Elven warfare flows from one central relationship: That elves live until slain and their opponents defeat them by virtue of a higher birth rate. Elven children are very rare, those of humans or Orc spawn numerous in comparison. The elves are the embodiment of late 19th Century fears around racial theory. Once killed they are effectively exiled for eternity to the shadowed halls of Mandos, far from their beloved Middle Earth. Their approach to warfare involves plans covering centuries (e.g. the Siege of Angband or the war against the Witch-King of Angmar).
Any outbreak of direct conflict represents a long-term defeat for the elves. They attempted to work through proxies where-ever possible (usually the Dunedain), but when forced to fight elves turn out armed to the teeth with finest weapons available, centuries of discipline, practice and training, and a fervent commitment to see the thing finished. Their inherent magical nature often allowed them to overcome physically larger opponents. The most common description by Tolkien is of the "cold ferocity" of elves in battle. They are, almost by definition, ‘superior’.
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Tolkien gives a number of useful descriptions of Elven military equipment (probably the best description of the Noldor is in The Lost Tales when he describes the gate guard of Gondolin). They fought with spear, sword and bow. Mail is usually mentioned whenever he describes the appearance of elves in battle. Spearmen and many archers used shields. Non-avari (wood elf) armies all include significant numbers of cavalry, many or all armed with bows and yet charging fiercely. Nobles could fight either mounted or on foot, and they and their guards were significantly more dangerous than other Elven troops. The Laiquendi are mentioned as being exceptional for elves, lightly armed and inexperienced in warfare, as were the early Second Age Woodland Realm and Lothlorien armies. Other elves were tactically clever, experienced, well armed, and attacked aggressively. |
The only instance of impetuous is mentioned at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad (the Battle of Unnumbered Tears when Morgoth broke the power of the First Age Noldor kingdoms - a central military and social tragedy in Elven lore) and originated with individuals, rather than bodies of troops. Dunedain and Orcish wedge and shieldwall tactics probably have their origins in Elven military practice.
Elves outside the sphere of Noldorian culture were less well prepared for war and were frequently ill equipped. The Avari (Wood or Sylvan Elves) of Lorien and Mirkwood in the Second Age (and the Laiquendi of Beleriand in the First Age) both suffered badly in open battle against Orcs. However, once Noldor and Sindar influence spread under Galadriel and Thranduil, the Avari fared far better and seem to have adopted the military practices of the High Elves. Major mounted components are not mentioned in their armies however, although probably present in small numbers.
Elven troops were swift in the attack and fierce in defence. All the descriptions of the Noldor in the five battles against Morgoth mention them as attacking swiftly with the sword. They made effective use of ambushes and were little impeded by terrain, fighting major battles in woods, marshes and mountains. All of which suggests a major problem in terms of game balance. The only solution I can suggest for gamers wanting to avoid a one-sided conflict is to only use First or Second Age armies (where Noldor are present in large numbers) if their opponents are drawn from the same era. The following are the basic classifications for Third Age elves and my reasons why. Almost all troops are classed as regular because elves are stable, social immortals with (usually) long experience of warfare, the exception being some Avari levies who were poorly equipped and inexperienced.
* Troops: these all move an additional inch (50 paces) to normal movement distances.
(S) Troops: These use the version 2 DBM rules. i.e. (S) troops add one to a loosing score and add one to a winning score if shooting.
Nobles: Reg Kn(O)* if Sindar or Avari Nobles @13pt. or Reg Kn(S)* if predominantly Noldor @16pt. They often fought dismounted (e.g. Battle of Five Armies) so can dismount as Bd(O)* or Bd(S)* respectively. There were few Noldor left in Middle Earth after the fall of Gil-Galad and the defeat of Sauron in the War of the Last Alliance. Most of these troops would probably be Sindar in origin, with a higher proportion of Noldor in Lindon armies. Their equipment is uncertain but they could drive deep into the enemy and rode unequalled Elven horses. They were, arguably, the best troops in Middle Earth.
Cavalry: Reg LH(S) Elven horsemen are describe as riding swiftly and shooting arrows at the coming of Glaurung (First Age) and the Fall of Angmar (Third Age) but armament is otherwise unknown. They were certainly armed with a sword, possibly mail and defeated warg-riders and Easterling cavalry so rate (S) status. Their reluctance to close with Glaurung is hardly indicative of anything but common sense.
Noldor, Sindar or Guard: Reg Bd(S)*: The best Noldor nobles from the First Age, with superb armour, supernatural powers and heroic motivation. Or Reg Bd(O)*: For lesser Noldor, and Sindar Nobles. The Noldor favoured swords as their primary weapon, Sindar axes. They were considerably better armed, stronger and more war-hardy than their Avari brethren. They displayed a similar pattern of battlefield behaviour but were far more dangerous. The First Age descriptions all emphasise swift attacks with swords. With supporting Ps approximately the right punch and manoeuvrability can be achieved. Such troops were fairly scarce in the Third Age.
Avari Spearmen: Reg Ax(S). They were armed with spear, shield and sword, and normally mail. They attacked swiftly from a mountain spur at the Battle of Five Armies and were the forest fighters par excellence.
Archers: Reg Bw(S)* Often equipped with mail and/or shield, and always using an elf-bow and knife or sword. Elven archers were prepared to close to contact (as at the Battle of Five Armies). They were certainly more effective than their historical counterparts.
Skirmishers: Reg Ps(S): Sindar and Avari Borderers or March Wardens, usually mailed and with mixed weapons Or Reg Ps(O): as more lightly armed scouts or levies.
Supporting Psiloi: Reg Ps(O) Add +1 rear support as normal, and also against all Orcs, Uruks, Wargs, Warg-riders, Wolves, Werewolves and Dr(O) or (I). Spearmen and archers working in close support is the typical picture from all Tolkien’s accounts of battles. Elven units raised as such are mentioned in the description of the Gate Guard of Gondolin and a similar pattern is seen with the Rangers of Ithilien (who are probably modelled on Elven Borderers). At the Battle of Five Armies the avari spearmen attacked with the support of archers. The practice also existed with the historical models Tolkien uses for his mythical world: the Romans and Frankish spearmen of post Roman Europe.