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I think they should use always the summer encumbrance rating, regardless of the season.

I think there is an exact quote for this, but I've been able to find only these:

Their fear* were tenacious therefore of life 'in the raiment of Arda', and far excelled the spirits of Men in power over that 'raiment', even from the first days (28) protecting their bodies from many ills and assaults (such as disease), and healing them swiftly of injuries, so that they recovered from wounds that would have proved fatal to Men.

*Spirit more or less (my note)
Morgoth's Ring - Laws and Customs among the Eldar

With that he sprang forth nimbly, and then Frodo noticed as if for the first time, though he had
long known it, that the Elf had no boots, but wore only light shoes, as he always did, and his feet
made little imprint in the snow.
The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter III The Ring goes South

Second.

In concept I agree, but in mechanical implementation, I don't know. Requiring a special rule just to save on 1 point of fatigue during a time of year when most heroes won't even travel anyway just seems pretty lackluster. I'd rather design them with a higher body score to reflect the quality of their fear.

Its a balancing act: an extra 'rule' is played off against recognising that the cultures/species have differences. Is the difference worth making a rule for? In this case I'd go for the extra rule.
Reason? lembas/similar is going to be broadly available to all elves, they don't need sleep like men (and hobbits, dwarves), they endure ordinary events that make mortals tired.

I think it's worth the overhead of the "rule" to include the flavor. It's not like it would fill up a bunch of a book, or require complicated computation.

The impact, tho', would also have to be accounted for in fatigue/weariness. It provides a munchkin yet another reason to go elven.

And winter, the travel roll is as much to avoid the perils of low food and bad water as being worn down by chafing gear...

aramis wrote:The impact, tho', would also have to be accounted for in fatigue/weariness. It provides a munchkin yet another reason to go elven.

Munchkins choose elves? I didn't know that.

And winter, the travel roll is as much to avoid the perils of low food and bad water as being worn down by chafing gear...

It wouldn't affect the number of rolls or the TN, just the penalty for failing the fatigue roll. I get what you're saying, but it doesn't map to the logic of the mechanics in this case.

Was it not elves who had the worst Endurance/Hope ratio?
Maybe this simple change (that I also believe is very canon) could help.
And I don't think the difference is so huge as to being munchkin.

Now if we are going for special snowflake status rules what about slower travel for Hobbits (keep stopping to eat) and Dwarves (short legs)?

Giving bonuses to Elves should definitely be balanced by not only their lower Hope, but perhaps not allowing them to take permanent Shadow but instead having to leave for the West if they lose all Hope and become Miserable. That would certainly put a halt to any gaming of the cultures.

Hermes Serpent wrote:Now if we are going for special snowflake status rules what about slower travel for Hobbits (keep stopping to eat) and Dwarves (short legs)?

If you feel you need it, why not?

There are lots of "snowflakes" in the game, adding some more is only a matter of personal taste.
There's an elven virtue called The Speakers, included just because there are a few lines in the LotR that say that Legolas could hear the stones speak in Eregion and the trees in Fangorn. Are those sentences more important that those other where it is said that he didn't need boots or a fur cloack in the snowstorm of Caradhras? Also I haven't seen any rule that makes elves invulnerable to Ghost Fear, and in the Paths of the Dead it is said that "Legolas the elf didn't fear the human dead". Is it as important as The Speakers or is it a Snowflake. That dependes on you.

I wouldn't mind anyone saying that Hobbits make for longer travels. Maybe with Dwarves I could argue that they have shorter strides, but can walk without rest for longer than other races, and that compensates.

Maybe I won't be using the rule, as I won't be giving hobbits daggers as weapons instead of short swords, but that doesn't mean I can't consider it right if someone does.