Ok, here we come to the proper own thread which is to deal with all the suggestions that have been recently made, in form of brief contributions. Starting initially from a simple question (whether Palace Guards could have been made a heroic unit), we then developed a much more structured proposal that envisages significant changes for the whole strategic/conceptual architecture of Lothlórien/Mirkwood. What really impressed me is the connection of these ideas with other newly-proposed concepts, so that the final outcome may be regarded as a more coherent order among different elements. Obviously, the presence of such concepts as actual arguments makes the general reasoning more hypothetical, given that not all of those proposals have been officially accepted by the Edain Team. We ought therefore to bear in mind that we're moving in quite what-if situations. I'm nonetheless sure that it will be ultimately fruitful to discuss this topic. Every valuable concept deserves its own chance, after all.
During the debating phase, a different idea emerged in regards of certain aspects of the proposal and some people found themselves in favour of that precise eventuality, instead of the major core that was gradually acquiring more consistency. Due to this different course of events, I will include the alternative suggestion; as for the general explanation, the main points of the discussion will be presented all at once, as they're basically the same between the two sides. I will try to be the briefest possible, within my own possibilities. Since we already put forward insightful illustrations of our thoughts, relying on quotations will surely serve me well ;)
THE FACTS
PALACE GUARDS: The general consensus perceives them as a too overpowered unit in proportion with their cost, their abilities and their overall role as a heavy defence. We then agreed that they should be made a heroic unit, limited and, possibly, endowed with a higher status. The latter aspect is something not all of us leaned towards, preferring a simple overhaul which only binds the unit's possibilities of action. Focusing on them and coming up with some adjustments could stress their elitist characterisation as royal guards; a quite different of a perspective from the regular troops of Thranduil's host whom we see in BOTFA.
BEORNINGS: As a following suggestion, taking into account the faction's anti-cavalry properties, we also proposed the removal of Lórien pikemen. In place of them, the role to constitute an enough valuable defence in the early stage of the game would be given to the Woodsmen of the surrounding woods of Mirkwood, whose concept (https://modding-union.com/index.php/topic,34264.msg451512.html#msg451512) was proposed by Fredius not very long time ago; at the same time, Beornings shall thus receive a mightier role and more significance, as such supernatural creatures of this kind are indeed supposed to. Logically, as it can be easily inferred from these premises, the whole Beorning Homestead would acquire a far expanded importance in the game's dynamics, perhaps via convincing the player even more of the great usage this settlement is hopefully to offer.
REGULAR LANCERS OF MIRKWOOD: This is maybe the most controversial element of the proposal. Some of us don't agree in fact with the implementation of these troops in the game, lest, according to this theory, the faction be granted a redundant lancer-type unit and too many advantages in countering cavalry; with the risk of bringing us to the starting point of the whole issue (replacing Lórien pikemen with Woodsmen would thus be a mere exchange, giving the current pikemen a new fashion without neutralising the anti-cavalry issue). I'm very conscious of these arguments, and I find them equally valid. That's why, in my own opinion, this passage of the proposal is intrinsically tied to the fate of Palace Guards: were they to become a truly limited heroic unit and to be freed from a strict lancer-type logic, the regular lancers might take their place as common anti-cavalry units in the faction. With versatile and elitist Palace Guards at disposal (like a traditional royal guard), the regular lancers will be part of the army of Mirkwood, lesser in nature than the current solution and normally recruited as common troops (the common army of Mirkwood of the films). In light of this, the Woodsmen would operate as 'auxiliary pikemen' (even lesser than regular lancers themselves), when the player can't afford yet to get access to the outpost.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=2m04j8rRkHw
Without prolonging things too much, these are the two alternatives which arose so far from our general insights. Feel free to give your sincere feedback on the matter (you may even propose other scenarios). I will arrange the whole for/against mechanism in a secondary moment.
Just to add to the flow of the discussion: even if Palace Guards are to hypothetically acquire the status of a heroic unit, the implementation of the regular lancers from BOTFA would probably give the faction too many means to counter cavalry, and that's something we ought to avoid.
Therefore, another alternative I personally envisaged could be the very removal of Lórien pikemen, the inclusion of Mirkwood lancers as the regular anti-cavalry unit of the faction and the considerable broadening of Palace Guards' role as iconic royal guards. Referring to the latter case, the new royal guard could consist of 5/10 units per battalion (with the maximum of three battalions permitted) and shall be given the possibility to toggle weapons; not only would they thus be made more relevant in the game (more unique), but their overall activity would have much wider spaces of action at hand. About the removal of Lórien pikemen, this is certainly a quite radical of a proposal, but there are some positive arguments which we may bring at the common attention.
First of all, I have no knowledge whether the lore gives clear information about this, I have personally never viewed those pikemen as something so much proper for Lothlórien (the specific faction); I feel their addition was more an obligated choice for balance-related reasons. In my own opinion, the legitimate core of Lothlórien's infantry/archery are the regular border guards from BFME2 and the versatile Galadhrim; that's the main conceptual focus. Following the above-mentioned suggestions, Mirkwood only will then have the hegemony of anti-cavalry countering, ending up being much more differentiated and with a broader role as a subfaction. Obviously, Lórien would consequently be subjected to many threats by riders in the early stage, yet that might be seen as a possible strategic risk in equal terms.
As an additional defence at the beginning of the game, we could consider the early-defence role that Woodsmen are endowed with according to Fredius' proposal. However, I'm perfectly conscious that all these ideas I hitherto addressed rely on very what-if premises and, most importantly, on a concept about which the Edain Team has not expressed itself yet. But I nonetheless wanted to create a common ground for a possible significant overhaul, and I hope we shall head thither.
Thank you all for the precious contributions. The simply replacement of Lórien pikemen and the transferring of the Mirkwood lancers to the main fortress are obviously not the goal of the proposal, as that would take us again to the starting point of the issue. Yes, the proposal should instead be considered in conjunction with Fredius' concept and with some other aspects we do have knowledge of ;)
As others have already pointed out fairly, with the departure of Lórien pikemen (whom I personally find not so much conceptually fitting), Woodsmen and Beornings are to constitute the early defence at the beginning of the game; I don't think it's imperative that Woodsmen be necessarily pikemen, but I'm leaning more and more towards this perspective. They would obviously represent a lesser chance to counter immediate threats from cavalry. Also, what Fredius proposed entails the fact that Beornings will acquire a more prominent status, in line with their supernatural nature and thus granting players an additional possibility to defend themselves. Moreover, we ought to remember that Grimbeorn shall maybe receive the Axe of Doriath from Galadriel, strengthening his attack and the surrounding Skin-changers. Therefore, the whole Beorning Homestead is to be given a much more central role.
As additional remarks, we shouldn't also forget the support provided by minstrels, which defends from trampling too, and the sentinels of the camp/castle. Nor should we leave aside the prospect of Galadriel being capable of using the abilities of Ancient Might, which involve primarily monsters and heroes. On a final note, some of the arguments are based on pure assumptions, but these seem in my eyes to be favourable scopes for an equal redistribution of power in the overall faction, without disrupting Lothlórien's hegemonic status. The three main components of the faction will benefit from a higher degree of proper differentiation: Lothlórien (archery and versatile infantry), Mirkwood (heavier infantry and pikemen) and the People of the woods (early defence and Beornings). Like I already stated, only three battalions of Palace Guards shall be available (to avoid superfluous anti-cavalry proliferation) and have their role loosened, in the sense that they won't solely focus on cavalry anymore.
I will share my secondary thoughts on Fredius's Woodmen proposal here:
With the suggestion of turning Mirkwood Palace Guards into heroic units, I started thinking about the possible implications on the Lothlórien faction. I realised that without affecting the core of the faction too much, leaving it very much as it's current concept, the amount of units the faction can dispose of does not have to change. Let me explain.
Step 1) The Lórien Pikemen are removed. They are not useful due to their low armour values: this makes them vulnerable against constant cavalry assaults, or to any other type of unit in direct combat. They only have speed in their favour, but in the mid-game this is replaced with the superiority of Mirkwood units, especially the Palace Guard in dealing with cavalry extremely well and infantry reasonably well. The removal makes space for a new anti-cavalry unit, namely your Woodmen of the Anduin Vales
Step 2) The Woodmen of the Anduin Vales are introduced in the Beorninger Hut. They form the early and mid-game option against cavalry charges, which have become even more of a weakness for Lórien. They will carry spears and will get an ability that emphasises their role in defending their own home grounds as well as now protecting Lórien's borders.
Step 3) The Mirkwood Palace Guard is turned into a heroic unit battalion. In the Mirkwood subfaction there is no need for another anti-cavalry unit (such as would be introduced as Mirkwood Spearmen). As of now there exist also the Elkriders who have an ability that makes them very efficient against cavalry charges. It will make the Mirkwood more necessary in Lórien's gameplay but I believe this is for good strategical balance and challenge, because it makes its general weakness against cavalry harder to neutralise. I will elaborate more on the Palace Guard's abilities in their own topic (of Suggestions).
In this suggestion we only need to find a way of making the Palace Guard interesting as a heroic unit, especially through abilities. A simple weapon toggle should be a level 1 ability, but we should debate the presence of their current ability.
Defenders of Mirkwood - The Palace Guards are the elite defenders of Mirkwood and can turn enemy momentum against them. Any time a Palace Guard is trampled, all other nearby Palace Guards gain +50% armor, damage, and slow any additional enemy trampling 50% faster for 30 seconds.
I suggest this ability be unlocked at level 3 for instance, and the effects to be scaled over multiple levels (3,5,7) in order to make it more balanced.
In my opinion a third ability is need so necessary, many heroic units only dispose of two abilities, and with good reason Lórien has many strong late game units already (Ents, Beornings, Minstrels, Caras Galadhon Guardians).
I am very much willing to further this debate, it looks promising.