My new fort continues to expand after losing one to a triple flying elf ambush (I did not expect that AT ALL) but this time I was ready for them... Abandoned the thought of sitting comfortably behind fortifications and went instead with 80% melee, armored in 100% lamellar\wood shields, steel grade weapons and my chief swinging a folded mithril dai-katana. It was a massacre, for the elves that is, one raw recruit caught an arrow in the arm but the doc said he'll be back in action in a few months. It was fun watching chief hack a few limbs off before he delivered a killing blow.
The lamellar cloaks are great. Everyone in my fort wears one and they provide bronze-grade protection to the entire body below the head sans feet and hands. Looking through hunters combat logs, the only time they get an injury worse than a bruise is when they get hit in spots where the cloak doesn't cover which is unfortunately more than I'd like.
I have a screenshot of a lamellar cloak deflecting several consecutive blows from a steel great maul wielded by a human, unfortunately I'm not at my df computer.
Anyway... Suggest adding a savage/berserker caste like the dwarves have that have immunity to pain and axe proficiency bonus and maybe a penalty to armor and shields. We have the disciplined warrior orc reflected in the ronin caste, let's also have a crazy hide-wearing giant stone axe savage caste too. I only mention this because meph's dwarves have a caste like this and it seems fitting for orcs.
I'm having troubles with the grind mithril bars to powder recipe at the damask forge, does it require a whole bunch of mithril? I'm quite certain I have plenty of bags but I only have a few mithril bars (hopefully many more to come with my newly acquired elfinite supply)