Board Thread:Suggestions forum/@comment-34030170-20190812212314

Looks like it's yet another of my Orc suggestions.

Despite the name here, I won't get too gruesome - in fact, only two of these are actually in the realm of graphic violence. So no torture mechanics, body part items, puddles of blood, etc. This suggestion also isn't only about Orcs.

Orcs
The Orcs are a barbaric bunch. It's why I love 'em. These changes should reflect their behaviour pretty well.

Skirmishing
Orcs currently start skirmishes just with a line of dialogue. Pretty cool, but why not have a chance for these brawls to start in other ways?

Occasionally, an Orc will have a chance to start a skirmish by throwing an item at one of its buddies. This may be a hunk of maggoty bread, or a strip of flesh, or even, less commonly, a dagger. In the last situation, the Orc now bearing a dagger in his skull will die immediately. Whatever the item thrown, all Orcs nearby will begin a skirmish, with all sorts of insults being tossed at each other.

In another situation exclusive to the smaller breeds, a lone Snaga will slowly creep up to a larger Uruk with dagger in hand. There's a 50/50 chance of success for the little guy: either the Uruk doesn't notice until he slumps down dead, or he catches the Snaga by surprise, and retaliates. In either case, the Snaga will try to retreat, while the brawl begins around him (there should be a very low chance he actually escapes, poor worm).

Speaking of retreating, all Orcs (except Uruks) should have a chance to attempt a retreat in the case of a skirmish.

Speechbank
Orcs as they currently are have very consistent conversation starters, and those are really just insults. They could use some more variation in their dialogue, especially between breeds.

Snaga(s?) would speak mostly of the cruelty of their masters, perhaps the work they must attend to. They wouldn't show any respect to you until you have +500 alignment with their faction: after that, they'd speak to you a bit more respectfully, although they might be a little more fearful of you.

Common Orcs would be much more jolly - for Orcs, of course. They'd treat you more as an equal after +100 alignment with the occasional insult thrown in. After +500, they'd be slightly more respectful. They'd also have some sort of humour amongst themselves: mostly about what might happen if one steps out of line. There'd definitely be some fear about their masters.

The Isengarders are a race apart. They'd boast and brag about their superiority quite often, degrading you and the lesser Orcs quite often. They'd also boast

The Uruks of Mordor and Gundabad would share the same speechbank as the Common Orcs, but with slightly higher alignment requirements: +250 for them to treat you as an equal, and +700 to be respected. They'd also insult you a bit more, and would have a few lines regarding their disdain for the lesser breeds.

The Gundabad Orcs fall in somewhere between the Snaga and the Common Orc. They'd be in fearful awe of you once you reach +500, but after +100 they'd treat you as an equal. They wouldn't speak about the bosses unlike the other Orc breeds, but they might have a few lines regarding past chieftains (Bolg for example) with respect.

Wargs
Wargs could honestly use an update, but I'll just be suggesting something to add to the brutality of Orc culture.

Very simply, Wargs would rarely attack nearby Orcs. Only the smaller ones, i.e. the Snaga(s? I seriously have no idea what the plural of this is). Whether this is hunger related, just for sport, or if it's some Warg-owner's idea of a joke, they would savagely kill the poor maggot that got on its nerves. (This idea is pretty much exactly the same as one of the few presented in this old, but great suggestion: https://lotrminecraftmod.fandom.com/wiki/Thread:210549 Feel free to give it a read.)

Trolls
Specifically, Olog-hai, Hill-trolls, Snow-trolls, and all the others aside from the regular Troll mob. This idea comes from a separate suggestion I made ages ago, but it fits in with this suggestion's theme.

"At Pippin’s side Beregond was stunned and overborne, and he fell; and the great troll-chief that smote him down bent over him, reaching out a clutching claw; for these fell creatures would bite the throats of those that they threw down." Return of the King, The Black Gate Opens

After killing an enemy unit, Trolls would stand still for a moment as they devour a piece of Man-flesh. This would be the only instance of these Trolls eating any kind of food item.

While it has its own aesthetic horror, this mechanic also serves a purpose: while the Troll is standing absolutely still, just ready to be attacked, they'd also take 2x the amount of damage. I play almost solely as an evil player, but Trolls (especially the Olog-hai) need some sort of weakness.

Orc Discipline
This is the other gruesome idea, and this aesthetic change would only apply to Snaga(s?) and (when added) scouts.

" 'I know,' growled Uglúk. 'The cursed horse-boys have got wind of us. But that's all your fault, Snaga. You and the other scouts ought to have your ears cut off. But we are the fighters. We'll feast on horseflesh yet, or something better.' " The Two Towers, The Uruk-hai

The Orcs of this breed would have a small chance to spawn missing one or both ears, with a nasty-looking scar in the way.

To represent the other painful aspects of Orkish discipline, Snaga(s?) would also use different skins from other Orcs. They'd be a lot more bruised and scarred, with old and fresh wounds alike.

Closing
This suggestion was a long one. These ideas would add a lot of depth to Orcs, and to the mod. I'd love to see them implemented, of course. If you have any macabre ideas of your own, or want to suggest the removal of one of mine, feel free to leave a comment. 