Hello Edain Community!
As a massive fan of Imladris and the Noldor in general, I felt like I should just get out the suggestions I’ve had running through my head for them. Take none or all, I just would appreciate feedback.
Generally speaking, while I have done my best to keep up on posts on Imladris, I have not read everything about them on the forums, so if I repeat a question or suggestion already answered, my apologies. Also, I have not actually played 3.8., just watched lots of videos on it, so forgive me if I make a mistake when referencing it.
I will not specify armor or damage, because I freely admit I don’t know much about game balance.
Many Thanks, VectorMaximus
Heroes:
Generally speaking, Imladris’s heroes should remain largely unchanged from 3.8.1. However, there is one hero I believe that needs to be reworked slightly – Elrond, due to the fact that he is the ringhero. Here’s my suggestion.
Elrond Halfelven
Lvl 1 – Flood: Same as in 3.8, this unleashes a small 2 horse flood that deals medium damage to units and negligible damage to structures. With One Ring – Become Wrath of the Bruinen – Full scale flood
Lvl 3 – Elrond’s Wisdom: Same ability as in 3.8.1, grants XP to targeted hero. With One Ring – Makes target hero lvl 10
Lvl 5 – Lord of Rivendell (passive): Elrond dons his armor from BOTFA, gaining bonus armor, damage, and providing leadership to surrounding units. With One Ring – Becomes High King of the Noldor – Elrond takes up the crown of Gil-Galad and leads the Noldor to a new age in Middle Earth, further increasing all gains made from ‘Lord of Rivendell’
Lvl 8 – Vilya the Ring of Air (passive): The power of Vilya helps to slow the fading of the Eldar, and allows the preservation of Rivendell through the Third Age. Reduces damage taken by building in the elven base and slowly heals allied units within the base proper. With One Ring – Becomes Aman in Arda – The power of the One Ring allows Middle-Earth to be remade in the image of Valinor, as is the dream of the Noldor. All Elven structures take massively reduced damage and heal all elven units in their vicinity swiftly, but dunedain allied units take continuous damage – a reference to how men would wear thin if they lived in the land eternal.
Lvl 10 – Rejuvenation: Elrond is the greatest healer of the Eldar on middle earth. Same effect as in the base game, a heal and ability reset. However, to make it worthy of lvl 10, I believe that in difference to base heals, Rejuvenation would heal units FULLY. With One Ring – Becomes Vilya Unbound; AKA TORNADO TIME. Elrond, now as High King, uses the power of the one to free the 3 Elven Rings. He no longer has time to devote to healing, save in extreme circumstances, so he loses Rejuvenation and regains his iconic tornado, which seemed slightly out of place as a base ability.
Units:
Base Units are all fine, so far as I can see. I do however have some suggestions for Hero Units.
Guardians of Gondolin – would replace Watchdog from 3.8, because that name is a little silly, in my opinion: 3 to a battalion, requires all Rivendell Upgrades. 3 maximum. These veterans of the crossing of the ice and the fall of Gondolin do not desire to fight, save at great need (IE, they cost a lot). However, they are unmatched warriors of the Noldor. They would wield spear and shield, but would function like Cirith Ungol halberads, strong versus all unit types.
Lvl 5 – White Armor of Gondolin: The warriors don their ancient armor, gaining increased armor versus heroes and monsters. Once they have this armor, they turn into an anti-hero unit, to keep up with hero-spam factions such as Mordor (If Elrond and Glorfindel cost as much as in 3.8, Imladris needs them).
Lvl 8 – Light of the Trees. These warriors remember the noontide of Valinor before the felling of the trees, and the light shines through them. For a short time they gained increased damage and provide leadership in a small radius around them.
My next two unit suggestions have to do with one of my later posts, specifically buildings and an Idea of a Lindon Outpost.
Veterans of the Last Alliance – Most of the Noldor in the Last Alliance were from Lindon, and so the veterans returned home after the battle to live a quiet life where they could sail when they chose. 6 to a battalion, 5 battalions maximum – essentially ROTWK’s base Noldor Warriors, capable of switching between sword and bow. Requires unit upgrades to recruit
Lvl 7 – Weapon Song: Gain increased damage for a time.
Mithlond Sentries – The wardens of Mithlond rarely are called into battle, and so there are more to a battalion and are cheaper, but are not as strong as other units, per man. Porcupine and upgradeable, same as in the base game. This would allow Lindon to have another unit other than the guardians, and would allow Rivendell a more spam-like unit.
Buildings:
I agree with the sentiment that Rivendell shouldn’t produce units outside the base – Hence the Dunedain encampment, and I would assume that the Lindon watchtower is being included as well. However, I would appreciate being able to have something more elvish on the outpost. Hence my suggestion – The Lindon Stronghold.
The Lindon Stronghold would function like Dol–Amroth and the Dunedain camp, and you would be able to recruit the following units – Guardians of Lindon, Veterans of the Last Alliance, and Mithlond Sentries, as well as Cirdan. Whether it would upgrade with Cirdan, as with the Lindon Watchtower, or have purchasable upgrades, I don’t know. Also, you could probably add in the Lindon Horse-Archers to it, but Calvary is Rohan’s territory, so I’m not sure if adding Horse Archers would be stepping on their toes or not, as well as the fact that Mirkwood has Elk-Riders (though, in An Unexpected Adventure, the elves of Rivendell shot from horseback against the orcs, which shows a precedent for it).
Powers
Tier 1:
Horn of the Noldor – A standard rallying call.
Healing Gesture – A standard heal, though since Rivendell is renowned for its healers, perhaps it should heal more?
Vilya’s Breath – Replaces Enshrouding Fog from 3.8.1, formerly Breath of Manwe from Lorien in 3.8.1 – This could be a nice way to give a nod to Vilya’s powers to confuse and disorient those who would attack Imladris, as well as give an example of Vilya’s power over air other than the tornado, since I relegated it in my suggestions to Ring-Hero Elrond.
Tier 2:
Elven Wood – Standard tree AOE area buff
Light of the Evenstar from 3.8(not sure about this, but I am unsure what else could be put here)ul
Friends of the Old Forest (Bombadil and Goldberry) same as 3.8
Lay of Luthien – Puts enemies to sleep in a small area, same power as 3.8
Tier 3
The Council of Elrond – Same power as 3.8, random summon for any participant of the council and some of their folk.
Noldolantë – Replaces Cloud Break – instead of stunning, the Lament of the Noldor de-buffs enemies globally, as well as cancelling leadership. Essentially, darkness for the good guys!
Smith-Lore of Gondolin and Eregion (Passive) – All units with heavy armor and forged blades gain addition stats. Heavy Armor grants slightly more armor against normal attacks and greatly improves protection to fire, poison, and fear. Forged Blades deal slightly increased damage in general and much more damage to undead units and monsters.
Tier 4
The Last Alliance – Same power as 3.8, summon the Host of Elendil and Gil-Galad to your aid.
Final Marshall of the Noldor – The idea for a power that started this whole post. One of Imladris’s main weaknesses that they lack the ability to quickly and cheaply resupply after being defeated. This power would help to offset that weakness. For a short time, units would be built at drastically reduced cost, would be built far faster, and would come with upgrades already bought. Lore-Wise, my reasoning is this – The Noldor are aware that for good or ill, this is the end of their age in Middle-Earth. Whether as fea or in ships, Valinor is calling them. So, they do not end their age in silence, but in a final burst of glory, an image of the Noldor of the First Age in all their Might. They open up their vaults, assemble all their host, for their final war on mortal shore