Messages

31

Historical Discussion / Re: How does an empire emerge?

« on: December 08, 2014, 08:31:10 am »

The funny thing is, when you mentioned an Empire in a fictional universe, the Malazan Empire is what came to mind. Erikson has his faults, but he's built a sound framework for the emergence of several empires in his fiction. K.J Parker's Folding Knife is pretty great about that, too.

However, I would recommend reading Guns, Germs, and Steel as well as War and Peace and War to get a broader picture of empire. If you prefer listening to reading, Dan Carlin's podcasts are pretty great.

The post after I mention Malazan is from you! Hah, I'm glad you joined in. And I'm indeed inspired by the Malazan Empire but I'm also working hard on making it not just a ripoff of his series.
By the way, I see 'Linebreakers' in your signature. Is that something off the Malazan universe? I'm currently on book 4 so I wouldn't know really. I plan on implementing a division called Linebreakers, that's why I'm curious.
And thanks for the recommendations.

32

Historical Discussion / Re: How does an empire emerge?

« on: December 07, 2014, 02:22:55 pm »

Alright friends, really appreciating your help.
I'm tinkering with the Alexander the Great model, where a smaller yet focused army overthrows an Empire long past its prime. Instead of ruining said empire after a bloody conquest, he would remake the infrastructure, keep some of the original ideas and basicly form a fresh version of the empire.
You could have PoVs from characters in the empire before this foreign army arrives, where the general atmosphere is that people are very unhappy with the government (of course people don't know that they're in the last weeks of this empires lifetime). Some like the news they hear about this foreign conquering army, some don't. Some rumors say that everyone will be slaughtered to make room for this unknown people, others again claim that the army is their salvation.

I really like this idea!
Btw my main inspiration source is Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series, I just finished the third book. Extremely epic (in every sense of the word) series that has basicly blown my mind.

Oh and Heskey, go for it! Writing is thrilling, especially if it's just a hobby with no deadlines etc.

33

Historical Discussion / Re: How does an empire emerge?

« on: December 06, 2014, 06:57:17 am »

How a nation would see itself in terms of this foreign empire, I guess, comes down to how strong it already is. I mean, smaller nations with no chance of defeating an invasion might as well willingly join and save the ressources and casualties of war, whereas stronger nations which already got something going for them might think differently. I don't know if you can put it like that?
I think tho I might stick to a sole emperor, but perhaps he's overthrowing an existing council in the transition from republic to empire. Lots of stuff to play with here for sure.

Oh and a vital question. Why does an empire want to conquer nations and expand through the sword? I mean 'power' is definitely the keyword here but to make an interesting faction I gotta have some more here. Trade alliances with conquered nations? Wealth? An ideology within the empire they believe to be the right one for the world?

I'm from Denmark by the way.

34

Historical Discussion / Re: How does an empire emerge?

« on: December 05, 2014, 07:17:40 pm »

Depends, before it's an empire do you want a Monarch? A democracy? After the Empire is formed to you envisage an emperor or monarch?

Not too sure yet, I'm still on the drafting board with this empire. I'm thinking an emperor, but the idea of a sort of council (republic-ish) is actually intriguing and then there's some obvious opportunities for some political intrigues.

And what sort of transition are you anticipating? A faction that claims additional land through conquest and imperialism, thus establishing their Empire? Or a faction that undergoes a purely political transformation and becomes an Empire?

Conquest, definitely.

Thanks for shedding some light on it. I felt stupid asking because I guess it's a pretty straight forward answer, but you know... It's important to get it right and not to mention I needed some inspiration for the origins of this faction - something to play with 

35

Historical Discussion / How does an empire emerge?

« on: December 05, 2014, 05:45:35 pm »

Hello my beloved ones.
I'm currently starting a novel project as a hobby-thing because I have a lot of free time currently.

I'd like to build a faction that will, in time, become an empire. I thought it would be interesting to actually capture that transition within the book's timespan, instead of starting off with an already established empire.

So what is an empire before an empire?
What would I call the faction before reaching that threshold?

Thank you.

36

General Off Topic / Re: Star Wars 7 Teaser

« on: December 03, 2014, 12:43:12 pm »

Is this happening? Are we actually going to see Xant vs Smoothrich on a Star Wars thread? :O this thread has everything! Truly christmas has come early

It seems my work here is done, then.

37

General Off Topic / Re: Star Wars 7 Teaser

« on: November 30, 2014, 08:46:47 am »

Only on meleeforums can a thread derail so much because of two seconds featuring a impractical sword. Be it historical 'accurate' movies or fucking star wars, you guys are ready to chop the poor designer to pieces - love it! 
But seriously...

Let's see.. I got a retro, back to the roots kinda vibe from this teaser.

Let's talk about the actual teaser now? I feel the same as Thomek, I thought they kinda hit the old atmosphere. When I heard Disney was making it I was afraid the movie would be more comical than scifi. The teaser is not really giving that vibe, or is it just me?

38

General Off Topic / Re: Star Wars 7 Teaser

« on: November 29, 2014, 12:26:14 pm »

To be fair crossguards make complete sense when the other dude has a sword of light that can cut your hand off pretty easily if you mess up I mean its not like nearly every sword made has some kind of guard right.

Like all big franchises, the die hard fans will always dislike changes, even the slightest. Can't we all admit the sith dude looks pretty badass wielding that lightsaber?
Sure, there's like 80% chance of the movie being a complete failure (80% might even be generous) - but come on it's Star Wars, we have to see it and I'm not even that much of a fan... Star Wars is just Star Wars.
And besides, it's a teaser... Not a trailer. Think they said the movie would come out December 2015 tho, so there's probably not going long before the real trailers are coming.

39

General Off Topic / Re: Star Wars 7 Teaser

« on: November 28, 2014, 09:01:00 pm »

- Stormtroopers may be awesome, not just cannon fodder.
- Stormtroopers may be people, and have different personalities, not just cannon fodder.

This is something I'm hoping for too. Always loved the design of the stormtroopers, too bad they never really did anything, except shooting some even less important rebel troops.

40

General Off Topic / Re: Star Wars 7 Teaser

« on: November 28, 2014, 07:30:51 pm »

Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't all the stormtroopers black?
All clone troopers were made from the body of Jango Fett (right?), the bounty hunter from the prequels, and that guy was indeed black.
And ya know, later the clone troopers became stormtroopers so I guess it's alright

As for the lightsaber... I dunno

41

General Off Topic / Star Wars 7 Teaser

« on: November 28, 2014, 07:14:14 pm »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOVFvcNfvE

Whatcha think?
I actually got some nostalgia-hype when I saw the stormtroopers.

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General Discussion / Re: The end is upon us!

« on: November 13, 2014, 04:08:40 pm »

Has the time come for the prophesied actual 'mod is ded'?

43

General Discussion / Re: Thought Process of cRPG

« on: October 28, 2014, 12:00:24 pm »

??
 
swash: Origin; mid 16th century (in the sense 'make a noise like swords clashing or beating on shields'): imitative.

buckle: Origin: Middle English: from Old French (escu) bocler, literally '(shield) with a boss', from bocle 'buckle, boss'

Combined? A man who makes a noise by hitting his shield with his sword. His SHIELD, with his sword. HIS SHIELD.

Swashbucklers are pure 1handers.

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General Off Topic / Re: Scary Thread

« on: October 15, 2014, 01:44:29 pm »

thank mr skeltal

Good bones and calcium will come to you, my friend

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General Off Topic / Re: Scary Thread

« on: October 13, 2014, 06:00:31 pm »

Spooky, especially in these spooky days...