Only 5 Regions? (AKA 5 fortresses?)

[Ravenbones]

I was commenting on YouTube to someone about there maybe being as high as 8 regions, maybe, from what we could see so far about the map when they scrolled through it.

Someone replied with 5 confirmed regions only. Is this true? I haven't been able to find even in the newest stream (unless I missed it) that it had 5 only. Maybe I should disregard it, but I don't want to ignore possible facts.

Would make a tiny bit of sense though... everything they did last game was groups of 5. 5 warchiefs each region. 5 regions, 5 overlords. Which explains the (3x) bigger map confirmation.

[Snowskeeper]

They also confirmed that every individual region would be larger than every individual region in SoM, so no, it wouldn't explain the 3x bigger map confirmation.

I don't have any numbers whatsoever about this, but I'm with you; 5 seems low.

[Ü]

I found this video confirming more than 5 fortresses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2fOoyK3mtk

[Roderick]

Nice to see Nurn. I hope it stays as green as it is shown. I don't like it when a game starts in a pretty surrounding and it get's only uglier and uglier towards the end. xD

[Snowskeeper]

Originally posted by Roderick:

Nice to see Nurn. I hope it stays as green as it is shown. I don't like it when a game starts in a pretty surrounding and it get's only uglier and uglier towards the end. xD

Mordor is generally pretty messed up; Nurn is the breadbasket of Mordor.

[Ravenbones]

Originally posted by Boneless Skeleton™:

I found this video confirming more than 5 fortresses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2fOoyK3mtk

I don't really like YouTubers who do analysis videos, but since you posted it, the person who replied to me said the gameplay 16minute video we got was just "big bait". Stating only 5 fortresses were confirmed in the game (Not counting ones introduced with DLC, or Expansions).

As we can see already, parts of the 16 minute video have already been changed, and only there for cinematic purposes, such as Az-laar ripping off heads in a dramatic way.

Hopefully what was shown in the 16minute video was something being kept throughout all of development.

[SpawnCap]

5 "regions" would still be over twice as big as the last game if each map is a region. Each map had their own Nemesis mapping, each Fortress has it's own Nemesis mapping.

[Jokery]

20+ fortresses meaning 20+ regions

if u watched first trailer shows all regions and fortresses

[Ravenbones]

Originally posted by Jokery:

20+ fortresses meaning 20+ regions

if u watched first trailer shows all regions and fortresses

That is the problem I have. The first trailer (the 16 minute gameplay) has already changed during development in many aspects. I cannot take it as evidence of there being more than 5 fortresses. I highly doubt it is 20+ regions.

[Snowskeeper]

That number would get kinda boring anyway.

[Ü]

Originally posted by Snowskeeper:

That number would get kinda boring anyway.

Better too much than too little.

[Snowskeeper]

Originally posted by Boneless Skeleton™:

Originally posted by Snowskeeper:

That number would get kinda boring anyway.

Better too much than too little.

False dichotomy. Too many is still too many, and while too few would also be bad, there's a pretty sizeable space in there where you'd have just the right number of fortresses. 5 is probably closer to that space than over 20 is.

Honestly, if there were just 5 fortresses that were extremely well-designed, coupled with an improved Nemesis system, I think I'd be more or less okay with that in the end. That'd be far better than 20 generic fortresses that end up playing out in exactly the same way, especially since you'd then need to manage and defend them once you captured them. I think one of the biggest problems with game design is that sometimes the developers overreach; they go for goals they aren't really capable of obtaining within the time permitted them, which generally leads to anemic content. One of the reasons Shadow of Mordor did so well was that it managed to pack a lot of content into a comparatively small package, partially because much of that content was randomly generated.

tl;dr:
5 well-designed fortresses>20 generic fortresses.

[Ravenbones]

Originally posted by Snowskeeper:

Originally posted by Boneless Skeleton™:

Better too much than too little.

False dichotomy. Too many is still too many, and while too few would also be bad, there's a pretty sizeable space in there where you'd have just the right number of fortresses. 5 is probably closer to that space than over 20 is.

Honestly, if there were just 5 fortresses that were extremely well-designed, coupled with an improved Nemesis system, I think I'd be more or less okay with that in the end. That'd be far better than 20 generic fortresses that end up playing out in exactly the same way, especially since you'd then need to manage and defend them once you captured them. I think one of the biggest problems with game design is that sometimes the developers overreach; they go for goals they aren't really capable of obtaining within the time permitted them, which generally leads to anemic content. One of the reasons Shadow of Mordor did so well was that it managed to pack a lot of content into a comparatively small package, partially because much of that content was randomly generated.

tl;dr:
5 well-designed fortresses>20 generic fortresses.

Agreed, 5 amazing well designed fortresses are better than 20.

I would settle for 8 or 9 in the game that are greatly designed. I feel that is that right amount of fortresses in the game.

[Clord]

Five fortresses would be fine especially if you have stuff like camps in the region. I doubt they just let you assault fortress and take it over without requirements to do that.

[The Infinite Archiver]

There are more than five fortresses, taking a glimpse from the map in the very first gameplay reveal trailer (And I don't think they'll scrap 15 other fortresses for some mundane reason) and if you look at Tolkein's old drawings and notes on geographical locations, you could actually say that there's quite a few good places to have Fortresses at.

Also, to note about requirements, you can litterally just waltz right in and take it over if you like, but there is the ESSENTIAL requirement of having to take down the Overlord's resources one or two times to get at least 1-2 of your Captains in a rallying force.

Also, I'd like to point out that the Fortresses are likely all hand-made, that they used preset buildings/designs but mixed and matched them up, because taking a look of Nurnen's Fortress in close depth and Seregost's Fortress even more, their layout is still completely different.

Also, 20 would be logically reasonable because you're litterally fighting over Mordor here, not a simple regional space like the Shire but the whole of Mordor, all the edges, caverns, mountains and so forth, heck, even Mount. Doom if you want to take the fact that it's a giant volcano and geographically it would probably have tons of valuable resources.

So in basic terms, if there were around 5 or so Fortresses it would break the idea of you controlling all of Mordor, when having 20 Fortresses and you've only got 6 conquered and they're all under siege, it's going to pressure you with intense excitement.

[Snowskeeper]

Originally posted by Torz Chain Driver:

There are more than five fortresses, taking a glimpse from the map in the very first gameplay reveal trailer (And I don't think they'll scrap 15 other fortresses for some mundane reason) and if you look at Tolkein's old drawings and notes on geographical locations, you could actually say that there's quite a few good places to have Fortresses at.

Showing them on the map is not the same thing as having them designed...