About The Dwarf Holds
The Dwarf Holds (TDH) is a mod for Electronic Arts’ The Battle for Middle-Earth real-time strategy game. The game originally shipped with four factions – Gondor, Rohan, Mordor and Isengard. This mod adds a fifth playable faction – the Dwarves of Erebor.
TDH originally started out as the Rhovanion Alliance mod, started when BFME was released. That project was eventually cancelled in Spring 2008, and a new, more realistic vision was set to put the mod's assets to good use.
The Dwarves are a fully functional faction, with new units, buildings, castles and a unique playstyle. We have done our utmost to make sure the faction fits in with the vanilla factions in terms of completeness and polish. You will find impressive new effects, detailed animations and a lot of things that you probably wouldn’t notice – unless they weren’t there.
In addition to the Dwarves, we have also modified each of the original factions a great deal – new, higher detail versions of almost every unit and hero have been created so that they don’t look out of place beside the forces of Erebor. There are also many new units, heroes, powers and gameplay options for these factions, as detailed in the manual.
Now, some Frequently Asked Questions about the mod:
Q: What is the Dwarf Holds?
The Dwarf Holds is a modification for the Battle for Middle-earth, a LOTR-based RTS, which adds a Dwarven faction and improves the visuals of the original factions. The Dwarf Holds was started in 2009, from the ashes of the Rhovanion Alliance modification which intended to add 3 further factions and expand on the vanilla factions. RA was cancelled, but the mod team sought to release something and TDH is that.
Q: What will The Dwarf Holds contain?
A: It will contain a fully functional and polished Dwarf faction based on our RA Dwarves. It will fit seamlessly into the four original factions.
Q: What's up with the weird Dwarf unit names?
A: Some names are in the Dwarven language of Khuzdul. Don't worry, we'll make each unit's type and function evident in game.
Q: Will the Dwarf faction have AI?
A: The latest release has basic AI, but it's not exactly intelligent! Improvements to the AI for all factions will be included in later releases.
Q: Will there be any changes to the original factions (Gondor, Rohan, Isengard and Mordor)?
A: As of TDH's latest version (0.75), the original four factions have been completely reworked, in order to match the Dwarves in terms of unique and innovative gameplay. Drawing from our collection of RA models and skins, each of the original factions now contains new units, powers and heroes.
Q: Will the RA maps be included in The Dwarf Holds?
A: Yes. There are currently around 85 maps in the latest release, and more will likely be included in subsequent releases.
Q: What is happening to the campaign modes?
A: The Good and Evil campaigns from the original BFME game currently don't work, due to the extensive redesigning of the original four factions. However, the team is currently working on adding in two new Dwarven campaigns, with a new Living World Map.
Q: What is happening to the minifactions for the Dwarves?
A: They have been merged with the main faction.
Q: What will happen to all the other RA work that isn't a part of the mod?
A: We are not sure yet, but I'm sure we'll find some way to make it useful.
Q: Will you put the old RA buildings and units into the mod so I can code them in myself?
A: No.
Q: Can I use some ex-Rhovanion Alliance models/skins?
A: We are not releasing any raw models or skins at this time.