Board Thread:Suggestions forum/@comment-26444332-20151211161622/@comment-26172435-20151226002142

Excellent post!

A number of aspects seem a bit odd to me though. So I thought of the following possible improvement options:


 * The description of the Forochel suggests it has a permafrost top layer which may thaw during short, mild summers. The geography of the Forochel and the very high lattitude suggests it will likely have predominant seawinds all through the year, warming the area despite the high altitude and, similar to the western ocean shores of the Earthly Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Local temperatures may be up to 10 degrees C higher than further inland, resulting in short, cool summers which support some tree growth and relatively mild winters that will allow for continuous habitation. The top layer of the surface may melt in summer, resulting in a chaotic surface area with many scattered pools of icy water, many small riverways and relatively small but deep patches of quagmire in a mossy and grassy low-lying land. The landscape may also host many lower hills with light forest. These form the sub-biome 'Forochel_Grove' and are the only biome home to the most valuable resource of the Lossoth, the ironwood tree (see below). I propose these groves are also the only sub-biome to host the two suggested main structures and/or the villages of the Lossoth.


 * The continuous presence of ice in the subsurface layers will likely result in all subterranean cavities to be entirely filled with ice and the top, surface, layer of any cave with packed snow. As the climate may cause igloos to melt in summer, it may not be the most logical to build main structures solely out of snow brick from packed snow. So I propose to create the larger Lossoth builds with an endo-skeleton of cobble and log walls and plank roofs (mainly spruce and some ironwood). All builds will retain the proposed igloo appearence, as suggested in the OP, as we can safely assume that there is enough packed snow available throughout the summer to make quick repairs to the snow brick outer layers of each structure.


 * Permafrost does not encourage mining and mining isn't the most logical pursuit the Lossoth hunter-fishermen would have, so I reject the notion of a special ore, and of the use of coldsteel by the Lossoth. Instead, I propose to provide them a very dense, and durable type of wood from very hardy, slow growing trees, unique to their harsh homelands: ironwood trees.


 * Ironwood trees have a very dense trunk and are relatively slow growing and low. Young trees have the shape of shrubs. Their size (volume) varies from 3 to 7 log with a maximum height of 4 (3 thick side-branches). Their thick bark is a very deep dark brownish green and is rich in resins. Ironwood leaves are thick, flat needle shaped and have a leathery, dark greyish green surface.


 * Ironwood is a rare tree that only grows in the Forochel sub-biome 'Forochel_Grove'. In that sub-biome also small spruce trees and dead spruce can be found. Ironwood are old trees and grow very slowly. Saplings are hard to attain. On average I propose to only have 5 saplings per 4 trees. Note that I propose ironwood to be the main strategic resource for the Lossoth, like obsidian is for the Tauredain. It is renewable, but only through a slow process.


 * Ironwood log is very tough and can only be obtained by chopping Ironwood trees with metal or ironwood axes. Ironwood log must be stripped from its heavy bark: one log gives 3 planks and 1 bark block on a Lossoth crafting table. Sticks can be crafted from planks in the standard manner, but only on a Lossoth crafting table. Ironwood planks and sticks are valuable loot in Lossoth structures and settlements in the early game.


 * Ironwood sticks are base material for Lossoth weapons and tools: swords, axes, shovels, pickaxes and hoes. Their stats should be similar to the Mallorn weapons and tools of the Galadhrim. The Lossoth also use daggers, which will be crafted of ironwood sticks and bone pointy ends. The durability of their daggers is relatively low and they are mainly used for skinning. For pummeling sea mammals they use clubs, which will be crafted from ironwood planks in the same fashion as the Dunlending clubs. The damage is comparable to Dunlending weapons, but their durability is higher. They also have a ranged weapon: not a boomerang, but a fancy type of spear, see below.


 * Bones are not exactly a resource that is most suitable for weapons and tools. Bones are too brittle and wear off quite fast, dependent on their exact use. Nonetheless, they are useful for sliders (skates), and pointy weapons, see below ('atlatl' spear instead of boomerang) and above (daggers). I propose to have walrus drop bone, as bones will still be a useful resource for the Lossoth.


 * Boomerangs are just not the most suitable weapon in these windy regions (Cerinrim may typically use them though). And bones are not the best material to craft ranged weapons with, apart from their use in point ends. So, I propose to assume the Lossoth developed a wind-proof ranged weapon: an throw supported spear, an atlatl type of weapon. If an atlatl (or any other more fitting name) would be a separate device that is used to throw spears, I suggest to give the spears lower durability. An atlatl may be crafted from 3 ironwood sticks and one ironwood bark block and have a durability compared to the mirkwood bow. If it is not possible to create a separate atlatl device, I propose to make their spears have stats comparable to that of the Galadhrim spears, assuming the spear shafts are made of ironwood sticks and the pointy ends are made of bone that can easily be replaced or sharpened.


 * For fishing the Lossoth use both tridents like the Dunlendings (but with ironwood and bone, with similar stats) and normal fishing rods with string they obtain from twining wool. I assume wool will be available from herds of very hardy, horned sheep that inhabit the Forochel groves. The string can be crafted from wool on a Lossoth crafting table. The wool also provides the material for the Lossoth banners. (This reminds me to notice that wool for banners, string and leather are also very hard to acquire in the Far Harad Jungle ... but that's another subject.)


 * Ironwood bark is a composite material of wood fibers and resins and therefore highly shock absorbent and relatively durable. It has a high heat of combustion and can therefore be used to fire furnaces with similar stats as coal. The mechanical properties make it well fit as armor plate material, in combination with hides of any type. Instead of the earlier suggested armors, I propose to create 3 armor sets: one with only hides, one with 50% covered in bark plates and one with full bark coverage. The full bark version would provide similar protection stats as wood-elf armor but have slightly lower durability because of the lower cut resistance of the bark plates.


 * The Lossoth torch shall be crafted of ironwood sticks, coal and ironwood leaves. Ice typically is not beneficial if you wanna create some device that supports a controlled long lasting combustion process. Oily substances however, will be fit for that purpose. Bones are typically not fit to absorb oily or powdery substances on their outer surface. The inside of bones is porous indeed, but controlled combustion will not be achieved in a bone filled with combustibles because of a lack of oxygen.


 * Lossoth stew can be crafted on a Lossoth crafting table with a wooden bowl, raw fish, bone meal and ironwood leaves. It saturates 6 hunger points and provides +10% strength and immunity to frost effect for 1 minute (= indicative, to be determined).


 * Skates shall be crafted with 2 bones and 2 ironwood bark instead of 4 bones.


 * I assume the Lossoth are a very hardy breed of men (not elves!). Their base health may be 24-26 hp.

Hope this will help.