Going 'around' Black Gate and Minas Morgul

**P|A|ntZ** · July 29, 2009, 08:55 AM

I found it a little strange that you (and the AI) can move armies around the Black Gate or Minas Morgul. I'm sure most everyone knows about this. It takes 2-3 turns to get through their areas of control, but I think it is counter to the notion of both those settlements as being something you must go through (by defeating). It seems kind of silly that an army can go around the Black Gate, directly adjacent to it.

This is also the case in Osgiliath (both E and W). While I controlled both with sizeable garrisons, a pesky enemy Harad army patiently navigated past E.Osgiliath to the bridge, then past W.Osgiliath to the plains beyond. This may be hard to fix on the map, unless the only tiles considered adjacent to the bridge are the cities themselves.

As for changing the Black Gate and/or Minas Morgul, making it would require a reduction of the playable tiles surrounding those settlements.

Any ideas or opinions on how to manage this?

**Warmaster Tibs** · July 29, 2009, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by P|A|ntZ

I found it a little strange that you (and the AI) can move armies around the Black Gate or Minas Morgul. I'm sure most everyone knows about this. It takes 2-3 turns to get through their areas of control, but I think it is counter to the notion of both those settlements as being something you must go through (by defeating). It seems kind of silly that an army can go around the Black Gate, directly adjacent to it.

This is also the case in Osgiliath (both E and W). While I controlled both with sizeable garrisons, a pesky enemy Harad army patiently navigated past E.Osgiliath to the bridge, then past W.Osgiliath to the plains beyond. This may be hard to fix on the map, unless the only tiles considered adjacent to the bridge are the cities themselves.

As for changing the Black Gate and/or Minas Morgul, making it would require a reduction of the playable tiles surrounding those settlements.

Any ideas or opinions on how to manage this?

Could make the tiles around them unpassable mountians or something. Put a army on the bridge between W and E osgiliath and problem solved.

**MasterBigAb** · July 29, 2009, 11:07 AM

i agree, you shouldn't be able to pass black gate or minas morgul

would be nice to see this fixed

and for osgiliath - that's a bit more difficult there i think...

**Nurk91** · July 29, 2009, 11:24 AM

Isn't that something the modders have done for a reason? Why else would it be that way? Could it be that it is so that the AI can move their troops past there(as Mordor)? Because having to get the troops into a city before continuing could be a problem.(?)

**Warmaster Tibs** · July 29, 2009, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by Nurk91

Isn't that something the modders have done for a reason? Why else would it be that way? Could it be that it is so that the AI can move their troops past there(as Mordor)? Because having to get the troops into a city before continuing could be a problem.(?)

Good point I dident think of that.

**P|A|ntZ** · July 29, 2009, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Nurk91

Isn't that something the modders have done for a reason? Why else would it be that way? Could it be that it is so that the AI can move their troops past there(as Mordor)? Because having to get the troops into a city before continuing could be a problem.(?)

Doubtful. AI and characters alike can move straight through their own settlements without the need to go around them, so you wouldn't need to have extra space around them to move past. This happens all the time when there is a settlement along a road. Only issue would be when they END a move on a settlement.

**Koljan** · July 29, 2009, 04:31 PM

Able to doesnt mean it gets a prioraty in the AI's decision making / pathfinding process.

**The Doge of Venice** · July 29, 2009, 08:14 PM

That's true an AI might just walk around and having Mordor not leaving the Lands of Mordor through Minas Morgul or The Black Gates would suck.

**Warmaster Tibs** · July 30, 2009, 12:22 AM

Originally Posted by The Doge of Venice

That's true an AI might just walk around and having Mordor not leaving the Lands of Mordor through Minas Morgul or The Black Gates would suck.

Or they might walk the realy long way around Mordor through the backdoor cutting through Harad/Rhun.

**Shifty11** · July 30, 2009, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by Warmaster Tibs

Or they might walk the realy long way around Mordor through the backdoor cutting through Harad/Rhun.

Thats beside the point, The black gate guards the entry into Mordor and in TATW it doesnt...effectively

**Warmaster Tibs** · July 30, 2009, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by Shifty11

Thats beside the point, The black gate guards the entry into Mordor and in TATW it doesnt...effectively

Stick and army on that tile that lets them get through and theres your block. They cant get into Mordor without a fight!

**Theodotos I** · July 30, 2009, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by Warmaster Tibs

Stick and army on that tile that lets them get through and theres your block. They cant get into Mordor without a fight!

Not that the AI would ever do that.

**underxground** · July 31, 2009, 01:57 PM

If you want to cheat yourself and pass by the black gate then thats your loss. I and most of you it seems would rather batter down their gate and storm into the lands of evil with horns blaring and flags waving. If you want to sneak in like a couple of effeminate hobbits .... well even then you still have to face the wrath of the witch king.