Extending the Numenor Army - Ideas for new heroes and warriors

Welcome to the final part of my Numenor trilogy =)

In the first part I wrote about my experience with buying and collecting Numenor.

Part two covered  my personal review of the faction, including all profiles, tactics and list ideas.

Now it is time to share my ideas on how Numenor could be extended to pay tribute to how powerful this nation was and to improve the areas where it currently lacks.

Note: I did not create full profiles with numbers, point costs etc. To find meaningful numbers is something that requires to take into account the full game and all other profiles. Besides one could argue for and against every single number in the profile. Therefore I saw it fit to only think about lore background, equipment and special rules.

Introduction

My ideas for an Numenor army are based on the point of view that this is the force Elendil had available after arriving in Middle-Earth till the Last Alliance. Meaning this is still the full might of Numenor just lesser in numbers - assuming that only after the Last Alliance and their battles with heavy losses, the army had to adapt and changed over time to what we see as Minas Tirith during the war of the ring. So the equipment, warriors, craftsmanship and fighting doctrine is still intact but the army is centered around Elendil and the culture of faithful Numenoreans.

The Numenor Army

Elendil, Isildur,  Captains- and Warriors of Numenor

The current available profiles and miniatures. I think they are fine as they are and form a good basement for the new stuff.

Anarion

While mentioned in Isildurs profile, he never received one. If he should be equal, stronger or weaker as Isildur is hard to say. I do however think his profile should mirror his deeds - to hold and defend Gondor against Saurons forces while the Last Alliance is formed and the all out war is prepared. Certainly not an easy task. And one that requires a focus on defence. I therefore think that he should have the same profile as Isildur but with lesser strength and fight value. Additionally he should have a a shield as standard equipment and further bestow Warriors of Numenor in his warband the shieldwall rule. I think this would make him distinguishable from his brother and offer a real alternative.

Middle Men Outriders

Consisting of drafts from the non-Numenor population in the Middle-Earth colonies which became part of Gondor and Arnor after the arrival of the Faithful. Being more seafarers and living on a relatively small island, Numenoreans never had a big stock of horses and the ones they did have were reserved for the nobility and knights. Nonetheless the Numenor force of Elendil had need for scouts, patrols and skirmishers. To mitigate this they recruited the Middle Men of their lands and their horses. Having done this duties already on their own, their experience and knowledge of the countryside makes them excellent scouts and deadly skirmishers. Lightly armored, with spears, bows and swords - catching enemies off-guard between them and the heavy infantry forces. 

They are comparable to Rohan Outriders. To field them you need a Middle Men Outrider captain which should be a minor nameless hero. He should not be able to lead other troops than Outriders. 

Numenor Knights

Being more seafarers and living on a relatively small island, Numenoreans never had a big stock of horses and the ones they did have were reserved for the nobility and knights. These Numenor knights however, though not numerous, will hit like a hammers blow. Heavy armor, shields, lances or hand-and-a-half swords make them durable and deadly. Although lances are more common, some knights prefer the unusual hand-and-a-half-swords - their extensive training and special craftsmanship of Numenor, allows them to two-hand the swords and being able to use a shield - a special armor has a shield fixed to one of their gauntlets. 

They should have courage 4. Shields and lances must be bought. Alternatively the knight hand-and-half-swords with the shield gauntlets can be bought. There is a nameless hero of fortitude - the Seneschal. Numenor Knights can only be in a warband of Elendil, Isildur, Anarion or a Seneschal. The Seneschal cannot lead other troops besides Numenor Knights.

Elite Archers

Their increased strength and craftsmanship allows Numenor to field elite archers armed with steel bows. These special bows are nearly as tall as a man, as are their arrows. Even among Numenoreans only the strongest are able to use these bows. Their effects are devastating and they are only used against special targets. 

Due to their size and weight, shooting after movement is not possible.  Only a handful of elite archers can be part of an army - one for every 400 points. These are independent heroes. Numenor Steel Bows should have a range of 28" and a strength of 5.

Numenor Paladins

Only the bravest, toughest and loyal warriors are selected to become Paladins. And even than only 1-2 of each selection are able to get through the training and test process. Paladins are the personal guard of Elendil and the royal family. They wear heavy armor and they form an impenetrable wall around the ones they protect. The front paladins wield a shield nearly as big as them and a normal sword. They can decide to use the shield as normal or place it in front of them like a wall unto the ground, increasing their defense and making it impossible for archers to hit them.
Their comrades behind them are armed with long pikes, being able to reach their enemies from behind the big shield of the front. 

They should have courage 4. They can only be used in a warband led by Elendil, Isildur or Anarion. They have the Bodyguard rule and their base equipment is heavy armour, a sword and a shield. They can buy an Iron Shield (same equipment and rule as Khazad-Dum Vault Warden Team). This shield decrease the speed of the wearer to 5". The Shield bearer can decide to put down the shield in front of them. Doing so prevents them from moving and they must declare to put it up again to be able to move in the next round. The iron shield prevents shooting to target the bearer and everyone in two ranks behind him. The iron shield further increase the defence by 2 instead of the standard 1 + decreases the fight value by 1.

Scorpion Destroyer Artillery

It was hard to come up with something that does not yet exist and at the same time is not too fantasy for LOTR. So here is what I came up with (although I admit the name could be better^^):

Originally mounted on their mighty ships, the Faithful adapted this war-machine to be movable on the battlefield. The high Numenor craftsmanship requires a crew of only two soldiers. 

It can use three different types of ammunition and each of them serves a different purpose.

A single heavy bolt can be fired to impale and throw down single big targets. If it hits a a smaller target it has a chance to also hit targets behind the original one if they are in direct base contact.

A cartridge full of smaller bolts can be fired. They not only hit the primary target but also in an area left and right of it. They hit with less strength and it must be diced out how far the hit area spreads.

Last but not least there is a kind of fire bomb. If it hits the target, it explodes in a rain of fire and sets everyone in a small area on fire.

If the ammunition wants to be changed, it must be declared and it takes the current round to do this till its ready in the next. 

If the Scorpion was moved, it cannot shoot in the next round.

Conclusion

So wow we reached the end. I am pretty happy with all the stuff I was able to come up with. It might seem like a lot and would mean a significant power increase of Numenor as an army. Maybe it is too much - I do not know. I tried to come up with original ideas for new units that are not simple rehashes of existing ones like your standard knight or warmachine. Or at least add a unique equipment or rule to them. These new heroes and units mirror more of the powerful nation we hear in the books. It would be really cool to see something in their direction in the future. 

I hope could entertain you with my ideas and I would be really interested in hearing your opinions. That was the last post about Numenor for a while - or at least until I find another excuse to write about them ;)