#1.2 The Battle of the Five Armies in Miniature

#1.2
THE BATTLE OF FIVE ARMIES IN MINIATURE
by Larry Smith
June, 1976

This article presents wargame rules, based on Chainmail, to replay the Battle of the Five Armies, from THE HOBBIT, by JRR Tolkien.

How does this relate to AD&D?

Well, to start, Chainmail was the genesis of OD&D, which, in turn, became the genesis of AD&D.

As well, Tolkien did have an undeniable influence on (A)D&D. However, this is a matter that will be openly contested in later issues of Dragon magazine. For the record, despite the fact that THE HOBBIT seemed to be Gary's favorite book by Tolkien, it is well known that it has been stated that Tolkien was not a primary influence on AD&D. ("The most immediate influences" were probably de Camp && Pratt, REH, Fritz Leiber, Jack Vance, HPL, and A. Merritt -- cf. DMG.224).

Anyway, 2 questions:

1) Do you believe that the influence of Tolkien on (A)D&D is understated?

2) Are there any games out there (I'd imagine that they are done by GDW), that recreate the Battle of the Five Armies?

Prespos