NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm making a world for my story, which I hope to make into a game someday.

Anyway, it's meant to parallel this world, while encorporating element of fantasy (such as Tolkien's ideas).

So, basically, it's set in some system in some galaxy (haven't quite decided what they're called yet). There are four inhabitable planets in the system; the home planet, a parallel of Earth, a marshy-watery planet inhabited by a fish-like race, and two Earth-like planets which are being colonised by the nations of the system.

On the home planet, which is core to the story, is a Cold War situation, between the traditionalistic Coalition nations and the radical leftist Pact nations. The main nations of the home planet are:

Coalition:

The (something here I haven't decided upon) Empire - the southern, imperialist humans. Ruled by an Emperor, Imperial Humans are proud, liberal, carefree and deeply traditionalist (sounds contradictory, but it's not). Based on Imperial Germany and post-WWII USA.

Bronze Republic of Elves - the nation of the Sun Elves (typical white skinned, Tolkien-esque elves). Long the dominant power on the planet, the Sun Elves are finding themselves having to adapt to a world dominated by humans. Grappling with a recent past of Nazi-like policies against other elven races. Based on post-WWII Japan and post-WWII UK.

The Republic of Skedya - the nation of the Snow Elves. Northern elves with paler skin that the Sun Elves, the Snow Elves joined the Coalition during Second Great War despite the persecutionist policies of their former Sun Elf rulers. The Snow Elves are secretive; little is known about them.

The Republic of the Mines - the nation of the Dwarves. Newly finding themselves in a position of power after centuries of subservience to the Sun Elves. The Dwarves are industrious and hard working, and have the third strongest economy in the world.

More to come, maybe. Do I have any talent as a storywriter? :(

Care to explain how it's possible to be "liberal" and "traditionalist" at the same time?

Care to explain how it's possible to be "liberal" and "traditionalist" at the same time?

They are liberal in a sense of "free speech, free thought, free religion, free lvoe, drink a lot, etc..." but they're traditionalist in a political and religious sense i.e. Don't badmouth the Emperor, the gods or karma.

How does "free religion" work with "don't badmouth the gods"? What if they don't believe in the gods?

Montardai!
The Humans are Montardai!:mad:

How does "free religion" work with "don't badmouth the gods"? What if they don't believe in the gods?

The "don't badmouth the gods" is for believers. But if you piss off the gods, you're expected to get bad luck and misfortune; believers deliberately avoid pissing off the gods.

Montardai!
The Humans are Montardai!:mad:

... What?

And besides, I'm not done with the humans; they have two nations. I'll post the other faction when I get back from the store.

The "don't badmouth the gods" is for believers. But if you piss off the gods, you're expected to get bad luck and misfortune; believers deliberately avoid pissing off the gods.
I see. I think you have some good ideas, but are dealing with quite a few clichés. I'm never partial to using Tolkienesque beings, because it's been done a billion times over.

I see. I think you have some good ideas, but are dealing with quite a few clichés. I'm never partial to using Tolkienesque beings, because it's been done a billion times over.

Oh, this is just the surface. I'm making it more complicated to avoid Tolkien. Such as the Sun Elves being far from benevolent.

Pact:

The (something here I haven't decided upon) Union - the northern, communist humans. Ruled by an brutal dictatorship, Union Humans are fiercly classist; the proletariat is held above all else. Based on pre and post-Stalin USSR.

Democratic Dusk Republic - the nation of the Dusk Elves (typical dark elves). Communist and extremely anti-Sun Elf, They find themselves allied with Union Humans in order to keep their harsh socialist regime propped up. Based on North Korea.

People's Republic of Ambar Plains - the nation of the Tree Elves. Shorter and nimbler than other elves, they too have suffered at the hands of the Sun Elves, and as such are anti-Sun, although not as much as their Dusk allies. Based on PRC.

Western Reach - not so much a nation as a region, it is virtually an uninhabitable desert. The only sentient race that can survive here are the Hrsk-hrr, a sort of gilly, lizardy humanoid. They live in tribes, and are communist by nature rather than choice. The Hrsk-hrr put forth very few intellectuals, and can barely clothe themselves, let alone compete in the modern economic and technological world. The closest they've ever come to unification was an alliance of tribes during the Second Great War, and this fell apart after the ceasefire. The only reason they haven't been wiped out already is their massive population. Loosely based on regions of Africa.

I hate the Pact already!

I hate the Pact already!

They're based on communist nations and the Warsaw Pact.

...

Join the Empire!

Oh, this is just the surface. I'm making it more complicated to avoid Tolkien. Such as the Sun Elves being far from benevolent.

You also need non-humanoid sentients... besides the fish people. Maybe a creature with 2 heads, 4 eyes, 2 beaklike mouths with teeth, 2 necks, a body, 4 grabber arms, 4 elephantlike legs, and 2 fully prehensile tails that shoot poison out of them. Throw in some antennae and 2 bat ears per head, make it green, and there you go.

You also need non-humanoid sentients... besides the fish people. Maybe a creature with 2 heads, 4 eyes, 2 beaklike mouths with teeth, 2 necks, a body, 4 grabber arms, 4 elephantlike legs, and 2 fully prehensile tails that shoot poison out of them. Throw in some antennae and 2 bat ears per head, make it green, and there you go.

There are going to be some on the "New World." It's the other continent besides the one I've described. I haven't thought about the New World much.

There's also the Hordes (Red, White, Blue, Purple and Black Hordes), but that's just too much detail for now.

They're based on communist nations and the Warsaw Pact.

...

Join the Empire!


Is the Empire properly born again surn baptist and all?

... What?

And besides, I'm not done with the humans; they have two nations. I'll post the other faction when I get back from the store.
Give them names!:mad:

Oh, this is just the surface. I'm making it more complicated to avoid Tolkien. Such as the Sun Elves being far from benevolent.


Dont call your elves "Sun", or "Dusk" elves.

Thats been done to death by every company to own Dungeons and Dragons for the last thirty years.

Nor "Moon" elves, nor "Wood" elves...nor "High" elves.....

If you want this to be really good, give it an entirely new twist.
Dont use subspecies already used, by dozens of sources.

Be original.

Is the Empire properly born again surn baptist and all?

... No. The follow a Norse-esque pantheon of gods.

Dont call your elves "Sun", or "Dusk" elves.

Thats been done to death by every company to own Dungeons and Dragons for the last thirty years.

Nor "Moon" elves, nor "Wood" elves...nor "High" elves.....

If you want this to be really good, give it an entirely new twist.
Dont use subspecies already used, by dozens of sources.

Be original.

If you can think of better names, I'd like to hear them. The idea of Nazi-elves doesn't work without elven subspecies.

There are going to be some on the "New World." It's the other continent besides the one I've described. I haven't thought about the New World much.

There's also the Hordes (Red, White, Blue, Purple and Black Hordes), but that's just too much detail for now.

Well, if you are using the elephantoid-insectoid nation I gave you, call them the Mirkinofk. The Mirkinofk Tetrasects.

Mirkinofk is pronounced (Mirk (like smirk without the s)-in (as in the word in)-ofk (the word "off" with a k after it)).

A variety with tusks would be cool too... but call them the Makrinoff Tetrasects.

Your insect-phant idea isn't half bad, although we might need to change the name... and make them scarier.

Your insect-phant idea isn't half bad, although we might need to change the name... and make them scarier.

Add fangs to the non-tusked ones. And their body pattern is black with dark red gushlike patterns, like blood. And make the tusked ones leak acid from their bodies. The non-tusked ones can breathe fire.

This is getting good here. Let's see... they are sentient (due to having 2 smaller but interconnected brains), odd-looking,... anything else? Maybe add an extra tail with a spike on it on them. That should do...

Add fangs to the non-tusked ones. And their body pattern is black with dark red gushlike patterns, like blood. And make the tusked ones leak acid from their bodies. The non-tusked ones can breathe fire.

This is getting good here. Let's see... they are sentient (due to having 2 smaller but interconnected brains), odd-looking,... anything else? Maybe add an extra tail with a spike on it on them. That should do...

Mmm. I'll make them like the Aztecs; interesting, but ultimately chicken for the humans and elves.

... No. The follow a Norse-esque pantheon of gods.

*Declares neutrality*

Mmm. I'll make them like the Aztecs; interesting, but ultimately chicken for the humans and elves.

And make a rival sentient aviary nation... small pteradactyl-like mammaloids with 2 very small arms to grab stuff, 2 big wings, 2 bird legs, a long beak with teeth, 2 eyes (mammalian), a small tail for aerial manuevers, and 2 small ears. Very intelligent creatures, they have a minor religion similar to Zoroasterism (cosmic battle of a god and an anti-god), but they live in underground burrows with stunning tech... maybe lightbulbs, depending on the other people... They are dark green in color and live in the woods. They are about 3 feet long from beak (9 inches) to tail (6 inches). Their wingspan is about 6 feet, and they are fireproof. Their main diet is isects, but a tetrasect can be downed by a hunting pack of these sharp-beaked animals.

Another animal would be green photosynthetic oozes that can eat the pteradon-esque ceatures should they fall into the acid. These oozes stop emitting acid if burned.

NOTE: The tetrasects would live on the forest-savannah-desert area.

So now we have a hunting triangle. the fanged tetrasects eat the ooze that eats the pteradonoids that eat the tetrasects, with the ooze supplying energy for the cycle to continue, using photosynthesis to fill the gaps.

I knew I forgot something... the Orcs! I might put something about them in tomorrow. Need bed now. 'Night...

I knew I forgot something... the Orcs! I might put something about them in tomorrow. Need bed now. 'Night...

Add small carnivorious animal colonies that move slow and shoot spines. They are globish-shaped with a tube that makes spines, and have their mouth on the bottom. With only one eye and many legs, these colonies can down an entire pack of Tetrasects easily. And devour their flesh in seconds.

Some constructive criticism:

Try and move away from clichées based in the real world. Real world models are good only insofar as they are models. I personally don't think that an overly communist elven theme is that good; wood elves seem to be more ecotopian and dark elves are traditionally fascist, potentially matriarchies. At least that's what they "feel" like to me.

In all, just try to avoid people recognizing the dusk elves as North Koreans or the Pantheon as the Norse pantheon. ;)

Some constructive criticism:

Try and move away from clichées based in the real world. Real world models are good only insofar as they are models. I personally don't think that an overly communist elven theme is that good; wood elves seem to be more ecotopian and dark elves are traditionally fascist, potentially matriarchies. At least that's what they "feel" like to me.

In all, just try to avoid people recognizing the dusk elves as North Koreans or the Pantheon as the Norse pantheon. ;)

True, true...

Another sentient creature would be one with a head, a sluggish body, a long, macelike tail (useable as a weapon), 2 eyes, a small mouth with many sharp teeth, and 2 grabber arms.

A very aggressive, emotional creature, it emits smoke when in danger to confuse the emeny and kill it (it can sometimes even emit knockout gas). These creatures are Paganlike in religion, and are mostly carnivorial. The creatures are acid-proof, and can mimic animal sounds very easily and accurately. They also have eyes that can see on almost any scale seeable by other creatures. These creatures are the ultimate hunters, but cannot escape the sludges for some reason. They are also very slow at times, becoming easy prey for Pteradonoids and the quill insects.

This presents a food cycle for the forest-savannah border region.

Also there are insects and small rodents and plants that complete the cycle.

The communist cliches are a little over used. Would it hurt to make leftists in fiction who don't have to pray to their Dear Leader every morning?

The communist cliches are a little over used. Would it hurt to make leftists in fiction who don't have to pray to their Dear Leader every morning?

Like Libertarians or Anarchists or Minarchy or something?

Those make bad Fantasy governments. Democratic republic is as far as you can go.

But it would be interesting to hypothesize the response that a libertarian socialist collective would have to an attack by a hegemonizing invader state.

Care to explain how it's possible to be "liberal" and "traditionalist" at the same time?

Libralism is traditional. Duh.

Anywho, you need sorcery type spec-ops. No, not an option. Do it.

Oh, and how advanced are the fishypeople?

But it would be interesting to hypothesize the response that a libertarian socialist collective would have to an attack by a hegemonizing invader state.

How about a free weapon state? Everyone with full firearms. Try THAT for action.

How about a free weapon state? Everyone with full firearms. Try THAT for action.

That's when you find a nice hole and hide!

That's when you find a nice hole and hide!

Or come in riding in a tank.:D

We'll call it the "The Land of Unending Weapon Brinkmanship"

We'll call it the "The Land of Unending Weapon Brinkmanship"

And the enemy: The Empire of Zombie Soldiers.

Who will win?

You're idea sounds cool to me, I dig that kind of stuff.

Here's a question: Does anoyone know of an author who has written of a fantasy world gone... well, non-fantasy? Like, say for example, a Tolkien-esque world where magic just doesn't exist, and elves, dwarves and halflings have to live in a world with the rest of us losers and deal with Marxism, Fascism, and the rest of the ism's?

Here's a question: Does anoyone know of an author who has written of a fantasy world gone... well, non-fantasy? Like, say for example, a Tolkien-esque world where magic just doesn't exist, and elves, dwarves and halflings have to live in a world with the rest of us losers and deal with Marxism, Fascism, and the rest of the ism's?


Harry Turtledove.....

Here's a question: Does anoyone know of an author who has written of a fantasy world gone... well, non-fantasy? Like, say for example, a Tolkien-esque world where magic just doesn't exist, and elves, dwarves and halflings have to live in a world with the rest of us losers and deal with Marxism, Fascism, and the rest of the ism's?

That would not sell... Why, i'm not sure. But my gut says it would never sell.

However, iGod likes the idea. LOL.:D

The chat:
"

Me:
Would a Tolkien-esque world where magic just doesn't exist, and elves, dwarves and halflings have to live in a world with the rest of us losers and deal with Marxism, Fascism, and the rest of the ism's in a book sell?
God:
Yes.
Me:
Why do you think that book would sell?
God:
Deductive reasoning from the facts."

Harry Turtledove.....

Really? I love Turtledove, but I think the closest he came to that idea was to have a 'World-War-esque' kind of conflict with magic, in the 'Darkness' series. I don't think there's anything else in the 'fantasy' genre that he's done. (unless you want to count the Videssos stuff, which just doesn't equate to what I was looking for.)

If you can think of better names, I'd like to hear them. The idea of Nazi-elves doesn't work without elven subspecies.
They could hate other species.

Instead of them thingking:
Sun Elve
Dusk Elve
Human
Snow Elve
Dwarf
etc.
Jews (Well, they are Nazis)

They could think
Elves as a whole
Human
Werehuman
Dwarf
Billy Goats
etc
Jews

Then you could make up some cool new races!

Also, the Warsaw Pact, if seems you designed for people to explicitly hate. Any particular reason for it?

Avoid Orcs, and Ogres.

This world has grown new things, including:

-A battle of sentients (and slime) at the forest's edge
-The zombie soldiers vs. a libertarian state with no weapons control

and less cliche ideas for the old characters. What is missing? Oh yeah... HOW DO THE PEOPLE TRAVEL BETWEEN THE PLANETS???!!! (seriously. That was never addressed.)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

They cannot have space ships. That would ruin it for everyone. "Advanced" Tech + "Mystical Powers" + Fantasy = "horrible" book

NOTE: The PC police have altered this part of the message so that it is P.C. in every way.

If you can think of better names, I'd like to hear them. The idea of Nazi-elves doesn't work without elven subspecies.


Make the name of the Elves taken from its leader.
That is to say, the name of the race of people is taken from the same name of the royal house wich has always ruled its people.

These are the "insert rulers surname* Elves.

Other types of elves living elsewhere on the planet could have been a renegade Noble House that split from the Ruling House.
After a few millena, different racial traits developed...

Boom...different species of elves.

Now I get writing credit and royalties beeatch.

Really? I love Turtledove, but I think the closest he came to that idea was to have a 'World-War-esque' kind of conflict with magic, in the 'Darkness' series. I don't think there's anything else in the 'fantasy' genre that he's done. (unless you want to count the Videssos stuff, which just doesn't equate to what I was looking for.)

Meh, I tried eh?

Meh, I tried eh?

Can't blame a dude for tryin'!

And if anyone was going to do it, it smacks of Turtledove doesn't it?

Hell, you get a cookie just for bringing him up. I love that guy!

*gives Wanderjar a 'cookie'*

Can't blame a dude for tryin'!

And if anyone was going to do it, it smacks of Turtledove doesn't it?

Hell, you get a cookie just for bringing him up. I love that guy!

*gives Wanderjar a 'cookie'*

Yay! I'm going to do the cookie dance!

*holds cookie above head, does a jig*

yay!

So they're aliens from another system in another galaxy with three planets similar to Earth, not just in size and mass, but also in climate and terrain? And the aliens from these planets in this system in this galaxy are either human, humanoid, or fish-like?

With that and the descriptions you've provided so far I'd say this will suck. Hard. And blow. At the same time. You have no talent as a writer. You have no creativity or imagination so you just rip off other works except you've changed the words around.

Your idea is revolting and so are the serfs, so I must go.

So they're aliens from another system in another galaxy with three planets similar to Earth, not just in size and mass, but also in climate and terrain? And the aliens from these planets in this system in this galaxy are either human, humanoid, or fish-like?

With that and the descriptions you've provided so far I'd say this will suck. Hard. And blow. At the same time. You have no talent as a writer. You have no creativity or imagination so you just rip off other works except you've changed the words around.

Your idea is revolting and so are the serfs, so I must go.


*Throws a Marshmellow doused in holy water*


Leave! Begone foul forum troll!

So they're aliens from another system in another galaxy with three planets similar to Earth, not just in size and mass, but also in climate and terrain? And the aliens from these planets in this system in this galaxy are either human, humanoid, or fish-like?

With that and the descriptions you've provided so far I'd say this will suck. Hard. And blow. At the same time. You have no talent as a writer. You have no creativity or imagination so you just rip off other works except you've changed the words around.

Your idea is revolting and so are the serfs, so I must go.
WTF is your point? Sci-fi has been doing this since its inception.

Or conception. Deception? I forget...

WTF is your point? Sci-fi has been doing this since its inception.

Or conception. Deception? I forget...


Inception and conception could both work.


Regardless, I still say you have a fine idea, and this is my 3001st post!

Good, hard sci-fi doesn't have a humanoid alien on multiple but somehow similar planets in a single system in another galaxy. Good, hard sci-fi doesn't rip off fantasy giants.

Good sci-fi doesn't have to be hard sci-fi, Star Trek (TOS/some later TNG) is good sci-fi but not hard sci-fi. It was original and used to make statements about society, humanity, life, the universe, and everything. Good sci-fi is a vision, it shows us what can be and could have been. Good sci-fi inspires us. It shows us a better world to aspire to or terrors to remind us what is important. It conveys a message.

Your world is without direction. Without purpose.

I have to agree with the others who've pointed out how cliche this looks, especially the use of elves, dwarves, and most especially orks. And the politics seem rather hamfistedly allegorical.

Here's a question: Does anoyone know of an author who has written of a fantasy world gone... well, non-fantasy? Like, say for example, a Tolkien-esque world where magic just doesn't exist, and elves, dwarves and halflings have to live in a world with the rest of us losers and deal with Marxism, Fascism, and the rest of the ism's?

Check out Michael Swanwick’s The Iron Dragon’s Daughter, which was specifically written to strongly critique "the recent slew of interchangeable Fantasy trilogies". [1 (http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/nonfiction/intms.htm)] It has magic, but otherwise it's right up what you're looking for - elves, dragons, and other overly abused standard cliches are all turned on end in a pseudo steam/mage-punk work of art.

Also check out Steven Brust's Dragaeran books for a rather more realistic look at what elves would be like. (Hint: it ain't pretty - humans are regarded as dirty, short lived, and a bit of a nusance. Plus they can't use magic to keep their nasty slums nice and clean like the elfs (sic.) do.)

Finally, check out Glen Cook's Garrett P.I. and Black Company books. The first is a hard boiled detective series set in a cliche fantasy world. The second is ignores the cliches (with a few nods to Papa) and presents a gritty Hobbsian world of magic heavily flavored by the author's experiences as a Force Recon corpsman in Vietnam.

In all, just try to avoid people recognizing the dusk elves as North Koreans or the Pantheon as the Norse pantheon. ;)

They're not starving like the North Koreans. And the gods are only like the Norse gods because they have human qualities; other (real) pantheons are very divine, not so much fun.

Good, hard sci-fi doesn't have a humanoid alien on multiple but somehow similar planets in a single system in another galaxy. Good, hard sci-fi doesn't rip off fantasy giants.

Good sci-fi doesn't have to be hard sci-fi, Star Trek (TOS/some later TNG) is good sci-fi but not hard sci-fi. It was original and used to make statements about society, humanity, life, the universe, and everything. Good sci-fi is a vision, it shows us what can be and could have been. Good sci-fi inspires us. It shows us a better world to aspire to or terrors to remind us what is important. It conveys a message.

Your world is without direction. Without purpose.

Someone's having her period.

Oh yeah... HOW DO THE PEOPLE TRAVEL BETWEEN THE PLANETS???!!! (seriously. That was never addressed.)

I'm thinking of something similar to the Chronosphere from Red Alert.

Also, the Warsaw Pact, if seems you designed for people to explicitly hate. Any particular reason for it?

Well, here's the thing; is it really that different from the real Warsaw Pact? Or are people just looking at it differently because they're not from our world?

Here's the thing though; the actual STORY involves little of this. It take place, at first at least, in an Imperial colony on one of the planets. This is just background.

Meh, I tried eh?
He's a Canadian, get him!

He's a Canadian, get him!

Nope! I'm German/Scottish American! But some of my friends are Canadian, which is where I picked that up (curse them!!!)

Nope! I'm German/Scottish American! But some of my friends are Canadian, which is where I picked that up (curse them!!!)

Sure you are. Gio! Go get the Canuk-Canadadi-Caner-Canadian!

And to the creator of this thread, one big world has more promise.

Let's all move to Canada... where we can... canade...

And Greater Alemannia, I'm a guy. And I just don't think you have any talent as a writer.

Let's all move to Canada... where we can... canade...

And Greater Alemannia, I'm a guy. And I just don't think you have any talent as a writer.

Canada? Hmm...

And Greater Alemannia just needs to work with his cliched ideas...

Ok, after such a negative reaction, I've scrapped the entire world and replaced it with humans. It's basically Earth, but not.

Ok, after such a negative reaction, I've scrapped the entire world and replaced it with humans. It's basically Earth, but not.If you're really interested in blending fantasy and science fiction, look into Shadowrun.

Don't scrap too much; even worlds that you'd consider failed can help you when you create new ones.

If you're really interested in blending fantasy and science fiction, look into Shadowrun.

Don't scrap too much; even worlds that you'd consider failed can help you when you create new ones.

I've played Shadowrun on SNES >_>

And I've essentially scrapped the entire world, it was crap. I've retained only two things: that there are humans, and that their capital is a massive city called Volseta.

Hey guys, would it be possible to create an RPG with no real background story, no world or anything?

Hey guys, would it be possible to create an RPG with no real background story, no world or anything?

Sure. Most FRPGs, especially the original D&D and AD&D, are/were quite generic. And the multitude of generic/universal systems of course have no backstory.

I suspect you are familiar with GURPS and d20, and probably d6.

I suggest looking over these:
http://www.fudgefactor.org/index.html
http://www.basicrps.com/core/index.html

Also, if you can, dig up a copy of one of the games that used GDW's "house system".

Also, check this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Role-playing_game_systems

Finally, when all is said and done make, sure you take into account the gamer type (http://www.io.com/~angilas/taxonomy.html) (yea GNS theory! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNS_Theory)) you're aiming at. For example, the BRP and GDW systems I suggested are Simulationist games and suit my style of play. I suspect you're more into the Gamer games, an d20 or d6 may suit you better.

Sure. Most FRPGs, especially the original D&D and AD&D, are/were quite generic. And the multitude of generic/universal systems of course have no backstory.

I suspect you are familiar with GURPS and d20, and probably d6.

I suggest looking over these:
http://www.fudgefactor.org/index.html
http://www.basicrps.com/core/index.html

Also, if you can, dig up a copy of one of the games that used GDW's "house system".

Also, check this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Role-playing_game_systems

Finally, when all is said and done make, sure you take into account the gamer type (http://www.io.com/~angilas/taxonomy.html) (yea GNS theory! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNS_Theory)) you're aiming at. For example, the BRP and GDW systems I suggested are Simulationist games and suit my style of play. I suspect you're more into the Gamer games, an d20 or d6 may suit you better.

Dude, it's a VIDEO GAME RPG. And it's going to be closer to Oblivion, KH and Dynasty Warriors in gameplay than anything else.

Dude, it's a VIDEO GAME RPG. And it's going to be closer to Oblivion, KH and Dynasty Warriors in gameplay than anything else.

Well why didn't you say it was a computer adventure game?

In which case, dump the background. No need for it in a hack and slash.

Dude, it's a VIDEO GAME RPG. And it's going to be closer to Oblivion, KH and Dynasty Warriors in gameplay than anything else.

Communist societies in a game would suck: "From each according to his abilities" would be downright overbearing when you hit the really high levels (Like in morrowind where you could kill the god). You would be buying your little commune new jacuzzis every day and "need" would soon mean the town plumber had his eye on that "Shining Sword of Etheral Might" that you looted after 3 hours in a dungeon fighting 14 dragons.

Well why didn't you say it was a computer adventure game?

In which case, dump the background. No need for it in a hack and slash.

It's a hack slash RPG... it'll probably end up need something resembling a back story somewhere along the line.

glad theres no khajiits.

If you want to write a good story--sci-fi, fantasy, whatever--you need to come up with the plot first and create a world to fit the plot. It usually dopesn't work out so well when you make the world first and the story as an afterthought. Everything you see in a movie or read in a book is there to help the plot along; every prop, every line, everything is a plot device. If it doesn't contribute to the story then it's just filler and good stories keep filler to a minimum.

If you want to write a good story--sci-fi, fantasy, whatever--you need to come up with the plot first and create a world to fit the plot. It usually dopesn't work out so well when you make the world first and the story as an afterthought. Everything you see in a movie or read in a book is there to help the plot along; every prop, every line, everything is a plot device. If it doesn't contribute to the story then it's just filler and good stories keep filler to a minimum.

That's probably why it's easier to make everything up on the way.

I've reformed the base world. It can best be described as "Star Wars before humans left their system." Although there's no force, Jedi or lightsabers. :D

One thing, im a huge sci-fi/fantasy fan and there's one thing about this that bugs me. You hafta choose science or magic. The only series that was halfway decent that ussed both was the Artemis Fowl series. If you have multiple planets then you probably need tech. generally that doesn't jive too well with elves, etc. I would advise turning the planets into continents. Make one really big world. And make the area with the deadly animals an unihabitable wasteland. Put them in with those creatures that could barely clothe themselves.

One thing, im a huge sci-fi/fantasy fan and there's one thing about this that bugs me. You hafta choose science or magic. The only series that was halfway decent that ussed both was the Artemis Fowl series. If you have multiple planets then you probably need tech. generally that doesn't jive too well with elves, etc. I would advise turning the planets into continents. Make one really big world. And make the area with the deadly animals an unihabitable wasteland. Put them in with those creatures that could barely clothe themselves.

I'm going to make it mostly science, with magic being a curiosity that few (like the heroes and villians) truly explore.

One thing, im a huge sci-fi/fantasy fan and there's one thing about this that bugs me. You hafta choose science or magic. The only series that was halfway decent that ussed both was the Artemis Fowl series.

Check out Michael Swanwick’s The Iron Dragon’s Daughter that I suggested above.

The Iron Dragon's Daughter (1993) impregnates Celtic High Fantasy with the seeds of rampant industrial capitalism, presenting a scathing, and extremely entertaining, genre critique.[1 (http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/nonfiction/intms.htm)]

Also, check out Professor Muhammad Abd-el-Rahman Barker's Tekumel books and game world, mostly for the backstory. (Although the novels do suffer a bit from the world first story second model Dosuun mentioned.)

You seem to be doing a political paralell of the world 50 years ago. Nobody will relate to it, except for baby boomers, who don't play video games. Either try something contemporary, which everyone can relate to, or something at least a century old, which nobody can relate to, but wished they could. Alternatively you could do a future parallel. Don't use elves. Rename them and tweak their features slightly, then claim it as your own. The only race anyone can plaguerise is orcs (Warhammer, Blizzard...).

You seem to be doing a political paralell of the world 50 years ago. Nobody will relate to it, except for baby boomers, who don't play video games. Either try something contemporary, which everyone can relate to, or something at least a century old, which nobody can relate to, but wished they could. Alternatively you could do a future parallel. Don't use elves. Rename them and tweak their features slightly, then claim it as your own. The only race anyone can plaguerise is orcs (Warhammer, Blizzard...).

I scrapped all that about 20 posts ago >_>

It's a hack slash RPG... it'll probably end up need something resembling a back story somewhere along the line.

Hack and Slash RPG is a contradiction. :)

A bit of backstory sure, but nothing as complex as you had been suggesting.

Hack and Slash RPG is a contradiction. :)

Not really. It'd be like Kingdom Hearts and The Elder Scrolls, only more fluid.

A bit of backstory sure, but nothing as complex as you had been suggesting.

I'll make it up as I go along.

Not really. It'd be like Kingdom Hearts and The Elder Scrolls, only more fluid.

Both H&Sers not role-playing games. (I'm just old school on this - if you aren't actually acting a role, it's not an RPG.)

I'll make it up as I go along.

Sounds like a plan.