All posts by Askmaster

The fact that Middle-earth is based on our world does not mean that Middle-earth is same as our world, so I would say there is no problem with pandas in Far Harad. It is maybe even better because it means that Arda is original world and no lazy copyright of our Earth

And at some another place Tolkien compared Arnor and Gondor with western and eastern roman empires, so there were more sources of inspirations. Also the Númenor is more like mysterious platons atlantis than rome despite of it shares many similar elements. But it does not matter. Your point with orc industry is good, but you must know many elements of their technology are created by Saruman or Sauron himself. But also it is mentioned that orcs builded many evil structures that bully the Earth, so it could be still one element or industrial revolution or maybe more likely element of horrors of war Tolkien got to know very well.

But saying that instead of few stuff has Middle-earth almost Middle-ages society is wrong. At first, there aren't just these exceptions like Hobbits and orcs, there are also many elements of ancient time or bronze age. De facto it is mix of elements from so many historical periods including all times of middle-age, so it is not easy to say where society of middle-earth belongs. And at second, if we are talking specifically about society of Middle-earth, it's impossible compare it with religious middle-earth society where the most important role has religion and fate. Tolkien did not mention anything like this from purpose, but thereby he made thinking about middle-earth society kind of hard. In other fantasy books (historically fantasy at the best) we can see clearly inspirations in some period, for example The song of ice and fire is definitely (despite of many elements from other periods) set to middle ages with all that chivalry, houses, christianity-like religion and so on. But not LotR

And about your last paragraph, I did not mean any large city or big nation in middle-earth that Fellowship should meet on its road, but there can be still little villages or forgotten settlement in middle of nowhere. Brown lands are empty from reasons, Misty mountains are full of orc, in Arnor are still rest of Dúnedains and vales of Anduin were home of (how I have said before) Gollums ancestors and we do not know if there are any other human or non human settlements, but probably not, becouse it is still wild area of Rhovanion.

Actually your point Dorwinion being allied with Dale is good point, but not necessarly and about others I think there is no need to small and close country like Dorwinion be friend with almost anyone. They had loose their ties with Gondor before ages, co it is all forgotten. Also I think enmity with Rhúdel is out of lore mod where Dorwinions in their speechbanks talk about easterlings of rhudel like they are good trade partners (or something like that, I actually do not remember it well), so they should stay neutral or maybe change them to friends (it would be really cool in my point of view :D).

But I think if Dorwinion would have more allies, it should be some new possible factions (for example woodmen of mirkwood living on south-east side of that great forest (correct me if I am wrong). Or maybe avari elves of redwood, but it is also more like just friends.

Actually your point is very good and you have good arguments, but I would say it is not right. Tolkien's world is not empty. How you've said, we cannot compare it with Medieval times, because it is not comparable. Hobbit's has golf, matches (like sulfur matches in a mod) and their lifestyle is pretty much end of 19th century in England. About Minas Tirith Tolkien said it is like Byzantium, city which is not easily comparable with other medieval european cities in that time. But at the same time Rohirrim are inspired by anglo-saxon I think and Dunlendish are comparable with celtic tribe which is definitely matter of early middle ages, so Tolkien has inspiration from many historical periods.

But despite all this is story set in early historical times (if we consider theory that Arda is our known Earth before ancient history) and the colonization of the world is still (despite of three ages of men) in its early phases (it can be compared with middle age central europe before colonization and establishing villages). Also because of there is no official ruler in lands like Bree, Eriador and so on (before reign of king Ellesar of course), there is no need to improve level of society in some places. Your point about Eriador as lawless region is right, it is actually kind of hard building a bigger civilization when outlaws and orc raids are daily bread and the same thing can be also applied for Rhovanion where despite all that orcs, evil spiders, balcoth, dragons and so on, are small islands of civilizations or human (or unhuman) societies like Beornings, Wood elves or Kingdom of Dale (and I am sure Tolkien also mentioned some Woodmen and also there were ancestors of Smeagol before ages). Also I belive there are many other small island like that which Tolkien didn't write about (it can be hidden like Púkel civilization or just not much important for main story as people of Agar or barbarian of north mentioned in stories of Angmar). This is north of Tolkiens word and as we know, the south (including kingdoms of men like Gondor and Rohan) is much populated.

I hope it's gonna be enough, also I am looking forward for your arguments :) But keep on mind that it is still Tolkiens fantasy world and evolution of civilization does not have to be same as in our history. Also sorry for my English, I am not a native, so it is probably not best and with errors.

I suppose Taurethrim shall mount oliphaunts in some far future update... 

but still cannot agree that big cats are the most fitting. No, how you've said, big cats are so ridiculous to ride

Sorry for saying that but it sounds kind of stupid to me saying that boomerangs do not fit into Middle-earth, but big-cat like mounts do. It belongs to some rip offs like warcraft, but not to Tolkien's lore. I think it could be better if Taurethrim would get some llamas of vanilla minecraft in newest version, but still there is no duty to have every faction in Middle-earth mounted. Also Taurethrim tribe lives in great jungle where is much easier travel by walking - personal experience.

But boomerangs would be so cool for some haradrim tribe, not neccesarilly to Morwaith, but still I think this weapon would make some faction special in some way and Morwaith are kind of boring faction right now in compare of Near harad kingdoms, Taurethrim tribe or even Half-trolls who are kind of cool as big brutes.

I think so, because if bushes works like that, fruit trees also should. And this feature would give orchands more sense 

They are related to people who lived in Middle-earth before coming of Númenoreans, so probably they had some relations with dunlendings, but they were more likely relatives of people of Agar.

I think stuff like bambus or pandas definitely should be in some regions of far rhun, also llamas could be part of mountains of the wind for example (to make these mountais special in some way)

I have also heard that, but it still doesnt explain orcs reproduction, so it's just another made-up theory of people who cannot believe that orcs can have children

I like that idea, 'cause of I consider current game olives as nice but kind of useless stuff (just for making bread), so I welcome every point about olives

At first to Aragost, although Tolkien didnt mention them, I am sure they exist in lore of middle earth, just because orcs, same like dwarves, do not spawn from the ground. They are spoiled, deformed and misshaped elves originally and elves has women.

And to onebehindthehair, yeah, I can agree with your argument, but I meant that although your suggestion is so complex, it does still miss the women part of the orc folk like elves, humen and even dwarves have. In my point of view it would be cool and also it would stop the ignorants, who do not know anything about reproduction, thinking about orc spawning from the mud. At all, Bolg was son of Azog, its a lore 

At first, sorry for my mistake, it happens

At second, yeah and it's the reason why I am talking about second option which is use him in planned first age update (in far future). 

But grave also could be an option, but difficult and literally impossible, so maybe would be better let some of his heritage in blue mountains where he had friends - something like eöls forgotten scrolls

I agree that make all lore-friendly is not wise, but I don't think this would be good change. As I said, it could be better if there would be less soldiers and population in clearance, because that would increase importance of cities and villages and also make more some raids of native soldiers - for example, if you are enemy of Mordor and you are in empty area of Mordor, there is chance some scout can notice you and then there is big chance of mordor raids, so it would be keep gameplay mechanics and makes game more interesting :)

And about crafting levels, I also thought some unknown and rare recipes which cannot be gotten per alignment but for example during some story quest or can be found in some old story structure - for example recipes for black numeroean magic in some old temple in desert, or of course recipe for making galvorn in Ëols grave or maybe he can teach it player if there would be portal to first age like it's gonna be added in far future

Wow, looks cool, have you some download link which is safe? Please ;)