W A R   I N   M I D D L E   E A R T H 
                              (Playing Guide)

Seeing how The Lord of the Rings is not exactly like any other book and may
indeed  be  seen  by  many  as  the  most  comprehensive, extraordinary and
brilliant  work  of  fantasy  in  history  some  further  infomation may be
appreciated.  First of all, the guy who did the game concept (he's just one
of  the  names  in  the  credits  but  it  seems that's just well- mannered
modesty)  is  Mike  Singleton  and  he's  seen by many as the Numero Uno in
wargame  simulation;  he  was doing stuff like that back in '64. C-64, that
is.  He's  the  kind  of  guy who makes you wonder how it's possible to get
hundreds of different pictures onto a few disks and still leave enough room
for such side effects as a program.

From  the first versions of War in Middle Earth on the 8 bit computers came
complaints  concerning  errors in spelling. As you may or may not be aware,
professor Tolkien's consistency in the development of Middle Earth resulted
in  immense  background  "research"; not only bloodlines of every important
character  in  the  book  but also a coherent set of Elven runes and indeed
large parts of fantasy languages were developed and subsequently integrated
into his work. I can thus imagine how it would irritate the Tolkien admirer
if  through  sheer  neglect  a  good  deal  of  this Middle Earth lore were
misspelled.  I am happy to say that on the ST version mistakes seem to have
been  minimised;  the  only  error I've found yet (but I'm not a fanatic in
searching  for  them) was Forland spelled Forlond. No big deal even if I do
feel that these things should be done with care.

A  word about the sort of game we're looking at. War in Middle Earth is not
an adventure; the whole thing is icon-driven and thus mouse operated. It is
also  not exactly a wargame: characters are required to interact with other
characters and depending on the outcome enemy units (Saruman and Sauron and
their  allies) may take certain decisions. War in Middle Earth, I dare say,
is  more than most adventures, role-playing games or wargames; if I were to
give it a description I would say it's a fairly uncomplicated but extensive
multi-feature  fantasy  simulation  with  great detail and equal success in
each  aspect. (Attentive readers may correctly perceive a circumlocution of
the more direct phrase "Good stuff - go and buy").

Let's take a look at the forces moving in Middle Earth. In East Emnet Eomer
and a hundred and twenty cavalry make their way to the north of Dol Goldur,
the  Sorcerer's  Tower  of  old. In North Ithilien, Faramir and two hundred
rangers  trace  their  steps  across  the fields and northern border of the
lands  of  Gondor  and head west. Frodo, with Sam and Pippin following him,
makes  for  Tuckborough,  then  goes  on  to  Woodhall,  and meets Merry in
Buckland.  Keeping  in  mind Gandalf's warning about the feared Nazgul, the
riders  in  black,  Frodo  leads  his  friends  through  the old forest and
suddenly  finds himself at the house of Tom Bombadil. Tom gives some advice
to  the party and, carefully entering the dangerous Barrow Downs, Frodo and
companions  head for Bree. In the rest of Middle Earth, forces large enough
to  take or lose a city, a region or a whole country slumber; some gathered
in fortresses, others spread out over the countryside.

On  the  side  of the good forces, Dain and his thousand Dwarves, Thranduil
and his Sylvan Elves, Denethor in the mighty city of Minas Tirith, Theoden,
Theodred,  Bard  and  many others not yet aware of the imminent danger keep
their watch, semper paratus. And on the side of the forces of evil, fifteen
hundred  Orcs  are  spread  over  the  vast range of the Misty Mountains, a
thousand   Orcs  guard  Dol  Goldur,  Saruman's  Hand  Orcs,  Uruk-hai  and
Dunlendings reside in once-beautiful Isengard, while only the slightest tip
of  Sauron's  potential  forces  -  already around thirty thousand Orcs and
hundreds  of deadly Trolls - are visible in Morannon, Minas Morgul and also
near  Mount  Doom  and  Barad Dur. Invisible the many small but deadly dark
forces  that  roam  the  land - Orcs, Trolls, wargs, bandits, spiders, and,
feared  beyond  all, the ancient Balrogs. And all the time the nine dreaded
Nazgul search the shire for a token of the ringbearer.

Tired, dirty, and, what's much more for a hobbit, hungry up to the point of
starving,  Frodo  and  his  friends collapsed on the blanket of late autumn
leaves  spread  out  over the withered grass. "We made it!" Too much out of
breath  to  answer  Pippin's  exclamation,  Sam sat down on the field, legs
crossed. After a few minutes, he looked at Frodo and said, "Well, maybe all
this  running  around in dead people's places is all right for the three of
you,  but  I've  had  enough of adventures already. There's nothing I fancy
more  than  a good hot meal and a seat in front of a fire." Frodo looked at
his  friend with sympathy. "Well, Sam Gamgee, only the day before yesterday
we  escaped  those  fearful black riders, and now we have actually killed a
wight  in the Barrow Downs, and what's more we've met Tom Bombadil himself,
and  all  you  do  is  complain." Sam's face slowly showed a pained, guilty
expression,  though  his  love  for food and fire were still apparent. "And
what's  more,"  said  Pippin  in  a surprisingly enthusiastic voice, "we've
heard  magnificent stories. And we've found a lot of nice things; right now
we each have our own Elven blade. Not to forget the wonderful magic potions
we're  carrying."  "And  a fine staff, even if we don't know what it's good
for," concluded Merry. "Well that's all very well but I'd easily trade both
staff and potions for a strong draught of ale and a full plate of hot food,
thank you very much." "Maybe tonight," sighed Frodo, "when we reach Bree."

That night in Bree the ranger Aragorn met the party and, knowing it was far
from safe to stay in any one place for a longer period of time, the five of
them  immediately  left  for  Midgewater  Marsh.  All  the  time  gathering
information  on the whereabouts, movement and destinations of the nine dark
riders,  Aragorn  tried to keep away as much as he could from the road that
connected  Bree to The Last Bridge and, beyond that, to Ford of Bruinen and
finally  to  fabled  Rivendell - their initial destination. The party slept
near  Weathertop  but  once  they  found out that the Nazgul frequented the
place on their search they decided to leave it alone and travel through the
open  land.  When  they  came near the last bridge, observation taught them
that  all  black  riders  moved toward the Ford of Bruinen - so they waited
until  the  last  of  the black riders, the mighty Nazgul Lord himself, had
left in that direction and then they immediately followed.

Near  the  last  bridge  they came in a fight with five wargs but Aragorn's
ancient  sword cut right through the first four vicious wolves while Pippin
killed  the last one with his Elven blade. Only Sam was slightly wounded in
the fight. Then, on the road through the forest, the company met Glorfindel
and  under  his  elven  guidance  they evaded both wolves and Trolls on the
forest road when finally, emerging from the treeline and almost in sight of
Rivendell,  the company passed the great river near Ford of Bruinen and was
suddenly attacked by all the nine Nazgul at once. If it hadn't been for the
help  of  Elrond,  things would have been for the worst. But as it was, one
mighty  attack  after  another, initiated time and again by valiant charges
from  Elrond and Aragorn, felled each foul Nazgul in turn until none of the
wretched creatures were left.

And  the  party  reached Rivendell to rest and recuperate from their wounds
and to hold council in the presence of Elrond and Gandalf. In the meantime,
Eomer had quietly crossed the plains of the Brown Lands, the small bands of
marauding  bandits evading the larger force of his horsemen, and had picked
up  the long lost ring of Thrain north of Dol Goldur, the former Sorcerer's
Tower  on  the  edge of Mirkwood. He was now in possession of the ring but,
before  returning  it  to  their  rightful owners, decided to make a double
bargain when he learned that in a ruin near Mount Gundabad a treasure could
be  found  that belonged to Thranduil's Sylvan elves. Eomer and his cavalry
rode north. Faramir, having crossed Cair Andros and passing through Edoras,
Hornburg  and  Isen  Ford,  headed  further  west  in search of more recent
treasure.

In  Rivendell, the party met Bilbo, the initial ringbearer, and listened to
the  old  Hobbit's advice. It was a sentimental meeting amongst the hobbits
and  even  the most mischievous Elf seemed to sense that theirs was a grave
and  sad parting. For Frodo, there was mithril mail as a present from Bilbo
and  long  farewells from all others as the Fellowship prepared to move on.
Frodo  had  been  appointed  ringbearer  and it was now his duty to try and
destroy  the  cursed  One  Ring by bringing it to age-old Mount Doom in the
middle  of  bare and sinister Mordor itself and there unmake it in the only
possible  way.  He  was to be assisted by Sam, Pippin, Merry and Aragorn as
before,  but  now Legolas, Gimli and Boromir had joined the party, and they
would  all  travel  under  the  capable  guidance  of Gandalf the Grey. And
Gandalf  knew, like he had known for a long time, that now was the time for
his  final  work in the greatest confrontation between good and evil in the
worlds of Middle Earth.

Having  learned  of  important  treasures throughout the land and realising
full well that the temporary incapacitation of the Nazgul offered a certain
degree  of safety, Gandalf decided it practical to split the company in two
and  gather  some of the items that would increase the chance of success of
their  newborn  quest.  Aragorn and Legolas would, with all possible speed,
search for various valuable items in or near Belegost, Forland, Grey Havens
and White Towers while Gandalf and the others obtained tokens of power near
Mount  Gram  and Annuminas. Then they would meet each other in Ost-in-Edhil
and continue their journey.

And  so it happened, and while Eomer brought the heirlooms of the Elves and
Dwarves  to their respective owners and thus gained their assistance in the
final battles, Faramir and his rangers searched for healing in a small town
near  the  mouths  of  the  rivers  Greyflood  and Isen and continued on to
rendez-vous  with Gandalf, Aragorn and the others near Ost-in-Edhil where -
so  they had learned from Cirdan - an ancient blade had been washed ashore.
"Gandalf?"  "Yes,  Aragorn, I know. We must decide on which way to pass the
mountains."  "Why  not  south?"  asked  the seasoned ranger. Gandalf slowly
shook  his  head.  "Because of Saruman. He has been perverted by Sauron and
wants  the  ring  for  himself.  We  cannot  risk  it.  We must cross these
mountains."  Aragorn  did not argue. "Where? The passes are probably snowed
in." "I know. We shall try to enter Moria through Hollin Gate."

Once  more  Aragorn said nothing, but his mien clearly reflected his worry.
No  sane  man  could hope to enter Moria and leave the place unscathed. But
then Gandalf was no ordinary man. When they had travelled across the fields
for  several  days  (not completely alone as Gandalf had picked up signs of
Gollum  following the party) they arrived at Hollin Gate. Gandalf spoke the
ancient  elven  words  and  opened  the  passage through the mountains, but
immediately  the  party  was challenged by a fierce creature that seemed to
consist  mainly  of  flames.  An  ancient Balrog attacked them, and Gandalf
instructed  his  friends  to  leave  him  and  continue their quest. In the
ensuing  fight,  the Balrog was hurt badly, and Gandalf was struck a mortal
wound.

The individual members of the company tried to get together and enter Moria
as fast as possible, but Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn were separated from the
others  by  the  presence  of the burning creature following them. Although
Sauron's  servant  was badly hurt, they were still no match for the ancient
evil  -  at least, that is what Aragorn judged. After two hours of pursuit,
Gimli suddenly turned around, charged across a small glade and attacked the
Balrog  with  his hammer. By the time Aragorn and Legolas were aware of the
assault, the fight was over.

Gimli  sat, totally unhurt, with before his feet nothing but a black, burnt
patch  of  grass  where  the  Balrog  had  been dealt the mortal blow. Half
stunned,  all  Gimli  could  say was "And that's for Gandalf." Aragorn just
stood  there,  too tired and too awed to speak. Legolas seemed unmoved, but
the  inflection in his voice betrayed both the sadness for Gandalf's defeat
as  well  as admiration for Gimli's heroic revenge. "My dwarven friend, you
have great valor. If we could all match you the dark lord would never stand
a  chance." Legolas paused. "But now we must leave; there is no more time."
"And  we  must  go south," whispered Aragorn, "for now I must bring the Red
Arrow  to  Edoras  as fast as I can. And we must hope that our friends will
survive Moria."

Faramir  and his rangers were the last to enter the tunnel, just before the
age-old  doors  swung  shut  again.  By the light of torches, the company -
Boromir  leading  the  hobbits and rangers - slowly moved through the stone
dungeons.  Much  further  north, Dain (who had found the old dwarven hammer
north  of  Erebor) and a thousand Dwarves were on their way to Mt. Gundabad
to  destroy  the  Orcs  there. More to the south, Eomer, Thranduil and many
Elves  were  going  to  Goblin town to do the same. With the consent of his
allies,  Eomer meant to deal out a death blow to all the enemies inhabiting
the  Misty  Mountains,  thus  ridding this part of Middle Earth of Sauron's
troops. And after the Misty Mountains, he intended to seek out the enemy in
old Dol Goldur.

Aragorn,  Gimli  and  Legolas  passed  through  the  gap  of Rohan south of
Isengard  and  continued on toward Edoras where they hoped to meet Theoden.
Boromir,  the hobbits and Faramir with his rangers were totally outnumbered
by  the  five  hundred  Orcs  at  Dol  Amroth, but with a great charge they
managed  to  decimate  their  opponents  before  the final attacks started.
Faramir  was slightly wounded, several dozen rangers lay dead on the rocks,
Boromir  was  severely  hurt,  but  all  the  orcs  were  killed. The party
continued  on,  left  Moria  and  started toward Lothlorien. Dain's company
reached  Mt.  Gundabad  and  ran  the Orcs over in a single charge, not one
Dwarf  was  killed.  Eomer and Thranduil's company attacked the Goblin town
but  the  enemy  was dug in and had to be searched out; several dozen Elves
and  nine cavalry died in the progress of annihilating the last of Sauron's
servants  in  the  Misty  Mountain range. Both Dain and Eomer started their
journey towards Lorien.

The  first  to reach Lorien was none other than Gandalf'; not killed by his
opponent's  foul  blow  but  rather transformed into a more pure and strong
form.  Now,  Gandalf  the  Grey  had  become  Gandalf' the White. And after
speaking to the lady Galadriel, Gandalf' left for Edoras. Boromir's company
reached  Lorien and was also welcomed by the beautiful Elf queen, and Frodo
received  gifts  from the lady of light. Faramir and his rangers decided to
stay  in  Lorien  and  help  defend  the fabled city should the need arise.
Boromir, Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Meriadoc left for Minas Tirith. Aragorn and
company had reached Edoras, and when the Red Arrow was presented to Theoden
King  the latter gave orders to rally all cavalry in his lands and promised
Aragorn that Saruman would soon pay for his betrayal.

And  Aragorn  went to Minas Tirith to offer the Sceptre, token of the power
of  the  King  of  Numenor,  to  Denethor  in  order to mobilise as soon as
possible  the  complete  strength  of  Gondor.  The battle for Isengard was
short;  forewarned  as  Theoden  was  his  thousands  of  cavalry  took the
initiative and attacked, rather than awaiting a certain siege and offensive
in  Hornburg.  Theoden  King  led the troops that simply ran over Saruman's
Hand  Orcs, Uruk-Hai and Dunlendings. Although Saruman had more forces than
the initial few thousand, they were dealt with easily.

Soon  Orthanc  was empty, save for some royal infantry left behind to guard
the white tower. And Theoden and the hordes of Rohan moved off toward Minas
Tirith  to  assist  Aragorn,  Gandalf  and  all  the others in the decisive
battles.  Crossing the lands where small bands of Orcs, Goblins and bandits
were searching for the ring-bearer, Boromir led the hobbits (and Gollem who
had  persuaded Frodo to be allowed to join the company) south. But soon, in
a desperate fight and chase, Pippin and Merry were cut off from the others.
Boromir, Frodo, Sam and Gollum killed all twenty Orcs but Boromir was again
wounded.

They  did  not find Merry or Pippin again and had no choice but to continue
south,  towards  Minas  Tirith.  Already,  Frodo  could feel the increasing
weight  of the ring bearing down upon him. Pippin and Merry got lost in the
ancient  woods  of Fangorn and there they met one of the oldest inhabitants
of  Middle  Earth,  Treebeard.  They  looked  at  him  in  awe and listened
carefully  to  his slow dark voice giving them advise on their journey. The
next  day,  they  travelled  further  south  and  met the entire company of
Theoden.  And  Dain,  Thranduil,  Faramir  and  Eomer greeted each other in
Lothlorien and readied themselves to overthrow the Orcs in Dol Goldur.

Already,  troops  were  gathering  in Minas Tirith. Aragorn had offered the
Sceptre  to  Denethor and what Gandalf had not been able to achieve the old
token  of  war  now  did  for  him; they received the reluctant help of the
stewart.  Now all troops gathered under the leadership of Gandalf the White
behind  the  time-worn  but  still mighty battlements of the walls of Minas
Tirith.  Denethor  was there, with his infantry, his light infantry and the
elite  tower  guards.  Imrahil  was  coming  forth from Dol Amroth with his
company  of  valiant knights. Hirluin, Dervorin and other leaders travelled
the lands of Gondor to assist in the final battles.

Pippin  and  Merry  accompanied  Theoden,  Theodred,  Erkenbrand, Dernhelm,
Elfhelm  and  some  seven  thousand cavalry on their way to venerable Minas
Tirith.  Boromir  had been left by Frodo, Sam and Gollum because Frodo knew
that  not  the  fabled  city  but  threatening  Mount Doom was his ultimate
destination.  Boromir  now  went  back  to  his father, Denethor steward of
Gondor. Helped by Celeborn himself, Eomer, Faramir, Thranduil, Dain and all
their  cavalry,  rangers,  Elves and Dwarves crushed the orcs in Dol Goldur
and  travelled  southeast  to  reach  Minas Tirith in time. And then, as an
expected  but  not less feared, sudden and awesome sign, as if their leader
had  smelled the impending danger on a whiff of the western winds, Sauron's
troops  began  to  move at last. And all over Mordor rose immense clouds of
dust that hid yet betrayed the presence of thousands and thousands of Orcs,
Goblins,  Trolls and Half-Trolls, wainriders, Balchoth, corsairs, Westrons,
Easterlings,  the Harad and the Umbar, Morgoth and Shelob. And Sauron. "And
I  say  no  hobbit  in  his  right  wits would even think of crossing those
mountains.

Look  at  that  colour;  it's  just  not  natural,"  Sam complained when he
established  that  Frodo  was  actually  going  to travel on into murderous
Mordor  itself.  "Well,  you  can see why they're called the ash mountains,
Sam.  And  I  still  say  we  have to go. I can't hold on much longer, it's
becoming  too  heavy  now." "I...I could try to..." Sam stammered as he saw
Frodo's  cold  eyes guessing his intent, seeing things much darker than Sam
Gamgee could possibly ever even grasp. "NO! No one takes the ring from me!"
"Smeagol  take ring? Smeagol take precious to safety, yes, not to nasty hot
mountain  or  evil  land of Mordor. Smeagol take ring now?" "I say no! If I
have to take it, I take it myself."

Slowly,  with  the pleading but cunning glances from Gollum and the worried
eyes  of Sam studying him, Frodo relaxed. "I'm sorry, Sam. It's just..." "I
know."  He  took  up  his pack and tried to sound cheerful. "Well, if we're
going to pass through, we might as well do it before some patrol finds us."
And  the  three  of them went through the old, old tracks near Cirith Ungol
and tried to evade the countless Orcs literally pouring from the mountains.
The  siege  of  Minas  Tirith was a fact. But rather than follow Denethor's
suggestion  of  staying  safely  behind  the wall, knowing that each attack
would  cause  unnecessary  losses,  Gandalf  and  Aragorn  planned  a  more
offensive strategy.

Within  the  walls  of  nearby Osgiliath, all the cavalry held its base for
sudden  charges.  Apart  from  them, large troups of Elves and Dwarves took
short trips into the surrounding land to find and take by surprise the many
isolated  troups  of  Orcs  and  other evil allies that had not yet reached
Minas  Tirith. In the magnificent city itself, Gandalf resisted one assault
after  another,  killing  Orcs  and Trolls until the fields were black with
their  blood,  leading  Imrahil  and  his knights into charge after frantic
charge,  assisted by the infantry and the tower guards. Among the forces of
good,  many  died,  and  even  more  were  wounded.  But while the greatest
strength  of  Mordor  relentlessly  pushed  through the plains and gathered
outside  Minas  Tirith,  the  Dwarves  and  Elves  returned,  both strongly
reinforced  by  their comrades coming down from Dol Goldur and from further
up  north,  and finally Erkenbrand and all cavalry returned to Minas Tirith
to take the last stand.

And  when  all the remaining cavalry and infantry had barricaded themselves
within  the  strength  of the fortress, even the full power of Sauron could
not break them and all attempts to breach the walls were futile. Then, when
all  the  fields  in  front  of Minas Tirith were littered with the rotting
bodies  of their precious friends and their foul opponents, Gandalf, bitter
for so much bloodshed but determined to finish the war forever, ordered all
troops  on  a forced march to Mordor. While Gollum, Sam and Frodo made slow
and  tedious  progress  through  the  wastes of Mordor, already in sight of
Mount  Doom,  the Dark Lord turned his attention to his last hope - the One
Ring.

But  just  as he started to feel that he might have been tricked within his
very  own  land,  his mind was absorbed by the turning tide at the gates of
Morannon.  There, his good counterpart led a large force of all his ancient
enemies  -  Dwarves,  Elves,  rangers  and uncorrupted humans - against his
personal  guard.  And  the  forces of good passed into the burned wastes of
Mordor.  When Gandalf and Sauron came eye to eye in the dark tower of Barad
Dur,  all  those  below, both the forces of good as well as the servants of
evil,  heard  a thundering crack, and as the maker of the One Ring realised
that  his utter defeat was guaranteed by Frodo's fullfillment of the quest,
he  led  out a great howl of anguish. Now, the defeat of Sauron was a fact.
SO ENDS THE WAR IN MIDDLE EARTH.

Well  then,  for  some  more straightforward advice. What's coming next are
rules that seem to work - for me. Perhaps you prefer to take other tactics;
certainly  my  approach  can  be improved. Nonetheless, you may profit from
some of these guidelines.

Items:  Never  give  anyone an item that person already possesses - they're
lost  forever.  So  if  you send Faramir to pick up a blue potion (healing)
north  of  White  Towers,  he can no longer take the one in Grey Havens. It
takes  a bit of careful planning to get all the right items in the shortest
amount of time. Also, give the right item to the right man and keep in mind
that  gaining  allies  should  be  given  top priority. It's no use fooling
around  with  healing  potions or nice weapons if Dain, Thranduil and other
leaders are immobile because they haven't received their "tokens of war".

The  sooner  you  can  mobilise your troops the better your chances will be
once  Saruman  and  Sauron  start  moving out of their own little backyards
(actually, you can beat them to it).

Battles: Overkill works. If you attack 2000 Orcs with 2000 cavalry (cavalry
is very effective) you'll probably beat all the Orcs and lose less than two
hundred  cavalry.  If  you attack those same Orcs with five hundred cavalry
chances  are  you'll  lose the battle (and thus all your cavalry) and never
inflict  serious losses on your opponent. One thing: there's a fine balance
between  the exact right battleline and needles losses. If you make a stand
(say,  defending  Minas  Tirith)  with lots of leaders and a whole range of
different troops - rangers, infantry, light infantry, knights, tower guards
and  cavalry - then 250 trolls will inflict losses in all these categories,
thus  causing  you  to lose several hundred troops each round of combat. If
you  attack  those  same 250 trolls with nothing but (for instance) cavalry
there's a good chance you'll come out with no more than fifty dead, perhaps
even  none. The two most valid rules seem to be overkill, and concentration
of troop types.

When  defending  Minas Tirith, you'll find that sending all cavalry (or all
Elves,  or  knights,  but  not the three combined) to nearby Osgiliath will
work  quite  nicely. Oh and by the way, I never did find out (not yet, that
is) what the gnarled staff and the coil of rope are all about!!


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