If you enjoy the creepier side of Middle-earth gaming, this reveal hits perfectly. We are heading into the dark tunnels of Cirith Ungol with a new Shelob and Gollum boxed set.
The focus is tight on that iconic moment where the Ringbearer walks straight into a spider’s lair. You get new miniatures, fresh narrative scenarios, and hobby support to build a proper nightmare table. Additionally, everything slots straight into Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game campaigns focused on Frodo and Sam’s desperate journey.
A New Plastic Shelob Hunts In The Dark
In the mountain passes of Cirith Ungol, orcs are not the worst thing waiting in the shadows. Shelob prowls there, a massive, swollen spider who stalks the tunnels with endless hunger. She paralyses her prey and cocoons them, saving them for a future meal, which is deliciously horrible. Additionally, her lineage is pure evil, as she is spawn of Ungoliant from the earliest days of Middle-earth.
All of that menace lands in plastic in The Path of Cirith Ungol: Shelob & Gollum. The set includes Shelob herself, a new Gollum miniature, and the twisted Sméagol persona. Meanwhile, poor Frodo appears in a webbed up version, trussed and ready for Shelob’s dinner. That Frodo sculpt is designed for The Bravery of Master Samwise scenario, which captures Sam’s defining heroic moment.
Shelob towers over Gollum on the base, clambering over rocks like she owns the pass. Gollum looks furtive and shifty as ever, and Frodo’s helpless form instantly sells the scene. Additionally, the whole composition feels like a diorama straight from the film, but with tabletop rules attached.
The Treachery Of Gollum – A Narrative Journal For Cirith Ungol
Alongside the miniatures, there is a dedicated Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game journal called The Treachery of Gollum. This is a forty eight page softback supplement that dives into the hobbits’ trek through Cirith Ungol. It focuses on their encounters with Shelob and Gollum, so the story stays very tight and tense. Additionally, it leans into that constant feeling of betrayal and danger that hangs over those chapters.
Inside you get nine new narrative scenarios. Each one can be played on its own as a single themed mission. Alternatively, you can link them into a longer campaign where results matter. The rules shift depending on whether Good or Evil wins, so victories actually change the path forward. Additionally, that branching structure encourages multiple runs, trying different outcomes and approaches.
Painting Guides And Lair Building For Your Middle-earth Table
This release is not only about rules and story. The journal also includes full painting guides for Gollum and Shelob. You get details on specific paint mixes and how to apply them, which helps nail that clammy, grimy look. Additionally, there is a painting guide for the webbed Frodo, so he matches the rest of the scene.
Hobbyists who love thematic boards get even more support. There are hints and tips for creating gaming tiles that represent Shelob’s lair in detail. You also get guidance on turning those tiles into a full battlefield that feels oppressive and cramped. Additionally, there are tutorials for modelling the murky pools of the Dead Marshes.
The journal even explains how to convert Gondor Mansion and Gondor Ruins kits into terrain for the Osgiliath Sewers. That means you can extend your narrative beyond the lair and into the underbelly of Gondor’s cities. Additionally, all of this supports running linked campaigns that travel across several distinct but connected environments.
Closing Thoughts – Webs, Ringbearers, And What Comes Next
Taken together, this bundle feels like a concentrated love letter to the Cirith Ungol sequence. You get a striking Shelob centerpiece, characterful Gollum and Sméagol, and a heartbreaking webbed Frodo. Additionally, the narrative journal backs them up with scenarios, campaign structure, and strong hobby support. It is the kind of package that makes a small corner of Middle-earth feel huge on the tabletop.
Both the new miniatures and The Treachery of Gollum journal will be available to pre order in the coming months. Until then, it is a perfect time to plan boards, dig out your Gondor kits, and think about how you want Sam to save the day.
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
