The Barrowdowns, a nice place to live?

[Toshach]

I am curious as to the reason that the Barrowdowns have been given settlement status. It seems in conflict to Tolkien lore. It was a place where no humans wanted to be near, let alone live. On the other hand, Buckland, a rather substantial, and important settlement is not represented at all. I would like to open a discussion on the possibility of creating a Buckland settlement, and leaving the Barrowdowns to the dead.

[Swerg]

There should also be Bandobras Cavalry, consisting of uber-hobbit pony cavalry.

[Deedlit]

There should also be Bandobras Cavalry, consisting of uber-hobbit pony cavalry.

Hobbits on ponys I always like that idea.

[ChivalrousKiller]

I think it has been included because it was once an important Dunedain settlement

But couldn't Buckland be just added in addition?

[Hanny]

I think it has been included because it was once an important Dunedain settlement

But couldn't Buckland be just added in addition?

Nope, Creatures from Angmar infested the Barrows when Arnor fell into civil war, the barrows are from the first Age .

[brasswire]

Well it would add another Hobbit location, does that cause any issues? Also the region it's in is Cardolan, one of the old kingdoms of men, and thematically linked to the Barrow Downs. So changing it to Buckland might also require a re-jiggering of the region names/boundaries. But I agree with your basic premise that it's a bit strange to have a Barrow Downs settlement.

[Beorn]

It could be renamed Tyrn Gorthad, as it was called at the era of the Arnorian successonr states.

Though, as Hanny said they were infested with Wights from angmar, so not habitable.

[sirfiggin]

possible for a garrison of ghouls at some point?

[Imrazôrs Erbe]

The Wights came 1637 TA right after the Great Plague.
So we can say that it was long time (1637 years )a settlement of Arnor and later of Cardolan.
But I would also vote for the Name "Tyrn Gorthad". I already did this for me in my campaign.

[Hanny]

The Wights came 1637 TA right after the Great Plague.
So we can say that it was long time (1637 years )a settlement of Arnor and later of Cardolan.
But I would also vote for the Name "Tyrn Gorthad". I already did this for me in my campaign.

1409 saw Cardolan fall, only bands of Dunedain held out here after Cardolan itself fell and its last Princes killed, (Tyrn Gorthad=Hills of Toombs) so not exactly a location location site, these bands were chopped by the Great Palauge and the region was empty therafter, Wights simple made sure the location was, well hard to sell...... Cardolan formed here in 861, so its habitation was for 4 generations, now one had lived here for , well a very long time, at least the neighbours were quite.....

[Imrazôrs Erbe]

Youre right But this was not my point. The point was only to make clear taht there WAS once a Arnorian City/Fort/Whatever.
To have it as a starting settlement is surely not perfect but for a reforged Arnor I would miss it if they would leave it out.

[Harabec]

A re-emerged Arnor doesn't need all the same places that the original Arnor had you know. Why build a new fort/settlement in a barrow wright infested land when there is already a population center?
Starting settlements should be based off current populations, not what once were population centers.

[Inarus]

It was the Capital of Cardolan until Angmar destroyed it and replaced it with ghouls

Until we get some rebel units of barrow wights, it should not exist.

[Fable]

It was the Capital of Cardolan until Angmar destroyed it and replaced it with ghouls

Until we get some rebel units of barrow wights, it should not exist.

Hey Inarus wasn't your costum map Barrown Downs used by the team as a unique location ?

[Inarus]

Hey Inarus wasn't your costum map Barrown Downs used by the team as a unique location ?

I don't think so, theres only two Custom Locations in game: Morannon and Moria.

And hardly any of my maps got into the release for God knows what reason. Would love an explanation but I never received one.

[Fable]

I don't think so, theres only two Custom Locations in game: Morannon and Moria.

And hardly any of my maps got into the release for God knows what reason. Would love an explanation but I never received one.

Why?? Oh why? they are all brilliant!
Dead marches, barrowdowns, Carrock, weathertop

They MUST be in 2.2 !

[Inarus]

Why?? Oh why? they are all brilliant!
Dead marches, barrowdowns, Carrock, weathertop

They MUST be in 2.2 !

Thanks for the support!

Barrow Downs and a few others are in the 2.1 custom battles menu, but not incorperated.

And Carrock came out around 2.1 so I think it was too late.

[Cyclops]

Its a fair point. Tyrn Gorthad was briefly a minor settlement of Cardolan refugees, but for most of history (and certainly during the TATW era) it was not a settlement.

Although Tom Bombadil did live on the fringe of the old Forest and the Barrow Downs, so there might be a population of 2...

The Shire looms large in LOTR because so much of the action takes place there. I guess its natural to represent what we know rather than "roll it all together" in a big lump. I suppose there's a case for a Hobbit subfaction with titles for the Mayor (based at Michel Delving) the Thain (based in Tuckborough....hmm but they're both in Westfarthing IIRC) and the Master (Buckland).

Problem is by the inevitable logic of the TW engine if you give the Hobbits multiple provinces they get mutiple sources of units and you end up with substantial armies coming out of those areas. Could Saruman have raised 9 or 12 units a turn in the Shire compared to 3 or 4 per turn out of Isengard?

[Harabec]

Haha love it Cyclops. The Orcs of Isengard can not stand before the hoards of Hobbits!
I dunno, maybe barrow downs can get some kinda structure on the strat map if it is removed as a settlement.

[Tropical Bob]

I don't know if this was taken from lore or merely invented for gameplay purposes, but in LotRO, there's the North Downs and South Downs. The South Downs (South of Bree) is just Wights and nasty critters, but the North Downs (North of Bree) has a few settlements, like Trestlebridge and Esteldin. *Shrug*