Thread: Warden lore?

Hello, I am new to playing the Warden class, and enjoying it very much. I made an Elf Warden, but have just now created a Hobbit one, because, well, Hobbits look quite cool with the Javelins and spears!

Anyway, I like the know the Lore of a class as I play it, because it really helps me engage with the class itself, making it more enjoyable for me. I know that the class was inspired by Haldir - but this is all I know.

If anyone could tell me the lore of Wardens; what they're for in LOTR, (what they do, protect etc), background information, anything, I'd be very interested.

I have searched the Internet but to no avail.

Thanks for any help!

This is what I know from game; The Warden patrols the borders of civilized lands, preventing the encroachment of fell creatures from the Wild. They limit themselves to medium armour so that they can travel swiftly and silently to defend those they protect from threats. Wardens all have some military training and have mastered a style of combat that uses combinations of basic attacks to create masterful Gambits

and here's some online help http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Warden

Hope this helps

I see, so Wardens are defenders then I guess. It seems fun playing a Warden on a hobbit over my Elf warden, there's something... different and slightly exciting about it. Probably isn't so lore abiding but oh well.


If anyone else has any Lore information to add to this, it would be greatly appreciated

wardens are basically like guardians, just with fewer armor and harder to master, but once mastered, your enemies will have some hard time killing you

A warden is someone who has been given charge to guard or watch something, like a warden in a jail, fire warden, game warden, etc.

Haldir was charged with guarding the borders of Lorien, warding those inside from the dangers of orcs and goblins.

The Gondorian people were wardens against Mordor, guarding the rest of the west from the evils lurking within the blighted area.

Hobbit bounders are a type of warden, there to protect the peace under the hidden umbrella of the rangers.

It's hard to give actual lore since wardens are a product of turbine rather then strictly speaking Tolkien but to put it in simplest terms Wardens are the Ranger groups along with to a certain extent hunters. Story line wise Wardens backstory is that of the Rangers even more so then hunters while in gameplay Hunters are closer to descriptions of rangers while wardens are sparten spearmen (300 had just come out and well look for yourself).

Originally Posted by Poppyann

I see, so Wardens are defenders then I guess. It seems fun playing a Warden on a hobbit over my Elf warden, there's something... different and slightly exciting about it. Probably isn't so lore abiding but oh well.


If anyone else has any Lore information to add to this, it would be greatly appreciated

Actually, I think Warden's are about the perfect representation of Hobbit Bounders in the game. They patrol the borders and fight with simple, effective weapons like spears and clubs, but do so while wearing lighter, medium armor. Simple methods, with endless possibilities. Throw on a Shirrif Hauberk and matching title, and you're ready to knock of some Goblin heads (with a club, of course)! And they have a sweet tooth...

I also think Warden's represent Rohan riders well, what with the large use of spears and probably javelins from horseback.

But generally, I just think of Wardens as the watchmen, militiamen, guards, scouts, that sort of thing. My take anyway.

Regarding to me, I see the warden as an elven way of the protector compared to the gardian symbolised by the dwarf.
The elven protector relies mostly on his agility as it is one of their race trait, to protect himself and also on the conviction that his cause is right to motivate himself if needed.
where the dwarf protector cant count on his agility cuz he is kinda "stocky" and stronger, that why they count more in the strength of their armors.

Haldir is not for me the best example for the warden. The best example would rather be the worthy Gondolindrim defenders who have faced the forces of Morgoth in the first age and some have also stood up against Balrogs and other dragons.

I set the warden in this context for two main reasons :

- First, the warden is strongly inspired by ancient Greek hoplites. It therefore relates to a period prior to the events of the Third Age. If I remember correctly, the Silmarillion mentions the phalanx of King Turgon also recalls that the warden and his "hoplitic" style.

- Secondly, the warden has a legendary book that mentions the Gondolindrim fighters precisely, if i am not wrong this is the book "The Watch Against the Night", which reinforces my view with the creator of the warden.

However humans and hobbits may also be wardens but not with such a background of course.

The background of the hobbit warden would rather be protector of the Shire's like Bandobras Took (again we can point a legendary book, named "Bullroarer's Boy").

The human warden would focus in protecting the Bree Lands. I cant see the Ranger of the north as a warden, i think the warden style doesnt fit them at all (despite the legendary book "Chieftains of the Dúnedain" as the title indicates, the Rangers). I think the protector of the Rangers would rather be halfway between the warden and guardian.

I think your ideas on lore about Elven wardens are pretty spot-on, but I wanted to add since you provided a nice diving board...

Originally Posted by Aeliunwe

- First, the warden is strongly inspired by ancient Greek hoplites. It therefore relates to a period prior to the events of the Third Age. If I remember correctly, the Silmarillion mentions the phalanx of King Turgon also recalls that the warden and his "hoplitic" style.

IIRC, it is also mentioned or implied that the men of Rhun favored phalanx-style infantry and Kataphractoi-like heavy cavalry... I'm not sure how much of that is canon and how much is idle speculation though. I know information on the East is few and far between.

As such, it might give a bit of lore for a Dale-based Warden; I believe they had quite a few skirmishes with Rhun, and it stands to reason they may share combat tactics (like the Crusaders and "Saracens" during the Crusades).

My other excuse for a man-warden that might not be so much of a stretch is a Rohan-based one... the use of spears and javelins seem to be right up the alley of a rider. Put what the warden does on horseback, and you've got a Rohirrrim. They even look the part with the armor sets.

I'd also look at Gil-galad...he wasnt a Warden, he was a Noldor King, but he's the only really visible spear-user in LOTRO lore, and I think he's where we get much of our actual in-combat theming.

Originally Posted by Aeliunwe

The human warden would focus in protecting the Bree Lands. I cant see the Ranger of the north as a warden, i think the warden style doesnt fit them at all (despite the legendary book "Chieftains of the Dúnedain" as the title indicates, the Rangers). I think the protector of the Rangers would rather be halfway between the warden and guardian.

I disagree. Ranger is someone who is a descendant of the Dúnedain bloodline. So, if you were going to put it in character creation terms. "Ranger" is more like an origin city/story then a class. In the book they don't go into detail of how the rangers fight as a group they are just implied to be extremely proficient bowmen in the hunter style, Yet others are extremely learned in Lore and Medicines. Its plausible that some fight in the warden style, since they already share a parallel duty to protect lands/people under their care.