need help ordering models for LOTOW

[jet]

A friend and I will soon be making the plunge into LOTOW.  When we order our rulebooks, we'd like to order some models to start a couple of posses.  A couple of questions:

1. Is a "Gang" made up Necromunda style, where each guy is an individual who advances separate from the others?

2. Or is a "Gang" made up Mordheim style, where a few guys are heroes, and the others are groups of 2-4 models who are lesser "Hired hand" types, who operate like a group.

And after that gets answered, how many models, using the initial rulebook, is one player likely to need to get started?  And how about arming models?  Does a guy want a couple of rifles and the rest pistols?  50-50? 

Any help is appreciated. In short, we want to order models at the same time we order the rulebook, and we don't want a bunch of beautiful, yet useless models.

Thanks,
JET

[Rabbitz]

the gangs are more necromunda style so each is an individual, however the game play is more LoTR style.
From Memory its good to have a nice Mix of weapons, Rifles for the range and 6 shooters so you can fan fire.  I believe there is a skill when you can fire two pistols if armed that way too.
Another nice addition is mounted and dismounted models, although unlikely to have much in the way of transport when you start you will soon find your possie wants to start investing in better things.

Sorry I cant be more help I have only played it a couple of times,  funny though as I have a game planned in 2 weeks time.

[Poliorketes]

I must admit necromunda is so far back I can't remember the difference to Mortheim.

With LotoW you have the campaign system from Mortheim and the game system from LotR. For starting posses you'll need around 7-10 Minis, depending on the posse you choose and the way you'll equip them. I recommend you buy the core rules first minis next, otherwise you'll end up with the wrong weapons.

Miniatures: Be careful which scale you choose.
Black Scorpion look great, but are very large, They mix well with 'new' Foundry and maybe Artizan. All these are around 28/30mm.
'Old' Foundry won't go well with 'new' Foundry or larger, but will do fine with Dixons. These are 25mm.
Another problem with Miniatures are the weapons available. Especially 'new' Foundry ranges lack Winchesters as most of them are Kansas/Missouri Border Wars and come equipped with carbines.
WestWind is somewhere in between 25 and 28mm.
Worth a notion might be HLBS, which are 1/48 or around 35mm and include some great movie characters.

'New' Foundry ranges are Border Wars, Outlaws & Posse, Mountainmen and Blackfeet. 'Old' Foundry ranges are townsfolk, Westerners, Apache, plains indians, Mexico, US cavalry.

Which scale to choose? If you only want some posses to fight straight on, go for 28-30mm as they are pure eye candy and easily available. If you want to build a western town with lots of civilians and stuff like that go for 25mm. The old Foundrys are some of the best looking minis of the early 90ies (sculpted by Marc Copplestpone) and they have cool civilians. Dixons might look a bit awkward, but you'll love their wagons and vignettes.

[psyberwyche]

For guidelines on how to equip your posse, there are some good tactics in this article: http://warhammer-historical.com/articles/low-tactics/low-tactics1.asp

[jet]

Thanks for the input folks.

I check that link, and according to what I read, it seems that Posses are for LOTOW are similar to Mordheim forces. i.e. a player might choose a few "heroes" and then fill out his force with actual henchmen, which I assume would advance as a group in a more generic way.

I realize that ordering the book first would be the best way, but if I can, I'll order some models with it.  Having to pay shipping twice for two relatively small orders annoys me.

Am I right in assuming that the initial posses to choose from are:
- Lawmen
- Cowboys
- Banditos
- Outlaws

And then from Blood on the Plains
- US Cavalry
- Indians
- Texas Rangers

Can anyone give me some advice or a brief breakdown of how these types differ?  OR link to somewhere on this forum or elsewhere that does so?

Thanks again,
Jason

[revford]

The difference between Heroes and Henchmen is their abilities, they all still advance as individuals but Heroes get access to better weapons and have the extra Heroic stats Fame and Fortune.

Legends of the Old West has Lawmen, Outlaws and Cowboys.

Frontier: Blood on the Plains has US Cavalry, with US Infantry and Buffalo Soldiers variants, Texas Rangers and Plains, Northern and Desert Tribes of Native Americans.

Texas Rangers are much like the Lawmen, with slightly improved stats, Henchmen with access to Winchesters and an increased cost to go with it.

The Alamo adds Mountain Men, and two variant Outlaw posses, the Commancheros and Bandidos.

Showdown adds the Tong posse, as well as some movie themed Legends and scenarios.

The Alamo also has a whole Mass Battles rule set and siege rules, with Texan and Mexican Army lists.