TA 2951 - TA 3019
In TA 2759 the White Wizard, Saruman, was given the position of Warden of the Tower of Orthanc by the Steward of Gondor. The appointment was approved by Rohan. In secret Saruman found the Palantir of Orthanc and began to use it.
By TA 2951 Sauron returned to Mordor and declared himself openly; he ensnared Saruman through the Palantir of Minas Ithil and Saruman’s suspicion of Gandalf and desire for the One Ring. Saruman fortified Isengard, recruited Orcs of the Misty Mountains, and allied himself with the Dunlendings. He began breeding his own Uruk-hai and half-orcs.
Invasion Rating: 1
Maneuver Rating: 3
Home Topography: Arable
General's Troop Type: Elite Foot or Pike. General should have the battle cards Deadly and Armored.
Army Battle Cards
Fortified Camp
Ambush
Required Troops
Troop Types Min Max Battle Line Restrictions Battle Cards
Elite Foot 1 2 all Supportable
Men and half-orc axemen
Raider or Shooter 1 2 all Supportable
Uruks of the White Hand with melee or missile weapons
Light Spear or Pike 4 12 all
Orc spear or pike
Javelin Cavalry 1 3 Woodland Creature (+1/2), Fierce (-1/2), Slow (-1/2)
Orc warg-riders
Bow Levy 0 4 all Supporting Bowmen, optionally Ranged Attack (+1)
Orc bowmen
Skirmisher 0 2
Orc skirmishing bow
Rabble 2 8
Orcs and goblins fighting in their normal style
Behemoth 0 1 all
Trolls
Optional Contingents
Option 1: Dunlendings
Troop Types Min Max Battle Line Restrictions Battle Cards
Bad Horse 0 1
Dunlending nobles
Light Foot 2 4
Dunlending tribesmen
Rabble 1 2
Dunlending youths and unshielded javelinmen
Ally Troop Options
Option 1: Dunlendings
Troop Types Min Max Battle Line Restrictions Battle Cards
Javelin Cavalry 0 1 Mid-battle Dismounting (as Light Foot)
Dunlending horsemen
Light Foot 2 5
Dunlending infantry
Light Spear 0 2
Dunlending infantry with long spears
Option 2: Independent Misty Mountain Goblins
Troop Types Min Max Battle Line Restrictions Battle Cards
Raider 0 1
Guards
Javelin Cavalry 0 1 Woodland Creature (+1/2), Fierce (-1/2), Slow (-1/2)
Wargs and Wolf-riders
Bow Levy 0 1 optionally Ranged Attack (+1)
Formed units of goblin bow
Light Foot 0 2 all
Large goblins, nearly the size of a man, with shield and spear or sword
Rabble 3 5
Option 3: Dol Guldur
This ally is speculative; it does not appear in the LOTR source material. It is entirely reasonable, however, based upon the coordination of orcs under Saruman and those under Sauron (likely from Dol Guldur) at the Falls of Rauros and (by implication) earlier in the search for the Fellowship along the Anduin river.
Troop Types Min Max Battle Line Restrictions Battle Cards
Raider 0 1 Supportable
Uruk Guards
Javelin Cavalry 0 1 Woodland Creature (+1/2), Fierce (-1/2), Slow (-1/2)
Goblin wolf-riders and riderless wargs called "Hounds of Sauron"
Bow Levy 0 1 optionally Ranged Attack (+1)
Formed units of goblin bow
Warband or Warrior 1 3 all
Large goblins with shield, mail or mixed armor, and spear or sword
Rabble 1 5
Goblin infantry
Enemies
Rohan
Wilderland Goblins
Dol Guldur
Lothlorien and Gondor are reasonable foes, even though Saruman was defeated by Rohan before he could engage either of them.