Suggestion - lower starting number of territories

**Evil_Ewok** · June 17, 2009, 09:37 AM

I searched for this on the forum, so apologies if its on here but I was unable to locate it. I'm sure one of you will correct me if this is the case.

Basically, I think Rhun, Rohan, Eriador, and especially Harad have too many starting territories.

For example Harad has 10, and a vice-like grip over the bottom half of the map from the start, making it rather boring to just constantly send things North and just upgrade its existing settlements. Yes there are a few rebel settlements on their borders, but they should be reduced to maybe 5 starting territories to make it interesting.

The others too could lose a settlement or two at the beginning, making them work for it.

Dissenting opinions and constructive criticism welcome and expected.

**Jean=A=Luc** · June 17, 2009, 10:17 AM

The starting positions are mostly lore accurate so I don't expect them to change but maybe something can be done.

**Olifantenstaart** · June 17, 2009, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Jean=A=Luc

The starting positions are mostly lore accurate so I don't expect them to change but maybe something can be done.

A suggestion: many rebels in your home regions at the start of the campaign.
Also, let bandit settlements have a powerfull garrison, so capturing such a town won't be peanuts.

**Vifarc** · June 17, 2009, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by Olifantenstaart

A suggestion: many rebels in your home regions at the start of the campaign.

Letting some presently Harad settlements begin as Rebels. That may be some solution, as, I think, Harad had many tribes and not all at once were subverted by Sauron.
But it will weaken the Harad start. So it could be good if we think Harad is some overpowered for now.

Also, let bandit settlements have a powerfull garrison, so capturing such a town won't be peanuts.

I don't think there was so many conscious and brave Harad men to oppose Sauron.

**Olifantenstaart** · June 17, 2009, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by Vifarc

Letting some presently Harad settlements begin as Rebels. That may be some solution, as, I think, Harad had many tribes and not all at once were subverted by Sauron.
But it will weaken the Harad start. So it could be good if we think Harad is some overpowered for now.
I don't think there was so many conscious and brave Harad men to oppose Sauron.

I meant a bigger garrison in every town, not just the Harad regions

Tolkien hasn't written that settlements where easy/difficult to capture, that's just Total War gameplay.. Well-defended bandit settlements would slow down a blitzkrieg.

**Evil_Ewok** · June 18, 2009, 03:04 AM

Jan - your remark about being 'lore accurate' is noted, but in the interests of gameplay and an varied campaign for Harad, for example, just because a region is labelled 'Harad' or whatever does not necessarily imply a completely homogeneous region controlled by one power.

The issue with Harad is that nothing challenges them. Mordor and Rhun will not fight them unless you break your alliances, and Gondor is so preoccupied with the never-ending assault on its borders that it can never really challenge the Harad heartland.

Harad gameplay goes something like this.
1) build up your settlements that are in no danger of attack (yawn)
2) constantly spam to the front lines units to focus on the land bridge to attack Gondor or try and get some spoils around Osgiliath (yawn)

There is no real danger or variation within Harad, especially on Vh/Vh as Evil always trounces Gondor quickly.

If Harad had only 3-5 starting settlements (instead of the massive 10!), the game would be more stimulating and challenging as one Harad leader tries to unite the disparate tribes and bring them to heel.

**jản** · June 17, 2009, 12:53 PM

///

okay - making the amount of settlements fewer (especially for rhun and harad)
than they currently are, would absolutely make no sence. actually they should be
more lorewise.

if you look at that or that map you can see how large harad and thun were at
the time of ring war ind the third age.
(on the second map the whole area around "13" is harad terretory.)

///

**OfficerJohn** · June 18, 2009, 09:43 AM

Harad could have about 7 instead of 10...

Now, focuse on the real mistake here: Eriador!

They should have like what?

Bree, Hobbiton... maybe Annuminas?
And they should've been divided...

**A1_Unit** · June 18, 2009, 09:47 AM

Eriador has trouble with OOTMM though.

**Warmaster Tibs** · June 18, 2009, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by A1_Unit

Eriador has trouble with OOTMM though.

Thats because they suck.

**A1_Unit** · June 18, 2009, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by Warmaster Tibs

Thats because they suck.

So why weaken them further?

**Warmaster Tibs** · June 18, 2009, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by A1_Unit

So why weaken them further?

For the OotMM!!

**OfficerJohn** · June 18, 2009, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by A1_Unit

So why weaken them further?

Dividing them would lead to a Dunedain faction that would be strong enough to defend the others...

**Black_ice_Spain** · June 18, 2009, 09:53 AM

give umbar and some zones around to gondor, just change your perception of time a lil xD (this is more a suggestion 4 a submod than for the real mod, but well)

In 1810. Gondor briefly captured the port and city, but it was soon regained by the Haradrim. Once again the black ships, or dromonds, of Umbar were on the waters raiding the coast, and these people who were called the Corsairs of Umbar became the terror of the seas. In anticipation of the rising power of Sauron, Aragorn II in 2980 led a raiding party inot Umbar's port and burned a large part of its fleet.

**Nikos** · June 18, 2009, 09:58 AM

Rohan definitely has a territory that isn't lore accurate.
The "East Emnet" territory is far too large and I think it should be Rebel at the game's start.

**A1_Unit** · June 18, 2009, 10:28 AM

Already happening in our sub-mod, TATW: The Unfinished Tales. There also are other sub-mods that will do this too.

**Warmaster Tibs** · June 18, 2009, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by A1_Unit

Already happening in our sub-mod, TATW: The Unfinished Tales. There also are other sub-mods that will do this too.

Shameless advirtisement? hehe Anyway If we get more rebel settlement maybe no factions should start at war? Make it easier to expand then declear war. But this could make things a bit strange.

**A1_Unit** · June 18, 2009, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by Warmaster Tibs

Shameless advirtisement? hehe Anyway If we get more rebel settlement maybe no factions should start at war? Make it easier to expand then declear war. But this could make things a bit strange.

That would really mess up Mordor. It would go north instead of west to Gondor.

**Anibal at portas** · June 18, 2009, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by Evil_Ewok

I searched for this on the forum, so apologies if its on here but I was unable to locate it. I'm sure one of you will correct me if this is the case.

Basically, I think Rhun, Rohan, Eriador, and especially Harad have too many starting territories.

For example Harad has 10, and a vice-like grip over the bottom half of the map from the start, making it rather boring to just constantly send things North and just upgrade its existing settlements. Yes there are a few rebel settlements on their borders, but they should be reduced to maybe 5 starting territories to make it interesting.

The others too could lose a settlement or two at the beginning, making them work for it.

Dissenting opinions and constructive criticism welcome and expected.

rohan,rhun and harad is historical accurate,i not agreed with you in this,but eriador is necessary less territories.
eriador not exist as kingdom,in my opinion is better to divide eriador in small factions,i agreed with you in this.