So, we'd have Russia, Italy, Turkey, and Germany fighting England, France and Austria. I think the Riders of Rohan might not survive long enough to come to the aid of Gondor. <grin>

And wouldn't it be odd if Gondor fought along side Isengard to hold back the Hobbits of the Shire?

I'm in, I had to go and get the book out to check the context, I had it right from the beggining, just used the wrong version of the name.

I believe the correct language for the men with oliphants is Haradrim or Easterlings. Mumakil is a pack of oliphants, not a region.

If we were to place them based on relative map positions, then...

Turkey is Mordor
Russia is The Rhun and Mirkwood
Italy is Gondor
Austria is Rohan
Germany is Orthanc/Isengard and Fangorn
England is the Shire
France is Eriador

Good point Zaz.

Yea, Harad is numenorean for south and Haradrim means southernors, thats their name.

So Russia is the proper home of the Haradrim (The Rhun is where they came from, I believe) and the Corsairs were from Eriador, were they not?

That layout works a little better for strategic balance as well. But do we want to make "sides" in this game? Or do we want to have the Corsairs and Easterlings be up "for hire" and playing towards their own greedy goals (along with Isengard for that matter). We could have the three free people be allied while the other four be out for whatever they can get but loosley allied and allowed to stab. It would be up to everyone to stay honorable amongst the freeds and allow Mordor and it's kind to have some infighting, making the game very interesting. But only if everyone in it agrees to it, no matter what position they draw.

Grrr. Haradwaith is to the South, duh... OK, Mordor and Harad swap. Russia is Mordor and Turkey is Harad.

And I guess the Corsiars were actually from Umbar, but we don't have anything down there, so France will have to do.

Rhun and the haradrim were different, Rhun were relatives of the Rhohirrim, and rode gorses and chariots, the hardrim were more like africans, splintered and very very tribal, only every being united by the Corsairs,
Going Geographically
Austria - Mordor
Italy_ Gondor
France-Rohan
England-Eriador(hobbits, bree northern elves and dwarves)
Turkey-Corsairs/Haradrim
Russia-Rhun
Germany-Orthanc

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/hugo1900/MAP-OF-MIDDLE-EARTH-VERSION-7.jpg

http://strangemaps.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/middle-earth.jpg

So, Germany, Austria, Russia and Turkey against France, England, and Italy. even if infighting happens in the forces of Mordor, the free people will find that to be a HUGE challenge.

I think we have to shift them and leave Rhun and Kandar out of it. Otherwise it is too one sided. It's not like we have a Gandalf amongst the free people.

yes, but it is lore accurate, and given that we expect Rhun and Harad to be somewhat self serving morder is going to have to watch its back, and if it wants any chance for early expansion it has to go AWAY from italy, I think with germany and austria in a locked alliance against italy france and england, and russia and turkey being free agents we should have a reasonably balanced game

We should stick with those involved in the conflicts at Minas Tirith and Helm's Deep. The Rhun weren't there, only Rohan, Gondor, Hobbits, Elves, Dwarves and one Ranger on the side of the Free, so only Eriador, Gondor, and Rohan. And technically the Corsairs never made it there, but they would have been if not for Aragorn's journey down the Path of the Dead. The enemy should be Mordor, Harad, Corsairs (consider them seperate as they were see going pirates, not oliphant riding "savages"), and Orthanc.

And yes, there were more Rangers (not elves) at Helm's Deep. But they still come from Eriador, so no difference.

OK, I can buy that. We need to get the others to all signoff on playing this as a variant, though.

wait you buy what?

So...

Austria - Mordor (Orcs)
Italy - Gondor (Free)
France - Rohan (Free)
England - Eriador(hobbits, bree northern elves and dwarves) (Free)
Turkey - Corsairs/Haradrim (Neutral, could go either way)
Russia - Rhun (Neutral, could go either way)
Germany-Orthanc (Orcs)

Orcs and Free have to fight alongside their compatriots. Whoever gets the two neutrals can be self serving and play both side against each other.

Does everyone agree?

I agree.

Zaz, Bilbo, anyone else in the game (there are six of us already)? What say you?

Oh, and you can still support your enemy in if it gets you a gain. Nothing better than to have the Dark Lord support an attack on Rohan from Gondor that was intended to bounce an attack by the orcs of Orthanc.

From the other thread...

Bilbo: with the alliances, is it A+G vs I+F+E with T+R to choose sides? i am ok with that.
Draugnar:And T+R can switch sides at will. They are, in effect, the only pure diplomacy nations on the board. This should be fun. MePBM in much the same way in that it is 10 nations on 10 nations with 5 neutrals, but the neutrals have to declare at some point, where as a neutral can solo here.

The bad thing will be if one side or the other has a nation hit 18. then that nation wins, but not the alliance, so I guess the preset alliances will want to try and maintain a balance. At least the free will, Saruman and Sauron may opt to go for the win as long as they don't stab directly the other.

Sure I love LoTR but I have a few too many games going...

Beorn from the Hobbit is my favorite Tolkenian character.

I like the aforementioned scenario. I really like it. :)

I'm assuming this is Ursa? I really wish you wouldn't have done the multi thing. One of the two accounts will get banned and I don't want this game screwed up by this one being the banned one.