THE HEROES OF GONDOR

No matter how mighty or numerous an army may be, its true worth can only be measured by how well its leaders can inspire their troops on to glory. Let us now look closely at the Heroes of Gondor.

ISILDUR AND ELENDIL

Isildur

At the time of the Last Alliance, Elendil and his eldest son Isildur were mighty leaders of Men. Brave and fierce in battle, few could stand before them. Just be careful to remember that Isildur is vulnerable to magical attacks, having but a single point of Will. Elendil, on the other hand, is more likely to suffer harm as he has only the one Fate point.

Elendil

Elendil carries Narsil, a mighty blade that allows him to call a heroic combat every turn allowing him to potentially fight in two combats. Of course, you only get to fight a second time if you kill all your foes in the first battle, so don't bite off more than you can chew. It is far better to engage just one or two Orcs and have a good chance of a bonus combat than to engage more and miss out on a second chance, you'll dispatch more foes in the long run! Be aware also that any spearmen supporting Elendil will not be eligible to join in with the second combat, so wherever possible get them to fight alongside him instead, this way they will be able to move on to the bonus combat as well.

DENETHOR

Denethor

By the end of the Third Age, the line of kings has been lost and custodianship of the nation has fallen to the troubled mind of the Steward, Denethor. While still capable of wielding a sword like a true leader of Men, the strain of many years can lead him to attack warriors on his own side occasionally! Denethor's low points cost makes him a good value for money addition to your force, especially for his high Courage which will keep your troops fighting until the end. You may wish to assign a couple of bodyguards chosen from the Guard of the Fountain Court. If Denethor does suffer a bout of madness they can use the shielding ability to protect themselves and others from harm. With their high Defence they should be safe from his attacks should they get through, plus the rest of the time they can concentrate on their usual task of defending the Steward.

Boromir

BOROMIR OF GONDOR

The mightiest warrior of The Fellowship of The Ring, Boromir of Gondor is capable of causing devastation to the foes of the White City. With an incredible 6 points of Might in addition to his phenomenal combat skills, Boromir can dominate an area of the battlefield. The Horn of Gondor means that Boromir actually benefits most from charging multiple enemies at once, a suitably heroic deed for the son of the Steward!

The lack of Fate points makes Boromir quite vulnerable in drawn out combats. While his store of Might allows him to turn many losses into victories, they will not last forever. Neither can they protect him from missile attacks, a fact that became all too clear at Amon Hen. Your opponent will be rightly fearful of Boromir's close combat skills; they will try to shoot him from a distance when they can. Prepare for this and make sure that there are always a couple of warriors assigned to screen Boromir from the enemy archers.

FARAMIR

Faramir

Faramir, the younger son of the Steward, can fulfil one of two distinct roles on the battlefield. Leading the Rangers, he can employ his skill with the bow to harass the enemy from a distance. Alternatively he can lead a charge of the Knights. With the option of heavy armour and a lance, Faramir can lend his skills to ensure the hammer blow of the Knights' charge is driven home deeper still.

Aragorn

ARAGORN, THE KING ELESSAR

There is little that needs to be said about Aragorn that you do not already know. His skills are incomparable, his ascension to the throne of Gondor as its returning king being the turning point of the fortunes of the besieged nation. Now with the added protection of his royal heavy armour, Aragorn is deadlier than ever. He also carries with him Anduril, the reforged sword of his ancestors. Wounding on a 4+, this Sword of Kings means that even the hulking form of a Mordor Troll can be cut down as easily as an Orc. As befits a true hero, you now have no excuse not to seek out the toughest enemies on the board.

TACTICS OF THE WHITE CITY

Now that you have a full understanding of the forces available to you, let us take a look at some advanced tactical formations suitable for the Gondor army.

THE SHIELD WALL

The prime defensive formation of Gondor troops since the time of the Last Alliance has been the shield wall. The initial deployment of the troops should be in two wide ranks, the rear of these being armed with spears. Any enemy troops attempting to assault the front of the formation will then face the prospect of facing well-supported troops that cannot be individually outflanked.

Your opponent will attempt to move some troops around to the ends and rear of the line; if they can attack your supporting spearmen then they remove your advantage and can trap your warriors. To prevent this, as the enemy begin their flanking manoeuvre, simply curve the ends of your formation backwards so that the line becomes a curve. If need be, this can be continued until the ends of the line meet to form a hollow circle of two ranks. This schiltron will have equal protection from all sides and, with space inside for your troops to be pushed back into, the integrity of the shield wall can be maintained without the inner troops trapping the front rank.

THE SPEARHEAD

When it is your turn to go on the offensive, an effective method of breaking through the opposing lines is to form your troops into a wedge shape. This traditional attack pattern can easily push its way through a group of enemy troops. Form up into a triangular formation like that of a spearhead. Choose your most powerful Hero to form the point of the spear, and have an inner core of spearmen to maximise the number of Attack dice you can roll in combat.

This works best against an unprepared force that is still fairly spread out. Arrange your troops and launch them into the heart of the enemy. This should serve you well for scenarios that require you to 'break through' to the opponent's side of the board.

The Knights of Minas Tirith support warriors on foot in a coordinated attack.

COMBINED WEAPON TACTICS

A note of caution should be urged as regards your cavalry. When fielding a hard-hitting, fast-moving unit like the elite Knights of Minas Tirith it is tempting to send them charging off towards the enemy at the start of the game. You must restrain this impulse – your unsupported cavalry may well have a very impressive kill ratio on the charge, but in the following turn your riders can be outnumbered and overwhelmed by the rest of the enemy troops.
Keep your cavalry to the flanks of your army and push your infantry steadily forward. Do not let any units become isolated; they will be pounced upon by your opponent. While the cavalry with their lances prevent your flanks being attacked by enemy Warg Riders, your infantry can form a solid battle line. When this line reaches the opposing force, your fast-moving Knights can swing around the flanks and hit the enemy hard from the rear. Trapped between both elements of your army there will be few that will escape to threaten the safety of Gondor.

And so as the end of the Third Age draws nigh, the fate of the world rests with the nation of Gondor. During the darkest hour of the darkest day, it is time for the return of the King Elessar to lead Gondor in its struggle against Sauron. So gather your forces, form your battle lines and prepare yourself for the greatest battle of the Age!

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