Showing Posts For Gerhardt.6091:
I realize I can probably go ahead and buy the Deluxe package straight out, but I’ve already dropped $50 on the base expansion. The real question I guess is: is there a way to pay for the upgrades (extra character slot, mini Rytlock, etc.) for just the price difference rather than paying another $75?
It’s interesting to know that the actual term longsword has only recently come back into contemporary usage (early 2000s), despite the fact it is derived from the German langes schwert (literally translates “long sword”) which was used in 15th century swordfighting manuals. In both cases, the weapons to which these terms refer require two hands to employ it properly.
While reading A Song of Ice and Fire, a particular sword which is given to one of the characters is referred to as a “kitten sword” or a “hand-and-a-halfer.” Reading the same wikipedia article I quote above will disclose this other class of sword as one which might be used with either one or both hands.
Amazing. The term which sounds like “Bast hard” is what I was trying to type when the sensitive text filter attacked my words and turned it into a harmless, mewling baby cat.
(edited by Gerhardt.6091)
Here’s an additional tidbit I found while digging around in the wiki, a theory of the origins of the Norn race. Thought-provoking, for sure.
Found in the Lost Tribes subtitle in the Kodan section, The Wisdom and Power of the Kodan:
“The kodan do not claim any connection or relationship to the norn race, but some Voices choose to interpret early stories of a lost group of kodan as an explanation of the origin of the norn. If this is true, they argue, then the norn are failed kodan who have forgotten their place as judges and protectors of the balance, and that is why their true “bear” form has been replaced with a fragile, furless state. Because of this pressure from their shaman, the kodan often treat the norn as spiritual failures, possibly even a race moving backwards in the cycle of life, toward primitivism and destruction — and that even as the dwarves before them, if this is true, the norn are a race on the edge of extinction."
(edited by Gerhardt.6091)
Godrik Velfär
Olaf Seijnsson
Ragnar Sjuukon
Godrik (and its many spelling variants) is one of my favorite names, and Velfär goes with it seamlessly. Great name, 9 out of 10.
Olaf Seijnsson is also impressive, but for some reason the “j” in the surname is throwing me off; makes it feel like Olaf’s sire was Far Eastern (and maybe he was, who am I to say?). Still, not a bad name overall, 8 out of 10.
Ragnar Sjuukon is in a similar place for me as Olaf. Ragnar is a great Norn name in my opinion, but the phonetics for Sjuukon just strike me as something other than Norn. I’ll give this one a 7 out of 10.
My first Norn, whose name I can not seem to top for myself, is Joramun Ironbreaker.
Would love to see this. In fact, I would love to at least read the lyrics to any and/or all of the skaalds’ works. Actually hearing them would be amazing.
Thinking of this reminded me of how much I absolutely loved the rendition of “The Misty Mountains Cold” in The Hobbit, as well as “Rains of Castamere” in Game of Thrones.
In case you need references:
My main is a human warrior, born into Nobility and who is willing to do whatever must be done to protect those in his charge. He solves most of his problems with ferocity, because it’s the most efficient.
His name is Lion Among Men, which comes oddly off the tongue at first, but it was inspired by my favorite book, The Iliad, specifically by the quote “There Can Be No Pact Between Men And Lions.” This is said by Achilles to Hector, right before he kills him in vengeance for the death of his friend, Petroclus. A constant theme throughout the book contrasts the heroes (The Lions) with the men (everybody else.)
My warrior takes this mantra upon himself, to be that Lion Among Men, to be the beast that is willing to stem the tides of war, so that other may rest in peace.
My personal preference is usually in line with lore, but with the explanation you gave I have to say that I appreciate your choice. If you could somehow work into Lion’s story that he spent a good deal of time among the Kodan it would make all the difference in the world. 7.5/10
My first character, a male engineer, goes by the name Caedmon Durandal. Caedmon means “Wise warrior,” and Durandal has a mixed background. Originally, Durandal is the name given to a legendary sword in French history. Additionally, Durandal is the name of a group of researchers and strategists for whom the main character works in Front Mission 4 (no comment on the game itself, just liked the idea of the group).
Caedmon seemed appropriate for the character because the character is selective of his battles and seeks to find the way to turn any fight in his favor. He has joined the Vigil, which is unusual for an engineer, but their goal lines up well with his persona. I chose Durandal because I envisioned one of his ancestors inventing a rifle which bore the family name.
Sylvari are the only race that can come close to RPing that, I think; but it’s difficult to equate atheism in a universe with physical gods to atheism in a universe without (as far as we could tell) physical gods. Of course, if you don’t consider the gods to be gods, but merely very powerful beings (like the Charr do) you could argue that is atheism. But then, what makes a god a god? Gets rather muddy.
I can’t remember the name, but there is actually an NPC sylvari (in the Grove, I believe) that asks a question slanted towards this. My character said something along the lines of: “That’s a deep question,” and walks away. The sylvari would be a good race to choose for an atheist role, or possibly a human who has studied the sylvari’s ways.
I have to say, though, that not believing in the gods/spirits/alchemy would create a separatist, or rogue, view of your character. That would potentially put perception on your character as an ally of the dragons (by other characters, not necessarily by ingame narrative), which is never a good thing when you are supposed to be the hero that stops them.