My thoughts, impression and questions on FATW

[HunGeneral]

Greetings FATW fans and developers.

I downloaded this Mod a few weeks ago (2.6 and later Wars of Men) and have been playing it since then (when I had the time).
I wish to congratulate and thank the developers for making this wonderful Middle-earth Mod. Having just begun to read the Lord of the Rings I must admit that I have little knowledge of the Lore itself, but this Mod has already helped me understand things I couldn't earlier.

I find it very enjoyable that the Mod itself puts emphasis on people (or there descendents) and events which the films didn't mention. (The house of Erkenbrand for example). Also I find it a great idea that the mod takes place in the future of Middle-Earth - this way you don't get a feeling that something which should happen isn't happening or your playing is "historically inaccurate" and you have no real idea of which of the factions became the next dominant power in Middle-earth.

I also like the gameplay aspects: the MEzor system and the unit balancing - no unit is undefeteable and most of them have some use. The building restriction and city differentation are nice features aswell.

All in one: great work people

I would also have some questions for which I couldn't find any answers...

1. I read somewhere that if you capture a "regional capital" of another faction/culture and build up baracks, stables to the highest level then you will be able to train a certain unit of the faction the city originally belonged to. What I would like to know is wether this will mena that the unit will only be recruiteable in thath one city or in others aswell? And where do you know which unit(s) you will get? (By the way: do only cities or renown count as regional capitals?)

2. Is there a way to capture artifacts from other factions rulers when the die in battle or if there factions is destroyed? (Like if the ruler of Adunabar could get his hands on Anduril if the Reunited Kingdom is overrun).

3. (This is rather a matter of currious) The mod depicts the Haradrim as having a dark coloured skin as they had in the novels (haven't gotten so far yet). The corsairs of Umbar (and there archer variant) seem to have much brighter skin although they live in the same area (being at sea alot should also rather give them a tanned skin). Is it the same way in the novels or is it just a coincidence?

I wish you good work with version 3.0! It will be great to see more elves and dwarfs in these wars

[Aradan]

We're very happy you enjoy the mod so much, amny hours of work and research have gone into it and it's alsways great to see that appreciated.

1. The Assimilation Units are available only in capitals: Minas Tirith, Minas Ihil, Edoras, Umbar, Dunhold, Tham. Of course not every AU is available to all factions, for instance Harad doesn't get access to Rohan's AU or RK doesn't get access to Rhun's.

2. Nope, not possible.

3. I guess the uni texture could do with a bit of extra tan, but of course Corsairs are suposed to be of numenorean descent, so they are naturally more fair-skinned.

[MasterOfNone]

Regarding #3. The Corsairs had become a very mixed group by this time (even during the Third Age) and were probably mostly Haradrian. However, we deliberately kept them fairer to represent that Númenórean hint of blood, and to make them more distinct as a group. The Haradrian, other than this, are divided into Plains people, City folk and the Far Haradrim.

Thank you for your kind comments.

[HunGeneral]

1. The Assimilation Units are available only in capitals: Minas Tirith, Minas Ihil, Edoras, Umbar, Dunhold, Tham. Of course not every AU is available to all factions, for instance Harad doesn't get access to Rohan's AU or RK doesn't get access to Rhun's.

Aha now I get it. So to Minas Tirith sons of Harad! Although even IF Harad can get the AU of the RK i wouldn't dare to use them until the heirs of Telessar walk Middle-earth.

2. Nope, not possible.

Well so much about making those swords the new Crown Jewels of Rohan. Maybe it's time for them to break once again...

3. I guess the uni texture could do with a bit of extra tan, but of course Corsairs are suposed to be of numenorean descent, so they are naturally more fair-skinned.

Now I remember why I fought to have read somewhere that they aren't really Haradrim. That also moved my brain when I realised they don't wear any scarlet like the rest of Harads Army. They make good "river flankers" anyway and have done me good services by helping keep the "beacheads" in southern Gondor.

Regarding #3. The Corsairs had become a very mixed group by this time (even during the Third Age) and were probably mostly Haradrian. However, we deliberately kept them fairer to represent that Númenórean hint of blood, and to make them more distinct as a group.

That also makes sence - I seem to have forgotten that thoose Corsairs were originally Númenorean (even when one of my best generals is a Black Númenorean).

The Haradrian, other than this, are divided into Plains people, City folk and the Far Haradrim.

That can be seen in the mod aswell - there recruitment reflects it very well.

Thank you for your kind comments.

Rather thank you guys for making this fantastic mod.

I would have some other question (I forgot them last time):

- Is there only 1 Assimilation unit from every culture or are there more (2 or 3 maybe)?

- Why can't I destroy some "wonders" in towns like the watchtower in Dol Amroth?

- I think I don't remember the lore again, but why can the Dunlendings recruit Orcs and Men in the same town/province while Adunabar and Rhun can't?

- Just another "minor" question: The Royal Family of Harad consists mostly of Haradrim Nobels and has a few Númenorians (or there descendants) among them or are they purely Haradrim by now?

[Aradan]

I would have some other question (I forgot them last time):

- Is there only 1 Assimilation unit from every culture or are there more (2 or 3 maybe)?

Just 1.

- Why can't I destroy some "wonders" in towns like the watchtower in Dol Amroth?

Wonders are not destructible. Marvels (the ones represented by building inside settlements) are.

- I think I don't remember the lore again, but why can the Dunlendings recruit Orcs and Men in the same town/province while Adunabar and Rhun can't?

Rhun cannot recruit Orcs anyway. Adunabar cannot, because Dunedain wouldn't want to be trained alongside Orcs.

- Just another "minor" question: The Royal Family of Harad consists mostly of Haradrim Nobels and has a few Númenorians (or there descendants) among them or are they purely Haradrim by now?

I'd say most people of dunedanic descent would be around Umbar by that time, though of course dunedanic blood would have been spread and diluted through marriages with haradrim people. So, if members of the royal family married to lords/ladies from Umbar...

[HunGeneral]

Wonders are not destructible. Marvels (the ones represented by building inside settlements) are.

Then why can't I destroy this:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

It looks more like a marvel to me then a wonder. (FATW:WoM - All Factions Harad campaing)

Rhun cannot recruit Orcs anyway. Adunabar cannot, because Dunedain wouldn't want to be trained alongside Orcs.

Aha now I get it.

Thnaks for the quick answers

One more thing: can I somehow counterabalance the trait "orc-like". I read somewhere that it comes from exterminating populace (which is a necessity in new towns with a different "religion").

Also what can influence which "title" an FM recieves (like "Lord of Mordor", "Lord of Hosts" and others)?

[Aradan]

If the engine allowed it, we would probably implement this as a feature (only Cultist troops would accept being in the same army as Orcs etc), but since it doesn't your approach is probably the most lore-accurate one.