle-Earth, conjuring up either a spell or maybe a creature for some purpose or another. He will be wearing his blue robes  and an outer cloak, but they will be well-worn as befits a traveller in the hot, dusty places of the world. 

As it is a hot climate in which he travels, his legs are bare and he wears light leather slippers rather than heavy boots. Upon his head he wears a cap (in hindsight this should perhaps have a wide brim to give some shade to his head). He is bending over a pot of some sort and the tip of his 'rod/staff' is dipped in this with a plume of smoke or flame coming out of the pot and enveloping the tip. Who knows what he hopes to summons......


It would appear in later writings that Tolkien himself felt that the Blue Wizards failed in their missions!
 

January:

For this suggestion I am staying in the lands of the East and suggesting a .........

Desert Troll of Far-Harad

We have a Snow-Troll in the Mithril 'stable', so working on the basis that Trolls like orcs and other races/creatures would travel around Middle-Earth, this suggestion is of a Desert Troll.

My thought is for a creature that is just raising itself from its lair under the sands of Far-Harad (I suppose the Blue Wizard could be summonsing it ) as evening approaches and the land begins to cool down, the Desert Trolls come out to hunt the unwary caravans of the nomadic people of the area. Ideally it would have sand and rock sliding off of its body as it comes out of its slumber and its hide would be cracked and uneven as befits a desert-dweller. Pose-wise it would be half kneeling.

[gilgaladtolkien]

[DEC] Bolg, Orc-chief of Gundabad
I see him in no fighting pose and without a helmet but holding a great mace.

[JAN] The High Nazgul
I see him in black robe and you can see parts of his chain mail. He is wearing a crown and his only weapon is a mace (like the mace of the MB279). He is in no fighting pose.

[Luthien Tinuviel]

DEC : Female ranger at camp

Rest at Ranger Camp, Sitting on stool sharping blade



JAN: Umli/Half darves


Umli is the name ivented by ICE to describe the following men in the Retun of the King:

"The new host that we had tidings of has come first, from over the River by way of Andros, it is said. They are strong: battalions of Orcs of the Eye, and countless companies of Men of a new sort that we have not met before. Not tall, but broad and grim, bearded like dwarves, wielding great axes. Out of some savage land in the wide East they come, we deem."

[Michael O'Brien]

Chris will judge the ideas next week so we will extend the time limit until next monday.

[twrich]

December: Wose Drummers.

Since Woses are about the same size as Hobbits, I'm hoping Chris will accept two as a "single" figure. If not, then Chris can pick which of the two I suggest for the vote.

We don't have many Wose figures (Ghan-buri Ghan, Spearman, Priestest, and Warrior), and no Drummers, which were specifically mentioned in the Return of the King with Merry speaking to Elfhelm in the woods on the way to Minas Tirith:

"Is the enemy coming then?" asked Merry anxiously. "Are those their drums? I began to think I was imagining them, as no one else seemed to take any notice of them."

"Nay, nay," said Elfhelm, "the enemy is on the road not in the hills. You hear the Woses, the Wild Men of the Woods: thus they talk together from afar."

If it wasn't for the Woses, Rohan would not have reached Gondor in time to aid them, if at all.

The two Drummers I envision are #1: standing behind a large drum that sits on the ground, waist high. I imagine the drum shaped like a whiskey barrel or wine cask. The Drummer would have legs spread to the sides of the drum with arms in a motion of beating, perhaps one on the drum surface (animal hide laced with sinew) and one arm held high, ready for the down stroke. #2: A Wose seated cross-legged on the ground with a drum resting on the legs, not so small as to be between the crossed legs. I imagine this drum to be circular and about twice as wide as it is high. Again, there would be an animal hide cover and the drum would be beaten by hand. I hope for continuity in appearance with the earlier Wose figures. I also think it would be great if one drummer was a male and one a female.

[twrich]

January: Hunted Orc in the Druadan Forest.

In keeping with the idea of suggesting both a "good" and a "bad" figure, and to compliment my December Woses idea, I'm suggesting an Orc who has been hunted down by Woses when on patrol in the Druadan Forest. Ors were stationed on the Road in the Forest to block the army of Rohan from reaching Gondor, but others were patrolling the in the Woods on either side of the Road, looking for the scouts of Rohan. The Woses didn't want a direct battle, but used guerilla tactics to hunt down and kill those stray Orcs.

Merry is eavesdropping on a conversation between Ghan-buri-Ghan, King Theoden, and his advisors--Ghan-buri-Ghan is speaking: "No, father of Horse-men," he said, "we fight not. Hunt only. Kill gorgun in woods, hate orc-folk. You hate gorgun too. We help as we can . . ."

Since we already have a Wose Spearman, I envision an Orc, on his knees with body hunched somewhat forward and arms limp at his side (Boromir's death scene posture in the LOTR movie comes to mind). He is impaled by a thick spear, which might have been thrown, or was part of a booby trap that caught the unsuspecting Orc. His armor should be leather, and somewhat shoddy. If it helps design-wise, the butt of the spear can be resting on the ground as the fallen Orc kneels and slumps forward.

[Halbarad II.]

Jan 11, 2021 3:00:35 GMT twrich said:

December: Wose Drummers.

Since Woses are about the same size as Hobbits, I'm hoping Chris will accept two as a "single" figure. If not, then Chris can pick which of the two I suggest for the vote.

We don't have many Wose figures (Ghan-buri Ghan, Spearman, Priestest, and Warrior), and no Drummers, which were specifically mentioned in the Return of the King with Merry speaking to Elfhelm in the woods on the way to Minas Tirith:

"Is the enemy coming then?" asked Merry anxiously. "Are those their drums? I began to think I was imagining them, as no one else seemed to take any notice of them."

"Nay, nay," said Elfhelm, "the enemy is on the road not in the hills. You hear the Woses, the Wild Men of the Woods: thus they talk together from afar."

If it wasn't for the Woses, Rohan would not have reached Gondor in time to aid them, if at all.

The two Drummers I envision are #1: standing behind a large drum that sits on the ground, waist high. I imagine the drum shaped like a whiskey barrel or wine cask. The Drummer would have legs spread to the sides of the drum with arms in a motion of beating, perhaps one on the drum surface (animal hide laced with sinew) and one arm held high, ready for the down stroke. #2: A Wose seated cross-legged on the ground with a drum resting on the legs, not so small as to be between the crossed legs. I imagine this drum to be circular and about twice as wide as it is high. Again, there would be an animal hide cover and the drum would be beaten by hand. I hope for continuity in appearance with the earlier Wose figures. I also think it would be great if one drummer was a male and one a female.

Good luck with this idea
which I think is missing for a loooong time in the mithril range.
And musicians are always a good choice.
So why not of the old nearly forgotten folks.
You have my support 

(I suggested something like this in  feb 2018 also.   )

[Michael O'Brien]

Just an update. We should get the approved list NEXT week. Sorry but I have no choice. Need approval of ideas.

[Axel]

No problem. Approval makes the difference between fantasy miniatures (which are plenty) and Mithril minis, based upon LotR :-)

[maxtarna]

Dec 19, 2020 19:05:01 GMT Axel said:

I still think there should be only ONE vote for the two minis to allow for pairs. No extra-effort on the side of Mithril but additional interaction - all we lose is one vote and we gain a duo. If I remember correct, I did mention something alike this last year (and probably the year before). Enough smartassing...

(DEC) Samwise Gamgee at the Battle of Bywater

(JAN) Peregrin Took at the Battle of Bywater

Pippi would bear his mail shirt and robe from his service in Gondor (most certainly not the helmet, though), perhaps even a shield, commanding the forces most likely, and ready to repel any storming the stockade.

Sam would probably be armed and shielded, calm and steady, ready to protect Frodo or the Shire.

Perhaps we will get a set of Shire militia one day, to complement the characters.

And if I'm not wrong, Merry leaded a charge on his pony against the ruffians...

[Michael O'Brien]

Jan 14, 2021 10:21:41 GMT Axel said:

No problem. Approval makes the difference between fantasy miniatures (which are plenty) and Mithril minis, based upon LotR :-)

I should get the list on Monday. Things have really messed up the plan this month. We may bleed into Feb a bit to get the votes done.