Difference between revisions of "The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II"

Latest revision as of 15:49, 7 March 2024

The Battle for Middle-earth
Subseries of Middle-earth
The Battle for Middle-earth	2004
The Battle for Middle-earth II	2006

Warnings

GameSpy online services have been shut down (see Network for solutions).

The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II is a singleplayer and multiplayer bird's-eye view RTS game in the The Battle for Middle-earth series.

The base game received six official patches, the fifth of which was produced by the GameReplays.org BFME2 section. This patch is most notable for the introduction of the hard counter system.

The game received The Rise of the Witch-king expansion pack in November 2006, outsourced to BreakAway Games. It introduced the playable Angmar faction, new units for existing factions and new campaigns. It was, however, based on an obsolete build of BFME2 (earlier than 1.05 at least), and its own single official patch left the game in a state of severe balancing problems and audio mixing/volume issues in the new campaign.

As of December 31, 2010, the official GameSpy service was shut down and all purchases were halted due to Electronic Arts' loss of the Lord of the Rings license.^[1]

Same as with the first game, the game remains playable on modern Windows versions with some major technical hiccups that can be worked around; issues like errors when starting the game and DRM issues. Unofficial patches resolve most of the game's problems; off-host delay was fixed only for The Rise of the Witch-king in unofficial patch 2.02 build 9.0.0 and newer.

General information

T3A:Online - fan-hosted multiplayer server replacement

BfME II section on GameReplays.org - home to the competitive community and the unofficial 1.09 patch

Rise of the Witch-king section on GameReplays.org - home to the competitive community and the unofficial 2.02 patch

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Retail		SafeDisc v4 DRM^{[Note 1]}.
Origin (unavailable)		Physical copies used to activate on Origin, but they no longer do.^[4]

SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).

All versions include custom DRM code which can sabotage the game by destroying all units and structures owned by the player after 3 minutes and 30 seconds, triggering an automatic defeat. It can occur on legitimate copies under certain circumstances - see Auto-defeat after 3 minutes and 30 seconds for instructions to fix this.

A free demo version can be downloaded from GameFront or GamePressure.

Monetization

Type	Notes
Expansion pack	The expansion pack includes a new faction, a new campaign, maps, units, and War of the Ring mode scenarios.
One-time game purchase	The game requires an upfront purchase to access.

DLC and expansion packs

Name	Notes
The Rise of the Witch-king

Essential improvements

Skip intro videos

Go to <path-to-game>\data\movies\
Delete or rename CS01.vp6, EALogo.vp6, TE_LOGO.vp6, NLC_LOGO.vp6 and NewLineLogo.vp6.

For languages other than English the EA logo file played is a localised version extracted from the archive file <path-to-game>\lang\LanguageName.big. To remove the video, this file needs to be edited, for instance with a custom tool such as FinalBIG or OS BIG Editor.

Official patches

The latest official patch for the base game is 1.06, available from Patches-Scrolls, GameFront, and CNCNZ.com.

The latest official patch for The Rise of the Witch-king is 2.01, available from Patches-Scrolls, GameFront and CNCNZ.com.

Widescreen mods for BFME2 without 1.09

Modified interface download link

Maps with modified zoom download link (breaks compatibility with originals)

Maintains developer-intended gameplay.

Not used by users online.

To bypass the DRM, use the modified game.dat from the 1.09 patch.

Unofficial 1.09 patch (BFME2)

Download link

Does not require the disc.

Adapts the main game interface for widescreen resolutions and fixes a lot of the bugs and imbalances left after the official 1.06 patch.

Includes a patch switcher for switching between the official 1.00 and 1.06 versions, as well as 1.09.

Breaks compatibility with the Rise of the Witch-king expansion.

Changes visuals extensively.

Unofficial 2.02 patch (RotWK)

Download link

Source code

Does not require the disc.

Adapts the main game interface for widescreen resolutions and fixes a lot of the bugs and imbalances left after the official 2.01 patch, and is actively maintained. As of release 9.0.0 (February 4, 2023), an engine-level bug plaguing all games in the series that caused delayed commands in multiplayer has been fixed.

Active multiplayer community.

Requires the BFME2 1.09 unofficial patch to be deactivated to run.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System	Location
Windows	%APPDATA%\<Localized My Battle for Middle-earth(tm) II Files>\options.ini %APPDATA%\<Localized My The Lord of the Rings, The Rise of the Witch-king Files>\options.ini

Save game data location

System	Location
Windows	%APPDATA%\<Localized My Battle for Middle-earth(tm) II Files>\save %APPDATA%\<Localized My The Lord of the Rings, The Rise of the Witch-king Files>\save

Save game cloud syncing

System	Native	Notes
Origin

Video

General settings menu (the expansion has an identical menu, with a different theme)

Custom graphics settings menu

Graphics feature	WSGF	Notes
Widescreen resolution		See Widescreen resolution or use an unofficial patch launcher for setting a custom resolution. The UI is stretched by default; see Widescreen mods for BFME2 without 1.09 or an unofficial patch to adapt the interface to widescreen aspect ratios.
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen
4K Ultra HD
Field of view (FOV)	No FOV sliders exist; the maps themselves need to be manually edited. For FOV adapted to 16:9 resolutions, see Widescreen mods for BFME2 without 1.09 or use an unofficial patch.
Windowed	Use `-win` parameter.
Borderless fullscreen windowed
Anisotropic filtering (AF)	See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anti-aliasing (AA)	See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
High-fidelity upscaling	See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Vertical sync (Vsync)	See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
60 FPS and 120+ FPS	Frame rate is capped at 30 FPS^[5], with game speed tied to frame rate.
High dynamic range display (HDR)	See the glossary page for potential alternatives.

Widescreen resolution

Set custom resolution^[6]
Open the configuration file with a text editor. Change `Resolution xxx xxx` to the desired resolution.

Input

Keyboard and mouse	State	Notes
Remapping		See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support

Controller types

Audio

Audio feature	State	Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
EAX support
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
French
German
Italian
Norwegian
Polish
Russian
Spanish
Swedish
Thai

Issues unresolved

Off-host delay

All games in this series suffer from a delay when giving commands, measured in seconds, if the player is not the host of the multiplayer match.

For Battle for Middle-earth II, there is no known fix.

For The Rise of the Witch-king, this issue was fixed in the unofficial 2.02 patch in builds 9.0.0 and newer. A full explanation is available here.

Issues fixed

Game not starting on Windows Vista and later

When first starting the game after the installation, the game instantly crashes with an error.

Caused by the installer not creating a crucial options.ini file automatically.

If the game is uninstalled and reinstalled on the same system, the file is always deleted and has to be created anew every time the game is installed.

Manually creating options.ini^[7]

Locate the default folder for the options.ini at %APPDATA%\My Battle for Middle-earth(tm) II Files and %APPDATA%\My The Lord of the Rings, The Rise of the Witch-king Files
Create a new text document and name it options.ini
Open the file and insert the following lines:

AudioLOD = High
FlashTutorial = 0
HasSeenLogoMovies = yes
IdealStaticGameLOD = High
Resolution = 1024 768
StaticGameLOD = High
TimesInGame = 6

Make sure to change the Resolution value to the preferred resolution.

4. Save the changes

5. Run the game.

Auto-defeat after 3 minutes and 30 seconds

Is triggered by DRM, even on legitimate installations.

Use unofficial patches^[8]
Circumvents DRM causing this issue.

Check game's serial key registry entries^[9]

Clean reinstall of the game as administrator^[10]
Fully re-install the game with administrator privileges in hopes the registry keys will be correctly created.

Network

Multiplayer types

Type	Players	Notes
Local play
LAN play	8	Versus
Online play	8	Versus The official GameSpy service has been shut down on December 31, 2010 due to Electronic Arts losing the Lord of the Rings license.^[11]. Replaced by T3A:Online.

Connection types

Type	Native	Notes
Matchmaking
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated
Self-hosting
Direct IP

Ports

Protocol	Port(s) and/or port range(s)
UDP	16000

Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.

Other information

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
Direct3D	9.0c

Executable	32-bit	64-bit	Notes
Windows

Middleware

	Middleware	Notes
Cutscenes	On2 VP6
Multiplayer	GameSpy	Shut down in 31 December 2010.

Command line arguments

Command^[12]	Description
-win	Runs the game in windowed mode
-mod [path to .big file]	Runs the game with the selected mod
-xres [number]	Sets resolution width
-yres [number]	Sets resolution height
-noaudio	Disables the game audio
-noshellmap	Disables the Argonath animation in the main menu

Modifications

Base game

BfME II: HD Edition

An Unexpected Mod

Special Extended Edition

Rise of the Witch-king

RotWK HD Edition

Age of the Ring - requires the unofficial 2.02 patch

Edain Mod - incompatible with the unofficial 2.02 patch

RJ RotWK - incompatible with the unofficial 2.02 patch

System requirements

Windows
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	XP
Processor (CPU)	1.6 GHz	Intel Pentium 4 3 GHz AMD Athlon XP 3 GHz
System memory (RAM)	256 MB	1 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	6 GB
Video card (GPU)	Nvidia GeForce 3 ATI Radeon 8500 64 MB of VRAM DirectX 9.0c compatible	Nvidia GeForce 7800 128 MB of VRAM

Online mode requires 512 MB of system RAM.

Notes

↑ SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10^[2] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.^[3]

References

↑ Middle-earth Online Server Shutdown Announced - Battle for Middle Earth - GameReplays.org - last accessed on 2023-08-11
↑ Not Loading in Windows 10; this will break thousands of - Microsoft Community - last accessed on 2017-01-16
↑ Microsoft - MS15-097: Description of the security update for the graphics component in Windows: September 8, 2015 - last accessed on 2018-02-16
↑ Solved: Is NFS Carbon Redeemable on Origin - Answer HQ - last accessed on 2020-12-03
↑ LOTR: Battle For Middle Earth II FPS Unlocker!!!! NO MORE 30 FPS LIMIT - Guru3D.com Forums - last accessed on May 2023
↑ Verified by User:Plok on 2021-09-14
↑ Verified by User:Plok on 2021-09-14
↑ Verified by User:Plok on 2022-08-10
↑ Verified by User:Plok on 2022-08-10
↑ Verified by User:Plok on 2022-08-10
↑ Middle-earth Online Server Shutdown Announced - last accessed on May 2023
↑ List of ROTWK command line switches. - GameReplays.org - last accessed on May 2023

[4] SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10^[2] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.^[3]

[1] Middle-earth Online Server Shutdown Announced - Battle for Middle Earth - GameReplays.org - last accessed on 2023-08-11

[2] Not Loading in Windows 10; this will break thousands of - Microsoft Community - last accessed on 2017-01-16

[3] Microsoft - MS15-097: Description of the security update for the graphics component in Windows: September 8, 2015 - last accessed on 2018-02-16

[5] Solved: Is NFS Carbon Redeemable on Origin - Answer HQ - last accessed on 2020-12-03

[6] LOTR: Battle For Middle Earth II FPS Unlocker!!!! NO MORE 30 FPS LIMIT - Guru3D.com Forums - last accessed on May 2023

[7] Verified by User:Plok on 2021-09-14

[8] Verified by User:Plok on 2021-09-14

[9] Verified by User:Plok on 2022-08-10

[10] Verified by User:Plok on 2022-08-10

[11] Verified by User:Plok on 2022-08-10

[12] Middle-earth Online Server Shutdown Announced - last accessed on May 2023

[13] List of ROTWK command line switches. - GameReplays.org - last accessed on May 2023

[1]

[Note 1]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[2]

[3]

Developers

	EA Los Angeles
Expansion	BreakAway Games
Publishers
	Electronic Arts
Engines
	SAGE
Release dates
Windows	March 2, 2006
Reception
Metacritic	84
IGDB	81
Taxonomy
Monetization	One-time game purchase, Expansion pack
Microtransactions	None
Modes	Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing	Real-time
Perspectives	Bird's-eye view
Controls	Multiple select, Point and select
Genres	RTS
Art styles	Realistic
Themes	Fantasy
Series	The Battle for Middle-earth

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 {{Infobox game/row/reception|IGDB|the-lord-of-the-rings-the-battle-for-middle-earth-ii|81}}
 |taxonomy     =
-{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization      | Expansion pack }}
+{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization      | One-time game purchase, Expansion pack }}
-{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | }}
+{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | None }}
 {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes             | Singleplayer, Multiplayer }}
 {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing            | Real-time }}
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls          | Multiple select, Point and select }}
 {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres            | RTS }}
-{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/sports            | }}
+{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles        | Realistic }}
-{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles          | }}
-{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles        | }}
 {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes            | Fantasy }}
 {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series            | The Battle for Middle-earth }}
+|official site= https://web.archive.org/web/20070531195652/http://www.ea.com:80/official/lordoftherings/rotwk/us/home.jsp?ncc=1
 |steam appid  =
 |gogcom id    =
+|lutris       = lord-of-the-rings-battle-for-middle-earth-ii
 |strategywiki = The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II
-|mobygames    = lord-of-the-rings-the-battle-for-middle-earth-ii
+|mobygames    = 23582
 |hltb         = 10064
 |wikipedia    = The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 }}
-'''Key points'''
+{{Introduction
-{{--}} Frame rate is capped at 30 FPS.
+|introduction      =
-{{--}} GameSpy online server browser deactivated on December 31, 2010 due to Electronic Arts losing the Lord of the Rings license.<ref>[http://www.gamereplays.org/battleformiddleearth/portals.php?show=news&news_id=709520&home Middle-earth Online Server Shutdown Announced]</ref>
+|release history   = The base game received six official patches, the fifth of which was produced by the [https://www.gamereplays.org/battleformiddleearth2/ GameReplays.org ''BFME2'' section]. This patch is most notable for the introduction of the hard counter system.
+The game received '''''The Rise of the Witch-king''''' expansion pack in November 2006, outsourced to [[Company:BreakAway Games|BreakAway Games]]. It introduced the playable Angmar faction, new units for existing factions and new campaigns. It was, however, based on an obsolete build of ''BFME2'' (earlier than 1.05 at least), and its own single official patch left the game in a state of severe balancing problems and audio mixing/volume issues in the new campaign.
+As of December 31, 2010, the official [[GameSpy]] service was shut down and all purchases were halted due to [[Company:Electronic Arts|Electronic Arts]]' loss of the ''Lord of the Rings'' license.<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.gamereplays.org/battleformiddleearth/portals.php?show=news&news_id=709520|title=Middle-earth Online Server Shutdown Announced - Battle for Middle Earth - GameReplays.org|date=2023-08-11}}</ref>
+|current state     = Same as with the [[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth|first game]], the game remains playable on modern Windows versions with some major technical hiccups that can be worked around; issues like [[#Game not starting on Windows Vista and later|errors when starting the game]] and [[#Auto-defeat after 3 minutes and 30 seconds|DRM issues]]. [[#Essential improvements|Unofficial patches]] resolve most of the game's problems; [[#Off-host delay|off-host delay]] was fixed only for ''The Rise of the Witch-king'' in unofficial patch 2.02 build 9.0.0 and newer.
+}}
 '''General information'''
 {{mm}} [https://t3aonline.net T3A:Online] - fan-hosted multiplayer server replacement
-{{mm}} [https://www.gamereplays.org/battleformiddleearth2 BfME II section on GameReplays.org] - home to the unofficial 1.09 patch
+{{mm}} [https://www.gamereplays.org/battleformiddleearth2 BfME II section on GameReplays.org] - home to the competitive community and the unofficial 1.09 patch
-{{mm}} [https://www.moddb.com/mods/battle-for-middle-earth-2-hd-edition BfME II: HD Edition]
+{{mm}} [https://www.gamereplays.org/riseofthewitchking Rise of the Witch-king section on GameReplays.org] - home to the competitive community and the unofficial 2.02 patch
-{{mm}} [https://www.gamereplays.org/riseofthewitchking BfME II RotWK section on GameReplays.org] - home to the unofficial 2.02 patch
-{{mm}} [https://www.moddb.com/mods/rotwk-hd-edition BfME II RotWK HD Edition]
 ==Availability==
 {{Availability|
 {{Availability/row| Retail | | disc, key | {{DRM|SafeDisc|v4}}. | | Windows }}
-{{Availability/row| Origin | | Origin |  | | Windows | unavailable}}
+{{Availability/row| Origin | | Origin | Physical copies used to activate on Origin, but they no longer do.<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://answers.ea.com/t5/Other-Need-for-Speed-Games/Is-NFS-Carbon-redeemable-on-Origin/m-p/9157137/thread-id/10814|title=Solved: Is NFS Carbon Redeemable on Origin - Answer HQ|date=2020-12-03}}</ref> | | Windows | unavailable}}
 }}
-{{--}} This game is no longer available digitally. It was taken down from digital stores, as Electronic Arts lost the Lord of the Rings license at the end of 2010.
+{{--}} All versions include custom {{term|DRM}} code which can sabotage the game by destroying all units and structures owned by the player after 3 minutes and 30 seconds, triggering an automatic defeat. It can occur on legitimate copies under certain circumstances - see [[#Auto-defeat after 3 minutes and 30 seconds|Auto-defeat after 3 minutes and 30 seconds]] for instructions to fix this.
-{{--}} Physical copies used to activate on Origin, they no longer do.<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://answers.ea.com/t5/Other-Need-for-Speed-Games/Is-NFS-Carbon-redeemable-on-Origin/m-p/9157137/thread-id/10814|title=Solved: Is NFS Carbon Redeemable on Origin - Answer HQ|date=2020-12-03}}</ref>
+{{ii}} A free demo version can be downloaded from [https://www.gamefront.com/games/battle-for-middle-earth-2/file/lotr-the-battle-for-middle-earth-ii-sp-demo GameFront] or [https://www.gamepressure.com/download.asp?ID=10794 GamePressure].
-===Demo===
+==Monetization==
-The free demo can still be downloaded [https://www.fileplanet.com/archive/p-16716/Battle-for-Middle-Earth-2-Single-Player-Demo here] or [https://www.gamepressure.com/download.asp?ID=10794 here].
+{{Monetization
+|ad-supported           =
+|dlc                    =
+|expansion pack         = The expansion pack includes a new faction, a new campaign, maps, units, and War of the Ring mode scenarios.
+|freeware               =
+|free-to-play           =
+|one-time game purchase = The game requires an upfront purchase to access.
+|sponsored              =
+|subscription           =
+}}
-==Monetization==
 {{DLC|
 {{DLC/row| The Rise of the Witch-king |  | Windows }}
@@ Line 67: / Line 81: @@
 ===Skip intro videos===
 {{Fixbox|description=Skip intro videos|fix=
-# Go to <code>{{p|game}}\data\movies\</code>
+# Go to {{folder|{{p|game}}\data\movies\}}
-# Delete or rename <code>CS01.vp6</code>, <code>EALogo.vp6</code>, <code>TE_LOGO.vp6</code>, <code>NLC_LOGO.vp6</code> and <code>NewLineLogo.vp6</code>.
+# Delete or rename {{file|CS01.vp6}}, {{file|EALogo.vp6}}, {{file|TE_LOGO.vp6}}, {{file|NLC_LOGO.vp6}} and {{file|NewLineLogo.vp6}}.
-{{ii}} For languages other than English the EA logo file played is a localised version extracted from the archive file <code>{{p|game}}\lang\LanguageName.big</code>. To remove the video you would need to edit this file, for instance with a custom tool such as [http://wagnerma.de/yinger/showdownload.php?detail=1 FinalBIG] or [https://www.ppmsite.com/osbigeditorinfo/ OS BIG Editor].
+{{ii}} For languages other than English the EA logo file played is a localised version extracted from the archive file {{file|{{p|game}}\lang\LanguageName.big}}. To remove the video, this file needs to be edited, for instance with a custom tool such as [http://wagnerma.de/yinger/showdownload.php?detail=1 FinalBIG] or [https://www.ppmsite.com/osbigeditorinfo/ OS BIG Editor].
 }}
 ===Official patches===
-* [https://www.gamefront.com/games/battle-for-middle-earth-2/category/91-v1-06 Patch 1.06] is the latest official patch for the base game.
+{{ii}} The latest official patch for the base game is 1.06, available from [https://www.patches-scrolls.de/patch/4254/7/32843 Patches-Scrolls], [https://www.gamefront.com/games/battle-for-middle-earth-2/category/v1-06 GameFront], and [https://cncnz.com/downloads/battle-for-middle-earth-ii-downloads/#patches CNCNZ.com].
-* [https://www.gamefront.com/games/battle-for-middle-earth-2-rotwk/category/patches-148 Patch 2.01] is the latest official patch for The Rise of the Witch-king.
+{{ii}} The latest official patch for The Rise of the Witch-king is 2.01, available from [https://www.patches-scrolls.de/patch/4256/7/32856 Patches-Scrolls], [https://www.gamefront.com/games/battle-for-middle-earth-2-rotwk/category/patches-148 GameFront] and [https://cncnz.com/downloads/rise-of-the-witch-king-downloads/#patches CNCNZ.com].
 ===Widescreen mods for BFME2 without 1.09===
-* [https://www.the3rdage.net/item-717?addview Modified interface download link]
+{{mm}} [https://www.the3rdage.net/item-717?addview Modified interface download link]
-* [https://www.the3rdage.net/item-792?addview Maps with modified zoom download link (breaks compatibility with originals)]
+{{mm}} [https://www.the3rdage.net/item-792?addview Maps with modified zoom download link (breaks compatibility with originals)]
 {{++}} Maintains developer-intended gameplay.
 {{--}} Not used by users online.
-{{ii}} For no DVD requirement, use the modified game.dat from the 1.09 patch.
+{{ii}} To bypass the DRM, use the modified {{file|game.dat}} from the 1.09 patch.
 ===Unofficial 1.09 patch (BFME2)===
-* [https://www.gamereplays.org/battleformiddleearth2/portals.php?show=page&name=bfme2-patch-1.09 Download link]
+{{mm}} [https://www.gamereplays.org/battleformiddleearth2/portals.php?show=page&name=bfme2-patch-1.09-version-3.0-live Download link]
 {{++}} Does not require the disc.
 {{++}} Adapts the main game interface for widescreen resolutions and fixes a lot of the bugs and imbalances left after the official 1.06 patch.
@@ Line 92: / Line 106: @@
 ===Unofficial 2.02 patch (RotWK)===
-* [https://www.gamereplays.org/riseofthewitchking/portals.php?show=page&name=unofficial-patch-202-download-page Download link]
+{{mm}} [https://www.gamereplays.org/riseofthewitchking/portals.php?show=page&name=unofficial-patch-202-download-page Download link]
-* [https://gitlab.com/forlongthefat/rotwk-unofficial-202 Source code]
+{{mm}} [https://gitlab.com/forlongthefat/rotwk-unofficial-202 Source code]
 {{++}} Does not require the disc.
-{{++}} Adapts the main game interface for widescreen resolutions and fixes a lot of the bugs and imbalances left after the official 2.01 patch.
+{{++}} Adapts the main game interface for widescreen resolutions and fixes a lot of the bugs and imbalances left after the official 2.01 patch, and is actively maintained. As of release 9.0.0 (February 4, 2023), an engine-level bug plaguing all games in the series that caused delayed commands in multiplayer has been fixed.
 {{++}} Active multiplayer community.
 {{--}} Requires the BFME2 1.09 unofficial patch to be deactivated to run.
@@ Line 102: / Line 116: @@
 ===Configuration file(s) location===
 {{Game data|
-{{Game data/config|Windows|{{p|appdata}}\My Battle for Middle-earth(tm) II Files\options.ini|{{p|appdata}}\My The Lord of the Rings, The Rise of the Witch-king Files\options.ini}}
+{{Game data/config|Windows|{{p|appdata}}\{{LocalizedPath|My Battle for Middle-earth(tm) II Files}}\options.ini|{{p|appdata}}\{{LocalizedPath|My The Lord of the Rings, The Rise of the Witch-king Files}}\options.ini}}
 }}
 ===Save game data location===
 {{Game data|
-{{Game data/saves|Windows|{{p|appdata}}\My Battle for Middle-earth(tm) II Files\save|{{p|appdata}}\My The Lord of the Rings, The Rise of the Witch-king Files\save}}
+{{Game data/saves|Windows|{{p|appdata}}\{{LocalizedPath|My Battle for Middle-earth(tm) II Files}}\save|{{p|appdata}}\{{LocalizedPath|My The Lord of the Rings, The Rise of the Witch-king Files}}\save}}
 }}
@@ Line 138: / Line 152: @@
 |4k ultra hd wsgf award     = incomplete
 |widescreen resolution      = hackable
-|widescreen resolution notes= See [[#Widescreen mods for BFME2 without 1.09|Widescreen mods for BFME2 without 1.09]] or use an unofficial patch. Exact resolutions need to be changed in the [[#Configuration file(s) location|configuration file(s)]] or in the unofficial patch launcher(s).
+|widescreen resolution notes= See [[#Widescreen resolution|Widescreen resolution]] or use an unofficial patch launcher for setting a custom resolution.<br>The UI is stretched by default; see [[#Widescreen mods for BFME2 without 1.09|Widescreen mods for BFME2 without 1.09]] or an unofficial patch to adapt the interface to widescreen aspect ratios.
 |multimonitor               = unknown
 |multimonitor notes         =
@@ Line 155: / Line 169: @@
 |antialiasing               = false
 |antialiasing notes         =
+|upscaling                  = false
+|upscaling tech             =
+|upscaling notes            =
 |vsync                      = false
 |vsync notes                =
 |60 fps                     = false
-|60 fps notes               = Frame rate is capped at 30 FPS; removing cap increases game speed.<ref>[http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=192855 LOTR: Battle For Middle Earth II FPS Unlocker!!!! NO MORE 30 FPS LIMIT - Guru3D.com Forums]</ref>
+|60 fps notes               = Frame rate is capped at 30 FPS<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=192855|title=LOTR: Battle For Middle Earth II FPS Unlocker!!!! NO MORE 30 FPS LIMIT - Guru3D.com Forums|date=May 2023}}</ref>, with game speed tied to frame rate.
 |120 fps                    = false
 |120 fps notes              =
@@ Line 165: / Line 182: @@
 |color blind                = false
 |color blind notes          =
+}}
+===[[Glossary:Widescreen resolution|Widescreen resolution]]===
+{{Fixbox|description=Set custom resolution|ref=<ref>{{Refcheck|user=Plok|date=2021-09-14|comment=}}</ref>|fix=
+# Open the [[#Configuration file(s) location|configuration file]] with a text editor.
+# Change <code>Resolution xxx xxx</code> to the desired resolution.
 }}
@@ Line 244: / Line 267: @@
 |mute on focus lost notes =
 |eax support              = true
-|eax support notes        =
+|eax support notes         =
+|royalty free audio        = unknown
+|royalty free audio notes  =
 }}
@@ Line 321: / Line 346: @@
 }}
 }}
+==Issues unresolved==
+===Off-host delay===
+{{--}} All games in this series suffer from a delay when giving commands, measured in seconds, if the player is not the host of the multiplayer match.
+{{--}} For ''Battle for Middle-earth II'', there is no known fix.
+{{++}} For ''The Rise of the Witch-king'', this issue was fixed in the [[#Unofficial 2.02 patch (RotWK)|unofficial 2.02 patch]] in builds 9.0.0 and newer. A full explanation is available [https://www.gamereplays.org/riseofthewitchking/portals.php?show=page&name=rotwk_2.02_delay_fix here].
 ==Issues fixed==
 ===Game not starting on Windows Vista and later===
 {{ii}} When first starting the game after the installation, the game instantly crashes with an error.
+{{ii}} Caused by the installer not creating a crucial {{file|options.ini}} file automatically.
+{{--}} If the game is uninstalled and reinstalled on the same system, the file is always deleted and has to be created anew every time the game is installed.
-{{Fixbox|description=Manually creating options.ini|ref=<ref>{{Refcheck|user=Plokite Wolf|date=2021-09-14|comment=}}</ref>|fix=
+{{Fixbox|description=Manually creating options.ini|ref=<ref>{{Refcheck|user=Plok|date=2021-09-14|comment=}}</ref>|fix=
-#Locate the default folder for the <code>options.ini</code> at <code>{{p|appdata}}\My Battle for Middle-earth(tm) II Files</code> and <code>{{p|appdata}}\My The Lord of the Rings, The Rise of the Witch-king Files</code>
+#Locate the default folder for the {{file|options.ini}} at {{folder|{{p|appdata}}\My Battle for Middle-earth(tm) II Files}} and {{folder|{{p|appdata}}\My The Lord of the Rings, The Rise of the Witch-king Files}}
-#Right click, create a new Text Document and name it <code>options.ini</code>
+#Create a new text document and name it {{file|options.ini}}
-#Open your the file and insert the following lines:
+#Open the file and insert the following lines:
 <pre>
 AudioLOD = High
@@ Line 339: / Line 372: @@
 TimesInGame = 6
 </pre>
-{{ii}}Make sure to change the ''Resolution'' value to your preferred resolution.
+{{ii}}Make sure to change the {{code|Resolution}} value to the preferred resolution.
-:4. Save your changes
+:4. Save the changes
-:5. You should now be able to start the game normally
+:5. Run the game.
+}}
+===Auto-defeat after 3 minutes and 30 seconds===
+{{ii}} Is triggered by DRM, even on legitimate installations.
+{{Fixbox|description=Use [[#Essential improvements|unofficial patches]]|ref=<ref>{{Refcheck|user=Plok|date=2022-08-10|comment=}}</ref>|fix=
+{{ii}} Circumvents DRM causing this issue.
+}}
+{{Fixbox|description=Check game's serial key registry entries|ref=<ref>{{Refcheck|user=Plok|date=2022-08-10|comment=}}</ref>|fix=
+}}
+{{Fixbox|description=Clean reinstall of the game as administrator|ref=<ref>{{Refcheck|user=Plok|date=2022-08-10|comment=}}</ref>|fix=
+{{ii}} Fully re-install the game with administrator privileges in hopes the registry keys will be correctly created.
 }}
@@ Line 354: / Line 401: @@
 |lan play modes       = Versus
 |lan play notes       =
-|online play          = true
+|online play          = hackable
 |online play players  = 8
 |online play modes    = Versus
-|online play notes    = Official servers have been shut down in 2011.<ref>[http://www.ea.com/1/service-updates EA Service Updates]</ref>
+|online play notes    = The official [[GameSpy]] service has been shut down on December 31, 2010 due to Electronic Arts losing the Lord of the Rings license.<ref>{{Refurl|url=http://www.gamereplays.org/battleformiddleearth/portals.php?show=news&news_id=709520&home|title=Middle-earth Online Server Shutdown Announced|date=May 2023}}</ref>. Replaced by [https://t3a-online.net/ T3A:Online].
 |asynchronous         =
 |asynchronous notes   =
@@ Line 373: / Line 420: @@
 }}{{Network/Ports
 |tcp  =
-|udp  =
+|udp  = 16000
-|upnp =
+|upnp = unknown
 }}
@@ Line 402: / Line 449: @@
 |windows 32-bit exe     = true
 |windows 64-bit exe     = false
+|windows arm app        = false
 |windows exe notes      =
 |macos intel 32-bit app =
 |macos intel 64-bit app =
+|macos arm app          = unknown
 |macos app notes        =
 |linux 32-bit executable=
 |linux 64-bit executable=
+|linux arm app          = unknown
 |linux executable notes =
 }}
@@ Line 421: / Line 471: @@
 |input            =
 |input notes      =
-|cutscenes        =
+|cutscenes        = On2 VP6
 |cutscenes notes  =
 |multiplayer      = GameSpy
-|multiplayer notes= Shut down in 2011.
+|multiplayer notes= Shut down in 31 December 2010.
 }}
+===[[Glossary:Command line arguments|Command line arguments]]===
+{| class="wikitable"
+|-
+! Command<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.gamereplays.org/community/index.php?showtopic=416726|title=List of ROTWK command line switches. - GameReplays.org|date=May 2023}}</ref> !! Description
+|-
+| -win || Runs the game in windowed mode
+|-
+| -mod [path to .big file] || Runs the game with the selected mod
+|-
+| -xres [number] || Sets resolution width
+|-
+| -yres [number] || Sets resolution height
+|-
+| -noaudio || Disables the game audio
+|-
+| -noshellmap || Disables the Argonath animation in the main menu
+|}
+===Modifications===
+'''Base game'''
+{{mm}} [https://www.moddb.com/mods/battle-for-middle-earth-2-hd-edition BfME II: HD Edition]
+{{mm}} [https://www.moddb.com/mods/an-unexpected-mod An Unexpected Mod]
+{{mm}} [https://www.moddb.com/mods/special-extended-edition Special Extended Edition]
+'''Rise of the Witch-king'''
+{{mm}} [https://www.moddb.com/mods/rotwk-hd-edition RotWK HD Edition]
+{{mm}} [https://www.moddb.com/mods/the-horse-lords-a-total-modification-for-bfme Age of the Ring] - requires the unofficial 2.02 patch
+{{mm}} [https://www.moddb.com/mods/edain-mod Edain Mod] - incompatible with the unofficial 2.02 patch
+{{mm}} [https://www.moddb.com/mods/rj-rotwk RJ RotWK] - incompatible with the unofficial 2.02 patch
 ==System requirements==