Throne of Skulls for Middle-earth is one of those events that makes hobbyists act wild in the best way. People haul in full display boards, themed forces, matching terrain and sometimes even costumes. It is not just a tournament. It is a hobby showcase where the game, the story, and the painting all flex together. Since the 2025 event is getting close, several folks inside the studio shared what they are working on. Since we are all nosey hobby gremlins, we are going to go through every plan.
Returning Armies, Not Rushed Armies
Danny is doing what every sensible person promises to do and rarely does. He is expanding an old force instead of panic painting a new one the night before. He started an Usurpers of Edoras force at the start of the current edition, but it stalled. Because Throne of Skulls is at 1,000 points, he can just grow that army instead of starting over. He even wrote down his paint steps when he first made it, so the new models will still match the original force.
He wants to add converted Hill Tribesmen to act as Chieftains and throw in some Crebain for utility. Since he is in full Rohan mood, his display board will be a hill tribes camp inspired by the War of the Rohirrim terrain, with tents, campfires and maybe a wrecked Rohan house. Therefore he will turn an older project into something that looks intentional and themed.
Gondor At Its Peak
Lewis is treating Throne of Skulls like a full storytelling exercise. Because 1,000 points lets you bring all the cool stuff, he went straight to the Realms of Men list. He wants to show Gondor in the early Third Age, right after the War of the Last Alliance, when Númenórean style is fading into classic Minas Tirith style. So he is mixing Númenórean heads with Warriors of Minas Tirith and painting the armour a shiny black to show that evolution. Then he added Rangers to show that Gondor is scouting new lands. Since he is extra, his display board will be a riverside Gondorian outpost getting supplies and building materials. It is ambitious and he says he has very little time, but that is exactly how most Throne of Skulls boards get born.
When Real Life Rolls a Natural 20
Tom had big Easterling plans. He wanted to do a scene of them marching through Dale in the War of the Ring. Then real life arrived with a baby and a house move. So he pivoted hard to something achievable. He picked the Nazgûl of Dol Guldur and built a Rise of the Necromancer list.
Because the nine ringwraiths are expensive in points, he can hit 1,000 points with only eleven models by adding the Necromancer and the Keeper of the Dungeons. That means he can actually finish on time. He chose a cool scheme using Balthasar Gold on the metals, Khorne Red on the cloth, and Agrax Earthshade over everything. It gives them a rich, worn, evil look without being just black robes. He is happy to get them tabletop ready now and come back later for extra highlights. That is the right attitude for anyone trying to hobby during a life upgrade.
Arnor Hanging On
Ash wanted to represent both Good and Evil, so he dug through the pile of shame and pulled out Arnor. Because Arnor is all about a kingdom in decline, he leaned into that in the paint. He chose red and cream instead of the usual green and made it look a little faded to show the kingdom’s last days. Then he matched the bases with cracked stone and dying plants so the force looks like it is fighting among the ruins of its own greatness. He started with Aranarth, some Rangers, and Warriors of Arnor, so it is small but coherent. If he gets time to make a display board, it will tie right in with the crumbling realm look. Therefore it will read very clearly on the table, which is what Throne of Skulls judges love.
Why This Matters
So what is the takeaway from the studio crew? First, Throne of Skulls is as much about presentation as it is about winning games. Therefore several of them are planning display boards right from the start. Second, everyone is using the event as an excuse to finish neglected projects. Because the event is 1,000 points, you can do that without burning out. Third, they all picked a story hook. One is doing occupied Rohan vibes. One is doing early Gondor. One is doing Dol Guldur power squad. One is doing last-gasp Arnor. That is exactly the kind of stuff that makes the Middle-earth crowd so fun to follow.
Wrapping It Up
So the studio is clearly in full pre event scramble mode, which is very relatable. Some are doing big scenic boards. Some are doing small elite armies so they can keep their sanity. All of them are telling a Middle-earth story with the army, not just putting 1,000 points on the tray. Because of that, this Throne of Skulls should be packed with cool conversions, narrative display boards and a lot of people painting at 2am the night before. When the photos go up, it is going to be one of those events that makes you want to dig your own Minas Tirith out of storage and get back to work.
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