Extending the Mordor List with Missing Profiles [Part 9/13]

The next Army List to be extended is Mordor. Recall from Part 2/12 that the set of missing profiles for the Mordor Army List included the following:

• Guritz
• Great Beast of Gorgoroth
• Black-Hearted Trees
• Shagrat, Warleader of Cirith Ungol
• Gollum the Murderer

Each of the SBG profiles were considered carefully and determined the best means by which they would be integrated into the WotR list. It was finally decided that there would be 2 new rare formations, 2 new epic heroes and an updated epic hero from the list above. Also, to "tie up loose ends" there are also updates for the Orc Tracker Warband, the Mordor Battering Ram and The Necromancer of Dol Guldur.

UPDATED COMMON FORMATIONS FOR MORDOR

1. Orc Tracker Warband

The Orc Tracker Warband did not have any of the options for upgrading their command company. Since there is nothing particularly distinct about them as a formation, they should have the option to include the standard set of upgrades:

• Banner
• Drummer
• Taskmaster

They still do not have a distinct Command Hero in the form of a Captain, but that should be ok since there are plenty of Epic Heroes within Mordor to choose from. The cost of the three upgrades follows the standard cost for them:

UPDATED RARE FORMATIONS FOR MORDOR

1. Mordor Battering Ram

As for the Mordor Battering Ram ... We never really knew how to treat this model ... Is it an Infantry model with 4 warriors? If so, shouldn't it have the special rule Indomitable? Or is it an Artillery Warmachine model? But then it would have 0" move and would be rather un-useful...

We finally decided to leave it a Monster and thus let it be treaded just like a Troll. So we adjusted the Move Value down, and gave it a unique ability to be more effective against Artillery (so now it has an actual purpose within an army instead of just a "light troll"), with the Disarmament Special Rule. Likewise, since it is literally a Monster profile, now - we gave it the Striking Order (Monster) Special Rule - now this is actually a more useful model to include with an Army of Mordor!

NEW RARE FORMATIONS FOR MORDOR

1. Great Beast of Gorgoroth
2. Black-hearted Trees

1) GREAT BEAST OF GORGOROTH

Up to this point, the only behemoth WarMachine has been the Mumak in the Fallen Realms Army List. Recall that we made quite a few changes to its profile wording and description in THIS POST.

It makes sense that the Great Beast follow the model of the Mumak, however we wanted it to be a more predicable model and not have the random element that the Mumak possesses.

I'm actually quite pleased with the way that this profile turned out ... I'm anxious to see it in action and watch it yield the destruction that it warrants!

2) BLACK-HEARTED TREES

These are the "fallen Ents" that have turned to support the dark plans of Sauron. This profile provides a fun new way for the Evil Armies to get in on the tree war. They have been created as Infantry (in lieu of being Monsters - since Mordor already has enough Monsters already). Ooh ... should I create a Mordor Ambusher Army?? Shelob, Grishnakh's Trackers, Orc Trackers, Morgul Stalkers, and Black-hearted Trees?? Yes, I should!

UPDATED LEGENDARY FORMATIONS FOR MORDOR

1. The Necromancer of Dol Guldur

The Necromancer is a model that I was surprised not to have seen more of in games. For the Vanilla Cost of 300 Points, he was a total steal! I think it was the broken mechanic of the Hard to Kill Special Rule that was initially prohibitive ... Remember that we fixed that problem in THIS POST. So, to make him more worthy of being the Dark Lord we have upgraded his Hard to Kill to be Very Hard to Kill. He has the Epic Ability of Epic Ruination right out of the gate, as well ... we decided to give him the option of upgrading to include 2 additional Epic Abilities that will effect spell efficiency, as well:

• Epic Distress
• Epic Shadow

There will be a post very soon that will be dedicated strictly to these new upgrades (and additionally Epic Direction and Epic Naturalization).

I think that the Necromancer wins the award for the longest profile, too ... 4 pages long! That alone should show you how awesome he really is!

UPDATED EPIC HEROES FOR MORDOR

1. Gollum the Murderer

The existing profile for Gollum is a little lack-luster. Also, once Gandalf, Aragorn or Elrond were included within the opposing Army ... he was pretty much a sitting duck. He has been given the new Special Rule Instill Terror and has had his Strangling Horror Special Rule updated. Also, he has a new Epic Ability: Epic Debilitation - this will allow him to have more impact on the opposing army and will put the precious heroes of Gandalf, Aragorn, and Elrond in harm's way to attempt to "discover" him.

NEW EPIC HEROES FOR MORDOR

1. Guritz
2. Shagrat, Warleader of Cirith Ungol

1) GURITZ

This Epic Hero is the anti-Gondor master! Just as he shows up on the pillage of Osgiliath in the films, he can wreck havoc on destroying the new Faramir profile and his precious little veterans! He fills the gap of Inspiring Leader for Mordor and provides some additional flair with his other Special Rules and Epic Abilities.

2) SHAGRAT, WARLEADER OF CIRITH UNGOL

It has always bothered me that Legendary Heroes (those heroes that are included within their Legendary Formations) could never leave the Legendary formation to aid support to other formations in the Army. I guess that's why the Epic Heroes are so much more expensive - their ability to jump around the battlefield to provide the support where they are most needed. Now Shagrat can do that, too! He provides an amazing Defense Value boost to even the most feeble of Orc Warriors ... this can make him useful in that right alone!

Well, there we have it for Mordor! Any thoughts? I know I still need to get the Status Update for Evil together and posted ... but just to pique your curiosity, yes - Mordor is also 100% complete and just needs to be put up on the Download Page!!

LINKS TO OTHER PARTS OF THE SBG TO WOTR CONVERSION SERIES

1. Describing the Process [Part 1/13]
2. Creating the Full List of Needed Profiles and Assigning WotR Armies [Part 2/13]
1. Status Update for Progress on Profile Creation and Army List Document Writing - Good Armies [Part 2a/13]
2. Status Update for Progress on Profile Creation and Army List Document Writing - Evil Armies [Part 2b/13]
3. Extending the Gondor & Arnor List [Part 3/13]
4. Extending The Kingdom of Rohan List [Part 4/13]
5. Extending The Elven Kingdoms List [Part 5/13]
6. Extending The Dwarf Holds List [Part 6/13]
1. Sneak Peak at the Profiles for Thorin [Part 6a/13]
2. Common Formations [Part 6b/13]
3. Legendary Formations [Part 6c/13]
4. Epic Heroes [Part 6d/13]
7. Creating The City of Dale List [Part 7/13]
8. Extending The Forgotten Kingdoms List [Part 8/13]
9. Extending the Mordor List [Part 9/13]
10. Extending The Fortress of Isengard List [Part 10/13]
11. Extending The Misty Mountains (Moria) List [Part 11/13]
12. Extending The Fallen Realms List [Part 12/13]
13. Extending the Angmar List [Part 13/13]
1. Common and Rare Formations [Part 13a/13]
2. Legendary Formations [Part 13b/13]
3. Epic Heroes [Part 13c/13]