[Attn Pandemic] Critical analysis of the game 'THE LORD OF THE RINGS: CONQUEST'

--- Before I start with the analysis I have to say that everything that is presented here is based
on the material of the game that has been published to the date (screenshots, videos,
interviews, etc.). And contains the main views criticism by the vast majority of users who are
awaiting 'The Lord of the Rings: Conquest'. We expect to be taken into consideration, if not all,
the vast majority of what is presented here. Or if it is too late, these contents could be included
in a patch or expansion in the near future. ---

INTRODUCTION

Depending on who is to assess the game, his opinion will vary greatly. It can be a great fan of
Tolkien's work, or rather, one that has only seen the films and does not know anything more of
Middle-earth, and this game must attract and keep both types of users.

This game should be designed to be fun, not only for fans of the Lord of the Rings, but also for
people who might not be. In fact, not everyone who is interested in the game knows the
history of Middle-earth.

That is why the game should be in such a manner that is not necessary to know the history to
enjoy the game, namely that it can be fun and exciting if you know the story or not.

And here is where Pandemic has a big problem, because it has to please both kinds of users.
On the one hand they may have to sacrifice some elements that affect the historical accuracy
and add as many features that some fans of the trilogy rate of "serious errors", but on the
other side they must be faithful to history and movies without committing any inconsistency.

And how can Pandemic please everyone? Doing a very attractive game for all types of users,
but above all to be faithful to the story without bothering to any fan of Tolkien. For example,
according to the story was only 5 mages (the Istar), so that the units in the game that are going
to use magic to support the troops could be called Sorcerers instead of Mages, and thus would
not be a "problem".

But Pandemic has the final word, they can make a great game to recreate in an excellent way
the Middle-earth and make lots of money, or on the contrary, they can, with less effort, make
an "imperfect" game set in Middle-earth for conformist users and still make money. So while is
good that Pandemic try to create something original, they should to meet the "standards"
imposed by the films.

In conclusion, one might say that the key to the success of this game lies in its approach as
much as possible to what almost everyone interested in this game knows: Peter Jackson's
films. You only have to see the bad games, that even if they are based in Middle-earth, have
nothing to do with the films, such as: 'The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring' o ' The Lord of
the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring '. So if Pandemic has the rights of the films, let's hope
that 'The Lord of the Rings: Conquest' would not be an exception to the good games
developed by EA based on the Lord of the Rings franchise.

The following items will be sorted by different aspects in which, in the opinion of the majority
of users, Pandemic should get to work and thus be able to keep the maximum number of
users, since there is still some time for its launch, some Improvements could be made.

INCONSISTENCIES WITH THE MOVIES

Gandalf always fight with his staff and Glamdring simultaneously: in his left hand carries the
staff and the right carries a sword. In addition, his sword is a one-handed sword, so it is saved
on the left side of his belt, never in the back {See capture}. We should also mention that the
original Gandalf is Gandalf the gray, so in some maps should be the gray and the white in
others, depending on whether it has already been transformed.

Some units and heroes have more than one weapon, and they change from one to another
depending on the situation, but always wear fitted their default weapon, i.e., which have more
skill. In the case of Faramir his default weapon is the bow, because it is an excellent archer
before swordsman {See capture}.

When the Witch King goes to war, he equips his mask and his mace. So the Witch King must
bring in his left hand the mace, and in his right hand the sword's steel Morgul {See capture}.

Each unit depending on their faction takes a type of weapon or another and each race should
have their own specific weapons, but, most importantly, the weapons should be the same as in
the movies. More attention should be paid to the weapons of heroes, because most of them
carried a weapon with a unique appearance, for example, Théoden has its own custom sword,
whose appearance in the game differs to that of the films {See capture} and Gandalf’s staff
also differs much to the staff seen in the movies: much shorter and with a different head {See
capture}.

One thing that has drawn attention to the whole world is the fact that almost all units are
carrying an axe in his back (nazgûl, Aragorn, orcs, etc.) {See capture}. As I assume that the only
reason for these axes is the testing of the game and that in the final version they will not be, I
will refrain from making any comments about how ridiculous it is.

And along the same line, the Mouth of Sauron has always carried a sword in one hand not a
staff (and least the Saruman one) {See capture}.

The Uruk-Hai we have seen in some screenshots do not wear the same armor and weapons
that had been in the movies or have the same look: these are not Uruk-Hai {See capture}.

In the mines of Moria (and other areas of Middle-earth) the forces of Sauron are the goblins,
and as seen in some screenshots, they are not goblins but orcs of Mordor. The goblins are
smaller and more agile that the orcs as they can "walk" on the walls, but what you see in the
game does not correspond to that seen in movies or in other games of the Lord of the Rings
{See capture}.
Speaking of sizes, many units have sizes that do not correspond: Grond is at least 3 times
smaller than it should be {See capture} and nazgûl, the Uruk-Hai and the Witch King must be a
little higher than a normal man.

We have not yet seen certain things that are expected to be in the game because they appear
in the movies such as: Uruk-Hai and soldiers of Gondor with heavy armor, warriors with
shields, the pikemen, and so on.

Is totally incompatible with the films that Gandalf, Saruman and the sorcerers cast their spells
with their own hands. According to the ‘standards’ imposed by the movies, wizards use their
staffs to channel his magic, that is, that if Saruman has to throw a fireball, he will use his staff
(there is an exception when Gandalf throws lightnings from his sword, because Glamdring is a
magical sword).

In a screenshot appears a Gondorian citadel guard carrying a staff {See capture} and in another
he carries a sword {See capture}, which is a great failure: the Gondorian citadel guards should
be pikemen, as they are not wizards or warriors.

One thing that is very necessary and which this game lacks is the variety, because all the
soldiers are exactly alike, and this becomes more evident in the case of the orcs. At the time of
generating a soldier, Pandemic should take into account a number of respects random, so that
in one battle you cannot get to see the same orc twice. This diversity should also be applied in
everything: that each race has its corresponding classes with their own animations, weapons,
skills, styles of combat, AI and heroes, is say, no race would be equal to another race.

I have already commented some inconsistencies with respect to the units, heroes and their
weapons. I just hope that Pandemic will also take note of possible inconsistencies that may
exist at the time of making maps and the buildings, because all should be as we have seen in
the movies and as real as possible (e.g. Helm's Deep is not like in the movies or in other
games).

GRAPHICS

The graphics should be better than ‘Battlefront’ ones, taking advantage of recent advances in
this field, and most similar to those seen in other similar games based on Middle-earth, i.e.,
they should be realistic and with high quality.

Some units have a very strange appearance by its form and skin. This is more visible especially
in the heroes, as they have to resemble to the actors who performed their roles in the films.
For example Saruman's face is very rare and do not seem to the Saruman seen in the movies
(Christopher Lee), Faramir also looks weird and the orcs and Uruk-Hai have a reddish skin.

We should also mention that some elements (such as siege towers) do not resemble anything
with the original ones seen in the movies.
Many special effects should be smooth (the trajectories of arrows and swords) and other
effects that appear on the films, such as when the Witch King makes his sword burn in flames,
should be included in the game.

As for the animations, they should be a little more distinct from the ‘Battlefront’ style:
movements more realistic, fluid and accurate (attacking, walking, running and idle animations).
Also, in order to give the feeling of a living world, the animations should be very diverse, i.e.,
everyone cannot use the same animations. They also have to be as dynamic as possible, for
example, a troll randomly can take a soldier and throw or eat it, or when Sauron strikes the
enemies with his mace, they should fly through the air.

PLAYABILITY

The combat system has worried many people. We were promised a combat system 'robust'
and therefore with some complexity with a large variety of combos, but obviously it seem that
the battle is essentially just pressing a single button to attack. Nor have units with shields, so
the melee combat without the possibility of blocking is very small.

Another aspect to consider is that all units must have a short-range attack and another long-
range, for example archers may have a dagger for short-range and warriors can throw knives
(such as Aragorn should have).

Troll takedown movement seems ridiculous. It should be something unique or only for certain
types of units (the elves, for example), because most of the soldiers would be terrified if they
encounter a troll, much less would have the courage to jump on his back and kill it.

Each class should have three basic actions: attacking short-range, long-range attack and
protect themselves, and have a minimum of three 'special powers' characteristic of each class.
For example, while the sorcerers create a bubble of magic to protect themselves from the
attacks, a warrior would use his shield for the same purpose. It would also be interesting to
have the option of to save or drawn the weapon that is carried.

The way to recover (ammunition, heal and fatigue) should be through several ways: through
sorcerers (to heal), repairmen (to obtain ammunition) or by the provisions that are in the
bodies (to obtain ammunition, heal and eliminate fatigue).

The game's artificial intelligence should be much more potent: each unit should think
individually. Nor did the bots have a centralized intelligence as in the ‘Battlefront’, which
means that the player has an equal probability of being attacked than others units. Finally,
artificial intelligence should be more varied: each race and class should have different AI, for
example, while the armies of Sauron are engaged to kill everything they see, the forces of good
should have more intelligence and attack in a more strategic way.

In the 'Battlefront' you could give orders to units, for example, seek medical help, make a
repair, provide ammo, pick an object, or even, to attack, defend, retreat or request
reinforcements. In 'Conquest' all this would be very interesting when you want to play a
tactical battle; therefore, Pandemic should develop a modern system for strategic play.

Another area of concern to users is that they are very few units in each scenario, so the battle
is no longer as the mass battles seen in the movies. One possible solution would be that the
troops were endless, but the player would have a limited number of lives. Related to the same
case, only two heroes on map for one faction would not be like the battles of the films,
because the heroes go normally in a group (unlike in ‘Battlefront’).

The friendly fire also must be realistic (it may need to be some option to turn it off), so, when a
troll hits the enemies, the orcs who are near would also fly along with the enemies to those
who hit the troll.

The wargs, horses and mumakils should be “vehicles”, so when you see one of them, you can
take it if it deems necessary, and so, for example, if the player picks a horse then he can crush
all the orcs who are on his way.

Other creatures such as trolls and ents are not vehicles, and they have to be elected as special
units when you choose your character. The flying creatures (fellbeasts, dragons and giant
eagles) should also be controllable, like the trolls and the ents. Its main function would be to
attack buildings and pick up a random unit and then throw it from the heights.

BUGS

The soldier of Gondor horse riding has two identical swords, one in the back and another in his
hand {See capture}. I think this is a mistake because when you get a horse, your main weapon
should be on your hand, and your secondary weapon on your back.

It is unacceptable that a city or area would be divided into several maps, so two maps for
Minas Tirith would be very unfavorable: high-level {See capture} and low level {See capture}.
Although it would more complicated to make, Pandemic should make an effort, and do Minas
Tirith a single playable map (and other similar maps too).

EXPECTATIONS

Only 16 maps for a game set in a place like Middle-earth are too few, so users expect to be
included even more playable maps, such as: Amon Hen, Barad-dur, Erebor, Grey Havens,
Mirkwood, Lorien or Edoras.

Most people believed that four classes are too few: they should add a few more like pikemen,
repairmen (who can repair structures and provide ammunition) or perhaps the creature class
(giant eagles, fellbeasts, trolls, dragons, ents, etc.). Or even each race should have its own
particular class, such as: berserkers, Gondorian citadel guards, rohirrim, black uruks of Mordor,
etc.
One might also add the option to create your own custom soldier/hero, where it can choose its
attributes, its appearance, armor and weapons.

We expect that, although at the time to play we have to choose between playing with the
forces of good or evil ones, we can select the race which we want. So with the forces of good
we can play as: Men of Gondor, Men of Rohan, Elves or Dwarfs and with the forces of evil we
can play as: Mordor, Isengard, Goblins or Evil Men.

With your help I've redone my analysis:

I've added a new class, new playable maps and the idea of giving orders to units among many
other things.
I will send a letter to the pandemic with my analysis, and I hope they take into consideration
everything that I said. There was never much hope, just a fool's hope.