Elven Factions Re-Development

[Louis Lux]

High Elves

The elven military is divided into three branches:

Homeguard

These are the elves protecting and keeping watch over the elven lands. They're composed of your average Third Age elves, while more skilled than the human militias they're nowhere near as mighty as the warring elves of the first age.

Sword Quendi
Bow Quendi*
Nórëtirno* Warriors
Nórëtirno Cavalry

*Quendi means all elves or even elf commoner, Nóretirno means homeguard

Army

These are the professionally trained elves. As expected they have the best equipment for war and are among the deadliest units of middle-earth. The barracks event is needed for recruitment.

Eldarinwë* Spearmen
Eldarinwë Swordsmen
Eldarinwë Archers
Eldarinwë Lancers

*Eldarinwë means elven, in particular the elves of the great journey

Specialists

These are the elves specialized in a specific tactic or weapon, they're only available in traditional elven population centers. Since they rely on tradition it is necessary for the Kingdom of Lindon to be restored, which is achieved by conquering ancient elven lands and guilds. With the exception of the Smiths they are not as heavily armed as the Eldar but make it up with skill.

Lindon Longspears
Mithlond Nobles
Imladris Riders
Eregion Smiths



What does this mean in relation to how elves currently work? For one thing the player won't be able to spam heavily armored troops (eldar) early on, for better troops in the early game the player will have to work at restoring the Kingdom of Lindon. Infantry will be scarce so the player will be forced to rely mostly on archers which are more easily available.

Silvan Elves (WIP)

-Silvan archer (bow and sword)
-Silvan spearmen (spear and shield)
-Silvan wardens (throwing spears and shield)
-Mounted wardens (bow and sword)

Heavy Silvan Units (no changes)

Local units unlocked through event (AoR)
-Mirkwood Rangers (bow and sword)
-Lorien Sentinel (bow and pole arm)
-Forester (two handed axe)
-Elvenking Warriors (dual swords)

Renders

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Concepts

Sword Quendi

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Nórëtirno Warriors

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Lindon Longspears

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Eregion Smiths

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Mithlond Nobles

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Imladris Riders

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Sworn Arqueni

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Thanks

Jean=A=Luc, Bilwit and Aikanar. For their work, ideas, teachings and support.

Team

Louis Lux - concept art, skinning
Jean=A=Luc - unit concepts, balancing, descriptions
Yarrum - modelling
Baron Samedi - scripting
alreadyded - modelling
Lu bu - modelling

Credits

King Kong
Disgruntled Goat
Shredder
bilwit

[Beorn]

I have to say I like the overall concept

As for ideas, I have benn planning for a while to redo the Elven factions for Ruins of Arnor, too, with the help of Squeaks and koultouras, so as to fit in our timeframe.
Maybe my concepts aren't much fitting in the vanilla TATW timeframe, but I'll post them when I'm back from school later, if u want.

[Baywatch]

This sounds great, I'm looking forward to seeing it completed. I unfortunately wouldn't be of much help, otherwise I'd gladly offer it. Anyway, best of luck to you.

[Beorn]

Also, is there a list with which units will remain unchanged, which will be totally new and which already existing will have a new "concept"?

[Chris Nihilus]

-Silvan archer (sword and dagger)
You mean Bow and Dagger ^^

Good idea, by the way. I maybe have some suggestions, i'll write them later.

[Louis Lux]

-Silvan archer (sword and dagger)
You mean Bow and Dagger ^^

Good idea, by the way. I maybe have some suggestions, i'll write them later.

thanks, it's actually bow and sword.

Also, is there a list with which units will remain unchanged, which will be totally new and which already existing will have a new "concept"?

The units that will be changed the least are the eldar and heavy silvan troops. Units that won't suffer many changes in design are:
Eregion Smiths
Silvan wardens (forest wardens)
Mirkwood Rangers
Lorien Sentinel (bilwit's sentinel skin)

For the rest I have a vague idea of what I want, I can send you what I have researched if you want.

[Shocked]

Basic Units - High Elves

-High elven archers (bow and dagger)

I love everything in this, except for the part quoted why can't it be a sword instead of a dagger?

[Louis Lux]

I love everything in this, except for the part quoted why can't it be a sword instead of a dagger?

I wanted to make a distinction between the bowmen and swordsmen, besides it will be just a bit smaller than the swordsmen sword.

[athanaric]

I wanted to make a distinction between the bowmen and swordsmen, besides it will be just a bit smaller than the swordsmen sword.

Why not give the archer a sword and have a spearman instead of the swordsman? Spearmen are always under-represented in games with Elven factions.
Also, melee units with primary and secondary melee weapons (I don't mean dual wielding in this case; rather like spear - sword or spear - axe as it's with cavalry) would be great. Adds more depth IMO.

Overall a sound concept though.

[Louis Lux]

Please don't make them too golden. Your skins are awesome but to me they look a tad silly with so much gold on them.

If I understand correctly you are not talking about my skins because that wouldn't make sense, since none of them have golden parts. If you are talking about the elves high tier units represented in the movies there is nothing I can do about them, they are golden and that is it.

On the high elven swordsmen concept, will he also be given a helmet? or at least one after armor upgrades? It just seems strange that they would go into battle with only leather and a shield to protect them.

Helmet will be given to the sentinels and will show that they are more ready for battles, an upgrade is a possibility.

Why not give the archer a sword and have a spearman instead of the swordsman? Spearmen are always under-represented in games with Elven factions.
Also, melee units with primary and secondary melee weapons (I don't mean dual wielding in this case; rather like spear - sword or spear - axe as it's with cavalry) would be great. Adds more depth IMO.

Overall a sound concept though.

Swordsmen seems more high elven to me, silvans will have spearmen. Never seen this kind of melee swap except for pike and that was very awkwardly done.


On another subject I was thinking of making the basic elven units mixed, with males and females. To show that they are just travelers that patrol the borders and not meant to go to big battles.

[MasterBigAb]

Very nice LL
Have a big + Rep for your efforts

[Varjon]

On another subject I was thinking of making the basic elven units mixed, with males and females. To show that they are just travelers that patrol the borders and not meant to go to big battles.

At least in my opinion that would be very fitting because like you said they are just travelers patrolling borders but the difficult thing is how to make female Elves look distinguishable from males. After all clothing, hair style and facial appearance aren't that much different.

[Ellin Athinaios]

On another subject I was thinking of making the basic elven units mixed, with males and females. To show that they are just travelers that patrol the borders and not meant to go to big battles.

I like the idea. Elf-women were, after all, as strong and capable as men, physically.

Edit: Varjon makes a good point... You'd need to add some boobs.

[Jean=A=Luc]

On another subject I was thinking of making the basic elven units mixed, with males and females. To show that they are just travelers that patrol the borders and not meant to go to big battles.

Fine by me. JJR stated in his letters that the gender division was not as great among elves and that men and women differed less in terms of strength, dexterity, etc. so it's not unreasonable to have some female troops in the lower tiers at least.

Also you know you can always turn to me for descriptions and such.

[Yarrum]

On another subject I was thinking of making the basic elven units mixed, with males and females. To show that they are just travelers that patrol the borders and not meant to go to big battles.

That might be a little bit difficult since there's no surefire way to make the female heads/hairs match up with the female body types.

[Ellin Athinaios]

Nice, this looks very promising! Just one thing - if you want it to be by the book, don't give the swordsmen these curved movie-swords, but longswords. (You could also give it to all other elven units with a sword...)

[Shocked]

Nice, this looks very promising! Just one thing - if you want it to be by the book, don't give the swordsmen these curved movie-swords, but longswords. (You could also give it to all other elven units with a sword...)

What about long curvy swords?

I wanted to make a distinction between the bowmen and swordsmen, besides it will be just a bit smaller than the swordsmen sword.

Ohh ok yeah that sounds good

[Beregond]

Will you consider adding grey cloak to Lorien Sentinels, Louis? like in the books

and great project you're starting and finally revealed some info

[Louis Lux]

Nice, this looks very promising! Just one thing - if you want it to be by the book, don't give the swordsmen these curved movie-swords, but longswords. (You could also give it to all other elven units with a sword...)

I'll keep the movie's look, but I won't have just one type of sword. The best would be to have a slightly different sword design for each unit to show their uniqueness, feel free to post image references for weapons.

Will you consider adding grey cloak to Lorien Sentinels, Louis? like in the books

and great project you're starting and finally revealed some info

The silvan basic archer unit will be based on Haldir and his pals when they meet the fellowship (they are wearing grey garments).

[Pallas]

I'll keep the movie's look, but I won't have just one type of sword. The best would be to have a slightly different sword design for each unit to show their uniqueness, feel free to post image references for weapons.
The silvan basic archer unit will be based on Haldir and his pals when they meet the fellowship (they are wearing grey garments).

Here I made a concept-drawing for an elven Longsword:
Attachment 108318
It is a straight sword, but with curvy cutting edges, it should look a bit like a leaf, and so it has this ornaments on the pommel.