Need help with dwarven game

**Raygens** · December 14, 2009, 11:39 PM

So I'm playing as the Dwarves, and early game I've decided to concentrate my attacks straight on OOTMM, while believing that Dale would hold out against Rhun.
Unfortunately, they haven't, and through further scouting, Rhun has decimated Dale, leaving them as only 2 cities, and they're still in the area. I'm currently still neutral with Rhun, but I'm desperately giving Dale some $$$ in hopes that they'll find a way to fight them back...
As for the Western end, Eriador has taken over one of the cities inbetween me and OOTMM, and i no longer have much to worry about as to them attacking my coastal settlements, since eriador and the high elves are at war with OOTMM. ( I figured I'll buy out their settlements after I obtain most of the mountainous areas with mines )
So the question is, WHAT THE HELL IS DALE DOING?! They have literally nothing left, all my armies are based inside the mountainous areas, and I'm sending armies from the Northern part of where the OOTMM are located, and I have about 1 1/2 full stack(s) entering the mountains. As you may know, Dwarves are slow as ****, (keep in mind that they are powerful as hell, just slow, thats all i'm saying), so it'll take me a few extra (extra extra?) turns to get all the way back to erebor.
Dwarf experts, I need help!!! Did I make the wrong call on hitting OOTMM early game? I'm about my 70th turn in now, and playing on VH/VH, not to mention Rhun at my doorstep is really, really, really intimidating... Don't get me wrong, I intend to attack them (them being Rhun), but it's just impossible to support troops on both sides.

See the dilemma? Great. Now help me!!!

Apart from criticisms that you guys intend to dish out (which are welcome, by the way), could anybody give me some ideas as to what to do? I'm stuck, and as you can see, I barely post, so this should be a big sign that I'm seriously, out of ideas.

**Shocked** · December 15, 2009, 12:20 AM

So you're at turn 70 and you don't have all the mountain regions??
Mmm.. maybe you should ally silvan elves if you haven't already, they could be of help later.
and also, you'll need to take Dorwinion and Uldonaven (should do that early in campaign but meh). They are perfect defensive positions to hold out against an attack

**Kawee** · December 15, 2009, 01:17 AM

You didn't do anything wrong by going to the mountains first. Most people, including me, would do the same. However, you did take quite a while. 70 turns in and still going, is a bit too long. You should look to end the OotMM in 50 or so turns if possible. Here's what I would do:

First of all, free Dale. You'll go to war with Rhun soon enough anyway. Free Dale by giving them back their orginal (4?) cities. Then capture settlements that border Rhun, so that Rhun will be forced to go through you into Dale. Assuming you're allied with Dale, you will act like a protection barrier for them. By the time Rhun breaks through you, [no need to invest too much, 1/2 - 3/4 of a stack can capture a settlement and hold it for quite a few turns (you'll need xbows though)] Dale will be strong again, you should have the Misty Mountains and their mines, and you and Dale should be able to launch the counter attack together. Dale goes south-west into Mordor, and you go south-east back-dooring Mordor. Game Over!

Good luck!

**Myshkin** · December 15, 2009, 03:21 AM

It's ok this is what makes an interesting campaign, try to win using any means you can, but cheating.

**Bela** · December 15, 2009, 04:32 AM

If you have a 1 and a 1/2 stack against the Orcs (after catching Dain's Halls and Gundabad, life is much easier with the Dragonslayer troops and at least bowyer is always built in Dain's Halls), you must have the power (even more if you have money to give to Dale) to train an another stack (usually 3-4 crossbowmen, 2 axemen, 2 vault wardens, 2 catapults, 1 general, 1 Dale Cavalry and some axethrowers in my army against Rhun) and help Dale. I usually reconquer Araw (if needed) and Dorwinion first and give them back to Dale (ask money for these regions, at least 1000 gold for 10 turns each, money script do not let AI factions go bankrupt, and it's a big boost to your economy).
After that, turn to the east and capture Kugavod. As dwarves are weak against missile units (especially those tribesmen are real pain) but are almost undefeatable in close combat, hold the castle and defeat all armies coming against you (and it's close to be reinforced or gather a new army).
Usually I conquer remaining Rhun cities only after capturing the Misty Mountains and reach Khazad-dum, but if you get bored of always reconquer Dorwinion and give it back to Dale, you can move on to the east, it's up to you.

If the OotMM are defeated, and Rhun is weakened, you can have a look around and help other good factions (depends on the campaign outcome) or march against Mordor.

**Shocked** · December 15, 2009, 07:02 AM

I have a question about the dragonslayers, are they only recruitable in Dain's halls?

**Seleukos_I.** · December 15, 2009, 07:07 AM

Yes, but in RR/RC you can also recruit them in Wormcove.

**Kawee** · December 15, 2009, 07:54 AM

Originally Posted by Seleukos_I.

Yes, but in RR/RC you can also recruit them in Wormcove.

Good lucky getting that settlement to have the required technology

**Muffer Nl** · December 15, 2009, 07:07 AM

They are AOR, as are the Guard of Khazad-Dûm (Guess where you can get them

)

**Shocked** · December 15, 2009, 07:10 AM

Ok thanks for answering, its so annoying having such an awesome unit so far away from the main battles, it takes time to get them to the front line

**Raygens** · December 15, 2009, 10:05 AM

Thank you for the help, everyone!
As for the OOTMM, I guess it's because it's my first time playing as the dwarves, and I had a rough time dealing with the loads of skirmishers that OOTMM had sent out, while none of my units could chase them down, and I couldn't afford Dale's cavalry in all my armies... So I ended up luring them into my cities and routing them there, then launching a counterattack, which has obviously taken waaay too long..

Anyways thanks, and I'll ally the Silvan elves and pray that I'm capable of sending a second army against Rhun.

Thanks again!
Wish me luck? haha

**confused german** · December 15, 2009, 10:26 AM

Just march into battle and expect to loose.

**Kawee** · December 15, 2009, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by Raygens

Thank you for the help, everyone!
As for the OOTMM, I guess it's because it's my first time playing as the dwarves, and I had a rough time dealing with the loads of skirmishers that OOTMM had sent out, while none of my units could chase them down, and I couldn't afford Dale's cavalry in all my armies... So I ended up luring them into my cities and routing them there, then launching a counterattack, which has obviously taken waaay too long..

Anyways thanks, and I'll ally the Silvan elves and pray that I'm capable of sending a second army against Rhun.

Thanks again!
Wish me luck? haha

If you think OotMM is bad, wait till you play against Rhun. They got skirmishers just like orcs, but better, AP units, and worst of all, devastating cavalry. It's a tough game fighting those buggers, especially late game when they churning out stacks after stacks.