Those hints are not in the game but some in comments section:

FOR ALL PLAYERS :
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VERY IMPORTANT BEFORE TO PLAY THIS SCENARIO: 

Remember that all civilizations, stats, units, heroes and technologies are almost changed here. You can see their names only with the language mod. So don't play without it (all instructions needed to enable it are in the first lines of description of the scenario here, and it is very easy and fast to do it, when you know exactly what to do).


WHEN YOU PLAY THE SCENARIO :

Wild animals are more nasty and strong in this scenario : they get more hit points and attack according to their size, which I find more realistic and fun.
Palantirs have the same function as a relic in the game.
Bannermen are like monks (they can heal, convert (but not the heroes or elite units) and can transport palantirs).

All spearmen line got one range.


Big units like trolls, balrogs, ents and mumakils, and even heavy cavalry (with horse only, not wargs), make trample (splash=around them) damages.

Lancers are special heavy cavalry with bonus against other cavalry, even mumakils (they are based on AOE2 camels). Some cavalry civilizations like Harad or Rohan, have access to them in stable simply by reaching the third age (LOTR imperial age).


The elven civs got access to mighty elven longbowmen after they developed their unique imperial age technology. They got huge range, attack and armor (they are based on skirmishers and thus, made in archery range). It is compensate by the fact they don't have access to trebuchets in this scenario.

Don't forget to hunt, fish and eat cattle : there are lot of that kind of ressources on the map.
You can't build farms but you can queue them in a mill (all players got one mill at least) for automatic replant.
Make sure to collect other kind of food first, for instance berries and have enough villagers before to send them on your farms, because if one farm is exhausted and there is a farm with no farmer on it close, the idle farmer will take it and the previous farm will be destroyed forever, even if there are farms stocked in your mill.
Click on all buidlings : their shape can be strange for you at first : read their function.
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ABOUT "CANNIBALISM": for the Mordor (player 2) and Isengard (player 7):
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They gain 100 food for each enemy killed.
The tribute (given by Gaia) will be done every time you reach the double of the previous number of kills, starting with 1.
So at 1 kill score (giving 100 food), 2 (=2x1, giving 100 food again totalizing 200), 4 (=2x2 giving 200 food), 8 (=2x2x2 giving 400 food), etc untill 2048 kills giving 102400 food.
This amount is balanced by less farms for those factions or less strong units and the share of the number of enemies killed.
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FOR PLAYER 1 :

You got a palantir in front of the White Tower and thus, free cartography at start.

Don't feed the Mordor with your units: make them stronger with all upgrades available.

Don't forget to make Faramir in your wonder on the top of Minas Tirith: The White Tower.

Boromir can't go out of Osgiliath area before being asked to go to the council of Elrond by his father Denethor, Stewart of Gondor.

Both brothers are stronger than any type of units (except mumakil) even the nazguls but less than the Witch king after Minas Morgul reaches third age (imperial age). Beware of that detail so!

Look well of all buildings you got, some are very secret to the enemy and can be very useful like Henneth Annûn. You can pass in and out under the waterfall.

Frodo can't go out of the Shire until Gandalf is back from Minas Tirith Great archives to Bag End, but he can still shelter in Bucklebury Ferry or Maggot's farm (which is a town center who can produce villagers and garrison them to shoot arrows (like all TCs) guarded by 3 hero domesticated dogs ressembling to wolves with restricted area on the crops).

The hobbits can beat ferocious animals or any regular units easily (except trolls and mumakils), but not the black riders, especially if they are 8 and united. It respects the book's hierarchy in strength and thus, the story and plot of Tolkien.

Hurry up with the first missions of Gandalf or the black riders could easily find Frodo locked in the Shire, kill him and take the ring back to Sauron, for him to be able to come back with physical form on Middle Earth.

Meet a precious friend behind the Old Forest. Beware of Old Man Willow when you go in the Old Forest and the Galgal's Spectre on hills behind (« Barrow Downs »).

There is a Royal treasure in galgal's tombs (gold and magic weapons).

The ruins of Amon Sûl on weathertop hill got still one functional tower. It is now abandoned (owned by Gaia) but can be converted by any player. The hobbits can garrison in it and shelter from the Nazgûls, even if an ally owns it (like usually by Rivendell scouting).

Gandalf can be rescued at any moment by the great eagles. Don't worry too much if he is emprisoned.

Bilbo is not dead, he is in Rivendell with the Elves, probably reading some books of old stories or poetry.

Gollum can meet you at any moment of your journey but he can be tamed.
Some people can betray you on certain conditions to take the ring. They are then on Sauron (Player 2) 's control.

Beware of the guardians of the gates of Moria: they are very strong: don't underestimate them, but you can also flee them because they got restricted area to stay in.

Only Elessar got a strong bonus of attack when he meets the army of the deads under the mountain, thanks to Narsil's true king of Gondor's sword remade by the elves. He shall talk to their King to make a deal with them.

Your best regular units are probably the Ithilien rangers: they got a bonus against orcs. Only them can be recruited everywhere on the map, even in Bree, close to the Shire, and protect Frodo or attack Isengard from behind. You can have access to them only in third age (LOTR imperial age) thanks to a special tech in your castle and then make them in any archery range on the map.

Don't cut the bushes guarding the city in Bree, like a defensive wall (the rings wraiths can't pass through, and the gates are in stone, so Bree is way more strong than it seems). You can't upgrade Bree watch towers. On the opposite, Gondorian lands towers are already upgraded as guard towers, you can even upgrade them to "keeps" in imperial age, and you got a unique Gondorian free bonus to garrison ten units in each. The "Great archives" behind the White Tower, is actually like university.

You can trade easily between Bree and Rivendell to get extra gold, without blocking paths or being exposed to the enemies.

You got only one castle to make trebuchets and Tower guards, on the highest level of Minas Tirith, because in the story, they are not alowed to leave the defense of the capital and as their name suggests, guard the royal White Tower (Gondor's wonder and Kings hall) and the white tree of the king. But you got also a fortress in Osgiliath (former Gondor's Capital before civil war and Mordor's conquests, with now only military buildings and ruins) and in Cair Andros (the "stone ship") a fortified island on the great river Anduin, to guard the Gondor bridges from the enemies.They can't create any unit but can garrison 30 units (and thus, throw more arrows than regular castle).

Gandalf is not strong enough to win in one on one combat against the Witch King after imperial age (but he can before) and the Galgal's Spectre ("Barrow-Wight"). Same for all other heroes like Aragorn. It is the same for Gandalf the Grey vs the White Wizzard, Saruman, but he can as Gandalf the White.

To become Gandalf the white, after defeating the Balrog of Moria in the abbyss, after falling into the underground lake (this cools the Balrog and makes him less strong), and breaking the bridge with Gandalf the grey, climb the spiraled endless stairs, break the ruin of Durin's tower on the top of the mountain to go out (this will make Gandalf the grey disappear and Gandalf the White appear, out, on the other side), and simply follow the reverse spiraled road out on mountainside. This will lead to the Wold, the fronteer between Rohan (next to Fangorn forest), Lorien, Gondor and the Brown lands.

If Frodo manages to destroy the ring of Sauron, some unexpected help can occur.

The trebuchets mounted at start in Minas Tirith, are only defensive trebuchets (renamed "wall trebuchet") on top of wall and gain bonus in range that way: +1 for the first level, +2 the second, +3 the third, but they can't move. It figures the fact that elevation gives more trajectory but not so much in range, being in the end almost vertical because of air friction and weight force.


PLAYER 2 :

Your chieftains are your first heroes. You got one chieftain by castle and region of Mordor. Use them to control your land and try to not lose them too easily because you can't remake them.
The best enemies can become the best friends and reverse thanks to the power of the Ring. Read the chat carefully.
If Frodo puts the one ring, Sauron and the nazguls (player 6) will feel it and locate him.
If some of your allies are out of ressources, don't forget to send them your extra ressources.
You can delete a fence, with the delete key to make the cattle stocked there go out.
After having upgraded « siege ram » tech in your siege workshop, a wonder foundation will appear on the Gorgoroth plateau, just in front of Barad-dûr fortress. You just need to finish it with vils, to get the formidable hero ram Grond, with +5000 HP.
Raid villagers with fast wargs or warg riders can be a very good tactic to gain food thanks to cannibalism while weaken the enemies economy.

The olog hais are elite trolls with heavy armor trained to fight and probably your best unit. It is a unique unit made in castle. Make a group with your castles and a gathering point to enhance their production speed (it is the same for all units: you got a lot of buidlings of any kind to do it).

With a special technology in imperial age you can have access to mercenaries of the unique units of your easterling vassals: mumakils and dragon cavalry.

Spare your wood because the poisonous and dark dusty fume coming from Mount doom prevent vegetation to grow except in Nurnen valley, in the south, which is protected by mountains.

PLAYER 3 :

Beware of Grima Wormtongue and the nazguls.
You can't get Cartography tech, because you got no Palantir. Count on beacons or messages from allies to warn for help.
Saruman is perhaps not as good ally as he pretends to be. Beware of his mighty magic powers if he turns against you. Find a way to pass through his powerful magic armor.
Helm's deep got gold mines in its caves. To pass in the fort, you must first go in castle and then target a rally point into the caves. Same to get troops out of the fortress : target a rally point out.
If you got no econmy buiding left : remember that your allies can send ressources.
Don't try to kill the dead warriors in the mountain : they can't go out, are very strong, and can be useful later.
Eowyn got the power to break the Witch King invulnerability, so don't lose her at any cost!
Don't feed Isengard with your units.
Gather your lost cattle on Rohan's fronteers: don't leave them to the enemies.


PLAYER 4 :

You can't get Cartography, because you got no Palantir. Count on messages from allies to warn for help or reverse.
You control two seperated lands : Harad in the South-East and Rhûn in the North-East.
You got no particular mission but need to develop economy on two lands and to make war on two fronts: South-West : against Gondor men, North : against Lorien Elves and both on land and water (beware : your allies don't have docks to help you on water).
Dont forget to make your second hero in wonder (you got already Dragon Kahn in Rhûn Fortress).
You got not a lot of fortifications but lot of buildings and strong unique units: so attack will be your best defense.
Beware of lions!


PLAYER 5 :

Arwen is very weak : she got no attack, so keep her safe.
The council of Elrond is your main mission, so don't send your heroes to death before to be sure to fulfill it or player 1 will have a lot of trouble to finish his missions.
Your heroes can match the nazguls and even the Witch king, before he reaches Imperial age. Be very careful after : run away from him! Your heroes are not strong enough to match the Galgal's Spectre (Barrow Wight) behind the town of Bree.
Try to help Frodo first to join safely your town and after that, help the Rohan.
Escort the fellowship would probably ruin its discretion.
You got the Elven vision which grants you cartography power.
Scout well, make your land safe for hunt and berries collecting for your villagers. There are a lot of ressources guarded by wild animals in your land.
You can also trade with Bree market, but beware to not open the gates to the black riders if Frodo is in Bree.
Your Imladris guardians are the best Olog's counter or for other unique units (they got bonus against unique units, like regular samurais).
You got access to the mighty Elven Longbowmen after buying your unique tech.
You got a very limited amount of maximal population but your city is the most difficult to attack for the enemies because very far from the frontline and strongly fortified.
So you should favor fully upgraded elite units, instead trying to constant spam trash units.


PLAYER 6 :

You can remake the black riders or nazguls infinitely in your castle, but not the Witch King, who is made in wonder (called «Minas Morgul ») once and for all.
Normal upgrades don't affect the nazguls but they got unique techs.
Don't hesitate to ask ressources to allies, because your economy is quite weak.
The Witch King with Nazgul tech is the strongest unit after Tom Bombadil (who got limited area) and Sauron. So even if Minas Morgul is totally ruined and you got only the wicth King standing, don't resign, he can still win against entire armies thanks to his awesome splash damage and armor.
Your priority should really be to get Nazgul upgrade as fast as possible to get his armor, HP and attack bonuses. Beware, the attack of Galadriel is huge enough to pass through your armor bonus and also stones shooted from trebuchets, and any hit from enemy makes a minimal damage of 1 HP.
Beware, the attack of Galadriel is huge enough to pass through your armor bonus and also stones shooted from trebuchets, and any hit from enemy makes a minimal damage of 1 HP.
You got a palantir next to your wonder (the building where you can create the Witch king, in the center of your fortress) and thus, access to cartography. You are in dark age at start, with poor stock and economic buidlings, so, your passing in Imperial age is quite delayed compared to the other players, and you can't create black riders at start (but you got six already created next to your castle).
Don't try to open the Shelob's web symbolized by a palissad gate: it is locked by a looped trigger. Don't delete it neither to try to pass: it is your best warning of strangers trying to pass by hitting it.
Lot of heroes stronger than the black riders can try to defend the hobbits in the Shire but you can shelter them behind the Galgal spectre in the kings tombs area.
If Frodo puts the one ring, the nazguls will feel it and locate him.
Don't lose time, seek the ring as fast as possible, or Frodo will escape in more defended lands and with more heroes.

PLAYER 7 :

At first you will have only Grima as functional unit. You can make Saruman in your wonder (« Orthanc Tower ») but he can't go out of Isengard's walls because he's waiting for Gandalf meeting. Use Grima wisely. As ally with all other players, he can do a lot to annoy your future enemies which are player 1, 3, 5 and 8.
Try to steal cattle and assemble it in Isengard. Lock the gate, to not let future enemies get sneakely in (except Gandalf the Grey), scout everywhere, block future enemie's gates, spy the ring by following Frodo or future enemies assembling troops, etc.
It would be probably more clever to not go in Edoras at start , because the gate can be locked after your passage and you will have no way to send Grima out. If the gates are locked to go in, you can find a way to enter anyway. To banish Eomer to soon, the only strong fighting hero of Rohan at start, can be a bad idea because he can kill with his banished men the black riders passing in Rohan to go in the Shire.
After the emprisonment of Gandalf on the top of Orthanc tower (you can't kill him), you can finally send Saruman out of Isengard's wall and start to make buildings and regular units, but beware, if one military unit goes out of Isengard's walls (even Grima), the diplomacy between you and Rohan (player 3) will turn to neutral, instead of ally. It would be perhaps wiser to built first defenses before going out, but going out more soon can make a strong rush on early game especially with Saruman (who is even more strong than in regular data mod here).
The Mordor will grant you a gift of power if you finish your castle in Isengard.
Your castle produces Uruk hai raiders and the first one made will get a boost as hero and leader of them.
Fire of Orthanc are powerful petards who can blow entire armies and stone wall.
Protect the barrage on the river Isen. If it is destroyed the river released will damage a lot your buildings and even kill all units in Isengard area by being flooded. You can protect them by garisoning in the castle or town center or simply going out of the walls.
If Isengard is destroyed, remember that Saruman is stronger than a regular army : don't resign if he is not dead : try to rally your allies or sneakily rush enemies forward on their weakest points.
Remember that you can convert ennemies buildings too with bannermen and "redemption" technology.


PLAYER 8:

Don't forget to make Galadriel in your wonder (« Caras Galadhon »). She is the strongest unit of the game after Tom Bombadil (who got a very restricted area to stay in : the Old Forest and the Barrow downs, on the Shire fronteer), Sauron (who can take physical form only after the taking back of his ring) and The Witch King of Angmar (after he reaches imperial age). She is even stronger than in the regular data mod version, with range even. But beware : she does splash damage even on your own units and allies units. That means that she damages a bit everything (even buildings) in an area around her added to her main target and attack. It can be wise to use her grouped with more far range units (like Lorien Wardens or Elven Longbows, far behind her and shooting in front of her). She got a strong armor but low hit points, so beware of her. And of course, like all unique heroes, you can't make her a second time if she dies.
Try to sneakily land in Rhûn and attack it fast to prevent player 4 to attack Gondor (player 1).
Same for Mordor after. But don't try to enter in Moria : the mighty Balrog of Morgoth guards the east entrance into the mines and Gandalf the Grey must kill him to become Gandalf the White.
Use nature as ally, not enemy.
You can send quickly foot troops to the west, in Rohan, thanks to transport ships.


AFTERGAME ADVICES :
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DISABLE THE LANGUAGE MOD AFTER A GAME !

You don't need to unsubscribe the language mod to come back to normal game stats and names. Just go in workshop in the game and disable it the same way you enable it : by simply clicking on it (it will just become grey and be ready for another use).
Remember that for that new setting to be effective, you must restart the game.


FINALLY ABOUT REPLAYS :

you can see a replay of a game with the data mods if you have just used it before in another game. So you can for instance play in single player game, set the data mod in settings and resign the first second after game starts before to look a replay, to see all graphics and stats changed.

PS: Remember that I won't explain all triggers to not spoil some surprises (that's why some hints here are kind of "mysterious", to not ruin all suspense).

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!

marcknop, May 2019. Completed in feb 2020