>>96741821
You can probably make the first three things in there work, and I’d give it a pass personally because it’s already working with something that’s been fleshed out in the setting, at least more than Cathay ever was, but ind and nippon would just stretch the setting out and reveal its flaws even more. Even with good writers you can’t try to make logical sense of the world that was in its entirety, not with a high fantasy approach or a mudcore one.
And largely my issue with just regurgitating humans is that you’re going to end up with some kind of space marine fatigue, which just makes the setting unpalatable at some point.
BUT you asked for my suggestions, I can only really answer with just halflings. Maybe have them domesticate random empire beasts that probably belong in the imperial zoo or something to make em seem hardy. I don’t really know, but fantastical creatures need a spotlight more than simply just another redesign of humans.