Rate the factions- Gondor

[caralampio]

Back in MTW (1) before choosing a faction you got an assessment of the difficulty it represented. For example, it said something like "Playing the Almohads is fairly easy. Playing this faction is the equivalent of playing the game at an easier setting level than the one you chose". I'm trying to make a similar rating for the TATW factions, starting with Gondor. Perhaps someone will find this information helpful, especially newbies, and it could be included in each faction's introduction.

A few pointers about this poll. If you're an uber player who finds all factions too easy, either try to make an objective, comparative assessment against what could be considered an average faction, or don't answer the poll. (For instance, Gondor is normally a cakewalk for you, but in comparison you could admit that it is harder than average, then you can rate it hard).

Likewise, if you're a newb who finds everything too hard, or haven't played all the factions enough to make a comparison, don't answer the poll.

I have put up only three choices- hard, normal and easy. I believe giving more choices (for instance, VH, H, N, E and VE) can be too subjective and confusing and not give a good perspective of what I'm trying to get.

Comments on why you answered as you did are welcome.

[Beregond]

normal

cons:
starting position with two strong enemies, each of them having powerful late-game units and secure locations, Mordor having dreadful Nazgul as generals;
target for late-game invasions.

pros:
one of the strongest armies in ME, powerful infantry and archers, and the best cavalry;
great economy once developed;
good leaders and generals;
secure western lands, rear covered by Rohan and White Mountains; fighting just near Anduin.

[Seleukos_I.]

Hard
Gondor is under constant attack from two fronts. If you don't help Rohan, you'll find yourself surrounded by enemies.
However, once you've mastered the first ~50 turns, things will get much easier.

[Lordinquisitor]

normal

cons:

Starting position with two strong enemies, each of them having powerful late-game units and secure locations, Mordor having dreadful Nazgul as generals;

Target for late-game invasions.

Many units are AOR units and every loss can be difficult to replace if you fight too far away from home.

You often have to help Rohan or you might risk that Isengard and the Goblins attack you from the north.

pros:
One of the strongest armies in ME, powerful infantry and archers, and the best cavalry;

Great economy once developed;

Good leaders and generals;

Secure western lands, rear covered by Rohan and White Mountains; fighting just near Anduin.

The Rammas Echor- A wall that will force enemies through certain chokepoints. Forts may offer free upkeep.

[GoldenJunior07]

pros:
one of the strongest armies in ME, powerful infantry and archers, and the best cavalry;

Wait I thought Rohan had the best cavalry?

[Seleukos_I.]

Wait I thought Rohan had the best cavalry?

No they haven't. Swan Knights and the Loke-Innas Rim are the strongest.
Rohan however has the biggest variety of cavalry.

[Rogal Dorn]

At least Average, probably leaning more towards Hard. Only because Mordor sends so many stacks and I don't have a handy heavy bolter to deal with them all.

Ah, wouldn't it be so much easier...

[luckybeaver]

I'd say Hard when looking at Gondor through an objective perspective. While it can be a lot easier if you've played them over and know what to do at what times, Gondor is still undeniably harder to play as than other factions (i.e. High Elves, which I would rate as a Very Easy, lol)

[jinjo]

it's hard
i think it's much more harder than other factions

[Chyeaaaa111]

Definately ranked either one or two for hardest faction in TATW.

[Baywatch]

Definately ranked either one or two for hardest faction in TATW.

Agreed.

Compared to some of the other factions, the Gondor campaign is much more challenging. As with any faction, after you've learned to master the early game things become much easier.

[SinerAthin]

I'd say that if you have a normal understanding of strategy and fighting, Gondor is pretty simply and straight forward.

But its extremely annoying. Idiots show up at nearly every turn, you have to constantly fight them. Blitzing Mordor is necessary but you'll be met by a ton of scripted stacks, worst was when my militia and general army was crossing through Mordor to Barad'Dur when they got attacked by a full stack Uruk army with a buck load of Olog Hais around turn 30. Somehow, I managed to win that battle with only 30% casualties(95% of those were from the Olog Hais, lol) only to see another Mordor full orc stack appear RIGHT NEXT to my Citadel out of nowhere >.<

And let's not even begin about Harad. They're not a threat. bit the way they constantly attack two of my distant settlements, as well as ninja capping Goben Anfalas every second turn, they are REALLY annoying.

The hardest part about Gondor is not winning. It is actually sitting through the whole war against Mordor and Harad without quitting out of sheer frustration and impatience

[Raymond Agustin]

Hard - continously being hammered on two sides by Harad and Mordor and to top it all once Rohan falls your Northern Borders will be exposed to invasion by Isengard.

Real-Time Battlefield Experience - Very well armoured infantry, and spearmen, good supporting missle troops and cavalry but very high upkeep which affects your overall Campaign Map Performance.

I'd say hard especially right at the Late Times of the Game you'll be endlessly swarmed by Orcs and Uruk-hai's followed by Harad's from the South.

[axnsan]

I think it's far from the hardest factions. You have strong units and constantly fight cannon fodder armies that you can kill with minimal casualties. I find the orcs and mordor much harder, being on the other side of the cannon fodder chain. Though mordor gets it easier with their nazguls.

Eriador is also pretty hard, because, well... their units are crap.

I gave it average

[el Cid]

Definately average for me. You have decent units and as said before only fight fodder armies. You have three choking points to keep your enemies at bay and besides that a good number of safe territories to the west.

[Lordinquisitor]

Yeah, once you know what to exspect gondor is pretty easy. But if you play Gondor for the first time, without reading too many tips, it can be really challenging.

[el Cid]

Yeah, once you know what to exspect gondor is pretty easy. But if you play Gondor for the first time, without reading too many tips, it can be really challenging.

Then any faction can be challenging. But you're right that once you know what to do it is not hard.

[Lordinquisitor]

Hmpf. I don`t think that mordor could be challenging.

[Deedlit]

Gondor - Difficulty: Very Hard

Pro's

* Strong late and early game Infantry & Archers
* Powerful Swan Knights
* Large western area's
* Decent Economy

Cons

* Nabour to two very powerful evil Factions
* Expensive units
* Dependent on Rohan for protection from northen attacks
* Several points of attack from the enemy
* Target of destruction from Harad and Mordor.

[gluteus maximus aurelius]

Normal Gondor is easy to defend with but difficult to attack with, they have a good economy, secure western lands and strong units. Personally I find Rohan and the OOTMM harder to play as