GUARDS OF ORTHANC
So, after the debate progressed towards a quite definitive and interesting concept, I decided to edit the first post of this thread and to showcase the final concept we have come up with, in order to give it the prominence it deserves. I will list the people in favour of or against this proposal at the end of the description of the very concept, so that it will be much easier for me to organise things in the most ordered way possible; I'm also going to translate the proposal in German and thus bring it to the German Community's attention too. Should anyone want to read the original content of this post, just browse the content at the end of the comment that was hidden via the spoiler feature. Needless to say, other hints or ideas about the topic are still well welcome.
(http://tednasmith.poverellomedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/TN-Orthanc_in_the_Second_Age.jpg)
In the game: Another upgrade is added to the citadel of Isengard. The new upgrade unlocks the ability to summon the Guards of Orthanc. Once the ability is unlocked, you just have to click on it once and about 10 guards pour out of the citadel. They stay for about 30 seconds and can't be selected; they just roam around the citadel (as wild units of a lair). It takes 5 minutes to recharge the ability. Initially, even if armed with Númenórean armoury, the guards' appearance is wilder than the one of common noble guards and it is characterised by a corrupted/marred element; then, once Wizard's Tower is purchased, they will acquire a new mightier armour (increasing their attack and defence) and their wooden spears will change shape to mirror Orthanc (as it's shown in the picture).
A bit of lore (a possible interpretation): Only Saruman knows the true origin of his guards, while common knowledge relies on forgotten tales, which either tell of their past noble ancestry (due to their mysterious armour) or of their wild background (given their feared cruelty).
(http://i.imgur.com/zy0qk8p.jpg)
Saruman is accounted in the lore to dispose of human guards, whose duty is exactly the patrolling of the very ring of walls of Isengard and the defence of Orthanc itself. Gandalf encounters the guards directly and informs us of their existence during the Council of Elrond, while reminiscing the treason of Saruman. The Grey Pilgrim is captured and held captive by those very sentinels.
‘Late one evening I came to the gate, like a great arch in the wall of rock; and it was strongly guarded. But the keepers of the gate were on the watch for me and told me that Saruman awaited me. I rode under the arch, and the gate closed silently behind me, and suddenly I was afraid, though I knew no reason for it.
J.R.R. Tolkien - The Fellowship of the Ring: The Council of Elrond
‘They took me and they set me alone on the pinnacle of Orthanc, in the place where Saruman was accustomed to watch the stars.
J.R.R. Tolkien - The Fellowship of the Ring: The Council of Elrond
As inferred in the following contributions, the human servants at Saruman's disposal might be related to the Númenóreans that had established the fortress in the Second Age or to people nonetheless coming from Gondor. Saruman was always held in high consideration by both Elves and Men, of whom the latter were fascinated by the Istar's wide-ranging knowledge and industrious attitude (and we know that the White Wizard is well acquainted with arcane arts). Given his very authoritative profile and the fact that he had chosen to lead the White Council as the chief of the Wise, with the task to defend the Free People from the awakening shadows, it's legitimate to speculate that some Númenóreans may have remained there to serve him; once Saruman took residence in a stable place, the presence of those said guards would symbolise power and authority indeed.
The implementation of such feature will undoubtedly serve as a clever addition to Isengard's differentiation, alongside feeding from absolutely canonical elements. What ought to be provided yet are some indications concerning the graphical appearance of the guards. Regardless of that, I deem the proposal quite complete and thus worthy of being presented as the main suggestion of the thread. May I thank Fredius and The Witch-King of Angmar, in particular, for their precious insights that seem to have permitted the concept to skyrocket towards the just compromise ;)
FOR
Lord of Mordor (in favour of the general idea of Orthanc Guards)
DieWalküre
Fredius
Odysseus
OakenShield22
The Witch-King of Angmar
Melkor Bauglir
Julio229
DrHouse93
Gandalf7000
Garlodur
Eomer der Verbannte
Firímar
lordoflinks
makis89
40Fixxer
Slawek56703
The_Necromancer0
-DJANGO-
Mr.Todd
AmosVogel
Fine
Ectheldir
lord_ellessar
Beautiful Darkness
FilipGeorg95
ljosdos
AulëTheSmith
NoldorSithLordsShipwrigh t
dkbluewizard
Canis carcharothias
Fürst der Nazgûl
AGAINST
Heya :P. According to the lore in Isengard, Saruman kept human body guards in Orthanc (As he didn't like the company of orcs & uruks).
They could be a defensive spear unit and they'd be limited to 2-3. In-order to be able to buy them, you must first construct the wizards tower, and buy Saruman. Their balance is generally the same as tower guards .
Their ability set would look like this: Guardians of Orthanc (Level1) Description: When the Guards of Orthanc are near your citadel, the citadel gains + 20% more armor,
Trusted Bodyguards(level 5). Description: As the guardians of Orthanc, their duty is not only to protect Orthanc, but Saruman as well. Whenever the guards are near Saruman, both them and saruman gain +50% armor and 25% damage.
Keepers of the key(Level 8). Description: Have the guards lock your citadel, causing it to be unable to do anything (No buying units; producing resources), But at the gain of the citadel being invulnerable for 1 minute.
They would be called 'Guardians of Orthanc'
and you'd recruit them from your citadel.
Some basic art work is for how they can look
:Yes it is from Third age total war.:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://totalwar.honga.net/images/medieval2/third_age/unit_info/france/orthanc_guard_info.png&imgrefurl=http://totalwar.honga.net/unit.php?v%3Dthird_age%26f2%3Disengard%26d%3DOrthanc_Guard%26encode%3Den&h=172&w=432&tbnid=YOYlZ35leYpDbM:&docid=veOEavmFBJXFmM&ei=-aBNVu6DCciGmQG50bHQDw&tbm=isch&ved=0CB0QMygAMABqFQoTCK7khqygnMkCFUhDJgoduWgM-g
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://media.paperblog.fr/i/345/3458421/third-age-total-war-passe-version-20-L-vw8852.jpeg&imgrefurl=http://w40krpg.superforum.fr/t711-croisades-guerre-et-paix-voire-recherche-de-l-anneau-unique&h=377&w=600&tbnid=HlLLqcoThMqaIM:&docid=XxDa1DPA2EBvRM&ei=-aBNVu6DCciGmQG50bHQDw&tbm=isch&ved=0CEoQMygjMCNqFQoTCK7khqygnMkCFUhDJgoduWgM-g
Edited by DieWalküre
As a German user pointed out, we still need to address graphical matters concerning the very appearance of the Guards of Orthanc. In the German forum, they proposed a Gondor-like resemblance (to symbolise Isengard's past as a stronghold of that Númenórean realm), to which the vessel of the White Hand might be added. I then suggested the look of the units be made a bit corrupted/marred (to show their allegiance to the evil cause and moral corruption equally).
So to continue on the matter of appearance of our little guards, I have a couple of suggestions for it. First of all, let's start with the resemblance with Gondor. Eventhough I agree that the units should have similarities with Gondor, we shouldn't forget that there is no 1 type of Gondorian Armor, especially in this mod. While the standard Gondorian soldiers have the armor which we see in the movies, the warriors from the Southern Fiefdoms all have different types of armor, with some not even resembling the standard Gondorian armor at all (at least in Edain mod). I can imagine that Isengard was no different from the Fiefdoms on this matter, so it should have at max a very small resemblance, but not more, to the Gondorian standard armor.
Now then, I was searching on Google Images for armor that, in my opinion, would fit the Guards of Orthanc very well. Sadly I couldn't find THE perfect image :P, however there are 2 that caught my attention. Firstly, we have the Guards of Orthanc from the Third Age Total War mod, which the maker of the thread already proposed. Here is the screenshot again just in case:
(http://www.honga.net/totalwar/images/medieval2/third_age/unit_info/france/orthanc_guard_info.png)
The helmet style resembles the Gondorian ones a little bit, but with that the similarities end, which is fine by me. If I were to choose a type of armor for the Guards, I would choose this one. However! Since Saruman didn't become corrupted in one day, I think the armor itself should become a little bit more wicked, to show that these men have become corrupted as well. Perhaps some rust stains here and there, or some pointy parts in the shoulder pads and helmet.
The second armor I would propose is a whole lot different from the first one:
(http://img02.deviantart.net/764a/i/2014/113/4/4/numenorean_armor_2_color_by_turnermohan-d7fmpus.jpg)
This was one of the results when I googled "numenorean armor". Ofcourse, there have to be made some changes here and there. For example, the golden influences on the armor should be removed, and the breast plate should have a white hand on it. The helmet could use a small Orthanc crest on top of it. Perhaps the cape can be removed as well.
What do you think?
I will let you lore-monsters decide on the matter if these guys should have Numenorean ancestry or not :P. On graphical matters; I love your design Witch-King, especially the helmet which resembles the form of the top of Orthanc (I think). Though that spear is a bit too "generic" for Middle-Earth, I would give it a different look ;). I will try to search for an image of a spear that complements your design.
Edit: While searching for different polearm designs, I came upon this:
(http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/nethack/images/2/2f/Forks.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20100706003852)
I was thinking on the fourth one from the left. I'd imagine that the guards would wear some kind of ceremonial spear, that slightly resembles the tower of Orthanc. I think it would complement the helmet you drew very well. What do you guys think?
thought about this as Orthanc guards ...
(http://media.moddb.com/images/groups/1/27/26742/orthanc_guard.PNG)
mmh i'll see what can be done...
i've seen what could be done
(http://media.moddb.com/images/groups/1/27/26742/spears.PNG)