Mordor Revived

Mordor Revived

TA 1980 - TA 3019

This list represents forces of Sauron in Mordor in the Third Age after his recovery from his devastating defeat at the end of the Second Age.  As Sauron recovered strength, Gondor weakened.  The Kinstrife (TA 1432 - TA 1447) and Great Plague (reaching Gondor in TA 1636) reduced the garrisons on Mordor, and the Wainrider invasions from TA 1856 through TA 1944 reduced Gondor’s ability to watch over Mordor still further.  The Witch-King of Angmar reentered Mordor in TA 1980 to prepare the way for Sauron.  After building strength for 20 years he attacked Minas Ithil (which was only populated by a garrison at this point, all residents having left long since) and took it after a two-year siege.  In 2063 the White Council drove Sauron out of Dol Guldur (they thought) and he went to the East.  The period from 2063 through TA 2460 was called the Watchful Peace.  Mordor remained quiet, resuming activity when Orodruin once more belched fire upon the return of Sauron in TA 2461.

The majority of Mordor's forces in all cases were goblins (orcs): Tolkein uses the terms “goblins” and “orcs” interchangeably, with “uruks” or “uruk-hai” as a term for larger, near man-sized members of the same race.   Commanders could be Nazgul, or Orcs, or Black Numenoreans, or other vassal Men, but the guiding spirit is Sauron’s.

Invasion Rating: 0  (TA 1980 - TA 1999, and during the Watchful Peace TA 2063 - TA 2460)

1  (TA 2000 - TA 2062, and TA 2461 - TA 2950)

3 (TA 2951 - TA 3019)

Maneuver Rating: 3

Home Topography: Dry

General's Troop Type: Knight or Elite Foot.  General should have the battle cards Deadly and Armored.  Nazgul may have the battle card Terror instead of Deadly.

Army Battle Cards

Fortified Camp

Troop Options

Required Troops

Troop Types Min Max Battle Line Restrictions Battle Cards

Knight 0 1 all

Nazgul, or the Mouth of Sauron, and mounted guards

Elite Foot 1 2 all

Uruks

Javelin Cavalry 0 1 Woodland Creature (+1/2), Fierce (-1/2), Slow (-1/2)

Goblin wolf-riders and riderless wargs called "Hounds of Sauron"

Archer or Skirmisher 0 2 Archers

Elite bow-armed goblins with mail and spear, or veteran goblin skirmishers

Bow Levy 2 4 (only Bow Levy) optionally Ranged Attack (+1)

Goblin bow in formed units

Warband or Warrior 2 8 all

Large goblins with shield, mail or mixed armor, and spear or sword

Rabble 4 8

Goblin infantry

Horde 0 6 all

Goblin foot formed in close-order units, often unwilling and mustered with whips

Behemoth 0 1 all

Trolls

Elite Cavalry or Javelin Cavalry or Archers or Spear

0 1 all

Southron or Haradrim Mercenaries

Artillery 0 1 all

Catapults and bolt shooters