I dont want to be in devils defence in this topic nor start an argument but one of things i really liked on lotr gaming over WH40k and WHFB is the balance between armies (atleast at most part).
I see much speculation over false profiles (not that all are perfect) and you forget that a point cost of a unit doest always come from his stat line but also the list it belongs to.
For example if you have an army like harad, very offensive with little def and add a unit with 6 def it would definately cost more than a warrior of minas tirith even if they the same stat line because then you overgo one of harads weaknesses making them an unbeatable army.
1-dwarf rangers, i think its very logic to have a very expensive archer that has more human ranger like starts and wargear but costs more than an elf.
They are dwarfs and they never ment to be good aiming archers, but still you get the option if you pay more points.
2-Lurtz, even tho i like him as an archer the truth is that isengard doesnt need a second archer beast hero, there is already one counting for 2
And also Isengard should really not have powerfull hereos and by that i mean hereoes with 3A 3W ect (other than mauhur) because they already have access t0 powerfull units,elite archery,cheap units, elites, magic and if you throw a str 5 with 3 attacks lurtz also they break the balance.
3-Theoden, completely agree that he needs a new more of a commander profile.
4- Wood elves. surely the galadhrim/mirkwood armor looks like a heavy armor but remeber that giving elves a def 6 option while having archery,magic,high fight, high courage, powefull heroes is also breaking the balance between armies.
5-Easterling warriors, id agree that they are bah
but because they are the ONLY unit in easterling army, if they had more choices the phalanx rule is awsome because with paying a little for pikes you have a flawless formation (no def 5 units to fear flank)
6-Amdur, i would be much happier with a better stat line as he is the only named hero among easterlings (other than khamul) but then again he has some very unique choices like regaining a point of might (rare occasions but remember how much you would pay for him if he was starting with 4 might
) and also one of the 2 models that can use 2h wep while mounted, he is not that bad.
7-chariots. While i cheered when i saw that they can barge or rend and finally worth something, when they removed that option with FAQ they went back to ''bah''
An army alwasy needs a weakness, whether this is poor def, lack of archery, lack of cavalry, lack of strong heroes or very have everything but very expensive points wise.