Looks like I don't have to explain what LotR is .. WH managed to do that before me

I doubt that it is possible to play something like that with smaller factions because it is possible that they will be destroyed before the faction had time to expand..

I wouldn't want to pick Romani because.. well.. that's what everyone are doing
I would prefer actually Ptolemaioi or Arche.. With them it is possible to RP more than with the smaller factions. Of course this would mean that we already have a pretty big Empire in our hands.

So.. I would appreciate your ideas over this thing..

Btw.. link to LotR can be found in my sig too