 The War of the Ring mode carried over from the first game in the series combines turn @-@ based strategy elements with real @-@ time skirmishes . Middle @-@ earth is divided into territories ; players can construct buildings to produce troops only in a claimed territory . During each turn , the player can move their armies into neutral and enemy territories to take control of them . While neutral territories are conquered by simply entering them , enemy territories must be wrested from the other player by defeating them in a skirmish . Troops can be garrisoned in conquered territories to defend against enemy attacks . When the player chooses to attack another territory , or one of their territories is being invaded by an enemy , they can either simulate the match and let the computer determine the outcome , or play the match by commanding the units in real time . The winner of the skirmish gains the territory , and all surviving units gain experience points . To win the game , players must either control the enemy 's capital territory , or take over a given number of territories in Middle @-@ earth . 
