Board Thread:Suggestions forum/@comment-26149161-20170820043813

Mae govannen, mellyn! This suggestion concerns the climate and flora of the Realm of Gondor, including Ithilien and South Gondor.

Current Situation and Proposed Changes
Currently in the mod, Gondor is lush and green, quite similar to a Vanilla Plains or Forest biome. This could be changed to reflect what Tolkien said about Gondor--repeatedly comparing it to Italy. Venice is supposedly Pelargir, and Lossarnach, Assisi. That means a Mediterranean-style climate, with cedars, cypresses, and numerous other Mediterranean plants. I will mention several of these not currently in the mod. They can be found in this suggestion of mine.

Of course, the White Mountains, similarly to the Alps, will not be hot and muggy--how else to account for the everlasting snow high upon the peaks? To quote Wikipedia on Italy: "Conditions on peninsular coastal areas can be very different from the interior's higher ground and valleys, particularly during the winter months when the higher altitudes tend to be cold, wet, and often snowy. The coastal regions have mild winters and warm and generally dry summers, although lowland valleys can be quite hot in summer. "

Specific Biome Changes
Reference images are included.

Anorien : More or less the current Gondor biome, with perhaps some cedars. Pelennor Fields should have more of the Mediterranean flora.

Ered Nimrais : Should have oak, birch, and beechwoods in the foothills, but at higher altitudes dense fir-woods, with larch, pine, and spruce as well, similar to the Alps. Lebethron should spawn rarely here as well.

Lossarnach : Should have high flowering vales with oak, beech, and cypress. In the lower vales, there should be flowers, fruit orchards, and vineyards.

Lebennin and Dor-en-Ernil : Should have large grassland areas with scattered cypress, juniper, tamarisk, terebinth and myrtle, along with denser forests with cypress, cedar, olive, boxwood, and bay. Mallos, iris, and other Mediterranean flowers would be found here.

Hills of Tarnost ,Lamedon and Morthond : Oaks, beeches, birches, and chestnuts are most common here, with some firs.

Anfalas : As Lebennin and Dor-en-Ernil, but with less flowers.

Thank you for considering this sugestion! As always, comments, Kudos, and constructive critiscism is much appreciated.

Ithilion, Discussions Moderator (Auta i lómë) 04:38, August 20, 2017 (UTC) 