The Ballad of Snafu Tasty

So, I obtained a discounted copy of Middle-Earth: Shadow of War a while ago and just recently got into playing it. What I've really enjoyed about the open-ended gameplay in this title (and its prequel, Shadow of Mordor) is what the game calls the Nemesis system.

It's a procedural method of developing enemies that's sadly gone un-replicated by other major titles, but here it's used to turn nameless random Orc and Troll minions into experienced elite Captains and Warchiefs with titles, rare traits, a hierarchy and rivalry among others, both those serving the Dark Lord Sauron and those whom your character has bent to serve his own will. These characters have a penchant to become recurring villains as you quest and amass your own army.

Now, I've encountered a number of memorable Orcs particularly in the sequel, but the subject of this story has stood out in particular. This Orc was discovered as a mere level 19 Captain while I was tracking down another Captain I was attempting to dominate, via the player character's questionably-ethical use of a Ring of Power (It's fine, he's fine, don't ask).

The Orc's name is Snafu Tasty.

It was love at first sight. A confused, terrified love, but love nonetheless.

Bear in mind the game generates Captain's names using random syllables plus a title - usually it's something based on a character trait or skill, like "The Beheader", "Flame-Wielder", "The Bladesmith."  But "Tasty?" I was obligated to find out why.

Sadly I did not capture video of my initial encounter with Snafu, but as you'll see from any subsequent footage he demonstrates the breadth and depth of his shtick with the frenetic immediacy of a small child who just learned a joke.

Snafu is obsessed with it; Whatever it is, it's tasty.  It's soooo tasty, he can taste it, and it's gonna be tasty.

I fought him, defeated and bent his deranged one-track mind to my will, and sent him on a mission to defeat another Captain in an arena match, thinking not too much of it. Unfortunately, Snafu Tasty failed his very first match and was dealt a fatal blow. Briefly I was quite disappointed as I had been fond of his seemingly-unique quirk, but I moved on as Orcs were a dime a dozen in Mordor and I had a fortress to conquer.

I assigned another one of my own loyal Orc Captains to become the bodyguard of Ar-Karo the Troll, a Troll Warchief in charge of defenses within the fortress on the Plains of Gorgoroth. The plan was I would attack Ar-Karo and my Orc would fight alongside me, leaving the fortress largely without defenses once the Warchief was defeated.

However, as I was sneaking around inside the Fortress, looking for the Troll Warchief, I was ambushed by an unexpected villain:

It was Snafu Tasty! Back from defying death just like we left him, with a hatchet stuck in his head!  Only this time he's gained fourteen levels from the experience. Not only that, but he decided to discard my domination and resume being a hostile flaming spear-wielding ass to me.  Obviously I couldn't stand for this and had to bring him back under my domination. Which as the video shows did not initially work.

Now, the fun part of the Nemesis system is the always-onward progress it makes with its enemy characters, even when they stab you and kill you.  Long story short, the player character can't die and is stuck coming back to life after time progresses. During this period of reloading, the Orc ranks change as dead Captains are replaced with newly-promoted Orcs, Captains complete missions and gain levels, and even challenge each other to gain favor among the fortress Warchiefs and hopefully make it into their lofty ranks, becoming one of the commanders directly under the sole ruler of the entire region: the Overlord.

So what does Snafu Tasty do as soon as he's killed me?  He gains another two levels, challenges the Overlord of Gorgoroth and wins, becoming the new Overlord. Like an idiot's version of Saruman of Isengard.

I didn't even know they could challenge Overlords on their own. Well, now I definitely had to take down Sanfu.

The first step was getting back to taking out the Warchief Ar-Karo, as he was now serving under Snafu and maintaining what was now Snafu's fortress defenses. Luckily, the Warchief was feasting outside the fort among his minions and despite my sloppy playstyle I know how to take down a Troll.

This left the fortress ready for a quick siege, culminating in a one-on-one battle between me and my former servant.  Frustratingly, part of Snafu Tasty's rise to high-level lordship included gaining the train Iron Will, which prevents me from dominating a foe until they lose it via a shame-induced loss of levels.  I was forced to dismiss him like an unworthy sack of potatoes, dropping Snafu down by five levels.

I at least took the fortress, but taking back Snafu Tasty would require many further battles, which I will share later.  Stay tuned.