This is a full conversion Tolkien mod for Crusader Kings 2 which will feature bookmarks throughout the Third Age. This mod is being developed independently from any other LotR or Middle Earth mods out there. The map will cover the main areas of Middle Earth, known in the books and films. So, Middle-Earth is waiting for you! Will you play as the descendant of one of the noble families of Rohan or Gondor? Will you try to reforge the ancient kingdoms of Elves in Eriador? Or will you try to destroy all the Free Peoples, and claim Middle Earth for Morgoth? This mod will give you a unique strategy experience of the Third Age in Middle-Earth. From Forodwaith to Bellakar, from Lindon to Rhûn, lead your dynasty and survive the Dark Times. Become one of the most important Lords of the Age!
This mod is a work-in-progress. All the same, it is very good. Being able to role-play with characters from the Tolkien Legendarium at the same time as I engage in grand strategy is great. Being able to add one's own flavour to Middle Earth's history is something I think is truly rewarding. The modder has gone into a lot of detail to make the base game fit the specifications of Arda and its history what with all the intricate family trees that are unnecessary but oh so lovely. There is room for improvement, of course, but I really praise them for how far they have come and the direction they are going.
This mod has been shown a lot of love and attention by the modder(s, ?). I have played mods for HOI3, MoTE, Medieval Total War II, and others, and I can definitely say that this beats or rivals the best of them (rivals Third Age Total War but of course does not directly compete as it is grand strategy only and not realtime.)
Areas for improvement: Elves and Dunedain should have much higher tech. development to begin with than other groups to reflect their historical advantage here.
Map could be expanded further east and south. Would be cool to see more Black Numenorean factions.
Increasing the retinue caps for Gondor and Arnor (Dunedain kingdoms) would be great.
The mod takes place over a really long timespan (ca. 4,000 years -- which I think is great). I tried playing through as Arnor from a little after the start but the mod crashed after about 200 years into the game. This was a shame since I had a lot of fun developing the kingdom. Fixing this so the game is playable through the 4,000 years would be great.
Find a way to replace "Wilderness" with wild men or orcs that can be vassalised (and imprisoned/killed) should one choose. Remove the bickering court intrigue in a realm so that this only happens if a vassal is a servant of melkor. Kind of ridiculous to deal with machiavellian infighting when Sauron, the Easterlings, and the Southrons form a common enemy (hence the good guys should be united).
It is too easy to assassinate essential characters or for them to die in battle or because of events (Sauron assassinates Frodo, Sam, Gandalf; "The Necromancer" or one of the Ringwraiths die of old age, etc.)
The colonisation tool for wilderness provinces is expensive and I have never made it work despite using it in the intrigue menu and having countless events pop up.
it's quite a good mod and has even more potential.
I absolutely love this mod, the only thing that lacked was culture flip events from vanilla, for example as a good character you can only culture flip wilderness provinces, and as an evil you may cause most of provinces flip, but again not all of them. I fixed this problem by moving vanilla culture change events to the mod, because I like spreading culture, but this doesn't change the fact that the mod deserves a 10 out of 10. Thanks for your hard work, guys.
It's brilliant. I love the mod's work to the game. A few bugs here and there but as said, this mod isn't finished but it has many features which are quite nice. 10 / 10 - Made Bilbo Thain of the Shire with the Ring.
LOTR, need I say more? . . .
SPECTACULAR mod, I'm seriously impressed. Honestly, it's just freaking spectacular- if you have CK2 and don't get this mod, you are sad and I don't want to talk to you.
Very Good mod
Great mod, with a lot of work put into it. Also love to detail wherever you look.
Lots of events and races and possibilities however, all this comes at the price of instability and regularly bugs/crashes which is why it wont get a 10.
i think that its the most immersive mod for crusader kings i have ever played... the map is fantastic, races and cultures are fully detailed and the developers respected the LOTR lore.
they have done a great job (for free), i love it!
I love the fact that such an incredible universe is being brought to Crusader Kings 2. This is undoubtedly an ambitious project, but with the incredible hard work of the Devs, we'll see more truly amazing additions as time continues. When this Mod is completed I have no doubt it will be hailed as one of, if not the best mod available for Crusader Kings 2.