I have named the list Angband primarily because I could think of no good adjectival word derived from "Morgoth"!

Climate is rated as Cold since Angband was situated in the far north, so far north that it could never be completely beseiged, since the ice and snow prevented its complete isolation (Sil, p137).

Agression is rated as 4, since Morgoth was of course the great aggressor of the First Age, despite being defeated and subsequently beseiged after the Dagor Aglareb, the Glorious Battle.

I have allowed a Rv in the terrain list since the upper reaches of the Sirion ran somewhat across the plains of Ard-Galen (later Anfauglith), so any invader coming from western Beleriand would have to follow it at least initially to come to Angband.

There is a compulsory H(S), since Angband was delved under the great mountain of Thangorodrim. No H(G) is allowed, since otherwise the realm of Morgoth was a flat plain, albeit riddled with gullies, graded as RGo (Sil, p215), which roads ran though. No BUA is allowed, since Angband itself was underground, and the only above ground settlements were temporary camps made by armies.

A C-in-C may be represented as an Orc, since not all forces were led by Balrogs or other such beings, examples being the armies destroyed in the Dagor Aglareb, (Sil, p137) and the assault upon northern Hithlum (Sil, p138).

Gothmog, who commanded at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, is rated as a Bd (S), since he bore an axe, and other Balrogs used maces (Sil, p233), and they were incredibly tough opponents; the Bd supports double-based with them mean that under DBM v3.1, they will not be overrun by Elven Kn (F), and also enable their bases to be bigger, so their figure can be accomodated easily. Before v3.1 I had them double-based with Ps(O).

I have classified Sauron as a mounted element, assuming that he fought alongside his werewolves (Sil, p197; p209-210); I also assume werewolves are much more tough than normal wolves, and accordingly grade them as Kn. As double-based Kn (I) they are not impetuous, which fits Sauron's character more than an impetuous element would, and are also quite dangerous, as befits the terror he inspired (Sil, p187).

Glaurung may be a sub-ordinate to Gothmog, as at Nirnaeth Arnoediad, where he commanded the left wing (Sil, p232-233), or a C-in-C, as at Nargothrond (Sil, p255-256). I take the reference that at Dagor Bragollach (Sil, p181) when the Balrogs following Glaurung came 'in his train' to mean Glaurung commanded there, while the Balrogs following him were subordinate, and thus he use a Balrog sub-general as may Gothmog their leader.

Other sub-generals are assumed to be Orcs, or if not Orcs, beings of lesser power such that their abilities to not need to be especially represented. Morgoth's Orcs were often armoured and equipped broad-blade spears (Sil, p113), and so can be upgraded to (O); the very biggest and strongest orcs that might accompany Cheiftain's are allowed to be (S). Orcs often performed poorly however in battle (eg Sil, p303), especially in sunlight, and so can be downgraded to Hd (O). Hd (S) would be inapproprate, since Orcs do not show impetuous characteristics. Some were archers (Sil, p196), and can accordingly be Bw or Ps (O). See the Goblin list for further discussions about the grading of Orcs.

Trolls, like Balrogs, are graded as Bd (S) with Bd supports for much the same reasons - and if individually not as powerful as Balrogs, were more numerous. Gothmog had a troll bodyguard (Sil, p234).

Wolves were a normal feature of Morgoth's amies (Sil, p235; 249), being used as camp-sentinels (Sil, p250) for instance, while others were ridden by Orcs (Sil, p208). Horses are not mentioned as steeds, so I assume the riders that taunted Gwindor were wolf-riders (Sil, p230). See the Goblin list for a discussion about the grading of wolves.

Captives (Sil, p257) could be used to draw the enemy out of defensive positions by executing them close to the enemy Sil, p230), these are graded as Hd (I).

I have allowed no TF for camps, since the camps appeared not to have been protected by fortifications (Sil, p250).

Dragons plural were only used under a Balrog C-in-C, as at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, and the attack on Gondolin (Sil, p292); whenever Glaurung commanded, he was the only one of his kind present. I formally classified Dragons as El (X), but extensive use of these lists in French competitions has convinced me they are better represented by El (S), especially under DBM v3.1 where El can 'quick-kill' heavy infantry.

Easterling allies were present on both sides of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, some having being under Morgoths service quite early (Sil, p188), and they were deployed hidden in the hills (Sil, p232); others later assaulted Dor-lomin with the Orcs (UT, p19) and are so allowed under an Orc C-in-C.

Morgoth's forces favoured black like their lord, although were once clad in dun raiments to conceal them (Sil, p229).

This page last modified 14 May 2006.