The possible political map for DoM

**Revelo** · May 19, 2011, 05:14 PM

So I was bored and decided I would have a go at making a political geography map for the numerous factions of Middle-earth at the time of FATW. I wanted to do this to try and get an idea of what factions controlled what and maybe get an idea of how that would influence gameplay when DoM is released. This map was taken from a google image search as well.

I do recall Eorl had shown some screenshots of the map which included a mini-map which gave some hint as to what the layout was, however I was unable to find it so I thought I would have a stab as trying to figure it out myself. Obviously this requires a lot of assumptions to be made regarding the state of affairs in the north and western parts of Middle-earth, so a lot of what is seen in that region is purely my best guess as to what what the situation might be. Before I show the image, things I included were:

- The Shire is highlighted, but only for regional purposes and its size was guessed at. This isn't me wanting or implying the will be a Hobbit faction

- I worked on the assumption that the Dwarves had repopulated Mount Gundabad after the War of the Ring and a few of them had continued to dwell in Belegost after the drowning of Beleriand. Additionally I assumed that the dwarven city on the shore of the sea of Rhun would become a part of their faction in DoM. This is partly also down to how it appeared like they have few teritories at the start anyway.
- The Elven regions highlighted are purely elven realms. I again worked on the assumption neighbouring regions with Elvellyn would be annexed as you play, following on from the statement in the dev diary regarding the Elven faction being purely Elves until they expand.
- The dev diary also stated that the Shire was still under the protection of the Reunited Kingdom, therefore I assumed the Adunabar presence would be in the north towards the former regions of Agmar.
- Also assumed was that Dunland and Rhun would be given some regions to the north to provide some additional conflict up in the north.
-Dale expanded until it bordered Rhun, following on from the dev diary stating how it had expanded a lot.
- I also didn't included Harad's prescence on the western tip of Gondor, since it is usually abandoned quickly, also Harondor is completely independant rather then being occupied partially by Harad.
- The map does go further south the the campaign map, so I just dealt with it by assuming Harad would move south too if possible.

The map is bellow. It's spoilered because of size, I intend to update this as I find any lore which helps better describe the boundries of each factions holdings. The current version expands the Dalish lands to cover central Greewood, the land of the Beornings and some of the Anduin Vales

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

What I have noticed initially from looking at this was:
- - The Elves have the ability to get a solid power base in Greenwood, the Gladden Fields and Lorien with little opposition, although Rivendell is somewhat isolated and caught in the middle of the civil war between the RK and Adunabar, additionally Lindon and Greenwood have the possible threat of Dwarves and Dale to contend with.
- - The Dwarves are very spread out and look like they might be the hardest faction to play unless they expand quickly, lest they get overwhelmed soon, and they have threats everywhere. Luckily the alliance with Dale should ensure at least some realms survive. However it looks possible they will be marching to war against the firstborn.
- - Rhovanion could be the centre of a power struggle between Adunabar, Elves, Dale, Dwarves and Rhun with the amount of space for expansion.
- - Adunabar could easily secure power in Arnor if it expands northwards where there are few threats.
- - Rhun could easily expand unchecked with plenty of unclaimed territories for them to stake out.
- - The Reunited Kingdom could be entirely reunited if it can defeat Harad, Abunabar and Dunland to result in the kingdom linking up, making them virtually unstoppable if they can defend everywhere.

I don't know if this means much to anyone, but I thought it looked interesting and it seems like the Middle-earth of DoM is going to be a very busy place. Discussion welcome of course and I hope you enjoyed this.

**Aradan** · May 19, 2011, 05:37 PM

Interesting thread! I can barely restrain myself from spoiling some beans.

About the Shire, it's size is pretty well documented and there are maps that show its borders quite well. You have its n., w. and e. borders quite well; the southern borders are quite off though.

EDIT: Link (doesn't include Westmarch)

**Revelo** · May 19, 2011, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by Aradan

Interesting thread! I can barely restrain myself from spoiling some beans.

I'm going to say try and keep restraining yourself if you can, lol. simply because I'd love to keep all the suspense and guessing going untill this is released

About the Shire, it's size is pretty well documented and there are maps that show its borders quite well. You have its n., w. and e. borders quite well; the southern borders are quite off though.

Well thats easily changed, if you bear with me.

I thought I was off on that one. I will upload a more accurate image shortly.

EDIT: That should be a bit more accurate lore-wise for the Shire now.

**Aradan** · May 19, 2011, 05:43 PM

Trust me, we also want you to be in suspense.

My post above edited with a link to a pretty accurate map with shire's borders from AoME.

**Revelo** · May 19, 2011, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by Aradan

Trust me, we also want you to be in suspense.

My post above edited with a link to a pretty accurate map with shire's borders from AoME.

Thanks for the map, I included the additional land granted in the fourth age as well, Buckland and the eastern Tower Hills. Should be as spot on as I can make it now.

**Aradan** · May 19, 2011, 06:31 PM

How come you left the bottom-right part of the map empty? In TNS there's Harad there, what made you leave it unassigned here?

**Revelo** · May 19, 2011, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by Aradan

How come you left the bottom-right part of the map empty? In TNS there's Harad there, what made you leave it unassigned here?

That was an oversight on my part.

another thing I shall go and fix now. I know I need to leave Khand independant though.

**Beorn** · May 20, 2011, 05:37 AM

IIRC, it was stated that Dale would get some of the trritories that would match to Woodmen and Beornings.

**Thangaror** · May 20, 2011, 06:04 AM

Nice map.

Anduin Vale will probably be part of Dale. At least, the do have Framsburg Swordsmen now as a unit. And Framsburg is a ruined? town between the two headstreams of Anduin. Also they have a Beorning unit.

Just out of curiousity, will Himling and Tol Fuin find their place on the map?

**Aradan** · May 20, 2011, 06:10 AM

Himling will; Tol Fuin is beyond our border.

**Revelo** · May 20, 2011, 06:35 AM

Hmm, would this mean that the Dalish lands would be split into two sections, split by the Elves of Greenwood then? Thats the only way I could see that working.

**Elphir of Dol Amroth** · May 20, 2011, 06:39 AM

From what I remember the Woodmen got the middle part of Mirkwood after the War of the Ring. If they are part of the Dalians as well, than Dale will be connected with the Beornings trough Mirkwood.

**Revelo** · May 20, 2011, 06:40 AM

Originally Posted by Elphir of Dol Amroth

From what I remember the Woodmen got the middle part of Mirkwood after the War of the Ring. If they are part of the Dalians as well, than Dale will be connected with the Beornings trough Mirkwood.

Ah, then it's a good thing I had the Greenwood realm stop by the road then. Bear with me and I will update the map again to try and reflect that.

UPDATE: Okay, perhaps that might be more accurate, I'm again guessing at the amount of land Dale holds, but it does tie into what was stated about how quickly they expanded, can imagine them suffering rebellions early on without a storng ruler. It would also make conflict with the Elves much more likely if they were to expand.

**Nelduin** · May 20, 2011, 03:20 PM

I believe that Lothlórien was deserted at the beginning of the Fourth Age.

**Revelo** · May 22, 2011, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by Nelduin

I believe that Lothlórien was deserted at the beginning of the Fourth Age.

I thought so too, although this was one thing I wasn't really sure on in regards to if Lorien would appear in game. I included it as an assumption, a lot of what's included in the north was guess work, with some help from people in this thread.

**Emperor Jochen** · June 01, 2011, 01:18 PM

Just a small question. Didn't most of the Elves leave Middle-Earth?
I think that the only realms of the Elves would be Mirkwood and Lindon (Grey Havens).
Maybe also Rivendel if the sons of Elrond stayed there for a long time.

**Revelo** · June 01, 2011, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by Emperor Jochen

Just a small question. Didn't most of the Elves leave Middle-Earth?
I think that the only realms of the Elves would be Mirkwood and Lindon (Grey Havens).
Maybe also Rivendel if the sons of Elrond stayed there for a long time.

As you are new here I will explain briefly that most doesn't mean all of them, this will be reflected in DoM where Elves are few in number and will use Mannish Levies to suppliment their army.

In the Fourth Age, the realms of Lindon, East Lorien and Greenwood were confirmed Elven settlements. Rivindell is included on the political map because of a screenshot during DoM development where I recall seeing it as a settlement on the campaign man.

Lorien I included because it was stated that East Lorien was added to the realm of Lorien, while I have read The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen and am aware that after Elissar's death she passed away in an empty Lorien, while I can't comment on what the dev team have planned for that particular area, the fact that it and East Lorien are essentially part of the same realm implies that while it might not be populated, it's still under Elven control. It's seperate on the map because I speculated after the 2nd Dev Diary where ti says at the start of the game, the Elvens have no Mannish influence at all.

If the FATW website had not closed down I could have dug through the topics on there and find those screenshots, which would render this topic irrelevent, but since Aradan was trying to resist dropping spoilers and I don't want to ask Eorl to give the game away. I'm happy to speculate how things will be.