Come here to discuss ideas and put forward suggestions.
Orcs should be cheap or upkeep free.
Alright. They aren't the greatest troops either. Morgoth's power will come from his balrogs, dragons, and lieutenants like Sauron.
Naturally. Only way to win with orcs is to have a massive numerical advantage. Even then, it's still uncertain.
Orcs are usually hunched midgets anyway.
We're going to need a recruitment system based on time rather than money for factions. Like, every year they get X soldiers. What do you guys think?
Maybe. I'd still say some money has to be involved, maybe to supplement their yearly soldiers. But very costly?
Probably. We need to have a currency system, but I'd like to avoid the typical "lots of money = troops" systems of GSTK, GoT, and other RPGs. They work there, but I don't feel that kind of system is right for Beleriand. Perhaps some hybrid system like you suggest.
Say I, as thingol, buy 20,000 elven archers. However, since the elven troops are powerful and it is hard to train them, I get 5000 every year, or 2000. morgoth trains 40,000 orcs. He gets 20,000 per turn, since they are very weak. I also suggest recruitment points for morgoth, since you can't buy orcs and trolls, they don't have a currency.
That could work. I would like to include that recruitment (with the exception of Morgoth) should be based on what land(s) you have and what they yield; a mix between buying troops and levies, per se. For Morgoth... perhaps we should make it so lots of certain troops can only be created from Thangorodrim / Angband, and if and when he expands his realm, he can raise troops previously unavailable to him, like men who have been seduced to his side (Easterlings anyone?). That system would be based on land too. Typical troops of Morgoth would be raised in Angband through some form of recruitment point system, with balrogs and so on more and more costly. Also, should we let a player play, say Glaurung or Ancalagon, for example. They would have to be somewhat trusted with such a specific role though...
Someone who isn't crazy and can be trusted to play it right.
We'll just it lie then. If a trustworthy player comes around wishing to play a role like that, we'll deal with it then.
Aye aye.
I like the troop idea.
I'm taking back what I said about Morgoth having access to raising special AOR troops from conquered human lands; that adds too much complexity. Easterlings will still be available, just not like that. Preferably when players play them.
I am deeply apologetic for those I allowed to plan for evil characters, but I'm sorry to say that Gandalf and I have decided that perhaps it is best if we bar players from evil characters all together. For obvious reasons, it may be better if we have all players on one side, against Morgoth, or not at all. To more closely follow Angband's behavior, an NPC system may be better for the game as a whole.
Oh
Well then I'm sorry to say that takes most of the fun out of it for me. I hope you change your mind and will watch and wait I don't really see any good faction that would be fun.
Then we can see what kinds of player are the ones who pickup and leave as soon as it doesn't work out.
I'm still here aren't I? I'm simply saying the evil factions appeal to me. I also mention the fact having both makes the game more interesting and IF evil players do quit they can be easily replaced by NPCs. Like I said. The good factions don't hold much appeal for me but I love the idea of the game.
