It really won't make you think about going other routes. Most areas where there is icy water there is a lot of land, so you're not going to be in there for long. In fact, you're really not in water for long at all.
It would if it dropped your stamina and took hitpoints as though it were lava.

(Make it a serious risk, without some kind of enchantment to resist cold).
**But IMO that should only happen if you go underwater; (actually I'd prefer just chest deep, but I don't think they can check for that).
Alot of these a good ideas... But perhaps it would be good for an Alternate mode, or an option for greater realism.
My preference for games is that the options be about display & audio ~not so much gameplay. I can see having a gore slider, and even an NPC banter frequency slider, but for most aspects of a game I'd prefer it if little else were an option, and just had to be accepted. IMO its easier to take a game more seroiusly if it's not too servile.
