Board Thread:General Mod Discussion/@comment-26088681-20171011203808/@comment-31382381-20171012172420

A few things to note: without spoiling to much, I shall give a bit of answers to the detailed complaints about Shadow of War as explained in the game. The explanations by no means satisfy the wrong that they may do to the lore, but they may help clear things up a bit.

Baranor, the black guy, is Haradrim. Sent as part of a peace offering from one of the Haradrim factions. He lost contact with his fellow countrymen and thereafter built a life of his own in Minas Ithil.

Tar-Goroth, the Balrog, is NOT in Sauron's army. He is a Maiar awakened when Celebrimbor and Talion forge their new Ring of Power and doesn't do much to affect the game. Nothing like attacking Minas Ithil.

Shelob is NOT a human. She is a child of Ungoliant, who, as the lore says, was a Maiar who chose to take the form of a spider. Shadow of War essentially suggests that Ungoliant, and thereby Shelob, could shapeshift, choosing which form they could appear in.

Of dragons in Sauron's army. They're called drakes. Shadow of War's idea here is that these drakes were the fell beasts of lore. I know they look nothing like them, but that's the idea.

Of the three unique Ringwraiths. Here, Shadow of War took very creative liberties in interpreting the lore. Things like Isildir's body never being found, or Helm Hammerhand's spirit said to be roaming the Dike and killing men with fear. Suliman is pretty okay, and the other two aren't at loggerheads with the lore, but yes, this was not really well done in my opinion. They could have done the last Gondorian king the one who disappeared when he answered the Witch King's call to single combat in Minas Morgul.

When it comes to Shadow of War/Mordor, don't play/not play it just because you think it's compatible/not compatible with the lore. Play it for what it is--a game. In my opinion, the creators did a great job with the animations, graphics and nemesis system. Just remember that it's not lore-friendly, but have a blast playing it all the same.

Just my thoughts.