Harder Gondor for DAC 1.2

**orclover** · January 14, 2017, 11:49 AM

I am not a modder....I was frustrated that the average player could basically tip the scales in the Gondor campaign by turn 20 as taking Minas Morgul cripples Mordor and taking Harondor settlements makes Variags sue for peace or you just stake them to death. Even more frustrating, Umbar just sits with four stacks and can't do anything while you ravage Harad. Once they attack you then you just slip an army on ships to Umbar and take their capitol. And since they only have 3 settlements, this is game over. I have a rule where I don't take a settlement for 40 turns and still this campaign is too easy...as I can still cripple most factions by the barracks event.

Changes:
1. Umbar has been given Ramlond and Gobel Mirlond to give them easier access to ports and Gondor
2. Harad has lost those two settlements but have been given An Karagmir with a 'lore' accurate bonus in that settlement
3. Mordor has been given Eastern Osgiliath, pretty sure they owned this in 2980 anyway.
4. If you rush Minas Morgul or the Black Gate in early game then scripts will fight back with very difficult but realistic spawns. AI is dumb enough that you may still win but it is unlikely before barracks event. Garrison script has been "trolled" and if you try to wait the 12 turns orcs will come upon you out of the peripheral mountains. All changes ,though ,are one time events, if you can defeat the spawning armies then you are free to rush the rest of Mordor. The units will not delete after battle , win or lose, so if you attack those two spots then "super" units will be around for Mordor to use...so don't poke the hive unless you are ready.
5. I removed stakes from the game, it is the definition of cheating because the AI either can't or doesn't use them. There used to be an AI where the AI archers would place stakes mid-battle and people complained that it was unfair, so now the player gets to stick stakes in doorways but the AI doesn't? Stakes totally negates the Khand threat as you can just sit in settlements and let them throw stacks at your stakes and then counter attack to the next settlement when they are exhausted of troops. This can be done with a half stack.
6. To counter the loss of stakes I have given Amroth Pikeman to gondor from the beginning. They will be available from the Fiefdom barracks. Most other factions have strong cavalry counters, Gondor doesn't until after barracks event.

Advice: Build up your economy, and defend. Read up on how to get generals good economic traits, especially in Minas Tirith, Calembel, Lond Galen, Pelargir. With a fully traited general Lond Galen will make 5000 a turn by turn 70. Also if you learn how to get your generals the anti-squalor traits you should be able to grown most of your towns into cities by turn 100, at that point you should have an economy and army that is formidable enough to assault the enemy. Make peace with Enedwaith and Isengard, and try to get a ceasefire with Khand.

DO NOT DOWNLOAD THIS IF:

1. You do not understand the file structure of the game, you will need to manually install this...I will not explain how
2. You want to play evil factions. This should upset the balance to the point where Gondor gets crushed easily no matter which evil faction you are.
3. You rely on stakes, they are gone for all factions...

BACKUP ALL THE FILES IN THE DOWNLOAD. IF YOU DON"T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS...don't download. I have not tested the difficulty so it could be much too hard for even a good player. If you backup you can revert to vanilla DAC. I think the mystery of not knowing whether it is too hard or not is exciting. But if you find it is impossible, or for some reason easier, then just revert.

download

**c.ryo** · January 14, 2017, 03:08 PM

Gondor nerf from someone named "orclover" go figure!

Im sure someone will like this.

**orclover** · January 14, 2017, 05:04 PM

C. Ryo

I only play as Gondor.

The consensus of testers is that Gondor is quite easy, and easy because of gamy things like factions being blocked, people using stakes against cavalry dependent factions, and key enemy settlements being ungarrisoned and only 1 turn away from recruitment centers. At the very base level, all This Third Age games should revolve around the war of the ring, and Gondor is the center of this...sadly in this final iteration the centerpiece of the game is somewhat broken. I did my best in a couple hours to fix it for myself, and maybe a few others.

**Link12** · January 15, 2017, 01:40 AM

This looks really good, and I for one would not mind these tweaks being integrated into the main sub-mod. Especially the stakes and Eastern Osgilith.

**Arachir Galudirithon** · January 15, 2017, 05:18 AM

I must confess that I like some of your ideas a lot. You are not the first to say that stakes are a game breaker and I am really coming around to the idea of limiting them to the very best archers only if not removing them altogether. I like the idea of eastern Osgiliath starting as someone other than Gondor's but perhaps the most lore accurate start would be if it were rebel. As it is essentially abandoned by the time of 2980, neither held by Gondor or Mordor but that would lean more into the idea that Mordor would own it as they 'owned' Ithilien at that time.

I also quite like the anti-rush stack spawn. It is something of a 'gamey' solution but it would totally work.

I am in favour of making every campaign hard so this post appeals to my inner desire. However I am aware that many people wouldn't want every faction hard but I think Gondor could do with a difficulty spike.

I also like the DA Pikes being available for Gondor but there is currently talk of a different solution in the testing group. Speaking of which, would you like to come and be tester for us OL? You have routinely posted both here and on YT with ideas and all ideas are welcome.