DCI: Last Alliance - Open Beta released, NEW: 10 October 2020 new patch released, contains Ents - Wolves - Spiders crashes fix! (and more)

[Duke Valentino]

Can you give me more detail about the roster of Harad? You list them as having Black Numenorean units, could you elaborate on that?

[Ngugi]

The main body of the forces will consist of Haradrim, while there will be five Black Númenórean units; a sword & shield infantry unit, an archer unit with steel bows, a mariner unit, a Temple Guard unit with maces, and the bodyguards.

[Duke Valentino]

Are the bodyguards mounted?

[Ngugi]

No, they're infantry. As for their cousins in the northwest the native horses are to small, while in difference to the settlers in Gondor and Arnor their lands lie in areas not very suited for the animals, so what horses they brought is deemed even much rarer, or over time non-existent.
The BNs rely on Haradrim cavalry, with one heavy unit outfitted in quality Númenórean gear. In the few cases where we will have BN lords with a mounted BG, those will consist of Haradrim riders.

[Gratzy2]

No, they're infantry. As for their cousins in the northwest the native horses are to small, while in difference to the settlers in Gondor and Arnor their lands lie in areas not very suited for the animals, so what horses they brought is deemed even much rarer, or over time non-existent.
The BNs rely on Haradrim cavalry, with one heavy unit outfitted in quality Númenórean gear. In the few cases where we will have BN lords with a mounted BG, those will consist of Haradrim riders.

Harad with a big Black Numenorean influence sounds fantastic especially in this mod i'm looking forward to Harad as a fan of Black Numenoreans myself

[Ngugi]

Haha, many are, personally I despise them of all my heart, but they will be done justice in the game

[Gratzy2]

Haha, many are, personally I despise them of all my heart, but they will be done justice in the game

what race or faction do you prefer then?

[Ngugi]

It's a matter of morale, I consider them, and much of the Númenórean population troughout the second half of the island's existance, to been the worst of all Tolkien's earthly folks. Orcs are tainted with Morgoth's essence while other Men as a rule were manipulated and deceived, refused the teachings of others than the Dark Lords, but the fallen Númenóreans knew the light, they knew the history, Valar and Eru, and still they chose the dark path. Raiding for wealth, oppressing as tyrants, slaying and sacrificing upon altars the Men of Middle-earth who they should have taught and protected.
But that disregard for them will not make me be unfair against them what the game concern.

What concern favourites from the legendary it is the Noldor, who though all their short-comings, faults (due to that I however do have little regards for Fëanor and much of his people) and hopelessness trough the First Age never gave up on defying and opposing Morgoth.


Edit: forgot the "not" in last sentence, first paragraph ^^

[dannyalex]

Just wanted to say i am still here and w8 to test urs and ur team job.... "don't be hasty" but also dont get old waiting...

[Ngugi]

Don't you worry, I got the whip on my back right now to get EDU, EDB, stats, event texts and placeholder units in order for the intended August-beta

[dannyalex]

August-beta

really?

[Ngugi]

We've said summer beta for a long time, we intend to not fall flat - though I naturally regret ever mention a release

[Sint]

Just a question will Elendil be 2.41 m tall like he was said to be by Tolkien ,but I doubt that that is possible,itwould look funny too.

[Ngugi]

No, there will be a custom model for him, according to plan, but we won't make him tall as a troll, while impressive in real life I'm sure ingame it would look ridiculous, like a bug. Impressive stats and model will have to cover his honour

[dannyalex]

i wonder how easy will be the campaign..i hate easy campaigns,will the evil forces have a chance to wipe out of the game?will be challenging?
have you decided about the goals of each faction,what settlements must remain under certain period of time at one faction which you need to capture and etc...can you share some this with us? if not and all go as plan 19 august is near also

[Ngugi]

I think it will be a good challenge beyond the TATW experience, at least that's the intention for the final release, but honestly I can not tell at all at this stage.
The beta is here to help us solve potential and likely balance issues and test our often uniqe features, and I do not recomend it to anyone who expect anything else than a first WIP beta for that purpose; that is why it will be a closed one (decided it finalle here and now), the last thing we will have time for is complaints over matters we never intended for to be present or solved yet (in case there are issues ; or unexpected bugs, however careful we've been) hehe

[Duke Valentino]

Good to see that the Black Numenoreans are being represented accurately, they never used cavalry for their own race, and used auxiliaries instead. Awesome.

[Sint]

"Good to see that the Black Numenoreans are being represented accurately, they never used cavalry for their own race, and used auxiliaries instead. Awesome"

If they were really 6 feet,4 iches tall on average(and that was after they got smaller!!!,So probably like 7 feet or higher in the early days),then they needed big horses.

[Ngugi]

Apperently they had horses sufficent big on Númenor, after some time at least hehe.

In Númenor all journeyed from place to place on horseback; for in riding the Númenóreans, both men and women, took delight, and all the people of the land loved horses, treating them honourably and housing them nobly.
- UT; A Description of the Island of Númenor

As, a strech mind you, we do will have one mounted Dúnedain unit, the rare and expensive the Belfalas Rouqen, as it is interpeted that some horses may been brought from the island to the Middle-earth

As swift, maybe, for mounted men, but [Isildur] had no horses fit for riding;[7]
...

7 The Númenóreans in their own land possessed horses, which they esteemed [see the "Description of Númenor"]. But they did not use them in war; for all their wars were overseas. Also they were of great stature and strength, and their fully-equipped soldiers were accustomed to bear heavy armour and weapons.
In their settlements on the shores of Middle-earth they acquired and bred horses, but used them little for riding, except in sport and pleasure. In war they were used only by couriers, and by bodies of light-armed archers (often not of Númenórean race). In the War of the Alliance such horses as they used had suffered great losses, and few were available in Osgiliath. [Author's note.]
- UT; The Disaster of the Gladden Fields; Notes

if also few, who we present like;

In the men of Belfalas the gifts of the Dúnedain race run strong. There are among them skilled riders, since on the field of Belfalas most of the few horses that stem from Númenor are held. Those who sit up upon them raise the Swan banner of the prince of Belfalas, a title given by Elendil himself, commonly thus called 'the Swan Knights'; to thunder of hooves they bring death to the foes of the land.

[Ngugi]

Sneak peak: Galadriel [Kingdom of Lórien]

Galadriel, or Artanis as she was named by her father Finarfin, kinswoman to Gil-galad, is the last remaining of the leaders who lead the Noldor into Exile and to Middle-earth, where they fought the long defeat against Morgoth and his servants. Likewise she was as she was the only woman of her people to stand tall and valiant among the contending princes when the rebellion started, eager to be gone. No oaths she swore, but the words of Fëanor concerning Middle-earth had kindled in her heart, for she yearned to see the wide unguarded lands and to rule there a realm at her own will.
In Middle-earth she met and wedded Celeborn, kinsman of high king Thingol of Doriath, and learned much from his queen Melian the Maia, while she was close to her brother Finrod Felagund of Nargothrond, who fought Sauron valiantly in a duel of magic, but was killed in his dungeons.

In the Second Age she and Celeborn settled in Eriador as lords, south of Lake Evendim. First not known in name, when Sauron returned she made it her quest to oppose the surviving evil, but she could not affect the affairs of Eregion where Celebrimbor and his smiths created the Rings of Power and were decived by Sauron in his then fair-looking hue. Still Celebrimbor entrusted her with one of the Three Rings, Nenya, ere Eregion fell in 1697, but the Ring of Adamant may not be used as long as Sauron has the One, and he desire it greatly.
Few individuals the Dark Lord fear, but this the perhaps greatest of all Noldor is one of them, yes perhaps could she even wield the One Ring if it came into her possession...?

She and her husband has been concerned about Lórien's situation troughout the Age, where Sindar rule over Silvan Elves and surviving Noldor from Eregion were brough by Galadriel.
The ever designing couple recently returned, after time spent in Lindon, Edhellond and Imladris, when Mount Doom once agin erupt. Offering her services as councellor to king Amdír, as Celeborn his aid, she is a wise overseer, able to divine what occurs in the world trough her mirror, and, if the people is assulted, Galadriel is perhaps the one Elven lady known to stand up in the defence.
Clad by surviving smiths of Eregion in their best armour, fitting a, and in tradition of, Noldor royalty. Armed with a sword from Beleriand she encourage her forces, and put terror in the hearts of the enemy.

Notes: in sneak peaks she's leading a smiths-unit, that will not be the case ingame.
Except under player control she'll not be able to leave Caras Galadhon.
Controversies towards lore, or lack thereof, concerning our choice of faction affinity are known and considered already.

Galadriel

Credits: created by Kahvipannu

Source material the Eregion Smiths, in accordence with King Kong's policy, of who most of the textures are made by Louis Lux
Lü Bu and Yarrum made the most 3D model contributions for the smiths.