*Concept map by Maeron and Maestro. Development log written by Maestro and edited by elijy. *

Hello there! Welcome to our second Development Log, named "We Wisely Started with a Map"!

This DevLog will include important informations regarding how we plan to release our campaign, what parts of the map we are planning to include and what changes have been made to it since the last time you saw it in #previews and in the #dev-logs.

【资料图】

Let's start with our faction release for the campaign!

概念地图由Maeron和Maestro制作。Maestro负责书写制作日志，elijy负责校订排版。

大家好！欢迎来到我们新一期的制作日志：“我们明智地选择从地图开始”。

这期制作日志将包括很多关于我们计划如何更新mod中的派系的信息，以及我们计划更新那些部分的地图，和你以前在“预览”频道和制作日志频道看到的地图到现在发生了什么改变。

让我们从即将发布的阵营战役开始吧！

Inching closer to our first release, we'll be bringing Middle-earth to the Total War community in three stages. Much like Warhammer (and that is about where the comparison stops!), the map, its factions and iconic places will be released in three stages.

These three stages will unlock playable factions, with some remaining unplayable in all three releases.

Our first release aims at bringing to life the key areas of Middle-earth in the conflicts of the Late Third Age. Focusing in the wars in the eastern and southern parts of Middle-Earth, we strive to feature all lands south of the river Isen and east of the Misty Mountains, with the majority of factions located there being playable from the get-go such as: Gondor, Rohan, Isengard, Mordor, Haradrim, Easterlings, Erebor, Dale, Woodland Realm, Dol Guldur. As we progress, in the second release, we aim to unlock as playable factions those situated in the same area on the map, including Gundabad, Anduin-Vale, Lothlórien, Goblins and the two Orocarni factions. Finally, upon third release, we'll open up all of western Middle-earth as well, adding to the list of playable factions Rangers/Arnor, Dunland, Lindon and Imladris.

The reasoning behind this was to favour a more simple way to handle StartPositions, which are the starting positions (duh!) of the kingdoms of Middle Earth! What provinces do they occupy, which buildings are built there, what armies they have at their disposal and so on... the sooner this is done in a definitive way, the better for our scripters. At the same time, dividing the factions will help us deliver the campaign to you in a much faster fashion, so that we don't have to design and include all of the factions before they are in any way tested together.

As such, these will be the playable factions included in the three different releases:

随着我们缓缓地拉开首次更新的大幕，我们将要分三步把中土世界带到全面战争的大家庭里来。就像战锤全面战争那样（只在更新方式上），地图、派系和地标将会在三个版本里逐渐更新。

在这三个阶段里我们将会逐渐解锁可玩派系，而有些派系即使在三次更新后也不会可玩。

在第一次更新里，我们旨在将整个中土第三纪元战争的风暴眼呈现出来，致力于描绘中土南部和东方的战事，艾森河以南，迷雾山脉以东的地区。位于此地的主要派系大多从一开始就可玩，比如：刚铎，洛汗，艾辛格，魔多，哈拉德，东夷，埃瑞博（孤山），河谷邦，林地王国，多古尔都。随着制作的深入，我们会进行第二次更新。在第二次更新里，我们注重于继续更新在地图上在同一地区已有的其他可玩派系，比如刚达巴山，安度因河谷，罗斯洛瑞安，哥布林，和两支红山矮人。最后将进行第三次更新，我们也将在这次更新里开放整个中州西部，加入 游侠/亚尔诺，登兰德，林顿，和伊姆拉缀斯(即瑞文戴尔)。

在这种更新模式背后的主要原因是这样做可以更简单的处理中州诸王国的起始位置，比如他们占领了那些省份，在哪里建设了哪些建筑，他们支配着哪些军队等等------越早以分别的方式完成这些起始位置的设计，我们的脚本设计者就越能有发挥的空间。与此同时，将这些派系分别更新也能让我们能更快的把各个战役向玩家们开放，我们也不必在以某种方式测试所有派系前一次性设计并尽量囊括所有的派系。

Taking a look at our map, we should say from the onset that we've tried as best as possible to honour all the names we know Tolkien gave us; meaning lands, cities, peoples and stories as well. To fill the gaps, we've strived (we'll save you most of the lore-master talk) as much as possible to rely on what we think Tolkien would have done if he had had more time to expand on his legendarium. This goes for everything from names to important places on the map, even as we're fitting it into a Total War: Attila setting.

With that out of the way, go around a quick tour around our concept map!

看看我们的地图，我们不得不从一开始就说：我们尽全力去尊重那些托尔金给予我们的那些土地，城池，人民和故事的名字。我们拼尽全力（会为你省去那些设定爱好者之间的争论）去尽可能的设想如果托尔金有更多的时间去完成他那未完的传说的话他会写些什么。即使名字要与阿提拉全面战争本身的设计相匹配，所有的名字和地图上的重要地点也仍然如此的尊重托氏的风格。

Lets start at the bulwark of the Free Peoples resistance against the Shadow: Gondor. Gondor is one of our main factions and comes with a large starting territory harbouring many cities and strong places, tucked safely between mountain and water, waiting for the return of greatness to their realm and the reblooming of the White Tree. However, across the river lurks Mordor: an impenetrable mountain fortress with its beating industrial heart closest to Gondor. Aided by orcs in Dol Guldur, Mordor is ready to strike anywhere in MiddleEarth from safe boundaries, not only filling its ranks with orcs.

To the south and east, many vassals bow down in service to the Dark Tower. However, the Southrons and Easterlings have other business to attend to for the moment, for conflict, strife and turmoil trouble their lands. In Harad, a strong faction of Haradrim with iconic serpent banners upon scarlet rules the deserts, but in the jungles further south still live fiercely independent tribes of Far Harad, ferocious in battle as they adorn their bodies with war paint and ride the mighty Mûmakil. Further west, the Corsairs control the shores. Although they relish only hatred for Gondor, their allegiance to a Haradrim Union in service to Mordor is not a given and must be won by force. A Haradrim player, if committed, is in a good position to win these wars, but they must inevitably be attended to properly first. If shown strength, they will join the Haradrim ranks in fights beyond the deserts of Harad.

让我们先从中州自由人民抵御阴影侵袭的堡垒——刚铎说起。刚铎是我们设计的主要派系之一。初始领土幅员辽阔，拥有众多城邑与坚城，安全的隐蔽于山水之间。等待着皇帝的归来和白树的重新绽放。然而在大河对岸潜伏着魔多，一座迫近刚铎的山脉堡垒，坚不可摧，工业的心脏迸发在这群山之中。在多古尔都奥克的帮助下，魔多准备从安全的边界袭击中土的任何地区，而并非用单单用奥克塞满他们的部队。

在东部与南部，许多附庸国臣服于魔多，为邪黑塔效力。然而在东方和南方还有许多事情要做，因冲突，争斗和混乱还在困扰着这里。在哈拉德，一个强大的哈拉德人派系以他们标志性的猩红蛇旗为旗帜统治这沙漠。但在遥远南方的丛林里仍生活着非常独立的远哈拉德部落。他们战斗勇猛，身涂色彩骑着身形庞大的猛犸。

再往西，海盗们控制着港口。尽管他们只热衷于憎恨刚铎，但为效忠于魔多的哈拉德提供服务并非是理所应当的，必须通过武力赢得。哈拉德玩家如果在战争中尽心尽力（?），那他们就会在战争中就会取得优势，但必须要谨慎。如果展现出实力，他们（海盗）就会加入哈拉德的军队，参与到哈拉德以外的战事。

In the East, the situation is more chaotic. The strongest tribe in the Rhûnic plains has pledged allegiance to Sauron, but the men of Rhûn are scattered and already in conflict. From all sides, there is opposition for dominion of Rhûn: Variags, Balchoth and many others vie for power. Bloody tribal warfare dominates the opening stages of the Eastern side of the map right from the onset.

Meanwhile, Dwarven Houses of the East reside in their mountains. Long-established ties between the Ironfists and Stiffbeards have seen the rise of Union between the two in the nothern Orocarni ranges, in an uneasy relationship with the currently stronger Blacklocks and Stonefoots, also in league with each other. The Dwarves are stubborn, though unruly and with little contact from their Erebor kin. While all is at peace for the moment, the troubles of the world reach even as far east as the Orocarni, and Sauron's near influence is great. The future of the Orocarni is, as of yet, greatly ambiguous.

To know more about the Orocarni check out the first DevLog, Dwarves of the East! https://discord.com/channels/328911806372511744/993188926049235009/993191881494233098

在东方形势更加混乱，卢恩克（译者：Rhûnic？）平原上最强大的部落已经向索伦宣誓效忠，但卢恩人民仍然分裂，内部冲突层出不穷。四面八方都有卢恩统治的反对者：瓦良格人，巴尔寇斯人一众人等激烈的角逐权力。血腥的部落战争主导了地图东端的起初时光。

在同一时间，东方矮人的华屋坐落于群山之中，铁拳矮人与硬须矮人之间源远流长的友谊见证了见证了两族同盟在红色山脉北部的不断壮大。与威势更强的黑发—石足矮人关系紧张。这两支矮人民族也同样缔结了同盟。尽管矮人们顽固胜石，不守规矩，与他们孤山远亲的联系几近断绝。但在此刻仍保持着和平。即使远如东方的红色山脉，也不可避免的卷入了这波及世界的危机。更何况索伦的强大的军力近在咫尺。红色山脉的未来直到现在仍然非常模糊。

想要直到更多有关红山矮人消息的话请看上一篇制作组开发日志——东方矮人。

Troubles in the east give some respite to Dale, a smaller nation reaching outward along trade lines over water and land and in pursuit of wealth, food supplies and security. Dale's settlement of the sparsely-populated lands is ongoing, though their borders are stretched and under-defended. Still, the heart of their Kingdom, the cities south of Erebor and upon the Long Lake, are tucked away safely, far away from Eastern threats for now. What is more, Erebor, rich and powerful, shields the north from orc incursions. The Dwarves are strong and willing to fight, though their race is dwindling in number. The Dwarves look west to their ancient halls desecrated by forces of evil, who have turned their homes into staging grounds for raids and war preparations. Special expeditions to the Halls of their forefathers, in Moria, Gundabad and the Grey Mountains, must secure these places come back into Dwarven hands. This is no easy assignment, however: the orcs of Gundabad, having long remained dormant in ancient tunnels, have stirred again and are slowly repopulating long-deserted places in Old Angmar. Meanwhile, the Goblins have multiplied rapidly, now in control of all the tunnels in the misty mountains from north to south. Their holdings are strong, and the threat they exert is great.

中土东部的混乱给予了河谷邦喘息之机——一个沿着贸易路线上向外延伸的小国，穿过水泽和陆地，追求着富足，丰饶和安宁生活。河谷邦仍在不断的在人口稀疏的土地上建设定居点。尽管他们的国土狭长防御不足，但河谷王国的心脏——坐落在埃瑞博以南和长湖之上的雄伟城市仍安全的隐蔽着，暂时远离东方的威胁。更重要的是，孤山矮人富裕强大，保护北方免受奥克入侵。尽管他们民族的人口连年减少，矮人们仍然身强力壮斗志旺盛。矮人们朝西远望他们那已遭邪恶亵渎的古老厅堂。邪恶势力已经盘踞在他们的古老家园已久，集结力量准备突袭他们挑起战争。特殊的矮人远征队必须集结起来，前往他们先祖在莫瑞亚，刚达巴山和灰色山脉的古老大厅，把他们重新带回矮人的怀抱。然而这绝非易事，长久沉寂在刚达巴山古老地穴里的奥克们再度骚动起来，正在蚕食周围旧日属于安格马王国的荒芜原野。于此同时，哥布林们迅速的滋生繁殖，现已经控制了迷雾山脉从南至北的所有坑道。他们军力强大，压迫感很强。

Whilst Sauron's grip on the world is strengthening and evil is stirred by Sauron's will, a change of loyalty by a former ally of the Free Peoples means war will come onto Men from all sides: Isengard is turning sides. While not yet having declared allegiance to Sauron openly, Isengard is unchallenged and follows a path of its own. Saruman is preparing a force of Uruk-hai, stronger than orcs (with thick armour and broad shields we can assume), striking against Rohan aided by Dunlending allies who will take the blunt of Rohan's defences and form the vanguard of Rohan's new western enemies. Rohan, however, is weak, as the rule of the King Théoden is failing as a consequence of an unknown illness. Corruption, confusion and poisonous council trouble the Rohirrim, as evil draws in on them from all sides.

在索伦正越来越有力的攫取世界时，诸多黑暗势力也为索伦的意志所鼓动。自由人民们往昔盟友的背叛往往意味着敌人将从四面八方袭来；艾辛格叛变了。艾辛格虽尚未与索伦公开同盟仍尚未遭到磨难，沿着自己的道路前进。萨鲁曼正在培育一支强过半兽人（奥克）部队的强兽人部队（我们假定他们全副武装，手持厚厚盾牌），在他们的登兰德盟友帮助下对抗洛汗。登兰德人将削弱洛汗人的防线，成为洛汗新的西部心腹大患。然而洛汗仍然虚弱，洛汗国王希优顿的统治正因他所患的不明疾病而日渐衰落。腐败，混乱和流淌着毒药的宫廷议会困扰着洛希尔人，正因邪恶从四面八方而来。

Awaiting the inevitable assault of Shadow, the Elves hold on to their last remaining sanctuaries east of the Sea. In Mirkwood, the Halls of Thranduil still bring peace to the northernmost reaches of the forest. If the Woodland Realm cannot march out to meet the enemy, war will come to them instead. Further south and west rule Galadriel and Celeborn in a realm of well-protected borders and bliss, though closer to Moria and Dol Guldur strongholds. The Lord and Lady of the Wood have the monumental task of preserving their forest from all kinds of threats, while the Ring of Water Galadriel bears is increasingly corrupted by Sauron's growing influence. Across the mountains, there still lies Rivendell, home to High Elves and hidden from sight. While there is still strength left in Elrond's realm, every elf life lost there is a permanent sacrifice, for he rules a realm in decay and in a doubtful future. A similar troubled fate looms for Lindon: a larger realm, but emptying, as Círdan's folk migrate across the sea and few elves remain in Middle-earth. Círdan must ensure the Straight Road is kept open for his Elf-kind to leave to safer shores, although a glimmer of hope may yet remain that Lindon has the strength to aid the Men of the West a final time.

And finally, scattered in the wilds, are bands of Rangers amongst whom is rumoured to be the ultimate hope of Men. The Rangers, grouped together in small packs with no settlement, are few in number, with even fewer of their kind coming into this world. Yet, their duty is to safeguard the many helpless and blissfully ignorant of the threats of the wilder world, so that one day, perhaps, these peoples will be the beginning of a new realm in Eriador, in succession of long-lost glory of Arnor. Indeed, the Rangers may one day become the rulers of such a realm, but only if the scattered peoples of Eriador survive to inhabite it.

等在黯影那不可避免的侵袭之前，精灵们仍然在坚守他们在大海以东的最后庇护所。在幽暗密林里，瑟兰迪尔的宫殿仍将为幽暗密林的北方维持和平，但若林地王国不能出征迎敌的话战争终究会降临到他们身边。在西南方凯兰崔尔和凯勒鹏的王国虽毗邻莫瑞亚和多古尔都的要塞，但边境仍被严密保护，王国在女士治下堪称乐土。面对各种各样的威胁，森林的守护者夫妇仍面临着巨大的挑战。而凯兰崔尔的水之戒在索伦不断增加的威势下逐渐腐化。穿过山峦便是瑞文戴尔——隐藏在世人目光之外的高等精灵家园。虽然爱隆的领域实力尚存，但精灵们流下的滴滴碧血都是永久的损失。爱隆的国度也因此不断衰败，未来迷雾重重。相似的困苦命运也降临在林顿王国上：领土大而空虚。奇尔丹的亲族们向海岸迁徙，少有精灵还留在中土大陆。奇尔丹必须要保证笔直航线畅通，来让精灵们更安全的离开中州的海岸。尽管林顿尚存一丝希望，即林顿将最后一次帮助中土的人民。

最后零落在荒野中的，是那些游民们，传言中人类的最后希望所在。游民们各自结成小群，居无定所，人数很少，和他们一起来到这个世界的同伴更少。守护那些生活在那些对那些生活幸福但对来自荒野的威胁茫然无知的人们是他们的职责所在。或许终有一日他们会在埃利阿多建立一个新王国。复兴亚尔诺的古老荣光。游民们或许会成为新国度的统治者，但前提是埃利阿多的居民们能幸存下来建设这个新国度。

总结

Well, there you have it, all of our map! Since last time, we made some changes. Notably, we've made Gondor larger and rearranged some of its borders as we felt we hadn't done as much justice to Tolkien's lay-out of Gondor and its peoples and places. We had a similar feeling in Mirkwood, where we added a province to make sure the borders align with the forest edges. This also allowed us to properly place the Woodsmen on the map as part of the Anduin Vale's starting domain. We also added more definition to Harondor, as it previously wasn't deemed fit enough to harbour the many conflicts between Gondor, the Corsairs and Haradrim. And of course, we added the Orocarni so to house the Orocarni Dwarves.

With the preview of the AI Tool that is being prepared for the campaign, and these concepts arriving at an hopefully implementable stage, we inch ever closer to the release of the campaign. With this devlog, we hope we have satisfied your curiosities on how the factions will be released and on the rest of our work for it as well. 

Let us know what you think of it in #general-chat and don't forget to hit the green_circle green reaction in #deleted-channel to get the role of @Followers and be updated as soon as we release a DevLog or other news!

See you for the next DevLog!

Elijy

好，现在你已经直到了我们所有的地图。自从上次，我们已经对地图做出了一些修改。值得注意的是我们阔大了刚铎的疆域，并重新安排了一些边界。因为我们感觉我们没能像托尔金那样多刚铎的人民与地点安排的那么公正。对幽暗密林我们也有类似的感觉，我们在那里添加了一个省，以确保国界与森林边缘对齐。这样做也能让我们把森林民作为安度因河谷起始地点的一部分正确的放置在地图上。我们还为哈隆铎地区增加了更多边界，因为在过去哈隆铎地区一直被认为不足以容纳刚铎，海盗和哈拉德之间的冲突战争。我们还添加了红色山脉，来容纳红山矮人。

随着为战役准备的AI工具进入预览，以及这些概念逐渐进入了有望实现的阶段。在这篇日志里我们希望能满足你想要知道接下来我们会怎样更新这些派系以及我们为此做的种种努力。

下个制作日志见！

Elijy