Strategy & Tactics The Eothraim

The task facing the eothraim is a daunting one. Residing at the northern reaches of Rovanian Plains, you are responsible for containing, an defeating the forces exiting from northern mordor. Deterring the Easterling from overwhelming the unprepared Northmen also falls to your nation. While difficult in the best of circumstances, the eothraim can succeed at this assignment.

Three advantages that the Eothraim possess in every game are their map, tax base, and the most powerful starting army. Every turn, the Eothraim can spy the northern face of Mordor, and when combined with the Northmen and Woodmen, have a total view of region. The Eothraim have 5 major towns, to recruit, and offset the considerable strain place on there economy by there pure cavalry army.

Due to the certain combat that faces the Eothraim, constant recruiting must begin, and continue at all major population centers. Troop losses will be dramatic, and difficult to replace. There are three, and possibly a fourth opponent that the Eothraim must battle. The easiest to deal with is the long rider. With the army in the south-east region, the Eothraim must engage the starting long rider army emerging from western Mordor. If defeated, then the Northmen and Sinda should have little difficulty dealing with the remaining Long Rider military.

The remaining opposition, Dendra Dwar and Urzahil require a different approach. A limited offense, and a defense in depth can limit the damage caused by these rampaging forces. Any offensive action should be limited to two basic objectives. The first is retaining control of all town/towers in the region. These include the north gondor possessions, and the town at the entrance to Morannon. These sites represent static defense points, to block enemy movement. Three of the five sites in question site astride crossroads that see traffic every turn. The second objective is to destroy any current, and future evil population centers on the outer ring of mordor. If successful, the elimination of these sites will restrict he economies of both Dendra Dwar and Urzahil.

In defense of your nation, you will need more then a report from the Woodmen, and Northmen maps. You will need the Northmenís northern force to protect your homeland, until replacement armies are generated for defense. Using the mobility of your armies, establish a defense line along the road at the 16 row, with the fortified towns as anchors. Your objective here is to keep the enemy between your forces and Mordor. Then next turn, run these armies down, and engage them in combat.

Once in army combat , the Eothraim player will meet his nations greatest strength and weakness. Your superior armies are lead by commanders inferior to those leading the hosts of Mordor. Your best action is to refuse personal challenge, and attack. Remember your objective. The destruction of these starting enemy armies achieves the removal of the enemies mobile forces, and the destruction the food in these armies. Mordor, while possessing a wealth of metal, is not conducive to providing food, mounts or leather. Once eliminated, the evils will have a difficult time replacing mounted units. The destruction of these forces, as well as your own being reduced, your finances will improve, and the evil nations will be forced to march out of supply heavy infantry up towards your nation. Given that only one major town resides on the outer ring of Mordor, many of the advancing enemy forces will be recruited from inside Mordor, a longer march.

If you can eliminate the mobile threat from Mordor, and replace your starting forces with fresh recruits, you can face the Easterlings with confidence. Your goal is to eliminate his forward towns. Use small armies to burn his undefended population centers, on is to place camps in the northern reaches of the plains. Out of reach, and beyond the sight of Mordor, providing you with abundant amounts of food, leather, and mounts. Establish a production goal, of 10,000 units of food per turn. That should enable you to finance your war effort indefinitely.

Killing off the mobility of the Mordor nations, and eliminating the Long Rider army near Mordor should be your primary defensive objectives. Keeping the northern slope of Mordor clear of evil population center your primary offensive goal. Accomplish this, and you have taken two giant steps in defeating evil, and ensuring victory for your side.