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J.R.R. Tolkien and fantasy RPGs.
Author
I wonder how much have authors like Tolkien ,Lavcraft and others affected the fantasy themes in RPGs and other games.
Especially Tolkien introduced many features that are used in games like monsters,hero ideals,picturesque landscapes,long journeys,etc.
How many of you have been inspired by great authors (not only Tolkien)?
I can say that Lord Of the Rings was a milestone for me although i don''t really agree with Tolkien''s theory about the Dragons.
Voodoo4
Raymond E. Fiest and Katherine Kerr have influenced me most, that and my uniquely disturbing mind 
-Chris Bennett ("Insanity" of Dwarfsoft)
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-Chris Bennett ("Insanity" of Dwarfsoft)
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Tolkien himself was very heavily influenced by western european mythology, a lot of his ideas are not "original" per se, he was just the first to put it all together.
I have all his books, in special editions and everything. I know how to write using the Tengwar. I can even translate some Quenya/Sindarin. So I guess it''s influenced me quite a bit
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I have all his books, in special editions and everything. I know how to write using the Tengwar. I can even translate some Quenya/Sindarin. So I guess it''s influenced me quite a bit
Give me one more medicated peaceful moment.
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I am currently only at the stage of reading them... I have little time between posting to this board and programming (and uni... occassionally ).
Owell...
-Chris Bennett ("Insanity" of Dwarfsoft)
Check our site:
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).Owell...
-Chris Bennett ("Insanity" of Dwarfsoft)
Check our site:
http://www.crosswinds.net/~dwarfsoft/
Check out our NPC AI Mailing List :
http://www.egroups.com/group/NPCAI/
made due to popular demand here at GDNet :)
I think that by and large, a lot of the great RPGs (Krondor, Daggerfall, etc) have a very overt Tolkein theme.
I would wonder more about the exceptions though, what about Diablo? There was hardly beautiful scenery, or any sort of deep fantasy elements. But then again, you could say that it wasn''t a true RPG...?
I think that generally, the Tolkein books served to give designers the belief that a good RPG should have an epic scope, with a world that has every tiny deetail worked out, so that there are no times when the player asks "Why is this here/ Why do they do that?" because there exists a huge backing story and mythology to why things are the way they are.
It is that attention to detail and construction of a holistic world that we should thank Tolkein, etc for more than wnything else.
I would wonder more about the exceptions though, what about Diablo? There was hardly beautiful scenery, or any sort of deep fantasy elements. But then again, you could say that it wasn''t a true RPG...?
I think that generally, the Tolkein books served to give designers the belief that a good RPG should have an epic scope, with a world that has every tiny deetail worked out, so that there are no times when the player asks "Why is this here/ Why do they do that?" because there exists a huge backing story and mythology to why things are the way they are.
It is that attention to detail and construction of a holistic world that we should thank Tolkein, etc for more than wnything else.
FOOL! Krondor had a Feist theme... although Feist was probably influenced by Tolkien... Didn''t you know that Krondor is based on his books? He was even part of the consultation team (with his editor) on the creation of the game. I really hope that you knew this and were not just thinking that everything is Tolkien...
If you haven''t read them then read Magician, Silverthorn and A Darkness at Sethanon (by guess who). That would be the riftwar saga, then read Prince of the Blood and The Kings Buccaneer. Then read the Serpentwar Saga (Shadow of a Dark Queen, Rise of a Merchant Prince, Rage of a Demon King, and Shards of a Broken Crown). Then read "Krondor the Betrayal" and "Krondor the Assassins"... There is going to be another book in the Krondor series...
Just thought I would add my $0.02 about my favourite author
-Chris Bennett ("Insanity" of Dwarfsoft)
Check our site:
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made due to popular demand here at GDNet :)
If you haven''t read them then read Magician, Silverthorn and A Darkness at Sethanon (by guess who
). That would be the riftwar saga, then read Prince of the Blood and The Kings Buccaneer. Then read the Serpentwar Saga (Shadow of a Dark Queen, Rise of a Merchant Prince, Rage of a Demon King, and Shards of a Broken Crown). Then read "Krondor the Betrayal" and "Krondor the Assassins"... There is going to be another book in the Krondor series...Just thought I would add my $0.02 about my favourite author
-Chris Bennett ("Insanity" of Dwarfsoft)
Check our site:
http://www.crosswinds.net/~dwarfsoft/
Check out our NPC AI Mailing List :
http://www.egroups.com/group/NPCAI/
made due to popular demand here at GDNet :)
i don''t think there''s anything wrong with using an overtly tolkien-style world for your own RPG or fantasy novel, or whatever.
tolkien''s dwarvish runes are actually anglo-saxon runes with a couple (yes only around two) extra added in. elves are not tolkien''s invention, they exist in nordic and saxon mythology. dragons are not tolkien''s invention, they exist in practically every mythology you care to mention. ok, hobbits probably ARE tolkien''s invention, but so what... his work has become literature so it''s fair to copy stuff from it, just as Caliban, who featured in a Mid Summer Night''s Dream, is used by novelists today. (actually Shakespeare may not have invented Caliban, but i have never heard of any mention before MSN''sD).
so there is actually nothing wrong with copying tolkien as far as i can tell.
tolkien''s dwarvish runes are actually anglo-saxon runes with a couple (yes only around two) extra added in. elves are not tolkien''s invention, they exist in nordic and saxon mythology. dragons are not tolkien''s invention, they exist in practically every mythology you care to mention. ok, hobbits probably ARE tolkien''s invention, but so what... his work has become literature so it''s fair to copy stuff from it, just as Caliban, who featured in a Mid Summer Night''s Dream, is used by novelists today. (actually Shakespeare may not have invented Caliban, but i have never heard of any mention before MSN''sD).
so there is actually nothing wrong with copying tolkien as far as i can tell.
Mythology:
elves are little people with wings, they are spirit of nature...
Tolkien :
Elves are as tall as human and immortal, they master magic and live in forests...
Most games/RPG/whatever use Tolkien based worlds...
Mythology:
A Troll comes from Viking mythology, it was a beinf living in water, a sort of ghost.
Tolkien:
Trolls are creatures living in forests, tey are perverted sylvanian/ents.. (unsure of the spelling)
Mythology:
Nothing special.
Tolien :
Elves and Orcs hate each other...
If you see immortal or powerfull elves, elves vs orcs war, and elves and dwarves disliking each others, then you''re in a Tolkien based fantasy world.
Almost all games are like that
I noticed I was having a Tolkien world, so I''m in the process of changing it, but since I was using this world since 10 years in real RPG, it''ll be hard ;(
My 0.02 dollars :p
-* So many things to do, so little time to spend. *-
elves are little people with wings, they are spirit of nature...
Tolkien :
Elves are as tall as human and immortal, they master magic and live in forests...
Most games/RPG/whatever use Tolkien based worlds...
Mythology:
A Troll comes from Viking mythology, it was a beinf living in water, a sort of ghost.
Tolkien:
Trolls are creatures living in forests, tey are perverted sylvanian/ents.. (unsure of the spelling)
Mythology:
Nothing special.
Tolien :
Elves and Orcs hate each other...
If you see immortal or powerfull elves, elves vs orcs war, and elves and dwarves disliking each others, then you''re in a Tolkien based fantasy world.
Almost all games are like that
I noticed I was having a Tolkien world, so I''m in the process of changing it, but since I was using this world since 10 years in real RPG, it''ll be hard ;(
My 0.02 dollars :p
-* So many things to do, so little time to spend. *-
If you are used to table-top fantasy such as warhammer, the only real quibble (I can see) between Dwarves and Elves was over alcohol (that''s right!). Apparently we (the dwarves) pissed off the elves by downing their present of a fine wine as though it was common beer (we prefer beer anyway ). We even have a special brewery team that fights in battles (adds inspiration to the others, once we beat the shit through some pansy elves, we can gulp a couple of kegs each!)
-Chris Bennett ("Insanity" of Dwarfsoft)
Check our site:
http://www.crosswinds.net/~dwarfsoft/
Check out our NPC AI Mailing List :
http://www.egroups.com/group/NPCAI/
made due to popular demand here at GDNet :)
). We even have a special brewery team that fights in battles (adds inspiration to the others, once we beat the shit through some pansy elves, we can gulp a couple of kegs each!)-Chris Bennett ("Insanity" of Dwarfsoft)
Check our site:
http://www.crosswinds.net/~dwarfsoft/
Check out our NPC AI Mailing List :
http://www.egroups.com/group/NPCAI/
made due to popular demand here at GDNet :)
dwarfsoft, I agree. Raymond E. Feist is any bit as good as Tolkien and that old Betrayal at Krondor was a very good game (even though it has kind of crappy graphic)!
But you totally forgot to mention the ''Empire'' serie. "Daughter of the Empire", "Servant of the Empire" and "Mistress of the Empire" are really good books too. All those Landfishians out there who dream of making a non-murder-based game should read these books. It describes a world of politic, intregues, spys and assasins. The main character must both use soldiers and seduction to reach her goals.
Regards
nicba
But you totally forgot to mention the ''Empire'' serie. "Daughter of the Empire", "Servant of the Empire" and "Mistress of the Empire" are really good books too. All those Landfishians out there who dream of making a non-murder-based game should read these books. It describes a world of politic, intregues, spys and assasins. The main character must both use soldiers and seduction to reach her goals.
Regards
nicba
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