Tolkien

[Jason_Els]

Woe be to anyone who calls Lord of the Rings (and others), "just some books". If they hit you, and they don't hit everyone, then they are a price beyond rubies. There is no place, no people, no thing you would not forsake to to Middle Earth (consider it like heaven).

Make no mistake, this is the effect Tolkienology has on some people and Fëanor is right, this is an honest to goodness real religion--Church and all. Perhaps it seems completely oddball but it's true so try to cut some slack.

Same thing for you too Fëanor, cut the uninitiated some slack . Not a good way to introduce people to the faith.

Thanks,
Jason

 

[Uto3]

I just think you guys are too fanatic about a MOD about some books that contain copied stories from (I believe) Celtic mythology. Now I'm not judging you guys, as I can understand how someone gets absorbed by a book and stuff, but this MOD should be for I guess people who only read the LotR-books.

So then you have only a few civs for every race and that's it.

PS: Tolkien's world is NOT the best fantasy world ever. Yer own brain could create worlds far better then Middle-Earth, as Middle-Earth misses the 'romance'.

 

[Fëanor]

[punch] He's an Heretic!!! BURN HIM!!!! :slay:

 

[BoSekel]

And the map???:crazyeyes

 

[Uto3]

Feanor for instance:

Ever checked his signature. Right. No normal person could possibly understand what is written there. It is even in an unspoken language, how's that! It is just far too sad that people let their lives being absorbed by such a book.

:crazyeyes :crazyeyes Well, Feanor, congratulations on a life well wasted. :crazyeyes :crazyeyes

 

[Jason_Els]

Being a fan of Durin's folk I have to wonder just how the map could accomodate dwarves. The places the dwarves lived in were deep underground and while the dwarves managed to eat they didn't have vast tracts of land.

Even if you were to force cities in mountain zones it would be difficult to make the cities viable enough to sustain a population without either altering the terrain or moving the dwarves to non-canonical locations. I have a hard time imagining this map as anything other than "huge".

Men- Commercial, Militaristic
Elves- Scientific, Religious
Hobbits- Scientific, Commercial
Dwarves- Industrious, Scientific
Orcs/Mordor-Expansionist, Militaristic
Southrons/Easterlings-Religious, Expansionist

This would be, I think, the traditional view of Middle Earth but it doesn't seem as balanced unless you give the Alliance some pretty heady wonders to reflect their fewer numbers but superior magic/technology/leadership. This isn't going to be easy,

......And nice Black Speech, Fëanor. I know exactly what it says. And I *do* have a life thankyouverymuch. And if it means "normal" people don't understand it then that's great. Some messages are best received only by those who understand them (otherwise they might be ridiculed and who has time for idiots who ridicule things they don't want to understand or respect?).

 

[Corvi #6]

Uto3;
Tolkiens' objective was to create a new mythology for the English, and were his stories do borrow from older myths those myths are english and scandinavian, not celtic. I agree about the fanatiscism, though; it's beginning to look like a 'Star Wars' convention in here...

BTW, Feanor, p'haps you can enlighten me: What exactly did the Silmarils do? I mean, other than give off light? Why would anyone want them so badly? Was it like with Freyjas' necklace in Norse mythology, Brsinganen or something, that didn't have any particular powers but made anyone who saw it want to own it at any price?

 

[Witchfinder]

OK, firstly I'm going to be mega-anal. It wasn't Eowyn who rescued Frodo in the movie, it was Arwen who is basically just in the appendices in the books. Eowyn I am sure will be an important character in "The Return of the King". Sadly, we'll have to wait 2 years to see it

Secondly, I think certain changes in the movie plot were necessary (such as the removal of Bombadil), but other changes were made simply to add a more PC slant to things. I would have far prefered Glorfindel to Arwen. In fact, that is probably my biggest gripe about the whole movie. Other gripes include the godawful soundtrack and other pieces of plot butchery too numerous to go into here.

Thirdly, for anyone who wants the ultimate Tolkien computer game, download an Amiga or Atari ST emulator, and then download "War in Middle Earth". Middle Earth Heaven

Fourthly, magical artifacts in Tolkien's works generally have unspecified powers. For example, the One Ring gives powers of invisibility, but in the hands of Gandalf, Elrond or Aragorn, it would have enabled them to alter the tides of battles and summon up huge storms (for example).

Most likely the Silmarils would have a subtle but powerful effect. Magic items in Tolkien's works rarely shoot fireballs or cause explosions - rather they allow the user to create enchantments to, say, conceal an elven city or seemingly alter the passage of time over a large area. They also have a powerful effect on the hearts and minds of people, inspiring them with health and vigour, or demoralising and wasting them away.

Fifth and finally, Feanor isn't wasting his life. He simply has an interest and fascination with Tolkien's books, much like myself. One could argue that you yourself waste your life on computer games like Civ, Uto3, or perhaps football or television, or even flaming people on the internet.

Who is wasting their life? The man who reads to better his mind, or the man who drinks himself stupid in a bar every night? I have a pretty good life, thanks very much.

 

[Fëanor]

Originally posted by Jason_Els
Being a fan of Durin's folk I have to wonder just how the map could accomodate dwarves. The places the dwarves lived in were deep underground and while the dwarves managed to eat they didn't have vast tracts of land.

Even if you were to force cities in mountain zones it would be difficult to make the cities viable enough to sustain a population without either altering the terrain or moving the dwarves to non-canonical locations. I have a hard time imagining this map as anything other than "huge".

Men- Commercial, Militaristic
Elves- Scientific, Religious
Hobbits- Scientific, Commercial
Dwarves- Industrious, Scientific
Orcs/Mordor-Expansionist, Militaristic
Southrons/Easterlings-Religious, Expansionist

This would be, I think, the traditional view of Middle Earth but it doesn't seem as balanced unless you give the Alliance some pretty heady wonders to reflect their fewer numbers but superior magic/technology/leadership. This isn't going to be easy,

......And nice Black Speech, Fëanor. I know exactly what it says. And I *do* have a life thankyouverymuch. And if it means "normal" people don't understand it then that's great. Some messages are best received only by those who understand them (otherwise they might be ridiculed and who has time for idiots who ridicule things they don't want to understand or respect?).

ur a fan of Durin's Folk 'Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd aimênu!'

but i must say that u cant possibly just make Men 1 race , neither elfs , orcs or dwarves.

and as Fingon said: Utúlie'n aurë! Aiya Eldalie ar Atanatári utúlie'n auré!

 

[Uto3]

Originally posted by Witchfinder
Fifth and finally, Feanor isn't wasting his life. He simply has an interest and fascination with Tolkien's books, much like myself. One could argue that you yourself waste your life on computer games like Civ, Uto3, or perhaps football or television, or even flaming people on the internet.

Who is wasting their life? The man who reads to better his mind, or the man who drinks himself stupid in a bar every night? I have a pretty good life, thanks very much.

Nah, I wasn't seriously implying that Feanor has wasting his life, you just missed the wicked smilies.

But all I'm doing is plea for a simple MOD about middle-earth. Nobody would ever want to play in a world that is far to complicated to be understandable for people that have only read the LotR books.

btw: I don't think reading Tolkiens books is a way of bettering ones mind.

 

[Beelzibub]

i think youve missed the point about this whole idea.
while not quite as extreme as Feanor (ok so i spelt it wrong)
i feel that Uto3 should merely imprisoned by the Elves rather than being burnt as a heretic.
perhaps he still has some part to play.
anyway...
Uto3, why shouldnt the mod only make sense to Lotr readers. A WWII mod wouldnt make sense to anyone who had never heard of the war. Besides so many people have read the books that it doesnt matter if you havent.
The quote on the back of my copy of the books say it all:
"The English speaking world is divided into those who have read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and those who are going to read them"

so read them or else miss out on the best story ever written.

 

[ScrewTape]

Ok... I'm not on the same level of "Tolken Fan Boy" as some of you are on here... but I was REALLY upset with the fact that Aragorn was NOT carrying his sword in Bree, Weathertop, etc. They totally skipped over that, and you saw the sword sitting as some artifact Rivendell.. What was up with that? I mean they totally omitted the significance of the sword in the movie. I thought that was the biggest deal by far..


Oh yea.. and a mod would be nice..

 

[Thuloid]

Ok, I haven't posted here for a while, so here's a progress report....


Working on 3 different Tolkien mods, related but different:
1)First age & beyond scenario--Civs include Melkoric(not intended for human play), Noldor & those of Teleri who saw light of two trees (Caliquendi), Moriquendi(elves not seeing light of two trees), Dwarves, 3 Houses of the Edain (1 Civ), other civs for other races of men, maybe others?
2)Second age/Numenorean expansion--lots of human civs, 2 elf civs, sauron, unaffiliated Orcs, dwarves, hobbits(maybe) etc...
3)3rd age & wars of the rings-as above, add hobbits, saruman, gondor, arnor, rohan, who knows what else...

I found out how to do separate tech trees for the civs, plus a common tech tree& some techs in common for certain civs but not others. Using this, can have separate city improvements for each civ, really customize....

Melkoric & sauronic civs to have extremely high culture--Spread of the shadow & all, cause massive pollution & be extremely expansionist.

Few units in common among civs & only among certain ones--most will be roughly equivalent-everybody gets a warrior lookalike, but w/ different name & (hopefully) graphics, at least for nonhumans...

Please offer suggestions for advances, wonders. Some examples:

Wonders Glaurung-- allows dragons to be produced, First age only, Melkoric only (obviously)
Girdle of Melian- defensive imp. in all cities
Iron Crown--maybe same effect as U.N., allows diplomatic victory, only for Melkor?

advances:breeding orcs, forging jewels, ring crafting, crossbreeding(for uruk-hai), feanorian letters, runes, mithril working,....

I have been somewhat held up in my progress, as my copy of the Silmarillion, and a few other texts, are & have been far, far away from my person (in Los Angeles while I have been in Germany). Since I am going back to LA in less than 2 weeks, progress should pick up.

It will need graphics for leader heads (Melkor, Sauron, a Dwarf, at least 1 Elf, a hobbit, maybe a Numenorean-type head, others human heads probably ok with in-game graphics.

New resources, esp. mithril (need a silvery graphic), pipeweed(obviously a luxury), maybe certain elfy trees for ships ....


Names for cities is a bit of a trick, given the relatively few settlement names Tolkien provides--if anybody could help out by gluing together some syllables in Tolkien languages into appropriate city names, it would be most appreciated. For now, i am using way too many geographic designations as city names, using duplicates (e.g., in order to have more than a handful of Dwarf city names, i use both Moria and Khazad-dum,yes, i know that's stupid, please help if you object as strongly as I do....)

Please continue to offer suggestions & give help in any possible way, in addition to working on your own interpretations of Tolkien mods, if you think the direction I''m taking mine isn't where you would like to go with it.

 

[Jason_Els]

Fëanor: The problem with breaking it up into smaller groups is you run the risk of Gondor allying with Mordor against Harad or Lorien going to war against Rivendell. To make it too varied would create subdivisions of unnatural allys (unless there's a way to make permanent alliances in the editor OR to have certain diplomatic agreements take place at specific points). The uncooperative element in the whole thing is the AI. Having fewer races minimizes that component.

(this is REALLY abridged)
Uto3: The Silmarils were three radiant jewels made by (ahem) Fëanor and greatly coveted for they were virtuous, powerful, and possesed the light of the universe. Needless to say there were great wars of desire over them full of backstabbing, malice, but also of faith, piety, perseverance, and great love. Two were destroyed, one survived and is carried by Eärendil, a good elf (father of Elrond and great+2000 grandfather of Aragorn), as he journeys over the sky as the morning and evening star.

Take note! The phial that Galadriel gives Frodo in the movie (and the book) is light from the remaining Silmaril; it is possibly the single most valuable thing in Middle Earth.

P.S. If read without bias LOTR will make you a better person. That is where the real magic of the books is.

Thank you,
Jason

 

[Fëanor]

Originally posted by Jason_Els
If read without bias LOTR will make you a better person. That is where the real magic of the books is.

Thank you,
Jason

may Eru Bless those words , for they are true.

 

[Fëanor]

Originally posted by Thuloid
Names for cities is a bit of a trick, given the relatively few settlement names Tolkien provides--if anybody could help out by gluing together some syllables in Tolkien languages into appropriate city names, it would be most appreciated. For now, i am using way too many geographic designations as city names, using duplicates (e.g., in order to have more than a handful of Dwarf city names, i use both Moria and Khazad-dum,yes, i know that's stupid, please help if you object as strongly as I do....)

Cities, Towns and Villages
Aldburg
Alqualondë
Andúnië
Angrenost
Annúminas
Archet
Armenelos
Avallónë
Barad-dûr
Belegost
Bree
Brithombar
Bucklebury
Bywater
Caras Galadhon
Carn Dûm
Crickhollow
Dale
Dark Tower
Dwarrowdelf
Edhellond
Edoras
Eglarest
Ephel Brandir
Erebor
Erech
Esgaroth
Estolad
Ethring
Fornost
Frogmorton
Gabilgathol
Gamwich
Grey Havens
Gondolin
Hadhodrond
Harlond, port in Lindon
Havens of the Falas
Havens of Sirion
Hidden City
Hidden Rock
Hobbiton
Imladris
Isengard
Khazad-dûm
Kingdom under the Mountain
Lake-town
Linhir
Little Delving
Lond Daer
Longbottom
Lugbúrz
Menegroth
Michel Delving
Mickleburg
Minas Anor
Minas Ithil
Minas Morgul
Minas Tirith
Mithlond
Moria
Mundburg
Nargothrond
Newbury
Nindamos
Nogrod
Ondolindë
Osgiliath
Ost-in-Edhil
Pelargir
Phurunargian
Pincup
Rivendell
Rock of the Music of Water
Rómenna
Rushey
Rushy
Staddle
Standelf
Stock
Swanhaven
Tharbad
Thousand Caves
Tighfield
Tirion
Tookbank
Tower of Guard
Tower of Sorcery
Tuckborough
Tumunzahar
Underhill
Valimar
Valmar
Vinyalondë
Vinyamar
White Tower
Woodhall



Fortresses and Strongholds
Amon Sûl, Tower of
Angband
Angrenost
Barad Eithel
Barad-dûr
Cirith Ungol, Tower of
Citadel of Gondor
Dark Tower
Dol Guldur
Dunharrow
Durthang
Formenos
Hells of Iron
Henneth Annûn
Hornburg
Isengard
Lugbúrz
Minas Anor
Minas Ithil
Minas Morgul
Minas Tirith, Beleriand
Minas Tirith, Gondor
Moontower
Mount Fang
Mundburg
Orthanc
Tower of Amon Sûl
Tower of Cirith Ungol
Tower of Guard
Tower of the Moon
Tower of the Rising Moon
Towers of the Teeth
Udûn
Utumno
White Tower



Other Buildings
Avallónë, Tower of
Bag End
Bar-en-Danwedh
Brandy Hall
Dome of Stars
Durin's Tower
Elostirion
Elrond, House of
First Homely House
Golden Hall
Golden Perch
Great Hall of Feasts
Great House
Great Smials
Hall of Fire
Halls of Waiting
Harlond, port of Minas Tirith
House of Elrond
House of the Mírdain
House of the Stewards
Houses of the Dead
Houses of Healing
Karningul
King's House
Last Homely House
Lockholes
Mathom-house
Meduseld
Mill
Mírdain, House of the
Old Mill
Prancing Pony
Rhosgobel
Tower of Avallónë
Tower of the King
White House of Erendis



Cities and Buildings of Aman
Alqualondë
Avallónë
Avallónë, Tower of
Formenos
Halls of Waiting
Swanhaven
Tirion
Tower of Avallónë
Valimar
Valmar



Cities and Buildings of Beleriand
Angband
Bar-en-Danwedh
Barad Eithel
Belegost
Brithombar
Eglarest
Ephel Brandir
Estolad
Gabilgathol
Gondolin
Havens of the Falas
Havens of Sirion
Hells of Iron
Hidden City
Hidden Rock
Menegroth
Mickleburg
Minas Tirith
Nargothrond
Nogrod
Ondolindë
Rock of the Music of Water
Thousand Caves
Tower of the King
Tumunzahar
Vinyamar



Cities and Buildings of Middle-earth (excluding Beleriand)
Aldburg
Amon Sûl, Tower of
Angrenost
Annúminas
Archet
Bag End
Barad-dûr
Brandy Hall
Bree
Bucklebury
Bywater
Caras Galadhon
Carn Dûm
Cirith Ungol, Tower of
Citadel of Gondor
Crickhollow
Dale
Dark Tower
Dol Guldur
Dome of Stars
Dunharrow
Durin's Tower
Durthang
Dwarrowdelf
Edhellond
Edoras
Elrond, House of
Erebor
Erech
Esgaroth
Ethring
First Homely House
Fornost
Frogmorton
Gamwich
Golden Hall
Golden Perch
Great Hall of Feasts
Great House
Great Smials
Grey Havens
Hadhodrond
Harlond, port in Lindon
Harlond, port of Minas Tirith
Henneth Annûn
Hobbiton
Hornburg
House of Elrond
House of the Mírdain
House of the Stewards
Houses of the Dead
Houses of Healing
Imladris
Isengard
Karningul
Khazad-dûm
King's House
Kingdom under the Mountain
Lake-town
Last Homely House
Linhir
Little Delving
Lockholes
Lond Daer
Longbottom
Lugbúrz
Mathom-house
Meduseld
Michel Delving
Mill
Minas Anor
Minas Ithil
Minas Tirith
Mírdain, House of the
Mithlond
Moontower
Mount Fang
Moria
Mundburg
Newbury
Old Mill
Orthanc
Osgiliath
Ost-in-Edhil
Pelargir
Phurunargian
Pincup
Rhosgobel
Rivendell
Rushey
Rushy
Staddle
Standelf
Stock
Tharbad
Tighfield
Tookbank
Tower of Amon Sûl
Tower of Cirith Ungol
Tower of Guard
Tower of the Moon
Tower of the Rising Moon
Tower of Guard
Towers of the Teeth
Underhill
Vinyalondë
White Tower
Woodhall



Cities and Buildings of Númenor
Andúnië
Armenelos
Nindamos
Rómenna
White House of Erendis



Cities and Buildings of the Dwarves
Belegost
Durin's Tower
Dwarrowdelf
Erebor
Gabilgathol
Hadhodrond
Khazad-dûm
Kingdom under the Mountain
Mickleburg
Moria
Nogrod
Phurunargian
Tumunzahar



Cities and Buildings of the Elves
Alqualondë
Avallónë
Barad Eithel
Brithombar
Caras Galadhon
Edhellond
Eglarest
Elrond, House of
First Homely House
Formenos
Gondolin
Grey Havens
Harlond, port in Lindon
Havens of the Falas
Havens of Sirion
Hidden City
Hidden Rock
House of Elrond
House of the Mírdain
Imladris
Karningul
Last Homely House
Menegroth
Minas Tirith
Mírdain, House of the
Mithlond
Nargothrond
Ondolindë
Ost-in-Edhil
Rivendell
Rock of the Music of Water
Swanhaven
Thousand Caves
Tirion
Tower of Avallónë
Tower of the King
Vinyamar



Cities and Buildings of the Hobbits
Bag End
Brandy Hall
Bree
Bucklebury
Bywater
Crickhollow
Frogmorton
Gamwich
Golden Perch
Great Smials
Hobbiton
Little Delving
Lockholes
Longbottom
Mathom-house
Michel Delving
Mill
Newbury
Old Mill
Pincup
Rushey
Rushy
Staddle
Standelf
Stock
Tighfield
Tookbank
Tuckborough
Underhill
Woodhall



Cities and Buildings of Men
Aldburg
Amon Sûl, Tower of
Andúnië
Angrenost
Annúminas
Archet
Armenelos
Bree
Cirith Ungol, Tower of
Citadel of Gondor
Dale
Dome of Stars
Dunharrow
Edoras
Ephel Brandir
Erech
Esgaroth
Estolad
Ethring
Fornost
Golden Hall
Great Hall of Feasts
Great House
Harlond, port of Minas Tirith
Henneth Annûn
Hornburg
Houses of Healing
Isengard
King's House
Lake-town
Linhir
Lond Daer
Meduseld
Minas Anor
Minas Ithil
Minas Tirith
Moontower
Mount Fang
Mundburg
Osgiliath
Orthanc
Pelargir
Rómenna
Tharbad
Tower of Amon Sûl
Tower of Cirith Ungol
Tower of Guard
Tower of the Moon
Tower of the Rising Moon
Towers of the Teeth
Vinyalondë
White House of Erendis
White Tower



Cities and Buildings of the Enemy
Angband
Barad-dûr
Carn Dûm
Cirith Ungol, Tower of
Dark Tower
Dol Guldur
Durthang
Hells of Iron
Isengard
Lugbúrz
Minas Morgul
Moontower
Mount Fang
Orthanc
Tower of Cirith Ungol
Tower of Sorcery
Towers of the Teeth
Udûn
Utumno

NOTE , i wrote all the Cities/buildings by ALL their names.
but i hope this will help

 

[Jason_Els]

Thuloid:

Rings:

I would add the 3 elven rings as +defense and +morale bonuses with one of them also giving the ability to make great leaders come about more easily. The 7 dwarven rings would be +commerce (Colossus on your finger!) and +morale (dwarves are happiest when rich), the nine are much harder but I would make them Sauronic-specific and make them ease creation of great leaders and allow production of dark riders and, later, winged Nazgul.

Palantiri: Puts an embassy and spy in every civilization but also reduces resistance to cultural overthrow.

Wonders:

Caras Galadon: Sistine chapel/Hanging Gardens effect
Cirdan's Shipyard: Lighthouse/Magellan's effect
Longbottom Leaf: Cure for cancer effect (oh irony)
Meduseld: Sun Tzu's Art of War
Mithril Mine: Great Wall effect (same for Girdle of Melian)

That's all I can think of now. Let me know if you'd like more.

For Unaligned Orcs I think barbarians could be used. They behave the same Don't know if you can put them in towns or not but I'd give them Umbar.

Thanks!
Jason

PS- Methinks Fëanor went to the Encyclopedia of Arda.....hmmmm.

 

[Uto3]

Originally posted by Beelzibub
i feel that Uto3 should merely imprisoned by the Elves rather than being burnt as a heretic.
perhaps he still has some part to play.
anyway...
Uto3, why shouldnt the mod only make sense to Lotr readers. A WWII mod wouldnt make sense to anyone who had never heard of the war. Besides so many people have read the books that it doesnt matter if you havent.
The quote on the back of my copy of the books say it all:
"The English speaking world is divided into those who have read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and those who are going to read them"

Guys like Feanor and stuff have read the complete works of Tolkien and they know a whole ****load of Middle-Earth related stuff. But they are a minority. Wouldn't it be nicer to create a MOD that is playable (in terms of 'I understand what they imply') by people with knowledge of LotR only (like me). Because then you'll have a bigger public for it by greater accessiblity.

From your post I understand that you misunderstood my post I guess. I do want SOME 'deep' features in the MOD, but not all these things they were saying about all these races of elves and stuff, It's not fun to play for someone who doesn't know them.

Originally posted by Beelzibub
so read them or else miss out on the best story ever written.

I did read them and I do think is a story of epic proportions, I agree on that wholely, but I do not think of it as the best story I ever read. But this is off-topic so I won't talk about this anymore. Just understand that I'm not the only one who thinks so.

 

[ChrisShaffer]

That's an impressive list of places, Fëanor.

Anyone developing a Middle Earth Mod should check out The Encyclopedia of Arda, which contains a wealth of such information.

http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/

 

[Witchfinder]

I suppose other wonders of Middle Earth ought to include:

The Argonath - If anything deserves to be a wonder, this is it - two enormous statues carved out of a cliff face to represent the ancient borders of a kingdom. Their effect should perhaps be like a Forbidden Palace, spreading the influence of the kingdom, or maybe like a Great Wall, warding off barbarians and other invaders.

Amon Hen - The Hill of Sight, a small wonder that could give a bonus to science production.

Amon Lhaw - The Hill of Hearing. Supposedly, by sitting here the men of Gondor could hear their enemies conspiring against them. Seems logical that this small wonder would be the equivalent of an Intelligence Agency.

Grond - Melkor's Hammer, the name also given to the massive battering ram used at Minas Tirith. This could give an offensive bonus to units attacking cities.

Palantir - The seeing stones used for long distance spying and communication. The effect would perhaps be like the Great Library.

Mithril Mines - Bonus to happiness in cities.

Orthanc - The tower at Isengard, and definately a wonder of Middle Earth. Virtually impregnable, it would supersede the Argonath as a new Great Wall when it's effects were cancelled.

I suppose other wonders would include some of the rings such as Nenya and Narya, and obviously the One Ring.

As for some of the suggested Civ advances like "Orc Breeding" - I don't imagine the elves and dwarves would have much use for this advance. They need to be more general. Ring-Craft for example is a good choice. Mithril-Working would be another good one. I imagine most of the tech tree would be almost identical for the Ancient and Middle ages, although advances like Gunpowder would have a different effect (no musketmen).

The height of the tech tree would bring units like heavy infantry and cavalry, that can be generalised for any faction. Special units could be matched up to factions like so:

Uruk-Hai (orc infantry - Saruman evil faction)
Mumakil (battle elephants - Haradrim men faction)
Olog Hai half trolls (troll infantry - Sauron evil faction)
Knights of Dol-Amroth, or maybe Tower Guards (knights - Gondor men faction)
Corsairs (naval vessel - Black Numenorean men faction)
Riders of Rohan (cavalry - Rohan men faction)
Elven Lords (cavalry - elf faction)
Wainriders (heavy chariots - Easterling men faction)
War-Mattock Infantry (dwarf heavy infantry - dwarf faction)

I don't think hobbits would make a particularly suitable faction!

There really isn't any need for different mods to represent different ages of Middle Earth - that's the whole point of Civ. It covers thousands of years.