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Haradrim & Easterling Suggestions

Started by Arcadian, Sep 05 2019 12:17 PM

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#1 Arcadian

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15 posts

Posted 05 September 2019 - 12:17 PM

Hi, I'm ThaneWulfgharn from moddb (I have a different name on Revora). Finally I found some time to post my suggestions about the Evil Men both in the Mordor faction, as well as in the new Haradwaith faction on this forum (as suggested by Mathjis in order for them not to be lost among comments.

I know that currently you are in the Greenwood update featuring Elves and Dol Guldur, so I think that when you finally move to the Evil Men you will also review some of your previous works&plans.

1st, I posted links to three Art books with both used and unused art from the LotR film series:

Fellowship of the Ring
https://www.youtube....h?v=VVOex3l-5cE

Two Towers:

https://www.youtube....h?v=J13nroB7onI

Return of the King:

https://www.youtube....h?v=9to2zRqFxyA

I also wrote:

The 2nd(Two Towers) has some very interesting Easterling concepts while the 3rd(RotK) tribal Haradrims. I have the art for Easterlings more detailed, found in some websites, I can send you if interested.

Finally, if I may, I'd like to suggest Oliphaunt Ivory/Bone lamellar armor for Haradrims as "Heavy Armor Upgrade" to the wicker one. It would make much more sense since Tolkien mentions that Haradrim culture was centered around Oliphaunts. Keep the brass armors&scales; only for the top-tier troops. There are some real Bone/Ivory armors and helmets:
66.media.tumblr.com
I.pinimg.com
I.pinimg.com
I.pinimg.com
I.pinimg.com

Finally, I also made a suggestion for the Easterlings in the Mordor faction:

To continue my suggestion from last night, I compiled some artwork for the Easterlings (Mordor faction) I know that it might mean to remake some models, but I think it's going to be a worthy tribute including such amazing artwork that unfortunately never made it to the films. Some of the units such as Easterling Archers and Swordsmen are already featured in these types of artwork. Some others were so much different from the current easterling design I thought to consider them as Variags of Khand. Another reason I suggest that design for Variags is that Variags are the weakest, level 1 units from the Easterling Encampment, so they need lower-tier armors. I also included an early, weak cavalry unit (Khand Cavalry) as possible suggestion, while I think that Kataphracts are ok as they are, even though a not-so-bad suggestion is to arm the rider with the Squad Captain armors.

Variags of Khand - the word Variag means Mercenary People that's why I put them with many variations and no Heavy Armor Upgrade. Furthermore, for Khand I chose the more Arabic and Persian looking art since Khand actually borders Harad not Rhun. In the pic, I also wrote a few more suggestions:
I.ibb.co

Variag Cavalry / Khand Cavalry:
I.ibb.co

Easterling Archers:
I.ibb.co

Easterling Phalanx:
Ibb.co

Easterling Swordsmen:
I.ibb.co

Squad Captain for all Easterling Infantry Squads(Including Variags since they're mercenaries, they have Rhun captains leading their Squad). It is also a good idea for Kataphract rider if you want to change:
I.ibb.co

Edited by Arcadian, 05 September 2019 - 02:05 PM.

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#2 Arcadian

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15 posts

Posted 05 September 2019 - 02:45 PM

One final note I wanted to post also some possible concept art for the Black Numenoreans:

Image A) https://i.pinimg.com...4329cd084cf.jpg

Image B) https://pm1.narvii.c...eaa977v2_hq.jpg

Image C) https://i.pinimg.com...2265ba72a8f.jpg

In image A we see two versions of the Black Numenoreans: one is masked and has a Haradrim-style spear and the second is more similar to the Fountain Guards. I'd suggest this first one be used as an inspiration for the Golden King's Guards (The Golden King is always accompanied by 3 guards in your faction plan), given their masks and Haradrim-style spears. Of course, I expect their clothing to be Haradrim. Another possibility for the Masked Spearmen is to make them the Watchers of Karna (this way you can even preserve their original clothing style as they are an unique culture.

As far as I'm concerned of the actual Black Numenorean units, I'd suggest the following. Basic Black Numenoreans(Warriors and Vanguards) look like B. Helmet similar to Arnor and mordor-styled armor. Heavy Armor upgrade gives them helms in fountian-guard style and for Warriors and helm like Image C for Vanguards (Image C looks like a cataphract/heavy cavalry helm). As for body armor, only the torso piece becomes golden like in Image A, all the others (pauldrons, armguards, leg guards) remain like in image B.

P.S. The Black Numenoreans still cover their faces when they are armed with the Fountain Guard-styled helms (Just like the Fountain Guards).

The idea behind this is simple:

Sauron, in fact, called himself Tar-Mairon, meaning King Mairon(Excellent, Admirable) while the name Sauron was used by the Free peoples and meant "Abominable". The Orcs were mere instruments of war and desctruction, a slaves of his aspect of Gorthaur (Terrible Dread), which is also the form we see in the Fellowship prologue. However, he did not corrupt the men of Numenor in this form: instead he used his excellent, bright and glorious form, Mairon/Annatar to induce them into arrogance. Thus I imagined their equipment should also reflect this aspect of Sauron (with which he corrupted them), to put in Milton's words, "Dark with excessive bright".

Furthermore, the seeds for the Downfall of Numenor lie in the fact that Numenoreans feared death(therefore oblivion). According to Gandalf, even the line of the kings of gondor started to fall when they made tombs to remember the dead greater and more magnificent than houses. This obsession to be remembered at all costs is reflected in their armor style: part Mordor part Gondor/Arnor/Numenor. The Black Numenoreans are soldiers of Mordor now, but they cannot let go of their past. Especially their helmets always reflect this(head is somehow connected to pride given idioms in english language) . In Image B, their body armor is completely Mordor-ish, only their helmet reflects their culture. The Heavy Armor upgrade I suggested, except for changing helmets, also reflects the culture of pride, arrogance and remembrance by changing the torso breastplate.

EDIT:
I think that some of the Nazgul names have been revealed in the book lore. Most likely the Nazgul are those kings which brought their human kingdoms under the service of Sauron: Harad, Khand, Rhun, Umbar etc. and they were seduced by promises of power, and gifted 9 rings. We also know that three were Numenoreans while Khamul was an Easterling. I have a theory about some of the names and origins, together with film art we can relate them with:

1. Witch-King of Angmar, one of the Numenoreans.

2. Herumor, another Numenorean, one of those who subjugated Haradwaith.

3. Fuinur, third Numenorean, one of those who subjugated Haradwaith.

4. Castamir the Usurper, who brought discord and strife in Gondor. Founder of the Haven of Umbar.

5. Aldor, King of Rohan who fought and subdued the Dunlendings (thus making them enemies of Rohan). He was known for his unusual long life.

6. Khamul the Easterling. From the Hobbit costume, possibly a Wainrider.

7. Possibly an Easterling from the tribe of Balchoth.

8. One ringwraith from the land of Khand.

9. One, possibly a Hill-man from Rhudahur.

The Witch-King (already know this one):

https://i.redd.it/8j5bjuc2rux01.jpg

From left to right: Khamul(mace doesn't really fit), the Balchoth, and the one from Khand(Axe-wielding)