Once the battlefield is complete the armies can deploy. Each player may set his army up within 12" of his table edge and no closer than 12" to either side edge. If your table is not very wide you may wish to deploy closer to the side edges, say 6". This is up to you and your opponent to decide between you.

There are two equally good methods of deploying your troops. One is for both sides to make a map of the battlefield and indicate where each unit is to be placed. Units include not only units of troops, but also individual heroic characters, chariots, and monsters. Once both sides have completed their maps they are both revealed and the units are positioned as indicated.

This method allows you to try and out-think your opponent by making a good battle plan. It encourages you to consider what each unit is supposed to do during the game, where you are going to advance, where you will hold your ground, and so forth. The second method is for each side to place its units one at a time, until both armies have been deployed.

The advantage of this method is that is saves you the trouble of drawing a map! The drawback is that an army with more units will have an advantage as it will be able to save units to lay down once the opposing army is fully deployed.

If your game forms part of a published scenario such the the Battle for Maugthrond Pass, or a scenario you have invented yourself, then the terrain and deployment of troops are described in the scenario. This may allow troops to deploy at the sides, in prepared positions on the battlefield, or even behind the enemy lines if they discover a pass that brings them behind their foes.