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.