This guide is written by Mikko Saari. Comments from other people are marked clearly so.
The map is big. This means that Dwarves can be at 18 centers and still without a contact to Gondor or Harad. This leads to the fact that cooperation is important, when one power starts to reach the winning centers. You can't do anything by yourself, you have to ask for help. Don't care about who can ally with whom, even if you're the Elves and Sauron has come to ask an alliance. Take it, forget the books.
Now, to individual powers. First I discuss some general things about the power in question, then list other powers and discuss potential for alliances and then give some general ideas where to get the 19 winning centers and how to fight against the power. I have played only few of the powers, so these opinions might change a lot when I actually try them in action. I am interested to hear opinions from other people and if you want to, I will publish your opinions on this page.
So, to make it clear: even though this guide might say "you should" it is not anykind of definite guide. Just my opinions, and most of them have no background from playing. They will change when I test them and if you play by my guidelines and lose, don't blame me.
Thanks to Tapani Saarinen, Luke Ellis and Joonas Kekkonen for their comments and lots of thanks to Richard Egan for designing the variant and to Gary Duke for maintaining it.
Dwarves are almost impossible to eliminate. It would require a very concentrated effort from Sauron, Elves, Easterlings and maybe Saruman as well to destroy the Dwarves completely. They can always retreat to their mountain fortresses, Erebor for example is impossible to conquer without siege engines or multiple armies. Also, Dwarves have their back against the wall (holding one army in Wit to prevent dragons appearing there will be important in the endgame).
Dwarves don't have any special powers, but they get extra victory points for certain mountain fortresses. Also, they have Eriador which is quite useful and they can build in some mountain fortresses when they conquer them.
They should start with getting Esg and Ang, also maybe SRo. Then start taking mountains, starting with either Carn Dum (CDu) or Mount Gundabad (Gun) and Grey Mountains (Gre).
Joonas Kekkonen says:"Try to have the northern fortresses as soon as possible. Keeping the whole north to yourself is very important. Try to make Sauron activate dragons in the beginning and if this does not happen, have one of your armies sit there. Try to smooth your way through the very few rounds in the beginning, after that no one can put you out of the game without two allies. If you get into war against alliances (let's say elf-Sauron-easterling/Rohan combination) fight defensive war and use diplomacy to make your enemies fight in other fronts too. It'll work, if you show your stubborness and don't give up."
Dwarves and Elves are a good alliance in the beginning. Later, there might be some problems if Dwarves have no other way to go. However, if they work together with Sauron and Dwarves can attack down the eastern plains, the alliance might work well.
Relationship to Sauron depends a lot where Sauron activates his sleeping armies. Obviously, you want strong southern Sauron. If Sauron is concentrating in the south, he is not a threat to Dwarves (just watch out for those dragons) and might be a quite good friend - possibly working together with Dwarves against Elves. Ok, it's quite an unholy alliance but so what.
Easterlings need friends a lot and Dwarves could work with them. However, there are some problems. Obviously Easterlings want the eastern plains and Dwarves can help there but where's the gain for Dwarves? Secure back, maybe, but not much else. If Easterlings succeed to gain control of the whole eastern plains, they will become a threat. So, it might work but I don't know - if in doubt, stab Easterlings. Works well, right in the first turn. Been there, done that...
Saruman might have some contact with Dwarves as well. This alliance would most probably be targeted against the Elves. Saruman could help Dwarves get centers like Goblin Gate (Gob) and Moria (Mor), while Dwarves can put up some pressure against Elves in the north while Saruman fights with them in the south.
Rohan has no direct contact to Dwarves, so being good friends with them is not that important. However, they play a big part in the fight over the eastern plains, so that makes them important. After all, there will usually be four parties fighting over the plains, Sauron, Dwarves, Easterlings and Rohan. Also, Rohan might end up fighting against Elves in the south or Sauron in the Mirkwood and Mordor.
Gondor and Harad are not very important to Dwarves. They are Sauron's neighbours in the south, which makes them somewhat significant, but that depends a lot what Sauron does.
As I said, Dwarves are almost impossible to eliminate. They are a corner power (as much as it is possible in Necromancer) with little neighbours. Also, because of the bonus victory points, it might be hard to see when they are winning. I suggest that Sauron allies with Elves and activates lots of armies in the north (Carn Dum, Grey Mountains and Mount Gundabad are the most important ones), that stops them rather well (but leaves Sauron vulnerable in the south).
Easterlings are definitely the weakest power on board. It combines all the weaknesses of Italy and Austria in Standard and Turkey in Colonial. Their weakness comes from their separated opening position - the two armies in the eastern plains cannot defend themselves well enough and the single army in the south is crushed by Harad.
Luke Ellis insists that Easterlings are really not the weakest power. Well, he might be right, but I don't believe him before I see it myself. He says:"One vital thing about the Easterlings is that most Saurons should let them get North and South Nurn at the start in return for ensuring that neither Gondor or Harad get ahead in the war in the South. Easterlings and Sauron should probably be allied in the North as well against the Elves and Dwarves."
One thing should probably be noted - do not get attached to your home centers. As an Easterling, you don't have home centers. Every center is a home center. So, gather those troops together and don't mind if you lose some of your original centers.
Easterlings should start with getting Dorelas (Dor) and Southern Nurn (SNu). Sneaking backways to Mordor might be a feasible plan, especially if you can get Sauron to fight the Dwarves in the north, thus leaving his home undefended.
You should definitely talk to Harad. More often than not, they are very interested about the future of Khand. You're safe, they can't get it on the first turn but will usually come after it later. Talk to them and coordinate a joint attack on Sauron and they might let you keep it. That also means that you should only move north from Khand. Demilitarize NHd, maybe WKh if possible.
Sauron is important contact as well. After all, you are starting at his back yard. Working with him against Harad is a possible plan, but I'd still prefer it the other way round. Harad can support you better than Sauron. Instead, try talking Sauron to fight Dwarves in the north. You can support him there while you take over the surroundings of Nurn and maybe support him in Mordor against Rohan and Gondor so he doesn't have to activate lots of armies there.
Dwarves have a good possibility to grab NRu immediately, watch out. Try to make a somekind of deal with them. Working against Sauron might be in their interests. Also, the eastern plains are a concern - it's going to be one of Dwarves' main fronts, especially after they secure the mountain fortresses.
You will confront Rohan's cavalries probably on the first turn. They can get to Bro in the first move and will probably stay there. Try to talk them to let you have Bro. You need it more. Workn with them in the plains, they can be a good ally there. Also, they might have interests in Ithilien, against Sauron.
Gondor is a neighbour of Sauron and Harad and thus interesting to Easterlings. They can offer some support in Southern Ithilien and that region in general and what's best, you both have lots of room to expand elsewhere so there's little need for stabbing.
Saruman and Elves are minor allies for Easterlings, there's no direct contact to them. Dwarves and Sauron are common neighbours, so there's a possibility to work something from that basis.
I don't know. I've seen a ten-center Easterlings, but that's the best I've seen them do. Definitely the plains (Dor, EEa, SRo, EBt, Bro, Emy, SUd), Mordor, Dwarves (Ere, Iro, Esg), that's about it. Not too much enemies, I think.
If nobody allies with them, they're gone. Crushing them in the south is quite easy if Sauron and Harad work together. Watch out, their southern army has a tendency to slip into Minas Tirith (I've seen it twice).
Elves are quite an interesting power. Their starting position looks difficult, but they are actually quite able to win. It just takes lots of strong diplomacy. The most obvious threats are that both Saruman and Rohan can take Lorien in the first turn. Sauron can also build an army in Mou and spiders in either NMi or EMi.
You should definitely try to get your forces together. Before that, you can do nothing without lots of friends. You can get three builds, but you have to take risks for that.
Rohan can send cavalry from Wold to Lorien in the first move, if you leave it empty. You must make sure that they don't do so. Talk them to concentrate on the eastern front. Offer them some centers and all your support. You can really work together.
Saruman could also get to Lorien, but he will usually be satisfied with Nim, if he's coming in your direction at all. You can work with him quite a lot, actually. You two can liberate Moria from Evil Sauron, for example. Also, Rohan is a common neighbour but fighting them might be difficult, at least in the beginning it's downright impossible. Or is it? Luke Ellis says that allying with Saruman against Rohan is actually quite feasible tactic and even necessary as Rohan might be too strong unless stopped quickly.
Sauron can be a good friend for the Elves, believe it or not. At least he can be a serious pain if he takes an anti-Elf attitude. Activate Moria, A Mor-Dim, A Dim-Lor. Ouch. Talk him not to. Instead, offer cooperation against Dwarves in the north. However, eventually you will have to drive him out of Mirkwood so long-time alliance might be difficult.
Dwarves and Elves are quite natural allies. Elves can help with the mountain fortresses and in the other hand, they need security which Dwarves can give. Watch out, however, as it is usually more beneficiary for the Dwarves to stab Elves than vice versa.
Gondor, Easterlings and Harad are not very close to you. What makes them interesting is Sauron - all will have close relationship with Sauron. You should probably try to get them attack Sauron so he has to shift his focus in the south and leave you in peace. If you're not allied with him, that is.
Thanks to Eriador and huge bonuses from Lorien and Woodland Realm, Elves can gain victory points in a stealthy way. 19 points fit on a small are... Nim, Val, GFi, Car, Mor, Gob, DGu, WMi, Mou, Fra, EBt, EEa, Ang, you have quite a few choices. You have to drive Sauron out of Mirkwood, but that's the only big fight you need to have.
They gain victory points fast. However, take Lorien and Woodland Realm from them and they're almost gone. Elves are very weak in the beginning, it should be quite easy to kill them fast. Strong Sauron in the north damages them a lot.
Gondor is initially the strongest power, yet I have only seen them succeed once. They have quite good position and useful special ability, multiple armies. However, they don't have lots of space where to expand without conflict. Also, there's the possibility of two-front war which will be too much for even Gondor.
Tapani Saarinen thinks that Gondor should not get too fascinated by multiple armies, though. They are good, but not necessary. Use them if you need them, otherwise you're just concentrating too much power in one place. Believe him, he has played the only successful game I've seen as Gondor.
A good start would probably be to take Dru, try to get TOL (it's probably a bounce with Harad) and go for Southern Ithilien (SIt). Maybe Druadan Forest (DrF) too.
Sauron is an important figure for Gondor. Minas Tirith and Minas Morgul, the twin cities, are quite close to each other. A bloody war in the Ithilien is quite obvious result of this setting - or is it? In the only successful game for Gondor, they didn't fight too much with Sauron, ending with both having 19 centers. So, maybe they could really benefit from an alliance. It will require a southern Sauron, though - northern Sauron is too easy target for Gondor.
Harad means trouble. Only way his armies can really move is through your centers. You will end up fighting; if you don't, you've earned that Nobel peace prize.
Gondor should have good relationship with Saruman, because there lies the danger for two-front war. Gondor can easily win the war against Saruman, but it takes lots of forces. It's best for them both if they just divide the two centers peacefully.
Rohan can be a friend or a pest, depending on the situation. If there is a war against Saruman, Rohan can help a lot attacking Saruman through the Gap of Isen. In the other hand, Rohan can help with Sauron. There's a good friend. It's just like in the books.
Easterlings play an important part, if you're fighting Harad or Sauron. They can fight Harad or sneak behind Sauron's back in Mordor. However, Easterlings with only the one unit in the south are not a very useful in the beginning.
Dwarves and Elves are not that important, except through Sauron (this is a recurring theme here). They can fight Sauron in the north, weakening him in the south.
Dru, Ado, TOL, DrF are obvious neutrals, also NIt, SIt, CPo, Har, HRd. Then three centers from Harad, Mordor and some centers from Rohan. You have to fight a lot for those 19 victory points!
Best way to kill Gondor is to force them in two-way fight. Saruman plays an important part here, he has to attack Gondor while Sauron or Rohan attacks from the other direction. Some Harad's fleets in the coasts and Gondor is in trouble.
Harad is strong. While they have no special abilities, they have a very strong position. It's similar to Turkey in standard. They can guarantee two builds and can get three. However, there's one problem - Far Harad (FHa) is really far, it takes a long time for an unit to get anywhere.
Obviously Harad starts the game with grapping Har, HRd and CPo and TOL if possible. Then, they have to choose whether turn against Gondor or Easterlings. Of course, there's the fleet strategy, but that's not a real possibility.
Gondor is probably your main enemy. You can't succeed any other way. As Luke Ellis pointed out to me, it is really not possible for Harad and Gondor to ally. Harad has no way to go except through Gondor. Backside of Mordor is too narrow and fleets, while they can be useful, are not effective enough.
Harad plays an important part in the fate of Easterlings' southern half. If they agree to concentrate on the insides of Mordor, work with them. If they try to get CPo or HRd, crush them. You don't want them fooling around in your centers.
Sauron can be a good ally against Gondor when you attack there. The best thing you could have is a war between Gondor and Sauron. Then just cooperate with Rohan and Saruman and crush them both. If you can get a strong northern Sauron, you should work with him in the south to protect him from Gondor. You need someone in the North holding Dwarves and Elves - there's nothing you can do when they start reaching the 19 victory points.
Saruman's significance is in his ability to force Gondor in two-front war. You will need that when you attack Gondor, so you should have good relationship with him.
Rohan is close to Sauron and Gondor, so that makes them important too. Talk them to attack Gondor when the time comes, and the war will be bloody but short. Then you just have to make sure that you get most of the spoils...
Elves and Dwarves are less important to you. Just make sure that they don't grow too big. If they fight each other, that's fine. If they don't you'll have to make sure that someone is there preventing their growth - best bet for that someone is Sauron.
Harad is hard to destroy, but strong Gondor can destroy them alone. If Sauron and Easterlings are in the plan, it will be even more easy. Also, Harad's weakness is that they have little effect on the table when compared to other powers - they are strictly southern power and nothing else.
Rohan is almost a corner power, with their back against the mountains. They have good access to lots of centers and the cavalry to take the centers before others can. Rohan should build as much cavalry as possible and use it, too. Take first turn, for example. That single cavalry in Wold can reach Lor in one move and Ise, Rhu, CGo, MMo, MTi, for example, with two moves (actually, I've seen them go to Minas Morgul - it was quite a surprise but not very effective - the cavalry sat there for the rest of the game).
So, secure your position on the plains first. Take Bro and DrF, SUd or Emy, depending where you want to focus. Watch out, I've noticed that even though the plains look big and empty, you run out of space in two complete turns if not sooner.
Joonas Kekkonen, who has won a game as Rohan, comments:"It is important for Rohan to keep on the offensive. The plains are huge and no armies can be destroyed there. If enemy units get in the middle of your home centers, you're in trouble. Never let this happen, if you can avoid it. It is also very difficult for you to advance in Mirkwood as Sauron has his repel good-fortresses and Elves have their normal fortresses. Try to make them fight each other and concentrate in beating the easterlings. If you destroy easterlings very early in the game, you can have your back against the wall in the east very early. Moving C Wol -> Emy -> Bro and C Bro -> Dag -> Rhu might be a good move. It effectively gives you one-base advantage against easterlings."
Saruman is your closest neighbour. Gap of Isen should be DMZ'd, but that might be hard for Saruman. I recommend that either you occupy it or you keep an army in Hel. You have little reason to fight each other, instead you could attack Gondor from two directions and get good benefits for both of you.
You have a possibility to attack Elves immediately, but resist the temptation. Blackmail them as much as you want, though. You have the power. They can be useful allies, you could for example attack Sauron in the Mirkwood. Attacking Saruman is difficult, but possible.
Gondor is another close neighbour. Joint attack on Saruman is a possibility, but there are more opportunities for cooperation in the east. Fighting Sauron might be a good idea.
Joonas Kekkonen has something to say about the relationship of Rohan and Gondor as well:"Never ever get into war against Gondor unless you're just pillaging a collapsing power. Gondor can and will fight Saruman, Harad and Sauron. That's exactly what you want to happen. You can't go around those mountains and fight effectively, so try to keep Gondor where it is, blocking the other powers. Balancing southern powers against each other is crucial to your success. Never head south!"
Easterlings are an important contestant for the eastern plains. You will confront them - either you ally against them with Dwarves or Sauron or you ally with them against Dwarves or Sauron. They have good possibilities to participate in the ruin of Mordor.
Dwarves might also be active in the eastern plains. If they are not, that's better but if they are, allying with them might prove to be useful. They are far from you so you don't have too many opportunities for stabbing.
Harad is your friend, if you want to attack Gondor. They can also be helpful, if you want to fight Sauron in Mordor (but if Gondor is your friend, you don't need Harad).
You have contact with both bases of Sauron. You could ally with him to attack Elves in the north and Gondor in the south. That could be quite efficient, but then you have to watch out for Saruman and Gondor allying against you. Work with Harad, Harad-Rohan-Sauron trio could be quite devastating.
Cavalry is efficient, watch out. They can get far in short time. If attacked by Saruman and Gondor after Rohan has spread it's forces around the plains, they might be in trouble.
Saruman allows some interesting possibilities, thanks to the mobile home supply center also known as Saruman. I've yet to see anything really amazing done with the wizard, but there are lots of possibilities.
Start grabbing the neutrals at Lon, Ado and Dru if possible. Don't get into a fight with Gondor yet, I'd say. Also, stabbing Rohan is not a good idea. Gld is probably a good place to have the starting army.
Rohan is your closest neighbour. You should definitely have good relationship with them. You can work together against the Elves or Gondor. Try to resist the temptation to attack Hel, try to build up trust with Rohan - it will be a benefit for both of you.
Elves are your friends too. You can conquer Moria together and also work together in the north too. Joint attack on Rohan is also possible. I don't really know about it, try it and tell me if it works.
You are essential, when it comes to fighting with Gondor. Everyone who wants to fight a war against Gondor wants to be your friend, as you can force Gondor to a difficult two-front war. Try to have a peace there, you don't want Gondor's double armies coming at you.
Sauron affects you mostly through Elves. Of course, if he activates Moria or Goblin Gate, that could matter to you, but he will not be your primary target. In the other hand, both Elves and Gondor lie between you and Sauron.
Dwarves are surprisingly near to you. Remember, their units can appear at Eriador which is close to you. You can work with the Dwarves to conquer the mountain fortresses, but benefits of such cooperation for you are small.
Easterlings and Harad are not that important to you. Well, Harad will be if he attack Gondor. You will probably want them to make Gondor busy in the east so you can grow peacefully in the west. If Harad builds lots of fleets, watch out.
Gathering 19 victory points will be difficult for Saruman. His own centers and neutrals Nim, Lon, Ado, Dru, then Mor, Gob, Hel, Pin, Car, Lor, Wol, Edo, SUd, Emy, Val, GFi, you have to attack quite a few other powers or go really deep in one direction.
The wizard has potential to be really annoying, but I've yet to see it do anything really dangerous. If Rohan and Gondor work together, Saruman is in trouble. He is cornered, in a bad way - he has difficulties to go anywhere.
Sauron is similar to Austria in Standard. Both are surrounded with enemies and both need some sweet talking to succeed. The biggest differences are that your units and centers are divided all around the map and nobody thinks the Archduke is the devil...
The most important thing to do is to make it clear for everybody that you are not a threat. Don't be a big, nasty Sauron. You don't have enough power. Be a friendly, helpful Sauron. You need allies to survive.
Where you activate your armies makes a big difference. All three possibilities (north, south or both) have good and bad sides. If you concentrate in the north, that will make Harad and/or Gondor too strong. If you concentrate in the south, Dwarves will win the game. If you try to get both, you get nothing. The most important thing is, however, to activate mountain fortresses in the north. You don't want to make things too easy for the Dwarves, if they grow too strong noone can stop them.
I agree with Luke Ellis and shut my mouth about activations. I just say that activation of dragons is important early in the game if you want to use them, in the end they are useless. Tapani Saarinen suggested an effective opening: A MMo-SIt-Pel, supported by Nazgūl. It's rather difficult to stop.
Luke Ellis had lot to comment about my Sauron section. Which is mostly correct, I have little experience with Sauron. He stresses that use of Nazgūl is quite important - it can be used in many imaginative ways, which are left to the reader as an exercise (Luke didn't want to reveal all his tricks yet ;-) Also, the fact that you are leaving game is quite important, use it to your advantage. Nobody wants to have their opponents to benefit from Sauron's elimination. Centers are much more important to activate than special units, with the exception about the dragons mentioned above.
Gondor can cause you lots of headache. There will be a big fight over NIt and SIt and even though you have the Nazgūl, they might still win unless you get Saruman to attack their back or Rohan or Harad to support you.
Easterlings are a good ally for you. Give them North and South Nurn to keep them satisfied. They have many common interests with you.
Harad will want either attack your back or go through Gondor. Of course, you want them to attack Gondor. Support them, because you don't want their armies in your back.
Rohan can be a pest (especially if they open straight to Minas Morgul), but also a valuable friend if you wage a war against Gondor. Also they are a strong contestant when it comes to the ownership of the eastern plains.
Dwarves want your mountain fortresses and if you don't stop them, they will take them. If you don't fight against them, probably nobody will and they will win. So, you need to activate sleeping armies in the North, which will not make them happy. I see little possibilities for Dwarves and Sauron to cooperate unless Elves are so strong that they must be stopped at all costs.
Alliance with the Elves is possible, however unnatural that sounds. Big problem is that they need your centers in the Western Mirkwood, so it won't be a long alliance.
You should corrupt Saruman as soon as possible to be faithful to the books... Well, he can be a valuable ally against Gondor or Rohan as he is located well behind their backs. Also, there are some possibilities for supporting each other in the north, if you activate Moria and/or Goblin Gate.
Sauron can choose pretty much what ever he wants. Depends really a lot about where he concentrates, in the north or in the south. So, it's hard to say.
Sauron is really weak in the beginning of the game. Attacking his sleeping armies before they are activated reduces his possibilities. Use to your advantage the fact that his forces are spread out.