Balchoth

Balchoth

TA 2489 - TA 2758

The Balchoth were an Easterling confederation possibly related to the Wainriders.  Balchoth is a word mixing Westron balc (horrible) and Sindarin hoth (horde) and was used in Gondor to refer to a variety of disliked peoples, including Orcs.  Their weapons were crude; they had few cavalry, using their horses mostly as draft animals pulling wains or wagons.  They migrated westward into the relatively empty lands between Mirkwood and the River Running, north of Mordor and east of Gondor, and used that base to raid Rhovanion.

They attacked Gondor in TA 2510, overrunning the Plains of Calenardhon and almost destroying the army of Gondor under Cirion, until defeated by the Eotheod at the Field of Celebrant.  The Balchoth renewed their attacks against Rohan in TA 2545, and again in TA 2758, after which their confederation is no longer known.

Invasion Rating: 4

Maneuver Rating: 0

Home Topography: Arable

General's Troop Type: Knights or Battle Taxi or Javelin Cavalry.  General should have the battle cards Deadly and Armored.

Army Battle Cards

Fortified Camp (wagon laager)

Troop Options

Required Troops

Troop Types Min Max Battle Line Restrictions Battle Cards

Knight 0 1 Armored (+1/2)

Heavy 4-horse chariots with outriders armed with lances

Battle Taxi 1 2

High-status warriors

Javelin Cavalry or Bad Horse  0 2

Balchoth cavalry

Heavy Foot or Light Foot 4 12 all

Foot with axes, swords, or spears, fighting in close order or open order

Bow Levy 2 8 all optionally Ranged Attack (+1)

Infantry bowmen

Horde 2 12 all

Poorly equipped infantry and wagons

Optional Contingents

No optional contingents available.