Into the fires of Mount Doom!

[Revilo]

Right, thank you all for being so patient.

Let the fires of industry spread across the green fields of Middle Earth!

 

[Seltus]

Bah! I wanted some dwarves!

Nevertheless, looking forward to it. 'Tis a good mod.

 

[Almalexia]

Rhun would have been awesome.

 

[Revilo]

Click for theme music.

"...together, my lord Sauron, we shall rule this Middle-earth. The old world will burn in the fires of industry. Forests will fall. A new order will rise. We will drive the machine of war with the sword and the spear and the iron fist of the orc..." ​

First order of business is to take stock of what I own. Unfortunately, it isn't a great amount - 2 towns and a citadel, collectively netting me about 1750 gold a turn, after turning all the taxes down to promote growth in the settlements. With a higher growth comes more people to tax, and it will be a big influence later in the game.

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With that short task over, I decide to have a look at what I can build - mostly hunting huts giving +1 food production, roads and some buildings such as butchers (+5% public order due to happiness) and a blacksmith. Deciding to focus on economy early on to fuel the fiery war machine of the Uruk Hai, I build a mine at Isengard which will net me some more income and hunting huts at the other two towns. I also queue up roads where I can, and a grain exchange at one of the towns (Byrig).

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This should give me a pretty sizeable boost to my income, enabling me to keep building units to harass and harry Rohan, who I've decided will be my main target at the start. They're going to be tough without pikemen though, although they shouldn't have too much heavy cavalry (or light cavalry either, hopefully) this early on so it should be ok as it is. That brings me quite nicely onto this:

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Hm...not bad. 3 groups of raiders and some archers - all cheapo and disposable but should be enough to let me cause some havoc, take a few settlements early on to help boost my income and keep churning out those units. If you haven't realised, I'm going for a game stlye with high momentum and unit costs - I feel that's the essence of Isengard and so hopefully it turns out ok for me. I also start to build up a small army (some skirmishers, archers and some dunlend wildmen) at Byrig to move upwards and harass Eriador and the Elves and another similar army at Duneard to head west to the settlement around there.

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I'm also trying to stagger my bulding queues so that Saruman is present in each settlement with highest taxes when it completes, to start earning some beneficial tax/building traits that will really help later on. However this requires me changing what I did earlier, so for now the two towns have empty build queues. Never mind, they'll be active enough later on.

Hope you like this opening guys - sorry it's so short but there'll be more tomorrow. Tonight, I go out and get drunk.  Mate is having his 21st birthday and we're going out to celebrate.

 

[Sethaniel]

I would recommend getting into the roleplaying aspect of the writing in order to make it more fun for your readers. For example, writing them from the point of view of different characters. Of course, that would be rather time-consuming and could discourage you from actually playing the game, so it's up to you really.

Anyway, pretty good start. Looking forward to more 

 

[theAthenian]

I would recommend getting into the roleplaying aspect of the writing in order to make it more fun for your readers. For example, writing them from the point of view of different characters. Of course, that would be rather time-consuming and could discourage you from actually playing the game, so it's up to you really.

yes more roleplay please!

 

[Kazzan]

Hm, intresting.
Yeah, roleplaying does seem to catch the readers intrest more.

 

[Swadius 2.0]

Not if you can't write it well like that.

 

[Revilo]

I'll give it a shot.

For you guys. 

Edit: Right, carrying on with this now. I've decided to try and narrate it as if I was Grima Wormtongue, as it seems like he's the advisor type to Saruman and so would still be able to have all this sort of info at hand. Sound decent?

 

[Blackfish]

Cool. Though for the record I don't mind gameplay-oriented posts either, as I haven't played TA:TW. Whichever suits the situation, really.

 

[Revilo]

...you are banished forthwith from the Kingdom of Rohan... under pain of death... ​

My lord Saruman, the wildmen are gathering in preparation for the push westwards. A foul group - their smell pervades the very streets of Byrig and Duneard and their women rut like...animals...in the very streets - a wise choice, my lord, for keeping them away from Isengard. They have their uses, as you foresaw, although they are little more than a rabble of lesser men, suitable for pillaging and burning the outlying villages of Rohan. It is the iron-shod fist of the Uruk Hai that will bring about the ultimate destruction of Theoden, and his Riders of Rohan, but we do not yet possess the industry to support the elite troops - for now we shall have to be content with raiders, and the snaga that are mere shadows of what our forces will grow to become. They will suffice for the task at hand my lord, but for the golden hall to burn we will need better troops.

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Our forces to the south under Lord Ugluk have also struck the first blow in our war against the so-called Horse Lords, and we have laid siege to their settlement of Gineard. I have no doubt our forces will prevail my lord - we are constructing a siege ram to bring down the gate and allow our Uruks into the settlement, and our forces massively outnumber the pitiful defenders. They will leave none alive.

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We have also commenced the recruitment of a smaller force right here, my lord, to move north east to capture the forest of fangorn. The wood from these ancient trees will surely fuel the war machine of Isengard for many years to come, and turn the land into something more...productive.

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There is nought else we can do my lord, until we have finished the conscription to the north and the building of our war machines to the south. Let us retire, and plan the battles of tomorrow.


Grim tidings from the south though my lord. Lord Ugluk has been confronted by Gamling, with a sizeable host at his back - outnumbering our troops over 2 to 1.

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We had no time to prepare my lord, the force came out of nowhere and battle was underway before we even had a chance to organise our forces. Our archers moved to within range, and all units moved forwards into a line formation.

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The battle, however ferocious our troops, was not in our favour. Our raiders are not cut out for fighting such massed heavy infantry, and were hard pressed to hold their own. Ugluks own bodyguard attempted to aid with the fight, however they were swarmed by those murderous eorling axemen.

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We would have been sorely hindered had we lost Lord Ugluk, my lord Saruman, and so with our best interests at heart we ordered his withdrawal from the fight - leaving the remainder of his forces behind to serve as a distraction to prevent the cavalry pressing the attack.

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Some foolish horsemen still decided to try their luck against the sword and the shield of our terrible Uruk Hai...and they paid the price for it. Cut down by Lord Ugluk and his bodyguard. Ha! They shall not try that again in a hurry - precious horse and rider cut down by crushing strength and the sharpened edge of steel. A fitting image my lord.

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Our men paid a terrible price in this conflict, my lord, but the enemy force sprang up from nowhere. The settlement only contained a small contingent when we laid siege, and our men, no matter how ferociously they may have fought, were no match for the force arrayed against them.


A new day my lord, and some better news from the west. The remaining snaga troops have arrived and have linked up with our other forces before forging westwards into lands unknown and unconquered. May their march be more fruitful than our southern armies.

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All is not lost to the south though - as I recommended, you should travel to Byrig to oversee the construction of the buildings there to gain experience with such matters. I also suggested you perhaps construct a watchtower between our two settlements as well, and it has proven to be a wise choice. It has revealed an approaching army from Rohan, my lord, a small one meant only to harass us and lead only by a captain. It shall be no trouble for Lord Ugluk to deal with once he has rebuilt his lost forces in Isengard, before he presses on to Fangorn forest with the small force we assembled earlier to take it in the name of Isengard, and to provide fuel for the fires of industry.

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Our mines at Isengard are nearly complete as well my lord, which should provide a welcome boost to our income, and Lord Ugluk shall reign in Isengard until he is able to gather more troops and march on the scum invading on our lands. Might I also suggest we start looking towards opening some trade routes with other forces within Middle Earth? The Orcs of the Misty Mountains are close by, as are the Orcs of Gundabad, and the income it brings could be a wise investment.


How was that then guys? A bit longer for you, and it's my first attempt at any sort of roleplay (and AAR in fact) so any suggestions or improvements are more than welcome.

 

[Crroatian]

It's Good vs Evil in this game? Or can you say, invade Mordor?

also does Saruman have any special powers on the battlefield?

About AAR and RP , you're doing pretty well, keep it up!

 

[Chechen!]

Nice read, well done. Some close up shots of the battle would be nice and disabling the UI when taking a shot in battle might be an idea.

 

[Revilo]

It's Good vs Evil in this game? Or can you say, invade Mordor?

also does Saruman have any special powers on the battlefield?

About AAR and RP , you're doing pretty well, keep it up!

I could invade Mordor (theoretically), although we're both "evil" so there'd be no real point. I wouldn't know, never played as Saruman. I'd guess no, other than the usual special ability/rally slot that all generals have.

Nice read, well done. Some close up shots of the battle would be nice and disabling the UI when taking a shot in battle might be an idea.

To be honest, they were already out of the gate by the time I realised that there was no deployment phase for this particular battle. 
The whole thing didn't last very long, I lost a good 40 or so raiders to 20ish rohirrim scouts for gods sake, as soona s the infantry started fighting it was finished, essentially. Evil factions have the bonus of numbers, good have better units. If the good outnumber you, then well. Unlucky, evil player. Good fight. 

Not sure how to disable the UI, I'll have a tinker when I do the next part. More battles to come as well for you guys.

 

[Kazzan]

Aye good read, I'm tempted to start another campaign myself.

 

[Corvus]

Very good read, looking forward to seeing more Would have been nice to see the screen of results of the battle, and as Rams says, some close ups of the actual fighting are always nice
But I really like your idea of addressing it to Saruman, works very well, convincing!

 

[Taalen]

Keep it coming, definitely seems worth following.

 

[Elisianthus]

Reading this had made me DL the mod to try. Damn you.

 

[Mage246]

I don't think the orcs would be so polite, though. They might be cringing in fear, but I doubt they'd have any ability, let alone interest, in following court formalities. Keep up the good work otherwise.

 

[McBeverage]

Damn good stuff. 
Kronic:  Had that effect on me yesterday as well :3