Guilds of Historica Introduction/General Discussion Thread

[kabel]

In how far has Kaliphlin gone astray a litte? Well I never meant this as an offense, it's just something I observed in the university challenge where quite a number of people used torsos that where so 19th or even 20th century that I thought it partially was a bit off. But, that was a matter of taste I guess. I like and respect Kaliphlin.

@CBB: I get your point, but as I said, I really needed the time reference for myself as I wanted to do ships. Personally I was referring a lot to the Hanseatic legue in my imagination of Mitgardia. But as I said before, that was me and I'm totally fine with all the magic that is around here. I just don't refer to it often myself.

Another idea, why can't we just drive Victor out of Historica and follow him towards other continents and have more adventures there. That way we could keep our villain and travel to new shores.

[Kayne]

Thanks Kabel, that clears it up for me! I wasn't offended at all, just confused as to what you were referring to. But, now that you pointed out those things I totally know what you're referring to! I do think that Kaliphlin and Nocturnus have the most potential to stray from the norm just based on the climates and stereotypes based off of each of the guilds. The middle eastern/persian setting of Kaliphlin invokes many images in my head of a different sort of culture than medieval europe. Likewise, Nocturnus is pure fantasy and trying to fit that into an earth based timeline seems very hard. Whereas Avalonia reminds me of Arthurian England and Mitgardia of Norse civilizations which both fit well into medieval europes landscape.

Hope that clears up why I was curious what you were getting at :)

[SkaForHire]

I am a fan of magic in the setting, and I think there has really been only one earth shattering mage (Victor) so far (although, I claimed Petera as an ultra powerful mage too in my story line.) And it has been kept in check. I think the idea that mages have limits to their power is important. Obviously, we aren't going to have 100s of god-like characters running around blowing each other up. Also, we could introduce counter elements like, ruins that defer magic, special metals that reflect magic (that look just like steel plate, so no change in style), or other elements in our own stories to counter the idea of magic. I don't really think magic needs "nerfed" because it really has not had a major effect on the setting other than the challenge with the elementals in it. If we look at builds, there are actually a relatively small amount where a wizard is actually doing anything!

So I kind of feel that just leaving things they way there are, as in the loose guidelines would serve us well into the future -- at least until someone goes too far.

[kabel]

The middle eastern/persian setting of Kaliphlin invokes many images in my head of a different sort of culture than medieval europe.

and that is totally cool the way it is, and it should stay this way.

Another idea, why don't we have new members doing a certain amount of mocs, or titles, or points or whatever in their home guild, before they are allowed to participate in the colonization effort. Or maybe you first have to do a ship moc before you can actually set out for new continents, but you can't do a ship moc before you've done you carpenter and weaver. That way new members could still contribute to the original guilds and learn the ways of GoH, before they participate in the new challenges.

Edited March 17, 2013 by kabel

[Maxim I]

and that is totally cool the way it is, and it should stay this way.

Another idea, why don't we have new members doing a certain amount of mocs, or titles, or points or whatever in their home guild, before they are allowed to participate in the colonization effort. Or maybe you first have to do a ship moc before you can actually set out for new continents, but you can't do a ship moc before you've done you carpenter and weaver. That way new members could still contribute to the original guilds and learn the ways of GoH, before they participate in the new challenges.

I follow you on this one!

Anyway, I still like the idea of me becoming emperor

[kabel]

Ha, I think I got it (Heureka!):

in order to go out colonizing, you first need to buy yourself a charter from your respective guild leader. As the charter costs quite a bit, you need to earn money which of course is based on the points you recieve for your mocs. This means that either you build a lot of small mocs or a few really excellent mocs. Some of these mocs have to show of course that you actually have the ability to build and outfit a ship. You furthermore can't go before you have a ship, which you won't be able to build before you are given the charter. Long time GoH members who have participated in all (or lets say four of six challenges) are given a charter right away and are thus given a little advantage (you'd still need a ship though). We design a new continent with several climate zones and. in the style of Avalonia, you can pick a piece of land there. On the new continents you can then participate in the new challenges that we have to think of.

This way new members have an incentive to really get building whereas old time members get a little reward for the effort they've put in so far.

So what do you guys think of that?

[Maxim I]

Ha, I think I got it (Heureka!):

in order to go out colonizing, you first need to buy yourself a charter from your respective guild leader. As the charter costs quite a bit, you need to earn money which of course is based on the points you recieve for your mocs. This means that either you build a lot of small mocs or a few really excellent mocs. Some of these mocs have to show of course that you actually have the ability to build and outfit a ship. You furthermore can't go before you have a ship, which you won't be able to build before you are given the charter. Long time GoH members who have participated in all (or lets say four of six challenges) are given a charter right away and are thus given a little advantage (you'd still need a ship though). We design a new continent with several climate zones and. in the style of Avalonia, you can pick a piece of land there. On the new continents you can then participate in the new challenges that we have to think of.

This way new members have an incentive to really get building whereas old time members get a little reward for the effort they've put in so far.

So what do you guys think of that?

That I have build for all challenges except one, but I have officially participated in only 2 (the other are counted as freebuilds (Everlast (Chal III), Tower (Chal I))

It's a good idea, but I think not all the colonies should be territory based. Let's say you can also build just outposts (like Wild West) or you can also do exploring journeys (with for example an explorers campment)...

[kabel]

well, obviosly I've been playing too much Anno lately, but my idea was to give an incentive to keep builing. A lot of members did a freebuild or two and then vanished as the challenges were perhaps regarded as too challenging. And of course you've got a ton of freebuilds too that could count.

My idea is actually based on early English colonialism where you needed a charter from the king. But of course there were also pirates, seal and whale hunters as well as renegade explorers. Still, I think a ship would have to be a requirement, for my personal liking we've had too few ships the last year.

And somehow we need to do a better job at keeping new members.

[Ecclesiastes]

and that is totally cool the way it is, and it should stay this way.

Another idea, why don't we have new members doing a certain amount of mocs, or titles, or points or whatever in their home guild, before they are allowed to participate in the colonization effort. Or maybe you first have to do a ship moc before you can actually set out for new continents, but you can't do a ship moc before you've done you carpenter and weaver. That way new members could still contribute to the original guilds and learn the ways of GoH, before they participate in the new challenges.

I like this idea, but I could be hard for new members to join in when others allready are allowed to build much more. But is does sound very appealing and indeed the "Anno" idea is a good one. (Love that game too!)

[Brickington]

I don't like the ship idea as for I don't have any pieces. The reason I don't build quite a lot of pirate MOCs is because of the lack of ship pieces, so there's a problem for me.

[gedren_y]

I don't think you should have to be able to build a full minifig scale ship, but the idea of granting charters seems reasonable. For a scene of the ship either leaving, at sea, or landing; micro-scale is always an option. There are several of our illustrious builders that have done this to great effect.

There could be a contest to design the uncharted land mass(es). Something like the fifth guild contest, but without an established people or government. Maybe a few scenes depicting the range of the land, flora, and fauna of the place. Whoever is leading GoH at that time would have their scoring plus a vote to determine the winner(s).

On the geology of Historica: I have always thought that most of the Siccus Badlands is in a sub-tropical zone, and that the southern edge of the continent dips into the tropical zone. Also that most of Mitgardia is at a higher elevation, giving them fjords and accounting for all the snow. Nocturnus was originally concieved to be very swampy, but many of the builders depicted volcanic activity, so I see it as sitting over several geothermal hot spots (or possibly a super-volcano caldera like at Yellowstone). Avalonia is very much like the old growth forests and farm lands of Europe.

I need to give Varlyrio's geology some more thought. I'll get back to you on that.

[kabel]

Looking at the shape of Varlyrio, it's either a smaller continental plate itself or maybe it sits on a hot-spot as well. It could think of it as the Carnarys or Azores where ships traveling to the new world had to stop over in order to catch the trade winds.

-As for the ship moc, maybe a mircoscale could do too, I just thought it would be neat to encourage more ship building and more mocs depicting activity near the sea. We havn't had much of that. Or maybe you do the interior of ship, the captain's cabin, the storage deck or something like that. I think that wouldn't be too unreasonable.

-Regarding the charter, I guess there could be several ways of obtaining it. Jamestown and Plymoth also had completely different charters.

[Legonardo]

Thi stalk about colonisation and upgrading in technology is interesting but lets keep GoH the way it is. lets start a pirates community build along side it :)

I don't like the ship idea as for I don't have any pieces. The reason I don't build quite a lot of pirate MOCs is because of the lack of ship pieces, so there's a problem for me.

whats the difference between pirate peices and castle peices?

[Captain BeerBeard]

I really don't like or agree with the last twelve posts. Can we please keep computer games out of GoH?

[Derfel Cadarn]

Just been having a look back over the recent comments in this thread, some interesting ideas mentioned.

On the topic of Historic accuracy, I always saw Historica as a medieval fantasy realm. Avalonia was based on the classic Arthurian fantasy medieval England style, so there was no way it could have been historically accurate. The real Arthur lived somewhere between 400AD to 500AD and there were no huge towered castles. It was all wooden huts and wooden feasting halls. Knights didnt even exist back then. So I went with the fantasy version we all know rather than historic. It's more fun!

I know some of you like the idea of gunpowder and other explosives and firearms but going too far down that route could soon turn Historica into something else. For those who love the Pirate era and theme, don't worry, it's time will come. I love the Pirate theme and can't wait to get started on a GOH style Pirate version. However, that's in the future.

So getting back on track. It seems to me that something is missing, some good old rivalry. For so long now, Historica guilds have been united fighting against a common enemy. That will soon be over and things will go back to normal.

So, this is where guilds can really get back to competing against each other. If guilds fall out and want to fight battles against each other, I say let it happen! The reason being is that it can generate some good excitement, banter and rivalrys which gets people more involved and building. There are 4 powerful guilds in this land, only in a perfect world would they all get along and swear undying love for each other. This isn't a perfect world, so it's probable that some guilds may get greedy and try pinching a bit more land from their neibours!

So I feel that if you guys wanna take things into your own hands and have a few battles with each other than go ahead.

Obviously there is a limit, you can't take things too far. For example, I Kaphiln were to say their scientists have figured out how to split the Atom and then go and blow Nocturnus off the map.....that's a bit too far! Lol

But seriously, I think some good old rivalrys between guilds, wars here and there, power hungry corrupt lords and landowners. That sort of thing has gone on throughout our history and would be the same in Historica. I feel this would help to get more people building and having fun.

Of course, like people have said, you can build lots of mocs based on things that happened in the past. The guild leaders deliberately didnt set down much of a history so you guys can have plenty of freedom building your own interpretations of what happened in your guilds history.

Once challenge 6 is finished and out of the way then Historica will have a fresh clean slate for you guys to really start creating your world, this is just the start.

[de Gothia]

Amen to that DC! Agree with everything!

[Captain BeerBeard]

I 've said stuff similar in the past. Maybe it was in pm's that found their way to DC. I shared ideas like this in the past with a regulator.

[Derfel Cadarn]

Well those are just my thoughts. I had noticed that people did enjoy picking fights with the Drow etc, it was fun. Shame Angeli is not around at the moment.

I just feel that's how things should go as it would make things interesting. If say for example Nocturnus was having a dispute with Mitgardia and people from those lands were trying to out do each other by building mocs humiliating each other, I'm sure there would be a surge in interest. Then it also allows other guilds to react to the situation, like maybe Avalonia stick up for Mitgardia and have a few jabs at Nocturnus, then Kaliphiln decide they want to aid Nocturnus etc. All these little skirmishes and story's provide a great chance for some great mocs. Lets be honest, everyone likes to be proud of their guild and want their guild to be the best and that fuels people to build better and come up with great ideas.

The way I see it, once challenge 6 is finished we are left with a clean slate.

There is a huge world, there are 4 main powers each with their own ambitions. As in any world, there will be disputes between them. They will not always agree, there will be greedy lords who manipulate and bribe. There will be outlaws who steal from other guilds and cause problems. One guild may discover something and another guild may decide they want it and try to take it by force. There will be wars and some guilds may try to become more powerful. It's all good fun and a great stage for some awesome mocs.

[Brickington]

I love DC's comments. I was planning to have my sig go around all of Historical after challenge 6. I have some great MOCs planned and bumping the time would only mess them up.

[Captain BeerBeard]

@DC what about the current state of Avalonia? I think Zakon GoldBlade would be really good as a ruler compared to our current state. EB fellowship is not reliable and when it is it, it's too dominating. The current state of Avalonia needs a change, now. We need freedom!

[Derfel Cadarn]

But would Artorious Rex just step down as ruler and choose someone else? Would there be a civil war?

[Brickington]

But would Artorious Rex just step down as ruler and choose someone else? Would there be a civil war?

I quite like Rex as our leader. He's just what I think as a Avalonian. The only one else I would say to be the heir would be dG, he's going to have a royal family so that would be nice. Z wouldn't make a bad ruler either. No offense BB, but Zakon isn't really what I think as an Avalonian model type.

[kabel]

To make one thing clear, I never was intending to push into the pirate realm.

But why can't there be medieval ships? No Pirate builder has ever build anything timewise below your galleons DC. And since the main historic forum is getting more and more occupied by the LOTR fans and Pirates is mainly about ToR these days why not have some of the stuff that happened around 1500 (this being considered the border between the middle ages and the renaissance by some historians) around here?

If our ideas aren't wanted, why didn't you guys say so earlier? You guild leaders havn't really shared with how GoH is going to continue, and we are still missing a clear direction about what is to happen to the 5th guild. So its no wonder some of us come up with ideas ourselves.

[Mike S]

So, this is where guilds can really get back to competing against each other. If guilds fall out and want to fight battles against each other, I say let it happen! The reason being is that it can generate some good excitement, banter and rivalrys which gets people more involved and building.

I'm probably in the minority but I totally disagree. Rivalry might inspire more interest but from what I've seen it will be a lot of trashtalking and not an increase in MOCing. I think after challenge 6 the guilds should be dispanded and the current members of GoH united under 1 banner against a common enemy or even against LoCC. If Mitgardia went against Nocturnus, Nocturnus would be overwhelmed. There are a lot more active members in Mitgardia than Nocturnus. Guild rivavlry would probably work if there were more active members in GoH. As it is, lack of time seems to be GoH greatest enemy

EDIT: Also, I might have missed something but I haven't seen anyone trying to push cannons and gunpowder in GoH. The question has been more like what LEGO elements are banned from GoH.

EDIT 2: Upon further contemplation, I think MOCing rivalry would require the guilds to be fairly equal in member skills and time. Also I think that one of GoH main problems is that there are too many leaders that are absent a lot of time. GoH needs a leader whose first prioirty is GoH and has the time to devote to GoH. I think Sirens was an excellent example of what a leader should do when he doesnt have time. Find a great replacement. I would vote for Ecclesiastes anyday.

Edited March 18, 2013 by Masa of Kaliphlin

[Brickington]

I like the idea of GoH vs. LCC that would be so cool! But at this point I don't really care what happens, I'll be happy with anything.