Board Thread:Suggestions forum/@comment-25981649-20170502105005



While not technically canon- and not specified by Tolkien, I believe that Mercenaries would be a worthwile addition to Middle-earth, and here's why:



There are currently no lawless units which would attack any faction purely at command - and I find that a bit annoying- especially if I want to roleplay as a bandit leader- or something of the like, and also because it’s hard to believe that all hireable troops care more about your status than your money.

So- onto the suggestion:

FACTIONS

While this slightly contradicts my prievous statement- only some ‘Factions’ would have hireable troops- being Gundabad, Isengard, Easterlings & Gondor. (and Umbar once added, of course) They would NEVER attack their home factions- except for the Gondor Mercenaries, which will be mentioned later. They will not attack anyone on instinct, and would only attack those targeted with a sword of command.

NPCS:

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Goblin Mercenary

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">They would wield an assortment of any items that are likely to be found in the angle- They’d have around the same health as a Hobbit, (varying from 13-15 health), have the same height as a Hobbit (with a large nose and a crooked back) and would wield random generic armor / fur armor (30%), bone (10%), none (20%), Mordor and Angmar armor (10%), Ranger armor (5%), Looted Dwarven (20%) and very rarely Dwarven (5%)- NEVER Gundabad Uruk.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">As for weapons, the same loot apply, except they would commonly wield the ‘skirmish items’ listed below and have a rare chance to also wield Elven daggers. Sometimes they might even spawn with no weapons at all.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">They would never skirmish, and have a chance to flee when alot of hired units die in their vicinity- they will not be unhired however, and would run back in after a couple of seconds.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">They would require a Gundabad Alignment of 0, and would cost 10 silver coins. (It would never change in price because of Alignment) They would be hired by Goblin-band Captains

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Goblin Mercenary Scout

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Self-explanatory, they would have very slightly less health than a Goblin Mercenary, require a Gundabad Alignment of 0, and would cost 20 silver coins. They would wield all sorts of ranged weapons- spears, throwing axes, crossbows and bows

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">They would have a slower firing speed than other units- due to proficiency, would have a higher running speed, and would attack anyone near them with their bare fists, or, rarely bronze daggers.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">(It would never change in price because of Alignment)

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">They would be hired by Goblin Band-leaders

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Hobgoblin Mercenary

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The larger breed- they would be identical to the Goblin Mercenary- except larger- ranging from 15-17 health

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">They would require a Gundabad Alignment of 0, and would cost 17 silver coins. They would be hired by Goblin Band-leaders

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Hobgoblin Mercenary Archer

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Self-explanatory, they would require a Gundabad Alignment of 0, and would cost 36 silver coins. (It would never change in price because of Alignment) They would be hired by Goblin Band-leaders

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Ruffian

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">A sword-for-hire, they have more health than the Goblins, but are poorly equipped.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">They’d have 18-20 health, would wield pieces of fur (30%), bronze (20%), black / dark brown dyed leather (30%), no armor (10%) and very rarely (10%) uruk armor.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">For weapons, they would wield wooden weapons (10%), stone (20%) bronze (40%), iron (20%) and uruk (10%) weaponry.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">They would require a 0 Isengard Alignment, and would be hired from Ruffian Gang-leaders for a price of 25 silver. (It would never change in price because of Alignment)

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Ruffian Bowman

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Identical to the Ruffian, but they wield regular bows- and usually wear weaker armor.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">They would require a 0 Isengard Alignment, and would be hired from Ruffian Gang-leaders for a price of 35 silver. (It would never change in price because of Alignment)

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Ruffian Rider

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">A mounted Ruffian- very self-explanatory

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">They would require a 0 Isengard Alignment, and would be hired from Ruffian Gang-leaders for a price of 35 silver. (It would never change in price because of Alignment)

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Easterling Bandit

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">A scavenger from Rhun, they would have no varying health, and would always wear leather armor, bronze armor or pieces of Easterling armor, with a very rare chance to wield Golden Easterling equipment.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">They would require a 0 Rhun Alignment, and would be hired from Easterling Gang-leaders for a price of 25 silver. (It would never change in price because of Alignment)

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Easterling Reaver

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">A scavenger from Rhun, they would have no varying health, and would always wear bronze armor or regular Easterling armor, and would only ever yield bardiches or battleaxes.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">They would require a 0 Rhun Alignment, and would be hired from Easterling Gang-leaders for a price of 35 silver. (It would never change in price because of Alignment)

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Easterling Raider

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">A bombardier, they would wield very weak armor, usually leather or kaftans, and would be the equivalent to a regular Easterling Fire-thrower.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">They would require a 0 RHUN Alignment, and would be hired from Easterling Gang-leaders for a price of 40 silver. (It would never change in price because of Alignment)

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Gondor Rebel / Skirmisher

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">These can be hired even when you have negative Gondor, up until you reach -50 with Gondor- they would be able to attack their own factions.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">They wield similar equipment to Gondorian Levymen- and would cost a cool 20 silver to hire- from a Gondor Gang-leader.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">ITEMS:

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Skirmishing Items: <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Items weld most commonly by scavengers and skirmishers- they are the cheapest and definetly the most effective weapons for their price.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">-Stone Shank

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">A handy weapon for anyone in a pinch, it deals a solid 3.5 damage- has a 150% swing speed and 50% range. It is crafted by placing cobblestone next to a stick on a crafting table

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">-Broken Bottle

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">A neat- handy little way to create a makeshift weapon, it would always be used by Drunk NPCS when attacked. It deals 5 damage, has a 100% swing speed and 75% range. It is crafted by hitting a surface with a glass bottle.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">-Wooden Spear

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">Essentially a sharpened stick, it would deal 3.5 damage, have a 100% swing speed and 150% range. It would be crafted by placing 3 sticks ontop of another.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">-Cobblestone

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">While not neccesairly a new weapon, I found it kindof wierd that hitting someone with a rock did the same damage as punching them. Therefore I believe it should deal 2.5 damage instead of one.

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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Looted Dwarven Items: <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">An equipment set that is rarely wielded by Goblins or Gundabad Orcs- The armor is crafted using Dwarven Steel Ingots and Leather in the typical Rohirric fashion on a Gundabad crafting table, and gives 14 protection points. It has durability similair to current Dunlending Armor.

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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">The Looted Sword is crafted using Dwarven Steel Ingots on a Gundabad Crafting Table, and deals 7 damage, but has a much lower durability than a regular sword.



The Looted Dwarven Mattock is crafted using Dwarven Steel Ingots on a Gundabad Crafting Table, and deals 6 damage (1 more damage than a Dwarven Mattock), but has only 180 durability.

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