Here are our initial thoughts on how each faction is affected IF THEY ARE THE ALLIED FORCE. Way too hard to cover every option for if each one is the main force (plus writing "you can't stick Cirdan in anymore" 17 times would get boring). I've also ranked them in order of how affected they have been.
Good:
Rivendell - Oh boy. Basically the reason for this change I think. Cirdan, hang your head in shame. Now if you want some shiny elves in your force you have to include one of the big 3 (Gil-galad, Elrond or Glorfindel). Personally I would have just made Cirdan cost 400 points like Sauron instead of this change but hey-ho.
Iron Hills - This is a big one. Want a Ballista? Well you are bringing Dain along too. In fact, if you want any Iron Hills at all you are bringing Dain with you. It feels like you probably were anyway unless you were just trying to get a cheeky Ballista in there.
Survivors of Lake Town - Has to include Bard or Gandalf. This is a pretty big deal. No more bulking out mish-mash armies with a cheap Captain and Militia. In fact theme-y Bo5A lists now have to be so character heavy as to be pretty much un-doable.
Thranduil's Halls - Thranduil or Legolas now have be included, no more solo Tauriel and a bunch of Rangers. I can think of several prominent players who will be very sad about this...
Lothlorien - I hope you like Galadriel or Celeborn in your allies because if not you are in for a bad time. RIP Haldir leading some elves (you know, like in the actual movie), though the LL lets you do this if you are really desperate.
MT - Madril is the biggest casualty here. Honourable mentions go to Ingold and Captains, however Kings of Men do step up to fill in the Captain's role in small allied forces.
Rohan - Now has to include Theoden, Theodred or Eomer. Considering how much the army relies on Theoden anyway this doesn't feel like a big change. Any theme-y Eorl the Young lists now have to include a King of Men if you want a MT alliance though.
Shire - Have to include either Bandobras, who make you Impossible Allies regardless, or Gandalf, Meriadoc or Peregrin. You're probably taking Merry anyway, so not really too bad, and even still, they're cheap enough where it's not too much of an issue to add one in if you need to.
Rangers - Has to include Aragorn or Arathorn now. No more shoving Halbarad into Shire lists.
Numenor - Pretty much unaffected. Only Captain is less than Valour which weren't seen as much as the named heroes anyway. If you want to do a Last Alliance theme then you basically have to take named characters (but you were anyway).
Thorin's Company - Bit of a weird one. You now have to take Thorin, Balin, Dwalin or Gandalf. It seems unlikely that you weren't taking one of these anyway, but those theme-y 'Dwarves in Lake Town' lists are now out.
Erebor Reclaimed - Same as Thorin's Company, except Dain instead of Gandalf. Doesn't feel like this affects much.
Fiefdoms - Only captains affected, you were taking Forlong for 5 points more anyway. A bit harder to get a small contingent of Minas Tirith in now though, but still very doable.
Fellowship - Basically unaffected. Only the big 4 and Gandalf are Valour or up and no-one was allying Hobbits anyway.
Army of Thror - You have to take one of the 3 'Th's (Thror, Thrain, Thorin), but you were anyway.
Arnor - Now has to include Arvedui. Was anyone allying these anyway?
Army of Lake Town - Has to include the Master or Bard. Wasn't seen as much as Survivors anyway.
Dale - You have bring Girion. They weren't seen much anyway. Chuck a Wind-Lance in because why not.
Khazad Dum - you are now taking Durin or a Dwarf King. Not that big of a deal since they weren't really allied much anyway.
AoTD - Completely unaffected.
Wildmen - Completely unaffected.
Fangorn - Completely unaffected.
Misty Mountains - Completely unaffected.
Radagast's Alliance - Completely unaffected.
The White Council - Completely unaffected (feels like these guys really should have been affected; looking at you Lady of Light.)
Evil:
Azog's Legion/Azog's Hunters - I’ve put these together as they were so often allied. Massive changes here as Azog and Bolg are the only eligible heroes in both lists so if you want an alliance the you have to take both (or at least one to ally with anyone else). Considering how much they cost this is maybe the biggest change.
Mordor - Some massive casualties here. Shagrat, Kardush, Generic Ringwraiths, Troll Chieftains, Shamans and Shelob to name just a few. Essentially you now have to take a named Wraith, Gothmog or the Mouth of Sauron. This hurts a lot of the smaller factions more than Mordor as now you can't ally Mordor in cheaply.
Angmar - Basically you can't ally in a Shade or Wight any more. Actually quite a big deal, though with the Shade change you wouldn't see this done any more anyway. Probably won't be used as allies any more (though I still maintain that throwing Gulavhar into basically any list is a win).
Moria - I've always been a proponent of shoving the Balrog into everything but now that is your only choice except for Durburz and Dragons. Doubt you will see them much as allies any more. To get Bat Swarms in you now need to spend at least 70 points on Durburz, which isn't the end of the world but costs tonnes more than it used to
Serpent Horde - What do you mean I can't stick a Mumak in my random Evil list anymore?! Now you have to take Suladan, The Betrayer or the Golden King, but you were likely taking Suladan or The Betrayer anyway. They are also hurt by Mordor getting more expensive.
Easterlings - Amdur, Khamul or nothing. Considering they cost a heft chunk of points they feel unlikely to be allies any more. They are also hurt by Mordor now costing a lot more to take as allies too. Poor Easterlings.
Khand - See Easterlings but replace Amdur with Khandish King.
Isengard - Oh dear. As if Isengard didn't have enough trouble being allies now you have to take Saruman or Lurtz. I doubt that'll happen much.
Goblin Town - Have to take the King. Can’t get Gollum as a cheap ring-bearer any more.
Barad Dur - Basically unaffected. Who isn't taking Sauron?
Far Harad - Unaffected except you can't stick a Mumak in this way either.
Corsairs - You have to take a named character now (or a Hasharin). Probably fine as you were anyway.
Dol Guldur - You have to take the Necromancer or a Wraith. If you were allying these guys you were doing that anyway.
The Trolls - can’t do just Bert, otherwise unaffected.
Smaug - Completely unaffected
Dark Denizens - completely unaffected.
Sharkey's Rogues - Completely unaffected.
Of course he is more expensive, but I think your list will profit more from taking Suladan, than a Haradrim King =)
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