Dale and the western river settlements.

[Agoraphobia]

I've been getting into Dale recently since I hadn't really given them a go much at all before. I'd played a lot of the other factions and noticed how the man rebel settlements on the far western side of mirkwood (Wrakyaburg, Beorn's Halls, gladden fields area, that one wooden castle) are some of the AoR regions for Dale units, including the excellent Athala Rangers and Rivermen. Not to mention the great Beornings.

Does anybody actually go for these settlements during a Dale game? Sure, they would be crippled with corruption, but you get more access to those rare AoR units. And they would be useful in case you ever felt like fighting the Sylvan Elves after finishing off Rhun. I'm pretty sure you can get to them without ever entering the Sylvan's territory also, since you only need to cross dwarven territory, who you have default military access with, and the Dain's Halls province.

[brapollo]

Those settlements are usually seized by the Silvan elves and you have far too much to worry about in dealing with Rhun stack spam to worry about them.

[Lothar135]

I am ussually too busy fighting off the hordes of Rhun. I think you can take those settlements if you feel like fighting Gundabad or Misty mountains orcs and Rhun at the same time. Dont recommend it though...

[Mikail Mengsk]

Not worth it. Too far, corruption will eat much of their income, you'll have to defend them against OotMM (draining further resources), they will be too far and sending reinforcements would be difficoult. You can do it when you have won over Rhùn, but even in that case you better invade Mordor instead.