Week 25: An Exposition of Elements
Posted On: Jun 23, 2014 6:56:28 GMT
noobgod, Archangel, and 3 more like this
Post by Lighterthief on Jun 23, 2014 6:56:28 GMT
This weeks dev blog on LlamaQuest.
Ari's Corner
We would like to thank you all for making the transition to the new forums smooth. There are a few that haven't migrated over yet, but I am sure we will all be moved over in the next few weeks. Also a big thanks goes out to minche and Lighterthief for getting this awesome forum set up for us. They did an amazing job. Make sure you tell them how great it all looks!
The Code
I'm going to be out of town for a few days this next week traveling for work (it sometimes does that). Honestly though, it probably means I'll be able to do more work on the game. Less distractions. I'm going to be trying to get forum logins working for the game. For it to work though I need to write a custom login module for the server. There already is a built in module, but that requires username and password. And the game will be working using one time use tokens. Using the tokens will allow for a seamless login to the game. So you would just come to the site, click "Play" and as long as you are logged into the forums, the game will start and just go to the character select screen. I'll probably do something like an optional password/pin that you can setup (for shared computers). We'll see.
-iamallama
Pear Talk
As we promised, here are the overviews for each of the cultures we have so far. When writing this I put in some real-life examples to help give a better representation of the ideas in mind. Again, it'll be hard to translate ideas in text directly to the game, so I want to stress that this isn't what's going directly into LlamaQuest and there'll probably be a lot of changes since this is just brainstorming.
The Art
Anyway, still sooo much to do and found out. But it's getting some form now.
All images (spritesheets, animations, previews, sketches) are property of Lighterthief and iamallama. Submitted images become the property of Lighterthief and iamallama and are covered under their copyright. Use may be made of these sprites for non-commercial purposes without permission from the copyright holder. Commercial use of this material may only be made with the express, prior, written permission of Lighterthief and iamallama.
Ari's Corner
We would like to thank you all for making the transition to the new forums smooth. There are a few that haven't migrated over yet, but I am sure we will all be moved over in the next few weeks. Also a big thanks goes out to minche and Lighterthief for getting this awesome forum set up for us. They did an amazing job. Make sure you tell them how great it all looks!
The Code
iamallama said:
I didn't get much work done on the game this last week. I spent a my time working on the forums. Doing the invites, adding new plugins and such. I can say that I was banned from the FOLegacy forums by ProBoards from when I was gathering all the user information. So I got that going for me. My account is fine, but I am IP blocked. So I can't even touch the site from home, but I can see it while at work or other places. I need to reset my IP address, but that would mean taking myself off the internet for like a day which is not worth it. Besides, we have this awesome new place to hang out. So meh, whatever.I'm going to be out of town for a few days this next week traveling for work (it sometimes does that). Honestly though, it probably means I'll be able to do more work on the game. Less distractions. I'm going to be trying to get forum logins working for the game. For it to work though I need to write a custom login module for the server. There already is a built in module, but that requires username and password. And the game will be working using one time use tokens. Using the tokens will allow for a seamless login to the game. So you would just come to the site, click "Play" and as long as you are logged into the forums, the game will start and just go to the character select screen. I'll probably do something like an optional password/pin that you can setup (for shared computers). We'll see.
-iamallama
Pear Talk
Bamboozle said:
As we promised, here are the overviews for each of the cultures we have so far. When writing this I put in some real-life examples to help give a better representation of the ideas in mind. Again, it'll be hard to translate ideas in text directly to the game, so I want to stress that this isn't what's going directly into LlamaQuest and there'll probably be a lot of changes since this is just brainstorming.
{Spoiler}{Spoiler}Fire
- Fire-aligned characters live in a culture that prides strength, rigor, pureness and determination over all else. Authority figures must not be challenged, and rebels are looked down upon harshly. People are expected to live subservient to their elders and above all the main government. This cultural view has allowed the state to build up highly trained and professional land armies, causing conflict with the other elements, who believe the fire culture is an imperialist dystopia.
- Architecture incorporates all elements of fire into design. Graceful, quick-moving designs are used as decorations in public places. Clothing and uniforms use darker, reddish tones to provide status symbols to the wearer. Even weapons are touched by the aesthetics of fire; blades are swooped and curving, looking slightly like a flickering flame.
- The central government is headed by a monarch who is not chosen via bloodline or birthright but by might of will. Rich businessmen and generals have been known to frequently seize power, which is deemed acceptable due to the belief that power belongs to only those who can wield it.
Water
- Water-aligned characters belong to a culture that is rather bipolar. Representing its main symbol, the sea, the water culture has been known to be chill and peaceful at one time and violent and vengeful the next. Challenge of authority and revolution is common, and water-oriented people are rather liberal. Morality comes before strength; just as water nourishes the body and keeps man alive, a leader must not be cruel, but instead supportive of his or her people.
- The navies of the water people are (obviously) the most developed in the world, and literature bears many metaphors to storms and sailing. Water people are known for their relaxed attitudes, lazy ways and kind governance. This, being seen as weakness, has prompted other elemental groups to attempt an invasion of the water-aligned lands, most of which were repulsed by the unification of the city-states in times of need.
- The central government is made up of a council of maritime city-states, democratically elected. Popular vote is the main factor here, but sometimes a tyrant gains power by naval clashes and victories. There is some enmity between the city-states, mostly for economic or military competition.
Air
No good real-life examples for this, unfortunately.
- Air-aligned characters simply don't give a damn. They come and go like the wind, as they please. Arguably the culture with the largest mix of peoples, the air nation inhabits areas ranging from vast plains to storm swept mountains. Most people are nomadic, living off the land or their herds. What little cities they have are constructed from nearby and plentiful materials, portable and meant to be dismantled and packed up daily.
- This disorganization would have meant death at the hands of the more powerful nations, if it were not for the air culture's legendary warriors. Tales tell of single swordsmen who take enemy armies head-on, slicing through their ranks with the aid of the wind before being cut down themselves. A warrior is a respected trade in the air culture, and as a result warriors make up most of the ruling classes.
- There is no central government, but instead a group of warring tribes. Some have formed into a coalition for survival against other tribes, causing some political organizations of the tribes to appear.
Earth
- Earth-aligned characters are humble and philosophic. Often pondering their origins and giving respects to the soil that brought them unto the world, they typically do not rejoice in power-hungry displays of conquest and greed as some of the other elemental cultures might do. Instead they use nature both as a tool and as a weapon to advance their goals forward. Because of this inherent lack of violent traits, the earth people have been labeled as, quite frankly, wimps by the other cultures, although there are plenty of exceptions to this stereotype. Earth-aligned warriors are known to possess extreme durability to damage, and earth healers are undisputedly the best on the continent.
- Despite this strong and proud culture, a rift has developed between those who want to stay in their ancient ways of peace and respect, and those who want to advance into the modern era with the other nations. A small civil war has terrorized much of the earth nation, and in these tense times many basic elements of the earth culture are being forgotten.
- Earth people usually live in city states deep within the natural wilderness of their land, their leaders being elected by shamanistic traditions. Mentality and respect win elections, not power or strength.
To the Zoroastrians, fire is considered to be an agent of purity and as a symbol of righteousness and truth. In the present day this is explained to be because fire burns ever-upwards and cannot itself be polluted
Freemasonry takes the ancient symbolic meaning of fire and recognizes its double nature: creation, light, on the one hand, and destruction and purification, on the other.
- Fire-aligned characters live in a culture that prides strength, rigor, pureness and determination over all else. Authority figures must not be challenged, and rebels are looked down upon harshly. People are expected to live subservient to their elders and above all the main government. This cultural view has allowed the state to build up highly trained and professional land armies, causing conflict with the other elements, who believe the fire culture is an imperialist dystopia.
- Architecture incorporates all elements of fire into design. Graceful, quick-moving designs are used as decorations in public places. Clothing and uniforms use darker, reddish tones to provide status symbols to the wearer. Even weapons are touched by the aesthetics of fire; blades are swooped and curving, looking slightly like a flickering flame.
- The central government is headed by a monarch who is not chosen via bloodline or birthright but by might of will. Rich businessmen and generals have been known to frequently seize power, which is deemed acceptable due to the belief that power belongs to only those who can wield it.
Water
The Canaanite god Yam is the deity of the primordial chaos and represents the power of the sea untamed and raging; he is seen as ruling storms and the disasters they wreak
The maritime republics were city-states which flourished in Italy and in the Dalmatia region of present-day Croatia and Montenegro during the Middle Ages... from the 10th to the 13th centuries they built fleets of ships both for their own protection and to support extensive trade networks across the Mediterranean... being in competition, these republics engaged in shifting alliances and warfare.
- Water-aligned characters belong to a culture that is rather bipolar. Representing its main symbol, the sea, the water culture has been known to be chill and peaceful at one time and violent and vengeful the next. Challenge of authority and revolution is common, and water-oriented people are rather liberal. Morality comes before strength; just as water nourishes the body and keeps man alive, a leader must not be cruel, but instead supportive of his or her people.
- The navies of the water people are (obviously) the most developed in the world, and literature bears many metaphors to storms and sailing. Water people are known for their relaxed attitudes, lazy ways and kind governance. This, being seen as weakness, has prompted other elemental groups to attempt an invasion of the water-aligned lands, most of which were repulsed by the unification of the city-states in times of need.
- The central government is made up of a council of maritime city-states, democratically elected. Popular vote is the main factor here, but sometimes a tyrant gains power by naval clashes and victories. There is some enmity between the city-states, mostly for economic or military competition.
Air
No good real-life examples for this, unfortunately.
- Air-aligned characters simply don't give a damn. They come and go like the wind, as they please. Arguably the culture with the largest mix of peoples, the air nation inhabits areas ranging from vast plains to storm swept mountains. Most people are nomadic, living off the land or their herds. What little cities they have are constructed from nearby and plentiful materials, portable and meant to be dismantled and packed up daily.
- This disorganization would have meant death at the hands of the more powerful nations, if it were not for the air culture's legendary warriors. Tales tell of single swordsmen who take enemy armies head-on, slicing through their ranks with the aid of the wind before being cut down themselves. A warrior is a respected trade in the air culture, and as a result warriors make up most of the ruling classes.
- There is no central government, but instead a group of warring tribes. Some have formed into a coalition for survival against other tribes, causing some political organizations of the tribes to appear.
Earth
According to Boyer, early man was forced to locate food and shelter in order to survive, while constantly being directed by his instincts and senses ... It is evident that man's first religion would have had to develop from the material world, he argues, because man relied heavily on his senses and what he could see, touch, and feel. In this sense, the worship of nature formed, allowing man to further depend on nature for survival.
Man experienced the different natural phenomenons around him, such as storms, vast deserts, and immense mountains. Among the very first parts of nature to be worshiped were rocks and hills, plants and trees, animals, the elements, heavenly bodies...
- Earth-aligned characters are humble and philosophic. Often pondering their origins and giving respects to the soil that brought them unto the world, they typically do not rejoice in power-hungry displays of conquest and greed as some of the other elemental cultures might do. Instead they use nature both as a tool and as a weapon to advance their goals forward. Because of this inherent lack of violent traits, the earth people have been labeled as, quite frankly, wimps by the other cultures, although there are plenty of exceptions to this stereotype. Earth-aligned warriors are known to possess extreme durability to damage, and earth healers are undisputedly the best on the continent.
- Despite this strong and proud culture, a rift has developed between those who want to stay in their ancient ways of peace and respect, and those who want to advance into the modern era with the other nations. A small civil war has terrorized much of the earth nation, and in these tense times many basic elements of the earth culture are being forgotten.
- Earth people usually live in city states deep within the natural wilderness of their land, their leaders being elected by shamanistic traditions. Mentality and respect win elections, not power or strength.
The Art
Lighterthief said:
Been continuing work on tiles a bit this week. Because we can use multiple layers for the map I've been playing a bit with a second transparent overlay to suggest shadow from trees. Turns out it looks quite good regardless of this illusion. nice random feel.Anyway, still sooo much to do and found out. But it's getting some form now.
All images (spritesheets, animations, previews, sketches) are property of Lighterthief and iamallama. Submitted images become the property of Lighterthief and iamallama and are covered under their copyright. Use may be made of these sprites for non-commercial purposes without permission from the copyright holder. Commercial use of this material may only be made with the express, prior, written permission of Lighterthief and iamallama.
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