Hla Oad concept

[Harikari]

:bash: IVE BEEN SHOT DOWN

You have the point. Though I like the idea of them extending their hold

[KuKulzA]

yeah... but to compete with the Dres, they ARE making progress in the Ascadian isles farming more intensely... and guarding the Isles with Hlaalo Keep, a stronger Suran... and Nothryon Hold...

[Harikari]

Well thats true
( still in death spiral :flamed: )

[EnnJ]

We can always improve the old location

*Edit, like this.
Hmm, can't get the images to work so a link will do.
This!

We can always remove the area inside the green circle and *pooof* a wide and open port

[syko]

I like all the ideas, but I would think the Hlaalu would have another guild building that would serve as storage and authorities of shipping, thus further procuring their strength over the river and allowing for better trade control. Perhaps another establishment just south of Fadila Balvel's house (2.) with a dock extending to the southeast, partially enclosing the river?

[KuKulzA]

Originally posted by syko
I like all the ideas, but I would think the Hlaalu would have another guild building that would serve as storage and authorities of shipping, thus further procuring their strength over the river and allowing for better trade control. Perhaps another establishment just south of Fadila Balvel's house (2.) with a dock extending to the southeast, partially enclosing the river?

due to the supposedly volatile nature of the Nords...
...and the Nordic raiders are allied to Hlaalu...
the Hlaalu may fear a Nord rebellion...

so maybe they make a sea-gate for the Odai?
it will be made of steel and wood...


but I think that is better with the Odai Plateau... seeing as how that is a fort and all...

[Ixidors Bane]

I think that the move is best, and we should forget about the old Hla Oad location. Not only are we trying to make Vvardebfell from TES III, but we are making an improved version. Changing, fixing and adding things around that should have been in the original, but weren't. That would mean that since Hla Oad is a Hlaalu controlled (kind of) town, then they would want to use it to some purpose to help out their House and economy. Moving it to the river mouth and making it usefull as a shipping station makes sense.

Also, I don't think we should give it a sea-gate. There is the Odai Platue right up the river for defense, as well as a gate ot the south end of Balmora as well. But I do like the idea of adding another building as a storage and regulation house. Maybe not another dock, since it already has three of them. I would say move Murudius Flaeus' House (#3) down below Adram Manor (#8) and add in the shipment regulation and storage house where #3 was.

[Lady Nerevar]

i dont realy think it should be moved. house H needed that port to transport goods up the coast, to sities like gnisis.

[Joe Venice]

(I am assuming that your plans call for a deeper and broader Odai R. than is represented in Morrowind.)

One thing to keep in mind is that by moving it to the mouth of the river you are moving it from an area that is basically a bay (sheltered area) to the mouth of a major river. This means that the city of Hla Oad would have to deal with the sedimentary outwash from a major river; this can be very problematic for ship navigation and would be compounded by having the docks inside the mouth of the river. Ships would have a hard time fighting the current, prevaling winds and avoiding moored ships and any marine obstacles.

Also, the marshes surronding the town not only create a bay but also a protective barrier. Assuming they are salt marshes, this means that they not only limit storm surges from reaching the docks but provide a rich local ecosystem that can be easily exploited. Daily tidal fluctuations will also be more pronounced in its current location. This means that sailing ships will be able to ride tides in and out of port rather than always fight their way into the mouth of the Odai.

Remember that rivers change course throughout their life (ex. Mississippi R.) and that at one time it is possible that Hla Oad was infact built at the mouth of the Odai, but that the rivers path has moved farther to the south (current location). It is possible that in the 6 years between Oblivion and Morrowind the location of Hla Oad was moved to suit the needs of the Hlaalu, given the size of the previous town this would be managable.

All this conjecture is based on Tamriel adhereing to the laws of nature as we know them. Being a fantasy world, it is concievable that these theories would not hold up.

In the end, from a gameplay stand point it would make more sense to have the town of Hla Oad wherever it will benefit the story. There are to many variables involved to determine which site would be better from a "realistic" standpoint.

I believe Mr. Banana has a rebutal... :bananarock:

[Vrenir]

Man, Joe, I like your style! We've got KuKulzA to make all the history and tactical points and you to point out geology; great combination.

I think that the sediment point is especially practical, but then again, how many gamers will notice that. The map of the new location shows two hedged-in swamps. What if we turned the lower one of those into a small inlet opening to the south, small but large enough for say two docks? That way, the ships would be sheltered and not in the river itself, but the port would still be at the strategic location.

I also think that if we did make this a new settlement, it would have to be smaller and the old one would also have to be much smaller (not that it was big to start with) due to the fact that the local population would be split or mostly migrate to the more prosperous new location.