Isengard Strategy

**DeadlyPhoenix** · February 27, 2011, 03:42 AM

Yeah, I haven't started a new campaign yet as I wrote this at 1am

Gonna start a new campaign now though, will soon find out if they still show up with that many stacks of armies.

P.s.: is it normal that my orcs get so fast tired? Like really fast?

I'm so not used to these new factions yet, it's easier to play as a 'good' faction, but I want to be evil this time

Thanks for your reply

**Lemoniser** · February 27, 2011, 04:25 AM

well i hope it turns out well for you. and yeah although i havent played a proper campaign with any evil factions, orcs seemed really crap when i dabbled with them. Lore accurate though and they get the job done if used properly but crap.

**DeadlyPhoenix** · February 27, 2011, 05:37 AM

and again I failed badly..

Started taking over rebel towns again, while making sure I got a pretty nice army in Isengard while at least having 4 units in each town.

Minas Tirith has fallen for Mordor and rohan is being threatend from that side. However, even though I have not yet attacked anyone, 10 minutes ago 5 rohan armies invaded my lands.

Lond Angren has fallen
Isengard under siege by 2 stacks
Talsir under siege
Dunearg under siege

Isengard I "might" have a chance to beat them, the other towns however, I cant beat a full stack army with just 4 units of clansmen

Leftover:

byrig
tharbad

with not enough population, so I cant build any buildings, tharbad only can still recruit, byrig no recruitment (need 600 more population).
Once rohan has taken over talsir and Dunearg it's only a matter of time before the other two have fallen. Isengard, I suppose, will be continuously under siege and if the 2nd stack didn't beat me, there will be the third or fourth till my men are depleted by either laying under siege or dying in battle after battle.

What am I doing wrong?

Attacking rohan myself from start is close to no option, they're too strong and my army builds up so slowly. I had only got to finally train wargs but it's no use..

**Duke_Dutch** · February 27, 2011, 04:14 PM

Isenguard is hard to play. I made the same mistake to. Rohan is able to make lots of stacks ( probely stackspawn). Try to have heavy uruks and wargs before going into war with Rohan. It is possible to form a alliance with rohan and wait until Mordor takes Gondor ( or Gondors takes Mordor (that sometimes happens to). wait until you have a large army with good troops and a strong economie. rush early in the games sometimes seems to help, just don't attack the settlement with a large garresonscript ( Hornburg, Edoras, and the cap of Rohan ( forgot the name of that town). this wil only give Rohan a lot of troops.

**DeadlyPhoenix** · February 28, 2011, 03:23 AM

How do you form an alliance with rohan if you don't have any diplomats as an 'evil' faction?

It's pretty hard to get to the heavy Uruk-hai's and wargs if Rohan attacks at turn 15 (give or take a few).
I never attack them first and make sure not to pass their borders, yet I see them assemble huge armies (in comparison to mine) near my borders to then invade as soon as they are settled to siege at least 2 or 3 towns of mine at once.

While only Isengard is quite developped (read as: can recruit Uruk-hai raiders and eventually a couple of wargs), all my other towns are only "low tiered" with either not enough population to build any barracks, or only able to recruit the clansmen/snaga's.

I'm going to try my luck with orcs of the north I think, though dwarves are pretty hard to fight against..

Elves are 'too' easy, just put some archers, shoot them orcs.. take a run for it and repeat. While orcs are VERY fast tired/exhausted, elves hardly get warmed up and once out of arrows they can jump into the fray with their swords and deal out some devastating dmg.

Mordor had taken Minas Tirith so I thought Rohan would go help them out but instead they declared war onto me the next turn.

**Duke_Dutch** · February 28, 2011, 05:26 AM

Originally Posted by DeadlyPhoenix

How do you form an alliance with rohan if you don't have any diplomats as an 'evil' faction?

Around turn 50 you are able to make them. it is just pure luck that Rohan doin't attack early

It's pretty hard to get to the heavy Uruk-hai's and wargs if Rohan attacks at turn 15 (give or take a few).
I never attack them first and make sure not to pass their borders, yet I see them assemble huge armies (in comparison to mine) near my borders to then invade as soon as they are settled to siege at least 2 or 3 towns of mine at once.

At the moment I have 1 full stack agianst 5 of them. every turn I destrooi one of them and every turn Rohan got another one.

While only Isengard is quite developped (read as: can recruit Uruk-hai raiders and eventually a couple of wargs), all my other towns are only "low tiered" with either not enough population to build any barracks, or only able to recruit the clansmen/snaga's.

It take lost of time to make a strong army. but I was unable to beat the armies of Rohan with only Uruk raider,reevers, Clansman and achers. There heavy horseman dominated the field.

Elves are 'too' easy, just put some archers, shoot them orcs.. take a run for it and repeat. While orcs are VERY fast tired/exhausted, elves hardly get warmed up and once out of arrows they can jump into the fray with their swords and deal out some devastating dmg.

true. Elves are too easy. playing Isenguard is much harder.

Mordor had taken Minas Tirith so I thought Rohan would go help them out but instead they declared war onto me the next turn.

most times they do. in my Isenguard campaign however Gonder beets Mordor, takes Minas Morgul en lay siege on the back gate.

**DeadlyPhoenix** · February 28, 2011, 05:59 AM

Aight. Thanks for your inputs.

I'll go for another Isengard try xD. I do good till after getting the rebel settlements, against rohan I kept failing so far. I think I have to get used to their orc-battle-strategy which is completely different to any faction I've ever played since Rome TW/MTW2. I've been browsing the forums and will apply some strategies I've found in the section of OOtMM.

I assume you play without "Total Recruitment"? So did I btw, in fact I've tried both with and without but failed with each

**eugenioso** · February 28, 2011, 11:11 AM

damn it man! you need to strike first! youre isengard damn it! saruman of many colours and goddanged uruk hai! servants of the white hand that gives us manflesh to eat!

more seriously though, you need to attack first. the main mistake Isengard players do is fortifying themselves and daring rohan to attack you. you are the one who is at a disadvantage, not rohan. did you read my small guide? you need to attack first. not too soon and not too late. if too early of course rohan will crush you, if too late, the same. find the balance. but always be the one to start the war.

**loony** · February 28, 2011, 05:17 AM

Playing as Isengrd. doing good on turn 73 (will soon start fighting elves, Rohan reduced to 3 settlements).
The key was to a) capture all rebel setllements. I did retreat a few times instead of fighting just to make sure i can siege again.
During the time it takes to capture them - improve capital, build watchtowers and don't join the stupid invasion. screw sauron

When the rebels are done with, retrain rebel-fighting army and train a new one in Isengard (you should have reavers and uruk archers).

Attack simultaneously Helms Deep and the western cities of Rohan. Use your Isengard garrison to attack the castle closest to Isengard. Beat helms deep and you're OK. depending on how the invasion is proceeding (i.e. Edoras captured, sieged, invasion failed), either destroy everything in helms deep or keep it. Consolidate. and move on to Edoras.

I currently captured Edoras and Dunharrow. Spies do help by opening gates :-).
Currently in the process of trying to fend off several Rohan armies with a single one of mine, but I have uruk pikes, berserkers and at least 5 units of archers. Lots of casualties in every battle, but I am able beat 2 stacks per turn with a constant stream of reinforcements from Isengard. Once culture in Edoras is converted and I am able to recruit good units there - Rohan is effectively dead.

I am spending hard needed cash on gifts to elves and Eriador as well as getting trade rights and map info. Just recently allied to OOMM and OOG to make sure I have backup when the Eriador and High elf wars begin.

I just hope Mordor and Harad manage to keep Gondor busy...

**eugenioso** · May 17, 2015, 03:50 PM

As much as i wanted to read your post, and 4 years is a long time, anything that starts with [ evil faction ] makes peace with [ good faction ] is more lorekill and gamekilling than anything.