Isengard:
- They were really overpowered formerly, but you are right now with your observation for the very recent versions regarding Argond/Tharbad ... Dunland area.
- The reason is because their heavily armed units (Uruk-Kai Infantry, Pike and Crossbow) are now only in Isengard available, the Orthanc was already anyway, but i also delayed their recruitment, point is if i don't do it, Rohan AI is doomed pretty soon (a no-go for me). Those units can't be matched by Rohan AI, if they appear as it was in earlier versions (and see also Rohan below).
- I could increase at least Dunlending recruitment, so the border to Eriador is bit more dangerous as now for the Eriador player. If i do much more in this regard, you as Eriador player would have biggest problems vs OoG, OoMM and Isengard, even with the new militia recruitment for Eriador, just both Orc factions are now able to recruit far earlier "quality" units as in earlier versions ... while if one can manage to not fight with OoMM (or just first pretty late), then it is good feasable now to expand as Eriador player, also if Isengard attacks and OoG watches for your lands pretty quick ... and btw., Isengard sends their most heavy units also at me into Eriador, i actually wonder how the AI is doing it, but statistics say quick that Isengard is ruling financially, so the Isengard settlement itself can put out unit after unit, but just not anymore that quick and much their super-units).
- Saruman can survive very very very long, the only way to kick Isengard down soon in the submod would be to play Rohan and take it just asap with all available craft, but then perhaps the Rohan player looses regions to Mordor in the same time.
- If you wanna watch Isengard's units (where they are and act, just send out your spies).
Rohan:
- Now the balance makes them at war again pretty soon with Mordor. Rohan even managed it to make peace with Isengard just as for war with Mordor.
- They hold better now vs Isengard because see above point Isengard.
Eriador player (bold part):
- You could face Mordor soon, if you act with Aragorn and Gandalf, where they are at the start (it's what i do), instead of going back to Eriador (as the AI does).
- First i take the Limlight castle, act a bit in the area, also help Rohan vs. Mordor in some initial skirmishes, and then later ie. i conquered even Beorn Halls.
- Else, see above point Isengard. And that's what i want: Eriador player ( me ) shall be able to turn into Arnor short after turn 100, or just even sooner, if he manages it to prepare Annuminas accordingly. And when it happens, Rohan and Gondor shall be alive still (also SE and Dwarves ... Dale most probably can't, HE have no real problems, as for their map position).
Region gifts:
I like your suggestion with only Isengard. But for now i decided to only nerf Rhun in this regard, i'll disable the region gift for them completely to delay them vs Dale, which suffer at most/quickest in this submod, equal what i do balancing-wise for them (as of yet), and of course i don't want to overpowering Dale artificially with extreme changes.
But ... Rhun got now aleady (internal version) some unit stat nerfs as well, which are also necessary (and i even expect they remain the powerhouse and still overrun Dale).
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As for the many updates:
I want to have the submod finished very soon, as time is short in the next time, i just use/d a time-window for this submod. Actually i wanted to stop the submod latest this weekend, latest.So i'm sorry, but i think i'll release still today v2.45(edit: a very maybe only, time is too short, do not expect it this weekend), and then the final v2.5 will come perhaps next weekend, as tomorrow and the whole upcoming is no time available for playtesting/modding.