I note that there have been a lot of Middle Men suggestions lately, including two of my own. To round it off, here is a suggestion concerning improvement to the men of Dunland, a faction relatively neglected by the Mod Team.
This is a new format I'm trying out for my suggestions. Let me know what you think in the comments.
In addition, I have incorporated elements of Dr. Frankus's fantastic suggestion proposing making Dunnish Looted Armor easier to find.
Biomes
A single new biome to be added is Northern Dunland. This would be a forested country, green and pleasant, uninhabited by the Dunlendings, and empty of all peoples. This would be the place where the Dwarves and Stoors settled when they came to Dunland, and as such have the remains of Dwarven and Hobbit civilisation. Both biomes would extend further west, to encompass the North-South Road.
In Dunland itself, there would be few changes. The NPCs should be made far less common, and there should be less trees, but otherwise it would remain unchanged.
Crafting
- Dunlending Armor - Replacing the current Dunlending armor, this version would be made using Fur and Leather. It would use the same pattern as the current armor, save replacing the iron with fur. This is due to the fact that the Dunlendings had no metalworking skills, as mentioned in Unfinished Tales. It would provide one more armor point than leather, and be worn by Dunlending Warriors.
- Dunnish Looted Armor - These would be the source (for Dunlending players) of chainmail armor. Using Rohirric armor pieces and surrounding them with fur, the player can create Dunnish Looted Armor. It has the same stats as Rohirric armor. One out of every ten armor pieces worn by Dunlending warriors would be this armor, and a full set would be worn by Chieftains. Furthermore, the player could talk to a Dunlending Leatherworker to get the Rohirric gear replaced by Looted gear, if they have coins but no fur.
- Dunlending Pike - A simple weapon, essentially a long, sharpened stick. It does little damage (5.5) but has long range.
- Dunlending Mace - Made of sticks and stone, this is the perfect weapon for breaking Forgoil bones. It causes knockback and does 7.5 damage, but has low durability.
- Dunlending Spear - Crafted with two sticks and a bone, this weak spear won't win many medals, but it gets the job done. It does 3.5 damage in melee.
- Dunlending Axe - A stone weapon, shoddily made but effective. It does 7 damage.
- Dunlending Throwing Axe - Another stone weapon, doing some damage (5) but not as much as most throwing axes. It replaces the iron and bronze axes used by the current Dunlending Axethrowers.
- Dunnish Looted Equipment - Like the armor, this is crafted by surrounding Rohirric gear with fur. It has identical stats to Rohirric equipment. Note that these weapons would not be used by Dunlending Warriors, who would use the above three items, plus the club and battleaxe.
- Dunlending Trident - Made by adding two iron ingots to a Looted spear.
NPCs
- Dunlending - The female Dunlendings should be removed from hiring. This is the Dark Ages. No woman would be expected to go to war in such a culture.
- Dunlending Warriors - Dunlending Warriors lose all metal equipment, replaced by the new weapons and armor mentioned above. This makes them weaker, so they also become very cheap.
- Dunlending Horsemen - Also present in my Adorn suggestion, these would basically be Dunlending Warriors on a horse.
- Dunlending Warlords - should be renamed to Chieftains.
- Dunlending Leatherworker - The equivalent to a blacksmith for Dunland, but with special features. Rather than metalwork, they would sell only Dunlending and Looted armor and weapons. They would buy Rohirric gear, leather, and fur. For money, they could turn your Rohirric gear into Looted gear.
- Guardians of Isengard - Some of the few Dunlendings armed by Saruman. These are hired from Isengard Captains, and wear Dunnish Looted Armor and use Uruk-Hai weapons, and have 24 health.
- Isengard Captains - A Dunlending lord employed by Saruman. From him can be hired every Dunnish unit, and the Guardians of Isengard.
Structures
- Dunlending Villages - Small, circular villages, with a thorny wall and dirt streets. At the center would be a hall, with houses, a tavern, and huts about it.
- Dunland Hall - A long, low house, used as a meeting-place and the home of a local landowner. The Dunlending Chieftain spawns here.
- Dunlending Hut - A clay or wood hut, with a small fire and Dunlending.
- Ruined Dwarven House - An aboveground Dwarven-style house, rotting and collapsed. Some loot would be found in a corner.
- Dunlending Workshop: A circular hut with a central fire and crafting tables. A Dunlending Leatherworker spawns here.
- Ruined Hobbit House - Basically a Hobbit-house, with rotten wood and collapsed roof. Some might have a residual roof of grass (houses with turf roofs being an older style, now rarely found). These would be found in the Gladden Fields as well.
Other
Titles
[Pillager] - Equip a set of Dunnish Looted Armor
[Middle Man] - Get 100 Dunland alignment.
[Gwathuir] - Get 100 Dunland alignment.
Achievements
[Where No Men Now Dwell] - Enter Northern Dunland
[Death to the Forgoil] - Hire a Guardian of Isengard.
[Pillager] - Equip a set of Dunnish Looted Armor.
[Waste Not, Want Not!] - Rework a piece of Rohirric Armor.
[Pillagers and Plunderers] - Buy or Rework an item from a Dunlending Leatherworker.
Thank you for reading this suggestion! As always, comments, Kudos, and constructive criticism is appreciated.