Rise of Empires Returns
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Rise of Empires Returns
So it's been a while since I've been into Wesnoth and I'm planning on resurrecting my dream for rise of empires. However this time it will be more extensive and more my own. The era will have a complete backstory separate from wesnoth. Some of the details are still a tad sketchy but here we go.
Note that earth is not the planet earth. Nor does man necessarily mean humans.
In ancient times before even the earliest of our recorded histories there was only one race. Man. In that time there was no magic no power it was just man and the earth. For countless ages man lived with the earth and cultivated it. Great thinkers arose to guide the people and man began to excercise dominion over the earth. In time man unraveled the nature of the universe and beheld a greater power. And man coveted that greater power. So man crafted the great song to bind the universe and conceive a greater power that all men could benefit. Their creation was beautiful and terrible. Though the change they wrought on all things was too great to be truly held in any physical object there was an artifact left behind. A massive crystal called the power matrix from which all power flowed. And so magic was born. By their very thoughts and beliefs man was able to alter their own reality. It was during this time that the elder races were born from the race of man. Men who went to live in the forests and among the mountains took on new forms befitting their habitat. Some took to the sea even. Thus were the elves, dwarves and merpeople born. For thousands of years man lived in peace broken only occasionally by the smallest of conflicts. Then came the dark one and his followers. Necroth who created the arts of necromancy knowing that the bones of fallen men contained some of the power they once weilded in life he raised an army like the world had never seen. Balanar seeker of chaos who twisted the minds and hearts of men until they became savage beasts of terrifying power. Mer'cor bearer of nightmares who tapped into all of mans fears and made mans darkest demons a reality. These three and the dark one himself began the great war seeking none other than the power matrix itself. However man had feared the power matrix falling into the wrong hands when it had been created and has created Sarudak, Lord Father of the dragons, whose sole purpose was to protect the power matrix. Sarudak had spawned children the lesser dragons and many men had come to serve him in awe of his might and majesty and had taken on a form much like the dragons themselves. Thus were the Drakes born. The dark one and his triad of followers conquered land after land amassing an army to bring to bear against Sarudak and his followers. In turn the remaining free peoples turned to Sarudak and massed an army for the coming confrontation. The seemed to last forever as days turned into weeks and weeks into months. For nearly a year the Sarudak and his followers battles against the tide of darkness. In the end the dark one himself stuck Sarudak a fatal blow and in an act of desperation Sarudak teleported the power matrix somewhere beyond all the reaches of time and space. The shock wave from this act of power nearly destroyed the planet and the dark one and his followers were killed. As were most of the free peoples of earth.
Hundreds of years passed and the peoples of earth rebuilt. The remenants of the peoples who had followed the dark one where much changed from what they had once been twisted by fear and hate to become what are known today as orcs, goblins, and trolls. All manners of dark creatures also roamed the land freed from the constraints of their evil overlords but no less violent and viscous for their lack of purpose.
It is from here that the stories of each of the factions are born and from their stories their unique characteristics and play styles. It should be noted that the dark one did not die. Nor did his three followers. Rather they bound their consciousness into four books of power that held all their secrets and knowledge.
Faction: The Dark Legions Reborn - Men and Elves and Dark Beings
The Kingdom of Scythia in the far south had always been considered a rough and deangerous place. This was especially true because the rulers there cared little but for their own power. But nobody had considered them truly evil until royal archaeologists uncovered ancient ruins dating back to before the breaking of the earth. Inside were found four ancient books and a treasure trove of dark and terrible artifacts. The rulers in their arrogant greedy lust for power decided to open these books themselves desiring to uncover their secrets. It was at that point the Kingdom of Scythia was transformed into the realm of the dark legions reborn. The will of the dark one easily dominated the pitiful minds of the rulers of Scythia and then through them conquered the entire kingdom. The dark arts were resurrected and armies were raised. The dark ones had returned to wreck vengeance upon the world.
Faction: The Holy Imperium - Men
The other southern kingdoms were terrified by the things they saw happening in Scythia and were lost as to what to do when the dark legions began to march on their borders. They were terrified, but one man promised hope, Sohail, the young ruling prince of Diphan known for it's line of strong kings promised the people hope, promised the people that the dark legions could be defeated. His people's faith gave him power beyond that of normal men, beyond that of even the wizards of the other kingdoms. When the people of the other southern kingdoms saw him march into battle they were terrified anew, but throught that terror they saw hope and kingdom after kingdom surrendered to him. Gathering his forces he brought them to bear against the dark legions. Battle after battle was fought and it seemed that Sohail would prevail. With each victory his people's faith in him grew, seeing him as the only light shining out of darkness. But it was not to be, for in one particuliarly fierce battle Sohail was struck a mortal blow. Such was the power of his people's faith that he did not falter but continued to fight. The men of Diphan were losing, but Sohail refused to retreat crushing hordes of skeletons and nightmares with his own hands. He rallied his forces until the dark legions broke and fled the field. But as his men turned back they saw their emperor lying in a pool of blood as the last of the life was draining from his body. It seemed all was lost, but his people's faith was strong and as his consciousness was fading it escaped his body and was enrapped in the power of his peoples faith. Thus the man Sohail died and the God-Emperor So'Hai was raised in his place. Such was the birth of the Holy Imperium watched over by the spirit of So'Hai and his faithful.
Faction: The Remnant Horde - Orcs, Goblins, Trolls, and other beasts
The remnants of the people who had once followed the dark lord were twisted and changed from what they once were. The orcs we the most numerous of the peoples but many of them teetered on the brink of madness. Those that were able to conquer their own psychosis became powerful warriors and leaders. These remnants were shunned by the free peoples and found no relief except among others of their kind. The savage brutal hordes relied on brute strength to carve out lands for themselves in eastern part of the great northlands. The horde is constantly raiding other empire or fighting among themselves. It is believed, and feared, that if the horde could achieve true unity they would sweep aside all who would oppose them.
Faction: The Confederacy of Free Peoples - Men and other peoples
The Confederacy has long existed but it was mostly just a name with no real power claiming to span the whole of the heartland, yet each individual kingdom largely excercising complete autonomy. However that changed dramatically with the introduction of the Holy Imperium and the return of the dark legions in the south both of which were empires hungry to expand their territory and influence. And with the horde growing in strength to the North the kingdoms started to realize that more organization was needed to prevent their own destruction and much power has been given to the Confederate Council. Nonetheless the confederacy is still one of the freest and most open-minded factions in existence. Even allowing regulated vampire colonies and occasionally limited use of necromancy in their kingdoms.
Faction: The Northern Alliance - Dwarves, Men, Orcs
The northern alliance formerly simply known as the dwarvish empire consists primarily of the vast and powerful dwarven empire. Occupying vast stretches of the northern mountain ranges the wealth of the dwarves is unmatched. Although many dwarves were resistant to it in time it became evident that an alliance with the wildmen of the north and the more civilized yet still savage orcish tribes would be to the advantage of everyone, greatly fascinating trade in the area. The wildmen and orcs that are part of the alliance help provide safe passage for dwarven shipments against the more barbaric free orcs inhabiting the mountains and valleys. in turn the dwarves provide finely crafted and sometimes even enchanted weapons and armors to the dwarves. Other than threats from within the only real problem for the dwarves is the powerful but unpredictable wizard lords.
Faction: Wizard Lords - Men, Elves, Minotaurs, and others
The Wizard Lords were once simply ragtag outcasts of their own peoples who choose to study and practice arts that their peoples would forbid. Not all of them dabble in dark magics. Indeed after the breaking many peoples feared any kind of magic and exiled those who wished to study it. These exiles gathered together in the far north on the tundra and icy plains where they believed that none would bother them. As they grew in power they eventually developed into the most powerful wizards in the known world. Rank, authority, and powered were conferred based on mystical ability. As their legend grew people came to them. Many wishing to be apprentices. Some simply seeking among the wizard lords because of the freedom they offered. Although the lords themselves had absolute power within their realm they seldom chose to exercise it as for most their primary concern was knowledge and understanding not material power. The wizard lords also created the minotaurs as shock troops to defend against the constant orcish raids and the expansive dwarvish empire. Largely the just prefer to be left alone to their studies though and consider the orcs and dwarves as little more than a nuisance.
Faction: Kingdom of the Sun - Drakes, Dragons, Men
Most people believe that all the Dragons died in the breaking of the world. This is technically true as every dragon living at that time was killed. There was however one egg that survived. It is in the nature of dragons that they share a collective memory even a sort of collective thought, what they call the Oneness so this single dragon though a hatchling and having never met Sarudak nor any of his kin had all the knowledge of the dragons. After the breaking the Drakes were scattered and fractured into constantly warring tribes. The discovery of a live dragon changed all that though when the hatchling was found the tribes gathered and put aside their squabbling. This last dragon had to be protected until it was grown, and once grown they believed it could bring harmony again to the free peoples. The formation of the new drake kingdom was quite a mystery to most of the free peoples. A few select knew the truth, that the dragons were not gone. The dark one and his triad greatly desired to capture this dragon believing that it would have the knowledge of where the power matrix had been sent.As the Kingdom of the Rising sun grew in strength they were joined by the Ancient Azanasi or the recordkeepers who's sole purpose was to protect knowledge of history and prevent the coming of darkness they believed would follow if the power matrix were ever to fall back into the hands of men.
Faction: The Elvish Houses - Elves, Wose, Faerie
The spirit and long life of the elves prevents them from having a traditional governmental structure adopted by the other free peoples. Elves who have lived for hundreds of years do not bear well having a 'ruler' tell them what to do. Rather they have organized themselves into houses based less on geneology that on the goals and long developed relationships of the elves in them. As such in many ways the houses are the freest of the societies. However the houses generally do not mix well with the other races of me preferring to keep to themselves and their forests, and anything that would harm their forests or the faerie ancients is strictly forbidden and punishable by exile or death. The houses stay largely neutral in most conflicts and are not warlike by nature, but their wrath is greatly feared as any who would dare encroach on their forests or gardens would soon find out.
Game Mechanics
Ok. You're probably thinking yeah that was a nice story but how is this really gonna work? How is it gonna play? Maybe you're thinking I remember playing ANL and RoE before and it was kinda interesting but it got pretty dull and bogged down quickly as you soon had more gold and units than you could possibly figure out what to do with. So here's the way the game is going to work.
Factions
First you choose a faction which will be the biggest determining factor in how the game will be played.
Leaders
Next you choose a leader based on your faction generally for any faction there will be between 2-5 leaders that are unique among units. Leaders are far more than just Lvl 2 units you can have at the beginning. Your leader will have special abilities that will influence the course of your empire depending on what kind of skills you give him.
City
You will then be given a city. Each city has a fortress w/keep (keeps are not buildable so no more castle creeping) and the kind of units you can recruit there is based on the city not your leder. So your build list will change if you go to a different city. Now each city will have a population that grows slowly as the game goes on and can be influenced by several factors like gold spent on city infrastructure, capturing key resource locations on the map, the number of farms you have, leader skills, ect. Your city's population is very important because it will be one of your largest sources of income as well as allowing your peoples culture to advance and allowing sub-cultures to develop in your city or supporting schools of learning. Each faction city also starts off with some basic units of their colonial army, by improving the military districts in your cities you will be able to produce some more advanced and varied units but the real action takes place by choosing subcultures and schools.
Subcultures
Subcultures are cultures that are not truly part of your primary faction. They could be nomadic peoples that you offer a home, mercenaries that you can hire, secret societies within your fation, ect. Many but not all subcultures are attainable by many different factions. For example the Vampire subculture can be easily adopted by the Confederacy or the Wizard Lords. Some are unique to a single faction such as the Azanasi which are exclusive to the Kingdon of the Sun. However a city can only support a certain number of subcultures determined by your city's population and what faction you are.
Schools
Schools are more focused than subcultures and most schools only provide a few units generally mystical in nature. A key exception to this is the Dwarvish school of technology.
Note that earth is not the planet earth. Nor does man necessarily mean humans.
In ancient times before even the earliest of our recorded histories there was only one race. Man. In that time there was no magic no power it was just man and the earth. For countless ages man lived with the earth and cultivated it. Great thinkers arose to guide the people and man began to excercise dominion over the earth. In time man unraveled the nature of the universe and beheld a greater power. And man coveted that greater power. So man crafted the great song to bind the universe and conceive a greater power that all men could benefit. Their creation was beautiful and terrible. Though the change they wrought on all things was too great to be truly held in any physical object there was an artifact left behind. A massive crystal called the power matrix from which all power flowed. And so magic was born. By their very thoughts and beliefs man was able to alter their own reality. It was during this time that the elder races were born from the race of man. Men who went to live in the forests and among the mountains took on new forms befitting their habitat. Some took to the sea even. Thus were the elves, dwarves and merpeople born. For thousands of years man lived in peace broken only occasionally by the smallest of conflicts. Then came the dark one and his followers. Necroth who created the arts of necromancy knowing that the bones of fallen men contained some of the power they once weilded in life he raised an army like the world had never seen. Balanar seeker of chaos who twisted the minds and hearts of men until they became savage beasts of terrifying power. Mer'cor bearer of nightmares who tapped into all of mans fears and made mans darkest demons a reality. These three and the dark one himself began the great war seeking none other than the power matrix itself. However man had feared the power matrix falling into the wrong hands when it had been created and has created Sarudak, Lord Father of the dragons, whose sole purpose was to protect the power matrix. Sarudak had spawned children the lesser dragons and many men had come to serve him in awe of his might and majesty and had taken on a form much like the dragons themselves. Thus were the Drakes born. The dark one and his triad of followers conquered land after land amassing an army to bring to bear against Sarudak and his followers. In turn the remaining free peoples turned to Sarudak and massed an army for the coming confrontation. The seemed to last forever as days turned into weeks and weeks into months. For nearly a year the Sarudak and his followers battles against the tide of darkness. In the end the dark one himself stuck Sarudak a fatal blow and in an act of desperation Sarudak teleported the power matrix somewhere beyond all the reaches of time and space. The shock wave from this act of power nearly destroyed the planet and the dark one and his followers were killed. As were most of the free peoples of earth.
Hundreds of years passed and the peoples of earth rebuilt. The remenants of the peoples who had followed the dark one where much changed from what they had once been twisted by fear and hate to become what are known today as orcs, goblins, and trolls. All manners of dark creatures also roamed the land freed from the constraints of their evil overlords but no less violent and viscous for their lack of purpose.
It is from here that the stories of each of the factions are born and from their stories their unique characteristics and play styles. It should be noted that the dark one did not die. Nor did his three followers. Rather they bound their consciousness into four books of power that held all their secrets and knowledge.
Faction: The Dark Legions Reborn - Men and Elves and Dark Beings
The Kingdom of Scythia in the far south had always been considered a rough and deangerous place. This was especially true because the rulers there cared little but for their own power. But nobody had considered them truly evil until royal archaeologists uncovered ancient ruins dating back to before the breaking of the earth. Inside were found four ancient books and a treasure trove of dark and terrible artifacts. The rulers in their arrogant greedy lust for power decided to open these books themselves desiring to uncover their secrets. It was at that point the Kingdom of Scythia was transformed into the realm of the dark legions reborn. The will of the dark one easily dominated the pitiful minds of the rulers of Scythia and then through them conquered the entire kingdom. The dark arts were resurrected and armies were raised. The dark ones had returned to wreck vengeance upon the world.
Faction: The Holy Imperium - Men
The other southern kingdoms were terrified by the things they saw happening in Scythia and were lost as to what to do when the dark legions began to march on their borders. They were terrified, but one man promised hope, Sohail, the young ruling prince of Diphan known for it's line of strong kings promised the people hope, promised the people that the dark legions could be defeated. His people's faith gave him power beyond that of normal men, beyond that of even the wizards of the other kingdoms. When the people of the other southern kingdoms saw him march into battle they were terrified anew, but throught that terror they saw hope and kingdom after kingdom surrendered to him. Gathering his forces he brought them to bear against the dark legions. Battle after battle was fought and it seemed that Sohail would prevail. With each victory his people's faith in him grew, seeing him as the only light shining out of darkness. But it was not to be, for in one particuliarly fierce battle Sohail was struck a mortal blow. Such was the power of his people's faith that he did not falter but continued to fight. The men of Diphan were losing, but Sohail refused to retreat crushing hordes of skeletons and nightmares with his own hands. He rallied his forces until the dark legions broke and fled the field. But as his men turned back they saw their emperor lying in a pool of blood as the last of the life was draining from his body. It seemed all was lost, but his people's faith was strong and as his consciousness was fading it escaped his body and was enrapped in the power of his peoples faith. Thus the man Sohail died and the God-Emperor So'Hai was raised in his place. Such was the birth of the Holy Imperium watched over by the spirit of So'Hai and his faithful.
Faction: The Remnant Horde - Orcs, Goblins, Trolls, and other beasts
The remnants of the people who had once followed the dark lord were twisted and changed from what they once were. The orcs we the most numerous of the peoples but many of them teetered on the brink of madness. Those that were able to conquer their own psychosis became powerful warriors and leaders. These remnants were shunned by the free peoples and found no relief except among others of their kind. The savage brutal hordes relied on brute strength to carve out lands for themselves in eastern part of the great northlands. The horde is constantly raiding other empire or fighting among themselves. It is believed, and feared, that if the horde could achieve true unity they would sweep aside all who would oppose them.
Faction: The Confederacy of Free Peoples - Men and other peoples
The Confederacy has long existed but it was mostly just a name with no real power claiming to span the whole of the heartland, yet each individual kingdom largely excercising complete autonomy. However that changed dramatically with the introduction of the Holy Imperium and the return of the dark legions in the south both of which were empires hungry to expand their territory and influence. And with the horde growing in strength to the North the kingdoms started to realize that more organization was needed to prevent their own destruction and much power has been given to the Confederate Council. Nonetheless the confederacy is still one of the freest and most open-minded factions in existence. Even allowing regulated vampire colonies and occasionally limited use of necromancy in their kingdoms.
Faction: The Northern Alliance - Dwarves, Men, Orcs
The northern alliance formerly simply known as the dwarvish empire consists primarily of the vast and powerful dwarven empire. Occupying vast stretches of the northern mountain ranges the wealth of the dwarves is unmatched. Although many dwarves were resistant to it in time it became evident that an alliance with the wildmen of the north and the more civilized yet still savage orcish tribes would be to the advantage of everyone, greatly fascinating trade in the area. The wildmen and orcs that are part of the alliance help provide safe passage for dwarven shipments against the more barbaric free orcs inhabiting the mountains and valleys. in turn the dwarves provide finely crafted and sometimes even enchanted weapons and armors to the dwarves. Other than threats from within the only real problem for the dwarves is the powerful but unpredictable wizard lords.
Faction: Wizard Lords - Men, Elves, Minotaurs, and others
The Wizard Lords were once simply ragtag outcasts of their own peoples who choose to study and practice arts that their peoples would forbid. Not all of them dabble in dark magics. Indeed after the breaking many peoples feared any kind of magic and exiled those who wished to study it. These exiles gathered together in the far north on the tundra and icy plains where they believed that none would bother them. As they grew in power they eventually developed into the most powerful wizards in the known world. Rank, authority, and powered were conferred based on mystical ability. As their legend grew people came to them. Many wishing to be apprentices. Some simply seeking among the wizard lords because of the freedom they offered. Although the lords themselves had absolute power within their realm they seldom chose to exercise it as for most their primary concern was knowledge and understanding not material power. The wizard lords also created the minotaurs as shock troops to defend against the constant orcish raids and the expansive dwarvish empire. Largely the just prefer to be left alone to their studies though and consider the orcs and dwarves as little more than a nuisance.
Faction: Kingdom of the Sun - Drakes, Dragons, Men
Most people believe that all the Dragons died in the breaking of the world. This is technically true as every dragon living at that time was killed. There was however one egg that survived. It is in the nature of dragons that they share a collective memory even a sort of collective thought, what they call the Oneness so this single dragon though a hatchling and having never met Sarudak nor any of his kin had all the knowledge of the dragons. After the breaking the Drakes were scattered and fractured into constantly warring tribes. The discovery of a live dragon changed all that though when the hatchling was found the tribes gathered and put aside their squabbling. This last dragon had to be protected until it was grown, and once grown they believed it could bring harmony again to the free peoples. The formation of the new drake kingdom was quite a mystery to most of the free peoples. A few select knew the truth, that the dragons were not gone. The dark one and his triad greatly desired to capture this dragon believing that it would have the knowledge of where the power matrix had been sent.As the Kingdom of the Rising sun grew in strength they were joined by the Ancient Azanasi or the recordkeepers who's sole purpose was to protect knowledge of history and prevent the coming of darkness they believed would follow if the power matrix were ever to fall back into the hands of men.
Faction: The Elvish Houses - Elves, Wose, Faerie
The spirit and long life of the elves prevents them from having a traditional governmental structure adopted by the other free peoples. Elves who have lived for hundreds of years do not bear well having a 'ruler' tell them what to do. Rather they have organized themselves into houses based less on geneology that on the goals and long developed relationships of the elves in them. As such in many ways the houses are the freest of the societies. However the houses generally do not mix well with the other races of me preferring to keep to themselves and their forests, and anything that would harm their forests or the faerie ancients is strictly forbidden and punishable by exile or death. The houses stay largely neutral in most conflicts and are not warlike by nature, but their wrath is greatly feared as any who would dare encroach on their forests or gardens would soon find out.
Game Mechanics
Ok. You're probably thinking yeah that was a nice story but how is this really gonna work? How is it gonna play? Maybe you're thinking I remember playing ANL and RoE before and it was kinda interesting but it got pretty dull and bogged down quickly as you soon had more gold and units than you could possibly figure out what to do with. So here's the way the game is going to work.
Factions
First you choose a faction which will be the biggest determining factor in how the game will be played.
Leaders
Next you choose a leader based on your faction generally for any faction there will be between 2-5 leaders that are unique among units. Leaders are far more than just Lvl 2 units you can have at the beginning. Your leader will have special abilities that will influence the course of your empire depending on what kind of skills you give him.
City
You will then be given a city. Each city has a fortress w/keep (keeps are not buildable so no more castle creeping) and the kind of units you can recruit there is based on the city not your leder. So your build list will change if you go to a different city. Now each city will have a population that grows slowly as the game goes on and can be influenced by several factors like gold spent on city infrastructure, capturing key resource locations on the map, the number of farms you have, leader skills, ect. Your city's population is very important because it will be one of your largest sources of income as well as allowing your peoples culture to advance and allowing sub-cultures to develop in your city or supporting schools of learning. Each faction city also starts off with some basic units of their colonial army, by improving the military districts in your cities you will be able to produce some more advanced and varied units but the real action takes place by choosing subcultures and schools.
Subcultures
Subcultures are cultures that are not truly part of your primary faction. They could be nomadic peoples that you offer a home, mercenaries that you can hire, secret societies within your fation, ect. Many but not all subcultures are attainable by many different factions. For example the Vampire subculture can be easily adopted by the Confederacy or the Wizard Lords. Some are unique to a single faction such as the Azanasi which are exclusive to the Kingdon of the Sun. However a city can only support a certain number of subcultures determined by your city's population and what faction you are.
Schools
Schools are more focused than subcultures and most schools only provide a few units generally mystical in nature. A key exception to this is the Dwarvish school of technology.
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TheGreatRings
- Posts: 742
- Joined: January 26th, 2008, 10:39 pm
- Location: On the front line of battle, defying hopeless odds
Re: Rise of Empires Returns
This is something that sounds very interesting, but will take forever to do. Nonetheless it looks interesting, and if its ever done I'll probably play it.
However, I see some potential copyright/plagerism issues that I'm surprised no one's pointed out. They probably aren't actually issues, but if you don't know I'd check to be sure. Or maybe I'm just paranoid.
In any case, I'll point them out because, as interesting as your backstory is, their's too much copying in fantasy, and even taking an old idea and giving it a slightly different twist or appearance could be good.
"The breaking of the world"-The Wheel of Time.
"The free peoples"-The Lord of the Rings (though probably not the only one to use this term).
"The dark one"-The Wheel of Time (again, probably not original. Its really just a variant on "dark lord," which is used all the damn time).
Also, the dragon's collective memory sounds a lot like something from the Eragon books.
Sounds good however. I'll follow this, and hope it gets finished some day so I can play it.
However, I see some potential copyright/plagerism issues that I'm surprised no one's pointed out. They probably aren't actually issues, but if you don't know I'd check to be sure. Or maybe I'm just paranoid.
In any case, I'll point them out because, as interesting as your backstory is, their's too much copying in fantasy, and even taking an old idea and giving it a slightly different twist or appearance could be good."The breaking of the world"-The Wheel of Time.
"The free peoples"-The Lord of the Rings (though probably not the only one to use this term).
"The dark one"-The Wheel of Time (again, probably not original. Its really just a variant on "dark lord," which is used all the damn time).
Also, the dragon's collective memory sounds a lot like something from the Eragon books.
Sounds good however. I'll follow this, and hope it gets finished some day so I can play it.
"One man alone cannot fight the future"-
The X-files
"Send these foul beasts into the abyss"-Gandalf
The X-files
"Send these foul beasts into the abyss"-Gandalf
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Blarumyrran
- Art Contributor
- Posts: 1700
- Joined: December 7th, 2006, 8:08 pm
Re: Rise of Empires Returns
(not having read through the most of the original post)
are you sure including real-life nations in some faction of yours in a pseudomythological setting is a good idea?
& it isnt very nice to portray any real-life nations as intrinsically so very evil?
are you sure including real-life nations in some faction of yours in a pseudomythological setting is a good idea?
& it isnt very nice to portray any real-life nations as intrinsically so very evil?
Re: Rise of Empires Returns
Yes yes I know about all those fantasy stories and many more. But to take a story concept and give it your own twist is not breaking any copyright laws. Things like 'the dark one' and 'the breaking' and the 'free peoples' are very generic terms and wouldn't be copyright infringement like it would if I had named the dark one Sauron and included the Aes Sedai as a faction. If you'll notice some other borrowed concepts the holy imperium is clearly based on Warhammer 40k with the whole god-emperor concept.
To syntax-error
I'm sorry but what real life nations are you talking about exactly?
To syntax-error
I'm sorry but what real life nations are you talking about exactly?
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Blarumyrran
- Art Contributor
- Posts: 1700
- Joined: December 7th, 2006, 8:08 pm
Re: Rise of Empires Returns
Well scythians obviously
Re: Rise of Empires Returns
Ok. I didn't really remember that they were a real nation just chose a name i thought sounded kinda cool. And I said nothing about them being inherently evil. Just that they had some lousy rulers. Now once they found the books of the dark one and his followers that changed but that could hardly be considered the fault of the nation or it's people.
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catwhowalksbyhimself
- Posts: 411
- Joined: January 23rd, 2006, 8:28 am
Re: Rise of Empires Returns
I don't think the issue here is copyright. The issue is originality. If your just going to pluck a bunch of concepts from various fantasy universes that you like, rename them, and mash them together, the result may not be a copyright violation necessarily, but it isn't really your own either, nor is it therefore particularly interesting.Yes yes I know about all those fantasy stories and many more. But to take a story concept and give it your own twist is not breaking any copyright laws. Things like 'the dark one' and 'the breaking' and the 'free peoples' are very generic terms and wouldn't be copyright infringement like it would if I had named the dark one Sauron and included the Aes Sedai as a faction. If you'll notice some other borrowed concepts the holy imperium is clearly based on Warhammer 40k with the whole god-emperor concept.
Take some time, think about it, and turn this into your own unique world. That doesn't mean everything has to go, but any concept you use has to made your own, not just a glorified mash up.
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TheGreatRings
- Posts: 742
- Joined: January 26th, 2008, 10:39 pm
- Location: On the front line of battle, defying hopeless odds
Re: Rise of Empires Returns
Fair enough. I pointed them out partly because they are exactly quoted in the works I refferenced, but they probably predate those works as well. But while their's some potentially good stuff here, their is still the lack of originality that others have also mentioned. Sorry if I seem overly critical as you are by no means the only person who does this (lots of proffessional authors blatantly rip of Tolkien, for example), but lack of originality is something that personally annoys me. Also, I can only really make comments from a narrative point of view, since I know nothing about actually coding something like this.Sarudak wrote:Yes yes I know about all those fantasy stories and many more. But to take a story concept and give it your own twist is not breaking any copyright laws. Things like 'the dark one' and 'the breaking' and the 'free peoples' are very generic terms and wouldn't be copyright infringement like it would if I had named the dark one Sauron and included the Aes Sedai as a faction. If you'll notice some other borrowed concepts the holy imperium is clearly based on Warhammer 40k with the whole god-emperor concept.
Though I would point out that in the case of the God-emperor, at least, I don't think that term is 40k-exclusive. I'm fairly sure I've heard it used in relation to Dune, for example. Hell, their's probably lots of historical precidents, with various civilizations claiming thier rulers were, or were descended from, gods.
"One man alone cannot fight the future"-
The X-files
"Send these foul beasts into the abyss"-Gandalf
The X-files
"Send these foul beasts into the abyss"-Gandalf
Re: Rise of Empires Returns
"The breaking of the world"-The Wheel of Time.
Not sure. This exact phrase could give you trouble.
"The free peoples"-The Lord of the Rings (though probably not the only one to use this term).
General term. Nobody can lay claim to that!
"The dark one"-The Wheel of Time (again, probably not original. Its really just a variant on "dark lord," which is used all the damn time).
Again same thing. Hitler was refered to as the dark one. Satan. You cant lay copyright claim to that.
Also, the dragon's collective memory sounds a lot like something from the Eragon books.
This is actually well established in dragon lore and myth. So again no copyright.
Can't wait to play this. LOVE building addons.
Not sure. This exact phrase could give you trouble.
"The free peoples"-The Lord of the Rings (though probably not the only one to use this term).
General term. Nobody can lay claim to that!
"The dark one"-The Wheel of Time (again, probably not original. Its really just a variant on "dark lord," which is used all the damn time).
Again same thing. Hitler was refered to as the dark one. Satan. You cant lay copyright claim to that.
Also, the dragon's collective memory sounds a lot like something from the Eragon books.
This is actually well established in dragon lore and myth. So again no copyright.
Can't wait to play this. LOVE building addons.
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TheGreatRings
- Posts: 742
- Joined: January 26th, 2008, 10:39 pm
- Location: On the front line of battle, defying hopeless odds
Re: Rise of Empires Returns
Indeed. I will definitely get this from addons as soon as its finished.
"One man alone cannot fight the future"-
The X-files
"Send these foul beasts into the abyss"-Gandalf
The X-files
"Send these foul beasts into the abyss"-Gandalf
Re: Rise of Empires Returns
Just for a definitive word to steer this back on track to be productive.
Nothing in here is in danger of a copyright violation, as even the breaking of the world phrase from the Wheel of Time is one that can be found in history, and is fairly common as well. Even the idea of an Imperium and god-emperor, while borrowed from 40k (I'm a fan so I caught that too) are not exclusive, as the imperium and the idea of a ruler who was both the legislative and religious embodiment is dated as well.
So continue on with no more side-tracking, but I appreciate the diligence of forum members in helping him avoid potential issues.
Nothing in here is in danger of a copyright violation, as even the breaking of the world phrase from the Wheel of Time is one that can be found in history, and is fairly common as well. Even the idea of an Imperium and god-emperor, while borrowed from 40k (I'm a fan so I caught that too) are not exclusive, as the imperium and the idea of a ruler who was both the legislative and religious embodiment is dated as well.
So continue on with no more side-tracking, but I appreciate the diligence of forum members in helping him avoid potential issues.
Mainline Maintainer: AOI, DM, NR, TB and THoT.
UMC Maintainer: Forward They Cried, A Few Logs, A Few More Logs, Start of the War, and Battle Against Time
UMC Maintainer: Forward They Cried, A Few Logs, A Few More Logs, Start of the War, and Battle Against Time