Forge Towers and various areas within Mordor | Combat Middle-earth: SoM Guide

An example, inactive, forge tower

In the game, there are a dozen-or-so forge towers and they play the same role as, e.g. synchronization points in Assassin's Creed. After you reach an inactive tower, you can climb it to the very top. After you reach the top, you will be able to hit the anvil, which activates the tower.

After you select an active tower, you can, e.g. teleport there or speed up time

There are several important consequences of activating a tower:

• The area around the tower is revealed and you receive information about the location of the new side missions, or about collectibles.
• From now on, you can use the tower for fast traveling - you simply need to select it on the world map.
• From now on, you can use the tower to speed up time. The aim of this is, mainly, to force changes in the game world, which are connected with the Sauron's Army (a given member of the army may progress in ranks or, e.g. attack another orc) but you can also activate one if you don't like a give time of the day (e.g. you want to go hunting collectibles during the day, instead of at night).

Areas of Nurn become available only after you complete the 11th main mission

As I have mentioned above, the Udun valley is available from the very beginning of the game but, this is not the only location in the game. After you complete the eleventh main mission (defeating of boss Tower), you unlock the option to reach Nurn. This area is subject to the same rules so, it has its own forge towers, collectibles and mission starting points.

Note - changing locations to Nurn does not mean that you leave the Nurn valley once and for all. You can return to the valley, without any problems, assuming that you are not on a mission, at that moment.

Note - In each of the two locations, you are fighting against two different Sauron's Armies. Therefore, do not worry if, after you open the Nemesis window, it turns out that you need to start learning about, and eliminating, the members of the army.

Note - You do not need to postpone the missions until you complete the main storyline. After you complete them, Talion returns to Mordor, and will be able to handle the rest of the things.