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Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 25 Dec 2007 01:53 AM |
VIVES 2 TEASER - HOLIDAY RELEASE
CHARACTER RACES
Player's choices of races include the standard assortment of human, half-elf, elf, dwarf, gnome, halfling, and half-orc, but each of these types are broken down into subgroups - totaling more than twenty. Not all subgroups will be available to starting players, and some are secret. These special subgroups become available to players who learn their secrets through play.
Humans as defined by region or nationality include:
Humans from a feudal society who place great value on nobility and righteousness;
Wild and primitive humans from the tropical jungles;
A myriad of tribal peoples from the unforgiving desert;
Nomads of the centaur plains;
The newly formed nation from the frozen tundra.
Elves:
Civilized elves living amongst the other races;
Wild elves living only amongst elf-kind in their hidden forests.
Dwarves:
The dwarves of the mountains;
Dwellers deep beneath the earth with a mystic connection to stone.
Gnomes:
Mad berserker Gnomes dwelling underground;
Eerie, ultra-magical Gnomes exhibiting a touch of the supernatural.
Halflings:
Urban, streetwise halflings;
Feral halflings of the tangled forest;
Gypsy wanderers.
Half-orcs are half-souled beings with a strong connection to the afterlife:
Fierce but honourable warriors closely attuned to their acquired souls;
Cunning beasts personifying rage and bloodlust;
Mystics intimately bound to the necromantic arts. |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 25 Dec 2007 08:08 AM |
| Can you also give us some information on what classes will be available, and if any classes will be limited, changed entirely, etc.? Also some information on the deities would be great... and maybe some of the locations... spoil us more! :D (Thanks for what you've given so far) |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 25 Dec 2007 11:08 PM |
| Just a speculative date would be good. But seriously, really looking forward to it. I've already got a lot of dwarven stuff in my head, waiting to hit the text editor. |
- [Rob], Balthor, Jake, and Thomas. |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 26 Dec 2007 06:40 AM |
Classes and PrCs
* All basic classes will be available and will be basic -- no requirement to jump through hoops and meet complicated prerequisites (in addition to what there already is) to RP a basic class
* All PrCs will be available to various degrees (most unrestricted, some requiring completing a static quest to unlock, and a handful will be DM-permission-only)
* We may implement custom, Vives-specific PrCs at a much, much later date if we can spare the time/effort -- we'd love to do it sometime, but PrCs require a -lot- of effort to implement
Spells
* Some characters may find spells named after them ;)
* As with Vives 1, we will probably introduce new or custom spells, but probably not in the initial release
Religion and Beliefs
There are different belief systems. Here is an overview:
* The Pantheon: The most common of the belief systems, and quite diverse in of itself, because it varies from area to area, and even within each area/nation. This is the belief in Olympian-style gods. Is it the same as the V1 pantheon? Are there new gods in the line-up and old ones mysteriouslyyeeeeee missing? Patience, young Padawan. You will see.
* Spirit worship: The belief that within everything there are spirits. Similar to, but not quite the same as, The Pantheon. The sky is worshipped; the trees are worshipped; all in nature is worshipped. Primarily practiced by wild barbarian humans of the wild magic jungles, some Orclun tribes, Goblins, feral Halflings and Gnomes, and other wild and uncivilised races.
* The Greater Good: A non-denominational religion based on the belief of a force of good without form or sentience. Primarily practiced in Novus Aristi, although they have missionaries and churches in many parts of the world.
* Gnomish Mathematics: Not a religion, but still a belief system. Primarily practiced by Gnomes (as other races find it too confounding and distasteful). This philosophy, founded by the Gnomes, preaches that absolutely everything can be broken down into mathematical formulae -- alchemy, the arcane arts... even the soul. Very unpopular and controversial; by its very nature, those who believe this cannot practice Divine Magic.
* Elements: An uncommon belief from the distant sands of the desert lands. In the remote monastery of Quinlann -- the largest monastery in the world -- they believe that everything in the world is formed from the five fundamental elements of air, earth, fire, water and soul. Mystics of this Order seek balance and harmony of the elements. Anarchists seek havoc and chaos, utilising their knowledge and belief to throw the elements out of balance.
* Dreams: A belief in the power of dreams over life and magic. This very rare belief is known only to those who have encountered the Fey, who many do not believe in the existence of. For the benign Fey hold sway over pleasant dreams and the wicked Fey hold power over terrifying nightmares, and in their neverending war, battles are lost and won in surreal mindscapes of light and shadow.
* Other: There are other undisclosed religions which keen PCs may learn about if they put the RP effort into it.
History
* Too spoilerrific to say anything other than the setting will take place over two millennia from present day; and much has been forgotten, and much of what has happened in between is enshrouded in mysteryyyeeeeee
Geography
* The geography of the world is enshrouded in mysterious mysteryeeeeeee *waggles fingers ominously and mysteriously* |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 26 Dec 2007 07:57 AM |
Thank you Hopefully we'll get more as the time nears. And hopefully that will mean more to come over the next few weeks! :D |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 27 Dec 2007 05:35 AM |
Geography
Atranox: This small island lies some distance from the main continent and serves as the starting point for many an aspiring adventurer. Amongst its main features are Port D'Avilias, Elyrian, the Stonewall Mountains and Sussuran.
Port D'Avilias: Featured in most of Ara's screenshots. Within this seedy, rundown port on the west coast of Atranox, religion is banned and vice is the order of the day. Spies, smugglers and thieves abound.
Elyrian: This glorious, cosmopolitan city of soaring white arches, pillars and turrets is proudly lauded as the cultural centre of the known world. A haven for artists and poets from all walks of life.
Stonewall Mountains: Dividing Atranox in half, this mountain range separates grimy Port D'Avilias from cultured Elyrian and is home to Goblins, Ogres and other hazards.
Sussuran: A network of vast tunnels and caves, home to the albino berserker Gnomes and much, much worse. |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 27 Dec 2007 07:35 AM |
| Just to give myself a rough map of the place... do the Stonewall Mountains divide Atranox in half from north to south or west to east? Are the cities on the north end and south end, east end or west end? Does Sussuran permiate throughout the entire island? What's on the main continent that was aluded to? (Sorry about all the questions... I want to know! :D) |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 27 Dec 2007 05:37 PM |
*drools*
But in all seriousness, thanks for the bits. Just from whats posted so far I'm eager to see these new lands... and these albino berserker Gnomes.
Thanks,
-Max |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 27 Dec 2007 05:57 PM |
Just to give myself a rough map of the place... do the Stonewall Mountains divide Atranox in half from north to south or west to east? Are the cities on the north end and south end, east end or west end? Does Sussuran permiate throughout the entire island? What's on the main continent that was aluded to? (Sorry about all the questions... I want to know! :D)
Patience, young Padawan! I am still painting a neater version of the Atranox map. |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 27 Dec 2007 07:13 PM |
Geez, Tasra...give you an inch and you want a mile! ;)
What do you want next, latitude and longitude?
Climate?
Ever been in a turkish prison?
Ever seen a grown man naked?
///and yes, I'm secretly psyched too to see all this, and am just as happy that Tasra's asking all the questions! ;) |
The world is a fine place, and worth fighting for...
-- Ernest Hemingway |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 27 Dec 2007 07:49 PM |
| Actually, Imperious brings up a good point. How quickly does the sun go through the sky? How many moons are there at night? Are there stars left in the sky? What sort of climate can we expect in the different places? Are the climates fairly stable? How large are the island and the mainland? The island sounds quite large already, with a mainland that comes off as sounding quite a good deal larger. Does anyone know anything about the mainland (in game), or is it to be shrouded in mystery as a sort of "New World" that we'll only hear snippets of over time? |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 27 Dec 2007 08:17 PM |
Actually, Imperious brings up a good point. How quickly does the sun go through the sky? How many moons are there at night? Are there stars left in the sky?
All those were written early on, but won't be released just yet.
What sort of climate can we expect in the different places? Are the climates fairly stable?
Mostly moderate, but with some extremes of ice and desert out on the fringes.
Atranox is Mediterranean.
More detailed information is available but is not ready to be released yet.
How large are the island and the mainland?
Bigger than Ben Hur.
But not so big that it sprawls everywhere and lacks focus. A lot of the lore being written up is voluminous din depth rather than breadth (although there is still plenty of breadth to go around).
The island sounds quite large already, with a mainland that comes off as sounding quite a good deal larger.
You don't know the half of it.
Does anyone know anything about the mainland (in game), or is it to be shrouded in mystery as a sort of "New World" that we'll only hear snippets of over time?
It's not really a mainland because the setting is an archipelago. It just happens to be the biggest continent, but isn't the main/central focus. Think of Luzon in the Philippines Isles. That's not a mainland either, it just happens to be the biggest isle in a big group of fragmented isles.
Atranox, small as it is, will probably be the main focus of the setting and the social hub, even after it's been expanded to explore the frontier lands and unexplored wilds.
The largest continent is home to a massive Republic.
There are places with kingdoms. There are places with castes. There are places with caliphates. There are wild barbarian tribes (though no leopard-skin-bikini-clad barbarian women covered in oil... sorry). There are snowy mountains and dark depths. There are myths and superstitions specific to regions. There are myths and superstitions that seem to be consistent between places that have never encountered each other yet still believe in the same gods, under different names. There are places where worship is forbidden by law, and people get by in spite of and in defiance of gods they don't believe truly exist. There are places that live with the constant and real threat from ravenous Undead, and places where they scoff and believe Undeath to be a silly superstition invented to tell tales to children to make them behave. And magic is so low-profile that you could go out and see all these things, but if you return home and speak of them, people will laugh and think you're mad. There are many things which are familiar but also strange, having been given the Vives treatment to add originality and flavour to familiar fantasy archetypes.
That's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 27 Dec 2007 08:28 PM |
There are wild barbarian tribes (though no leopard-skin-bikini-clad barbarian women covered in oil... sorry).
Oh yeah. I hadn't worked my way up to the barbarella tribe yet. Next on my list though! |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 27 Dec 2007 09:18 PM |
So if I am to understand this accurately, this IS still Vives but a differrent geographical area of it??
((Puts in a vote for a lost tribe of half orcs called the Bin Qix )) |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 27 Dec 2007 09:35 PM |
So if I am to understand this accurately, this IS still Vives but a differrent geographical area of it??
FOIG! |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 27 Dec 2007 09:44 PM |
| I think we have a right to know if this is the same planet at the very least, especially if we are writing an epic story about the place... please ...milady...? *smiles sweetly* |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 27 Dec 2007 09:46 PM |
There are wild barbarian tribes (though no leopard-skin-bikini-clad barbarian women covered in oil... sorry).
Oh yeah. I hadn't worked my way up to the barbarella tribe yet. Next on my list though!
You mean bardarella? Ha! Ha! |
CHOO CHOO!
- - - - - -
Bereil Yadashem.
Markus Mortriety, Herald of Novus Aristi. |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 27 Dec 2007 09:48 PM |
| I thought Barbarella was a Space Whore who's movie inspired the name of one of the Greatest bands of the 80's... eh? |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 27 Dec 2007 10:13 PM |
I was under the impression we are on the same planet, after some cataclysmic event has happened, leaving only extremely ancient and buried history as the only thing we might possibly find for vague illusions to the past.
Fictrix, you said magic was extremely, extremely low key, to the point that people would be laughed at if they said it were true. Do the magic users then hide their magic in public, for fear of being persecuted? Are there any wizarding schools? Or is their magic learned by self-study, locked away for fear of the public eye?
(I really am trying to pry every last bit of information you're willing to give out of you) |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 27 Dec 2007 10:15 PM |
I was under the impression we are on the same planet, after some cataclysmic event has happened, leaving only extremely ancient and buried history as the only thing we might possibly find for vague illusions to the past.
History is written by the victors. *Nods sagely and mysteriouslyeeeee*
Fictrix, you said magic was extremely, extremely low key, to the point that people would be laughed at if they said it were true. Do the magic users then hide their magic in public, for fear of being persecuted? Are there any wizarding schools? Or is their magic learned by self-study, locked away for fear of the public eye?
Depends on the culture.
(I really am trying to pry every last bit of information you're willing to give out of you)
Hype is good. |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 27 Dec 2007 10:18 PM |
I thought Barbarella was a Space Whore who's movie inspired the name of one of the Greatest bands of the 80's... eh?
she also inspired a bunch of glam rock barbarian vixens in vives 2.
BUT you have inspired me to make their nemesis, the Dirdirans! |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 28 Dec 2007 09:20 AM |
It's not really a mainland because the setting is an archipelago.
I like this - Earthsea was my very favorite fantasy setting ever, though I'm not very widely read in fantasy at all. |
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about dying."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means lying in the ground with dirt on your face and holding your breath forever."
-Burt Reynolds, "The End" |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 28 Dec 2007 09:43 AM |
| I agree, an archipelago is a great setting. Not least because it makes explaining additions to the world easy: 'the ferry company has just started a new route'. |
"Absolute precision buys the freedom to dream meaningfully." - Donal O' Shea: The Poincaré Conjecture. |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 28 Dec 2007 09:49 AM |
(I really am trying to pry every last bit of information you're willing to give out of you)
Hype is good.
Don't lie! you liar! you lying liar!
You'll spoil them and they'll grow to be spoiled.
Hype is bad, mmm'kay? Hype is bad. Don't do hype, mm'kay? Hype is bad. |
WickedArtist: I think he needs a proper elf.
WickedArtist: A christmas elf!
Tasra: Any sort of elf that actually smiles ;o
Gasp! Scandalous!!! |
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Re: Vives 2: Teaser Thread
Posted: 28 Dec 2007 09:51 AM |
| What about isthmuses? Will there be isthmuses? If we'll be deprived of tiger bikinied temptresses, let's hope there will at least be isthmuses. |
T'mok Gurzi
Resident Gnoll Warlord
patron for the noble yet drink addled
Timik Gorozai the Mistake |
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