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TMAT Talks

TMAT Talks

By Tell Me a Tale (TMAT)

Love the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game, by Games Workshop? Looking to take your game to the next level?

So were we. And then we found each other. Now you've found us, and the circuit is complete.

TMAT (Tell Me a Tale, Great or Small) is a community of American table-top wargamers who enjoy the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game by Games Workshop. Perhaps there's something useful here, as well...
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TMAT Talks: Episode 22 - Ranking (Evil) Legendary Legions (Sorta...)

TMAT TalksMay 14, 2023

00:00
02:12:33
TMAT Talks: Episode 22 - Ranking (Evil) Legendary Legions (Sorta...)
May 14, 202302:12:33
TMAT Talks: Episode 21 - Ranking (Good) Legendary Legions (Sorta...)
Mar 17, 202302:34:27
TMAT Talks: Episode 20 - And the Oscar goes to...

TMAT Talks: Episode 20 - And the Oscar goes to...

Happy Friday! Have we got a show for YOU today!

In preparation for TMAT's upcoming Grand Tournament, Tiberius, Centaur and Rythbryt have stumbled on THE hidden gem of MESBG. Having trouble with wizards? Blinding Light? Huge heroes? Elves with sneaky cloaks? Those annoying forests that pop up everywhere?

Well, no more.

Curious? We thought you might be. So join us as we devour some spilled beans.

It's a labor of love, from us to you. Happy Friday!

Now available on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts!

Music: Happy Haunts by Aaron Kenny

For more from the TMAT team, check out tellmeatalegreatorsmall.blogspot.com!
____________________________________________

Uber Show Notes (in honor of today):

Intro (0:00)

The BIG reveal! (1:56)


Part I: FACTION DEEP-DIVE

SOOOOO many "pro's" (3:10)

Meta-busting profiles (5:09)

Big heroes? Big deal. (21:40)

Pesky elves (no more) (23:18)

Ringbearers? Resolved. (25:43)

Obscure lists? Send them back to obscurity (27:35)

Creating your own difficult terrain (Medusa-style) (29:00)

Fixing the "worst" special strike (30:32)

Maelstrom Mastered (31:56)

Anti-Cav Magic Resistance (35:32)

Find your Courage! They shall NOT pass! (38:28)

Black Riders? Black WALKERS!!! (40:05)

Moving first... ALL. THE. TIME. (42:08)

Shutting down Heroic Combats (and Moves) (43:00)

A light in the dark (scenarios) (45:38)

Sleek, mean, fighting machines... buffed to the "T" (46:44)


Part II: ARMY LISTS!

Centaur's Meta-Busting Mashup! (52:00)

Rythbryt's Shoot-Tastic Savants! (57:37)

Tiberius's Deployment-Breaking Sneaks! (1:01:54)


Part III: STRATEGIES AND TACTICS!!!

North of the Shire Shout-Out! (1:09:11)

Handling Hordes (1:12:15)

Shredding Shieldwalls (1:18:05)

Mashing Mixed-Arms (1:23:13)

Lambasting Leafblowers (1:29:56)

Matching (and Mystifying) Mobiles (1:34:19)

Lulling Linebreakers (1:36:38)


Part IV: CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

One final bubble... busted! (1:44:00)

Real Talk, in Real Time (1:55:32)

Bonus Track (2:04:00)

Apr 01, 202202:07:40
TMAT Talks: Episode 19 - The Ultimate Uber-Slayer Podcast (Part 5)

TMAT Talks: Episode 19 - The Ultimate Uber-Slayer Podcast (Part 5)

One year from when they first began this gargantuan project, Tiberius, Centaur, and Rythbryt are back, attempting to do the impossible: rank the top-50 slayer profiles for the forces of evil.

(No, really... it's very hard!)

In part 5 of their uber-slayer podcast, the TMAT crew discusses their top-picks in three underrated categories (all of which purposefully exclude the likes of the Witch-King, Azog, and Smaug): best budget slayers (under 101 points), best unmounted (man-sized) slayers, and the best generic (spammable) slayers that evil can field. There are some surprises (and surprising omissions, not all of which were intentional).

Did your favorite slayers make the cut? And what does this tell us about how the final list will shake out?

Now available on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts!

Music: Happy Haunts by Aaron Kenny

For more from the TMAT team, check out tellmeatalegreatorsmall.blogspot.com!
____________________________________________

Show Notes:

Intro (0:00)

Good: Top-10 Slayers for under 101 points (3:20)

Good: Top-10 Slayers who can't take mounts (50:45)

Good: Top-10 Generic Slayers (1:38:20)

Feb 06, 202202:50:04
TMAT Talks: Episode 18 - The Fall of the Necromancer Legions and All-Hero Lists
Dec 03, 202102:35:09
TMAT Talks: Episode 17 - Recapping The Hunters' Red October 2021

TMAT Talks: Episode 17 - Recapping The Hunters' Red October 2021

Fall breezes be breezin', which can only mean one thing: it's time for another Hunter's Red October!

In Part II, Tiberius, Centaur, and Rythbryt recap how their 550 point lists did in this four round Good vs. Evil tournament. Now streaming on Spotify, Google Play, Apple Podcasts, and (probably) wherever you get your audio content! 

The full lists are available over on the TMAT Blog, and if you missed Part I (covering the various lists and predictions), you can listen to it on Spotify or wherever else you listen to your podcasts!

tellmeatalegreatorsmall.blogspot.com
Music: Happy Haunts by Aaron Kenny

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Show Notes:

0:00 - Intro and Round 1: Domination (Arnor v. Camels, Elrond v. Balrog, Grey Company v. Balrog, Rohan v. Azog)

45:00 - Round 2: Assassination (Champs of Erebor v. Black Riders, Gil-Galad v. Bomb Team, Treebeard v. Sauron, Balin v. Buhrdur)

1:12:00 - Round 3: Command the Battlefield (Treebeard v. Balrog, Glorfindel v. Azog, Elrond v. Buhrdur, Rohan v. Black Riders)

1:50:00 - Round 4: Clash by Moonlight (Glorfindel v. Camels, Elrond v. Azog, Grey Company v. Balrog, Rohan v. Buhrdur)

Nov 02, 202102:35:30
TMAT Talks: Episode 16 - Previewing The Hunters' Red October

TMAT Talks: Episode 16 - Previewing The Hunters' Red October

Fall breezes be breezin', which can only mean one thing: it's time for another Hunter's Red October!

Join Tiberius, Centaur, Rythbryt, and a whole lot of guests (yes--GUESTS!!!) as we discuss the scenarios and (20!) lists in this 550 point Good vs. Evil tournament.

(Spoiler alert: the evil armies are loaded).

Now streaming on Spotify, Google Play, Apple Podcasts, and (probably) wherever you get your audio content! Plus, you can head on over to the TMAT blog for more details about the tournament (and eventually full published lists), or to read Tiberius's thoughts on his Moria armies (and the armies he left behind).

tellmeatalegreatorsmall.blogspot.com
Music: Happy Haunts by Aaron Kenny

===========

Show Notes:

0:00 - Sauron, Wraiths, Bombs, and a Balrog (with Red Jacket and The Black Prince)

41:00 - Azog, Treebeard, Gil-Galad, and a(nother!) Balrog (with Dronak, Ikaika, and Gorgoroth)

1:01:00 - Avengers, Saruman, Theoden, and a (third!?!?) Balrog

1:46:00 - Centaur's vaunted predictions (and some parting thoughts)

Oct 01, 202102:00:59
TMAT Talks: Episode 15 - The Ultimate Uber-Slayer Podcast (Part 4)

TMAT Talks: Episode 15 - The Ultimate Uber-Slayer Podcast (Part 4)

Well, it's finally that time.

After going through the top-10 monsters, casters, supports, snipers, and big honkin' things, the TMAT team is going to attempt the impossible: rank the top slayer models in the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game.

The epic journey comes to an end (for now) in Part 4, as Tiberius, Centaur, and Rythbryt roll out their picks for Good's top-10 slayers. Did your favorite model finish on top?

For more on our methodologies, and for further discussion on just how hard it is to rank heroes like this, you can also check out both Rythbryt's and Tiberius's take on Jay Clare's top-10 slayers for the forces of good.

There are two options: the audio-only version is available on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and most places you can hear podcasts. And if you like visual aids, you can watch the entire cast over on the TMAT SBG YouTube Channel!

tellmeatalegreatorsmall.blogspot.com
Music: Happy Haunts by Aaron Kenny
______________________

Show Notes:

Intro & Rank Clean-Ups (0:00)

Birds, Elves, and Men (Oh my!) (10-7) (1:45)

Burly, Burly, Burly (6-4) (43:10)

The Final Count-Down (3-1) (1:20:00)

Jun 18, 202101:51:17
TMAT Talks: Episode 14 - The Ultimate Uber-Slayer Podcast (Part 3)
Jun 06, 202102:01:35
TMAT Talks, Episode 13: The Grand Tournament 2021 (Part 2)

TMAT Talks, Episode 13: The Grand Tournament 2021 (Part 2)

A global pandemic may have claimed TMAT's 2020 Grand Tournament, but those dark days are finally past, and a red sun is rising once more. The 2021 Grand Tournament is upon us--so of course, TMAT's resident armchair quarterbacks had to break it down!

In Part II, Tiberius, Centaur, and Rythbryt recap their escalation rounds (which featured a lot of elves, Rohirrim, and monsters). If you need a refresher on the lists, you can find them here:

https://tellmeatalegreatorsmall.blogspot.com/2021/04/tmat-talks-episode-10-grand-tournament.html

Now available on Spotify, Google Play, Apple Podcasts, and most places you get your podcasts!

Music: Happy Haunts by Aaron Kenny

____________________________________________

Show Notes:

Intro (0:00)

Round 1: Uruks v. Monster Mash, Lothlorien v. Rohan, Mountain Rohan v. Gwaihir & Galad (2:20)

Round 2: Monster Mash v. Mounted Rohan, Uruks v. Rohan, Lothlorien v. Gwaihir & Galad (39:06)

Round 3: Rohan v. Mounted Rohan, Monster Mash v. Gwaihir & Galad, Lothlorien v. Uruks (1:36:07)

Final Placements and Parting Thoughts (2:51:44)

May 29, 202102:59:41
TMAT Talks: Episode 12 - List Reviews!

TMAT Talks: Episode 12 - List Reviews!

Centaur, Tiberius, and Rythbryt take a break from rankings to discuss some lists from TMAT follower Daniel! If you've been kicking around 700 point list ideas for Minas Tirith, Mordor, or the Grand Army of the South, perhaps this is the podcast for you? 

If not, there's an extended discussion of which wraiths to mount on fell-beast, Citadel Guard vs. Rangers, and the best wing-men/trolls for your Mumak. Plus, Tiberius surprises with a bonus-list of his own!

Music: Happy Haunts by Aaron Kenny

For more from the TMAT team, check out tellmeatalegreatorsmall.blogspot.com!

____________________________________________

SHOW NOTES:

Minas Tirith - 700 (1:45)

Mordor - 700 (23:08)

The Grand Army of the South - 700 (1:01:12)

The Black Gate Opens - 550 (1:34:30)


May 21, 202101:55:32
TMAT Talks: Episode 11 - The Ultimate Uber-Slayer Podcast (Part 2)
Apr 24, 202102:40:16
TMAT Talks: Episode 10 - The Grand Tournament 2021 (Part I)

TMAT Talks: Episode 10 - The Grand Tournament 2021 (Part I)

A global pandemic may have claimed TMAT's 2020 Grand Tournament, but those dark days are finally past, and a red sun is rising once more. The 2021 Grand Tournament is upon us--so of course, TMAT's resident armchair quarterbacks had to break it down! 

In Part I, Tiberius, Centaur, and Rythbryt preview the tournament's escalation rules, muse on the three scenarios, and discuss the six armies that will take the field before making some (very reluctant) predictions about the weekend. 

For the full lists--and to add your two cents--head over to TMAT: tellmeatalegreatorsmall.blogspot.com

Music: Happy Haunts by Aaron Kenny

____________________________________________

Show Notes:

Intro (0:00)

Centaur's Escalation List: Isengard (14:04)

Tiberius's Escalation List: Lothlorien (23:10)

Rythbryt's Escalation List: An Unholy Northern Alliance (32:12)

Red Jacket's Escalation List: Rohan (49:28)

Black Prince's Escalation List: Riders and Elves (1:01:50)

Dronak & Strider's Escalation List: Monsters Galore (1:16:01)

Reluctant Tourney Predictions (1:24:02)

Apr 16, 202101:44:06
TMAT Talks: Episode 9 - The Ultimate Uber-Slayer Podcast (Part I)
Jan 30, 202102:44:28
TMAT Talks: Episode 8 - Top-10 Snipers (Good and Evil)

TMAT Talks: Episode 8 - Top-10 Snipers (Good and Evil)

Tiberius, Centaur, and Rythbryt take a break from throwing nasty monsters at under-powered heroes to finish their long-delayed discussion of the top-10 "sniper" profiles in the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game. Surprise, surprise: they hardly agree, and that's fair. Also, Centaur hates magic.

Music: Happy Haunts by Aaron Kenny

__________________________________________

Intro (0:00)

Good: Honorable mentions (7:45)

Good: They're really trying (16:58)

Good: Centaur hates magic (39:25)

Good: Shoot thrice, can I (?) (49:50)

Evil: Honorable mentions (1:04:42)

Evil: Aren't these guys too low? (1:30:23)

Evil: Do you like your dark lord scrambled or sunny-side? (1:39:46)

Evil: To fly, or not to fly? (1:52:38)

Evil: Divide and devastate (2:06:06)

__________________________________________

TMAT Talks is a podcast by Tell Me a Tale, Great or Small, a community of American table-top wargamers who enjoy the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game by Games Workshop.

Adventures Await!

Like what you hear? Join the discussion:

tellmeatalegreatorsmall.blogspot.com

facebook.com/TmatSBG

Tmat SBG on YouTube


Nov 11, 202002:40:40
TMAT Talks: Episode 7 - The Hunters Red October (THRO) 2020

TMAT Talks: Episode 7 - The Hunters Red October (THRO) 2020

It'd been a while since TMAT's last tournament, so Red Jacket was like, "gotta shake off some cobweb legs, dudes." *

If your tournament scene is quiet (or you're looking for batreps involving Barad-Dur, Hunter Orcs, Angmar, all-mounted Rohan, or Easterlings (with Shagrat)), Tiberius, Centaur, and Rythbryt are back to give you some before-action predictions and post-action breakdowns from our recent 700 point tournament. It's a time-travel miracle! **

Music: Happy Haunts by Aaron Kenny

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Intro, Tourney Rules, and Army Lists (0:00)

Pre-Tourney Predictions (58:52)

Round 1 Re-Cap (Rohan v. Angmar, Azog v. Sauron) (1:11:36)

Round 2 Re-Cap (Rohan v. Sauron, Easterlings v. Angmar, Rohan v. Azog) (1:59:56)

Round 3 Re-Cap (Easterlings v. Azog, Angmar v. Sauron) (2:43:16)

List Modifications and Lessons Learned (3:30:23)

Final Placements and Parting Thoughts (4:19:57)

* Okay, fine... generously, that's a very rough paraphrase.

** Patent pending.

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TMAT Talks is a podcast by Tell Me a Tale, Great or Small, a community of American table-top wargamers who enjoy the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game by Games Workshop.

Adventures Await!

Like what you hear? Join the discussion:

tellmeatalegreatorsmall.blogspot.com

facebook.com/TmatSBG

Oct 04, 202004:31:59
TMAT Talks: Episode 6 - Top-10 "Big Honkin' Things" (Evil)

TMAT Talks: Episode 6 - Top-10 "Big Honkin' Things" (Evil)

After a long (editing-induced) hiatus, Tiberius, Centaur, and Rythbryt dive into their top-10 "Big Honkin' Things" for the forces of evil, which of course means some time in the sun for everyone's favorite evil war beasts and siege engines (plus a couple surprise entries). After giving their rankings, they top things off with three more ally-able army lists (450 points or less) in the pocket-full-of-power segment!

Music: Happy Haunts by Aaron Kenny

Intro (0:00)

Honorable mentions and low-accuracy projectiles (5:06)

Catapults and Towers (47:28)

Mumaks and Death Wagons (1:24:57)

An unsurprising top-3… mostly (1:52:27)

Pockets-Full-of-Power (2:28:45)

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TMAT Talks is a podcast by Tell Me a Tale, Great or Small, a community of American table-top wargamers who enjoy the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game by Games Workshop.

Adventures Await!

Like what you hear? Join the discussion:

tellmeatalegreatorsmall.blogspot.com

facebook.com/TmatSBG

Sep 14, 202002:55:03
TMAT Talks: Episode 5 - Top-10 "Big Honkin' Things" (Good)

TMAT Talks: Episode 5 - Top-10 "Big Honkin' Things" (Good)

Tiberius, Centaur, and Rythbryt return to discuss their top-10(ish) "Big Honkin' Things"... which turns out to be a whole lot of siege weapons, war beasts, and other giant machines of war. If you've always craved an extended soliloquy on the [Censored] Bolt-Thrower from Minas Tirith, or a dissection of the Khazad-Dum Dwarf Ballista... well, you may need help--but this is the podcast for you! Plus three more ally-able army lists (450 points or less) in our pocket-full-of-power segment!

Music: Happy Haunts by Aaron Kenny

Intro (0:00)

Good, not best: lots of projectile weapons (6:35)

Good Top-3 (52:38)

Pockets-Full-of-Power (1:35:26)

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TMAT Talks is a podcast by Tell Me a Tale, Great or Small, a community of American table-top wargamers who enjoy the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game by Games Workshop.

Adventures Await!

Like what you hear? Join the discussion:

tellmeatalegreatorsmall.blogspot.com

facebook.com/TmatSBG

Jul 21, 202002:03:42
TMAT Talks: Episode 4 - Top-10 Supports (Good & Evil)

TMAT Talks: Episode 4 - Top-10 Supports (Good & Evil)

We're back with a discussion of our top-10 support models in the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game. We cover our favorites for both good and evil, plus a bunch of honorable mentions (and a few "mea culpas"). Rabbit trails include ranking ringwraiths (and a surprising number of Hobbits). Plus more "Pocket Full of..." army lists to get your creative juices flowing!

Music: Happy Haunts by Aaron Kenny

Intro and Honorable Mentions (0:00)

Good Top-10 (12:10)

Good Mea Culpas (1:14:20)

Evil Top-10: Wraiths, anyone? (1:22:34)

Pockets-Full-of-Power (2:35:00)

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TMAT Talks is a podcast by Tell Me a Tale, Great or Small, a community of American table-top wargamers who enjoy the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game by Games Workshop.

Adventures Await!

Like what you hear? Join the discussion:

tellmeatalegreatorsmall.blogspot.com

facebook.com/TmatSBG

Jun 25, 202003:08:14
TMAT Talks: Episode 3 - Top-10 Spell-casters (Evil)

TMAT Talks: Episode 3 - Top-10 Spell-casters (Evil)

Our discussion of the top spell-casters in the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game continues with TMAT Talks, Episode 3! Centaur, Tiberius, and Rythbryt give their rankings for evil's wizards, plus take several rabbit trails into how to mount your Nazgul, whether you should channel Fury, and two spells that are almost as good "in the box" as they are cast (almost). Plus more "Pocket Full of..." army lists to get your creative juices flowing!  

Music: Happy Haunts by Aaron Kenny

Intro (0:00)

The Consensus Top-4 (4:41)

Fell-Beasts and Fury (41:00)

The Dragon-Kin (1:46:26)

Pockets-Full-of-Power (2:32:18)

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TMAT Talks is a podcast by Tell Me a Tale, Great or Small, a community of American table-top wargamers who enjoy the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game by Games Workshop.

Adventures Await!

Like what you hear? Join the discussion:

tellmeatalegreatorsmall.blogspot.com

facebook.com/TmatSBG

Jun 25, 202003:10:57
TMAT Talks: Episode 2 - Top-10 Spell-casters (Good)

TMAT Talks: Episode 2 - Top-10 Spell-casters (Good)

In the second episode of TMAT Talks, Centaur, Tiberius, and Rythbryt give their top-10 spell-casters for the forces of good in Games Workshop's Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game (and had such a good time of it that we ran out of time to discuss evil's spell casters).

This episode also features the debut of a new segment: "A Pocket Full of..." where we offer you mini-lists based around some of our favorite casters that you can incorporate into other armies for some added pop. And it even incorporates the then-most-recent FAQ changes because we care about you (though not the actual-most-recent FAQ changes that reversed some of the prior-recent FAQ changes--not because we don't care but because we're not Time Lords).

Intro (0:00)

Top-3 (6:38)

Elves and Elf-Lords (52:18)

Rule-Breakers (1:20:00)

Pockets-Full-of-Power (1:28:02)

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TMAT Talks is a podcast by Tell Me a Tale, Great or Small, a community of American table-top wargamers who enjoy the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game by Games Workshop.

Adventures Await!

Like what you hear? Join the discussion:

tellmeatalegreatorsmall.blogspot.com

facebook.com/TmatSBG

Jun 25, 202002:03:05
TMAT Talks: Episode 1 - Top-10 Monsters

TMAT Talks: Episode 1 - Top-10 Monsters

In the inaugural episode, the TMAT team (Tell Me a Tale) ranks their top-10(ish) monsters for the forces of good and the forces of evil, in Games Workshop's Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game. Are eagles better than ents? Is Shelob even viable? And who would you rather have: Sauron or Smaug? (Spoiler Alert: For one of us, it's neither...)  Join Centaur, Tiberius, and Rythbryt as they hash it all out. 


Intro (0:00)

Good Monsters: Top 3 (9:00) 

Good Monsters :The Rest (18:01) 

Evil Monsters: Top 3 (38:48) 

Evil Monsters: The Rest (57:52) 

Finishing Touches (1:41:12)  


TMAT Talks is a podcast by Tell Me a Tale, Great or Small, a community of American table-top wargamers who enjoy the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game by Games Workshop. 

Adventures Await!

Like what you hear? Join the discussion:

tellmeatalegreatorsmall.blogspot.com

facebook.com/TmatSBG


Jun 25, 202001:45:04