How to describe one of the Mearas in-game

[Glorelendil]

Historically, giant intelligent spiders didn't suck the light out of magical trees, either.

No, but the question is, should we try to strike a balance between fantasy and reality? Tolkien's Middle-earth is grounded in the real world to a certain extent. As much as he hated metaphor, Middle-earth was a metaphor for the realm of Faerie, but still a mythical take on the real world, akin to the mythical Greece when gods walked among men.

My view is that there are two different types of reality: those determined by physics and practicality, and those that are the accidents of our own particular timeline.

For example, the Noldor seemed to have invented modern metallurgy far too "early" from an historical perspective. One might argue that First Age would have been bronze or even stone weapons, and second age would have been iron (not steel).

But we don't, because that's not fun.

Same with the development of horse breeds, in my opinion. I'm not going to restrict them by the accidents of our own timeline.

[HotSnow50]

Historically, giant intelligent spiders didn't suck the light out of magical trees, either.

Just snorted coffee into my nose, thanks! ;D

[Glorelendil]

Historically, giant intelligent spiders didn't suck the light out of magical trees, either.

Just snorted coffee into my nose, thanks! ;D

The caffeine gets into your system faster that way. Lots of capillaries in there.

[Beran]

Historically, most modern breeds of horses would not have existed yet at the end of the Third Age of Middle-earth (approximately 6000 years ago according to Professor Tolkien). The Mearas would have probably been the largest, fastest and smartest horses anywhere at that time. I visualize them as Arabians, but faster and more intelligent. The second-best horses in Middle-earth would have possibly been Elven-bred steeds.

Uhm, I don't think you can apply such thinking to this. For instance the tech level in the books is clearly medieval...regardless of what the Prof says of the time it was set.