Eriador (opinions)

**HowDoIShotArrow?** · July 24, 2009, 04:21 PM

I really just can't take Eriador seriously. I mean, it just cracks me up to see The Grey Company and all of my dunedain mounted nobles running around whacking uruks with their big golden hammers while all my village militia slowly fight through the enemy ranks and hobbit archers rain death and destruction upon the battlefield. And why don't dunedain nobles have lances anyway? Pretty sure it says they're equipped with lances in their unit cards.

I decided to play Eriador because I figured, "cool, i get teh raengers LOL", but then I was all like, "where are mah raengers?" And I soon figured out that playing Eriador doesn't entail playing its secretive dunedain protectors, but rather, playing its dimwitted village inhabitants and a handful of Dunedain knights who have an inordinate fondess for large maces. Oh yes, and the generals who command these Dunedain knights definitely don't have Dunedain-sounding names, instead opting for such illustrious titles as "Phil". But I guess the Dunedain rangers were always pretty modest...

The family tree also cracked me up! It was cool how Aragorn was married to some random chick (or maybe they're just living together, I don't know) and had a son! And every turn there was a new candidate for adoption, I guess because even though I had alot of generals, most of these generals were not actually in my family tree. So I kept getting even more hotheaded Dunedain nobles, and you know what I say, the more 2-hitpoint, heavily-armoured, hammer-wielding cavalry the better!

I recently conquered Isengard (funny in itself), which has some good troop production buildings, so maybe I can start building some infantry that doesn't look like it came straight off the farm. Although I think the next best infantry unit I can make is Bandits, so I guess it comes down to whether I want the bulk of my army to consist of dull peasants or cunning rakes. Not to downplay the importance of my archers, of course, I'm well aware that I can get Dunedain rangers eventually, but for now I'm stuck with the stock archer dudes, hobbit archers, and one unit of Eriador Scouts (who have really vibrant leafy camoflauge) that I started the game with.

So I guess I was just wondering about your guys' thoughts on Eriador...

**Hartassen** · July 24, 2009, 04:33 PM

I played eriador and they are a powerhouse (really they are) they have the single most powerful economy in the game. As early as turn 40 if you play your cards right you can start producing stacks of bandits/scouts/rangers meaning you actually got some decent troops, throw in the fact that you can master 3 stacks towards anyones 1 stack you got yourself a winning horse. Usually I steal all the settlements I can find early on, coldfells, tharbad, hoarwell, lunelaith, and nenuial goes to me asap. Lond daer, I also grab. I later steal ost-in-edhil trade it to high elves for eryn worm and damn I got one huge empire. Usually I go to war with ootmm and steal carn dum and gram. Then I just defend and let the dwarves do their job while I turn focus to isengard.

Usually you have so much money you can easily trade settlements with rohan/dwarves/high elves and you can contribute to rohans warcause to keep isengard at bay. I once gave rohan as much as 100k. But the economy is only a powerhouse at high/vh taxes usually I keep taxes at normal and villages at low (to promote growth for walls) and let the towns grow larger faster so I can produce better militia. But be warned that waiting too long against ootmm can be devastating for your allies, especially silvan elves.

**Quirl** · July 24, 2009, 04:36 PM

I'm curious to see what KK will eventually do with Eriador. Right now they are a little... eh... weird. Making Aragorn their king and then giving him some random wife is the least of this faction's oddities when it comes to lore.

Honestly, I'm not even sure Eriador should be a playable faction. That's not to say they shouldn't be, it's just to say I'm not sure.

There's virtually nothing going on on that side of the map. On the west side there are enemy's at everyone's doorstep. In the east are just the Dwarves, High Elves, and Eriador, nestled comfortably in their little safe provinces.

I've heard a lot of people (KK included) talking about splitting up the faction, possibly having to reunite them as a single kingdom during gameplay. I think that might be a good idea. Still, even if they do go that route, I don't think Aragorn should be spearheading that little crusade as their freakin' king. That's just too weird...

**sturmdg** · July 24, 2009, 04:44 PM

Then I remember of vanilla Rome Total War. You werent able to play some of the factions without changing some files, even if you had already defeated them (ie Spain, etc). They even had less rosters (only 4 or 5 units). Maybe Eriador is a faction to be there but not to played. As it exists and may defend itself on a different way than Rebels, but shouldnt be expansionist neither. I cant remember RTW Spain invading anyone (thought when i played with them they ruled!!)

**OfficerJohn** · July 24, 2009, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by sturmdg

Then I remember of vanilla Rome Total War. You werent able to play some of the factions without changing some files, even if you had already defeated them (ie Spain, etc). They even had less rosters (only 4 or 5 units). Maybe Eriador is a faction to be there but not to played. As it exists and may defend itself on a different way than Rebels, but shouldnt be expansionist neither. I cant remember RTW Spain invading anyone (thought when i played with them they ruled!!)

You mean non_playable, instead of playable or unlockable?

lrn2descr_strat.txt
I can mod that in two seconds...

PS. Not to be rude or anything, but to know how to handle the basics of the descr_strat is really handy...

**sturmdg** · July 24, 2009, 04:58 PM

not only the command, but the way it was designed. My point is that RTW-Spain was not designed by CA to be played. Just to be there. And for the debate "What should we do with Eriador?" that is my answer. A defensive AI faction, scripted for that. CA made it on RTW.

But also guess that when DG shows up the faction i ll be willing to play it as my favourite.

PS. Dont worry I didnt know the commad (know none) ty for it (although it was not my exactly point)

**Warmaster Tibs** · July 24, 2009, 05:01 PM

I realy dont like the ideas of unplayable factions. Why not? Sure they make suck balls but why the hell cant they be there for the OPTION to play them! I have enjoyed 2 Eriador campaigns so far. I hate how in Rome and Empire some factions you cant play without a little modding. Why the hell can we just have the option to play every faction if we choose to?

**LordLombax** · July 24, 2009, 04:45 PM

in several of my campaigns (on vanilla mind you) the high elves attacked and owned eriador. Just thought that was wierd; and its just an example of SOME action that might happen up there.

**Jean=A=Luc** · July 24, 2009, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by Quirl

I'm curious to see what KK will eventually do with Eriador.

DG is doing Eriador.

The "farm-like" appearance of Eriador is a major part of its appeal and uniqueness. Eriador is kinda like the Imperial Guard of the WH40k universe, common men amid extraordinary circumstances and that's what makes them so "heroic".

DG isn't going to change that basic premise, you'll still be playing with various militias working your way to the Dunedain units but the overall design will be much improved, both visually and in gameplay terms.

Keep in mind I'll close this if there's too much

ing, I barely restrained myself when I say this topic. Speaking of the topic I've changed its name to something more appropriate.

**Warmaster Tibs** · July 24, 2009, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by Jean=A=Luc

DG is doing Eriador.

The "farm-like" appearance of Eriador is a major part of its appeal and uniqueness. Eriador is kinda like the Imperial Guard of the WH40k universe, common men amid extraordinary circumstances and that's what makes them so "heroic".
t

Lies! The Imperium is far more heroic for they go up against far more stronger foes. They die in the millions for the Emperor! Watch this and tell me they arent heroic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7Ewd8OeYEA

! Warhammer 40k Imperial Guard fan for life!

**HowDoIShotArrow?** · July 25, 2009, 12:20 AM

Originally Posted by Jean=A=Luc

Keep in mind I'll close this if there's too much

ing, I barely restrained myself when I say this topic. Speaking of the topic I've changed its name to something more appropriate.

Sorry, I'm new here. What exactly is

ing? Awww, and you changed the title? I feel that LOL leaves it more open-ended, don't you?

**Jean=A=Luc** · July 25, 2009, 04:14 AM

Originally Posted by HowDoIShotArrow?

Awww, and you changed the title? I feel that LOL leaves it more open-ended, don't you?

No, it just makes it insulting and that's what I'm looking to avoid.

**HowDoIShotArrow?** · July 25, 2009, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by Jean=A=Luc

No, it just makes it insulting and that's what I'm looking to avoid.

Okay, fair enough, but what is

ing?

**OfficerJohn** · July 24, 2009, 05:05 PM

I agree with you there, though, but the developers of whatever it is feels the pressure is much heavier if all are playable... for some reason...

**sturmdg** · July 24, 2009, 05:48 PM

Lotho Sackville-Baggins was able to hire orcs, thought I dont see the way to implement this in a faction that puts together dunedain, breemen and hobbits

**Jools_Jops** · July 24, 2009, 06:23 PM

i havent played as eriador but i find alot of units from that factions to be kind of pants on head retarded.

the standard militias and peasant units they get..... they are wearing cloth or leather, basically no armor.... and yet they have the same or higher armor than most uruk hai units. even the hobbit archers have almost as much armor as other standard infantry units. i mean... they are hobbits, they are wearing quaint little waistcoats..... but that somehow gives them tons of armor.

i dont really understand eriador that much as a faction. most of their units look so crummy and weak and yet they have mega high attack and defence ratings. seems a bit out of place.

**Romaneck** · July 24, 2009, 06:30 PM

It makes sense in my head that Eriador should not have megasuperspecialawesome Barracks but have the best merc rooster in the game as well as the best spies to make siege weapons the alternative rather than the main source.

Lets not get into lore discussion but I dont see hobbits interested in leaving the shire nor rangers interested in conquest (but alas by that logic... why do we get to hire elves in Moira).

But in the modding team we trust since they have not let us down... for the better part I think

**spikyblackhair** · July 24, 2009, 08:48 PM

The concept of Eriador, at least, seems pretty playable to me. It may be the faction farthest removed from the evil factions at the beginning of the campaign, but I think the point of Eriador is for those farmer-types to eventually come to the rescue of Rohan, Gondor, etc.

Of course, it didn't really work out that way in my campaign since Gondor seems to be dominating Mordor and no invasion has been called against Edoras, but such is life.

I'm still a big fan of the unique feel of Eriador. Gondor is the OP unit powerhouse, the dwarves are the infantry powerhouse, the elves/archers, Mordor/trolls, Rohan/cav, Rhun/Harad/exotic flair/more "standard" unit selection for those who want to play on the evil side, Isengarde/Uruks, OoMM/snagas and goblins, and Eriador/hobbits and peasant-types. The only faction without a unique feel seems to be Dale. Perhaps somebody who knows Dale's lore would be more interested in how it plays, but they definitely seem to be the most generic/mediocre faction. I don't mind having a mediocre faction in there though; that's a gameplay style in itself. Dale is unique simply by virtue of all of the other factions being special =)

Back to Eriador, though... it really does have pretty decent units, as Jools_Jops said. Every faction could probably use a bit of tweaking here and there, which I'd welcome, but Eriador as it is right now is more on the OP side rather than underpowered, if you ask me. That economy, the secure starting position, and the decent/cheap units make the campaign pretty easy. Perhaps slightly better units are in order, with a weakened economy =) Eriador seems like it should lose any open, pitched battle; I'd like to see it become more of a skirmishing faction. Ultimately weak line troops (like it already has, although its militas and GGs are fairly strong for what they are), mediocre archers/weak cav, but quick and effective skirmishers/stealth/shock infantry (rangers).

**DisgruntledGoat** · July 25, 2009, 10:08 AM

If people are interested in seeing where Eriador is headed I suggest reading the latest posts in the Eriador preview thread. THere's plenty of info in there.

**DisgruntledGoat** · July 26, 2009, 07:25 AM

These sort of discussion can be done without the sarcasm. Someone tried their best when making these units. Ya they aren't the greatest and criticizing them is totally fair. But lets leave sarcasm and snarky comments out. First, its really not fair to the guy that did the work and second we've been over it a million times before. That's why I am working on doing new units. So if you want to discuss eriador leave the sarcasm about their looks at the door. Okay.