Underground Goblins

Underground Goblins

Second Age 1 through Third Age 2799; Third Age 2941 into the Fourth Age

This is a variation on the Wilderland Goblins page, representing the forces of goblin and orc tribes after the first age who primarily dwelled underground, as described in the Hobbit ("Goblin-town" under the Misty Mountains, near the Redhorn pass), and also in the description (primarily in the appendices of the Lord of the Rings) of the War of the Dwarves and Orcs, where it is made clear that many goblin tribes dwelled underground.  Tolkien describes goblins as miners and delvers nearly as good as Dwarves.

The Dwarves abandoned Moria in Third Age 1981; likely goblins moved in soon thereafter, at least in fringe areas of the enormous underground city.  Within a century or two they would have occupied much of it, although it was too large for them to fully populate and their lack of capability with logistics and farming would make it difficult for them to ever populate it as densely as the Dwarves.

The War of the Dwarves and Orcs raged from TA 2793 to 2799, ending in the Battle of Azanulzibar.  Nearly half of all Dwarven warriors were slain; the Wilderland Goblins were nearly eradicated, with every one of their strongholds in the Misty Mountains destroyed, removing their threat to Eriador and Rhovanion for a long time.  By TA 2941 they had recovered significant numbers but were again devastated when most of their recovered forces were mustered at Mount Gundabad and marched to defeat at the Battle of the Five Armies.

Large Goblin forces existed in Moria when the Fellowship passed through in TA 3019; they may have been part of the Misty Mountain Goblin forces that attacked Lothlorien three times in March of 3019.

Invasion Rating: 2 (before TA 2799); 0 thereafter

Maneuver Rating: 2

Home Topography: Dense Underground  

General's Troop Type: Raider.  General should have the battle cards Deadly and Armored.

Army Battle Cards

Ambush (note 2pt cost for Dense Topography)

(possibly) No Camp for raiding forces or near underground strongholds.

(possibly) Delayed Entry for a Balrog (and possibly other stands)

Troop Options

Required Troops

Troop Types Min Max Battle Line Restrictions Battle Cards

Raider 0 1 all

Guards

Skirmisher 0 2 (optional) Ranged Attack (+1)

Elite skirmishing bow-armed goblins

Warband 3 6 all

Large goblins, nearly the size of a man, with shield and spear or sword

Rabble 6 18

Goblin infantry

Behemoth 0 1 all Terrain Affinity: Underground Creature (+1)

Cave Troll

Behemoth 0 1 all (only Moria TA 1980 - 3019) Terrain Affinity: Underground Creature (+1), Deadly (+2), Terror (+2)

Balrog of Morgoth

Javelin Cavalry 0 1 Woodland Creature (+1/2), Fierce (-1/2), Slow (-1/2)

Wargs and Wolf-riders