- I have stumbled on this article while googleing. It struck me with something both
honest and gruesome so I took it for my blog as a note to self. Original is here
http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/13867/designing-the-game-is-not-8-hours-job - I don't know how other designers work. I don't know if I am a freak
among designers or I am a clasical example. But I want to tell you how
it looks. How it looked with Robinson. I spent last year on the Island.
Really...
*
For me 2012 was year of Robinson Crusoe because for the last 12 months I only read adventure books. I really mean it. I read a lot of Julius Verne novels. I read all novels I could find about castaways. I read all books about survival I could find. I read also comic books and I – certainly – watched all movies I could find that were about deserted Island or castaways.
I read about tens of ways of making fire. I read about building shelter from almost nothing. I read how to find water, I read how to find north without compas, I read everything I could. I am – with no doubt – one of the most educated persons on this planet... in terms of castaways...
If, by any chance, you are on the deserted Island, just call me. I will teach you how to survive. You don't need to worry.
*
For me 2012 was year of Robinson Crusoe because every single weekend of this year I had prototype of the game set up in our living room. Our home was literally paralyzed by Robinson. The game is big, it covered nearly whole table in our living room (I have to say – we have a big table). Because of Robinson we had mess on that table for every single weekend of 2012. I played it all the time, every single weekend, I drove my wife crazy with this tokens, cards, notes, dice with all that stuff that was living with us this year.
It was like part of our furniture. We had sofa, we had table, we had chairs and we had Robinson. It was part of our everyday life.
*
2012 was year of Robinson Crusoe for my whole family. Kids have grown – it is a year of time! - and they saw and hear all the time about Robinson. They discovered this story. They played prototype with me. They played live Robinson all the time. They built real shelter in our garden (ok, I helped them a little), they spent countless hours in our garden hunting imaginary beasts, strengthening the roof or searching for treasures. With no doubt, if in 20 years I ask my kids about summer 2012, they will tell 'It was time of Robinson'.
*
2012 was year of Robinson Crusoe because it really touched our every day life. We spent holidays this year by the sea and of course I had Robinson with me. Game was with us all the time. Sometimes it touched our life in a funny way. I remember one Sunday few weeks ago. I was a little bit late for a dinner, I entered the room, all kids were already eating and there was no plate for me on the table. I asked: 'Hey, what about me? I don't eat?!'
And I heared answer from 10 years old Nina: 'You know, it is like in Robinson. There is never enought food... Today you get 2 wounds'
Woow. That was accurate...
*
Next week I am in Essen. My adventure with Robinson ends. I finally leave the Island. I am finally free. I spent here whole year of my life. It was great but that's enough. It is time for you to visit the Island. I strongly recommend it. This is a great adventure.
7 February 2013
Designing the game is not an 8 hour job
Sci-fi is dead.
I'm probably wrong by stating that, but I have a serious reason. The reason is book of science fiction novel and short stories published back in 1954. I found it and bought it. It smells of old times, a truly old and forgotten era and this aroma brings me a memories I never could have. Memories of world were scientist became the preachers of the new ways of life, new products to consume, new tools to develop and bombs to drop on your enemies.
But most of all, scientist were writing! The stuff they were writing was so different from the established genres and the ways of building up the story that they actually gave birth to a science fiction. That is even despite the fact that similar motifs of progress, technology and incredible achievements were used before industrialization. Suddenly the old fairy tales got a chance of rebirth and what's more important they became believable! If a fairy tale is coming from someone who actually knows how world operates, the fairy tale becomes a prediction, and prediction has a chance to become reality.
But now more than 50 years after the peak of science-fiction this credibility is lost. The world described by previous generation of writers is already here and we arefed up happy with it. We may not fly around galaxy in reality, but there's enough TV show's to give us a clue how it's going to look. Real scientist are doing their day-to-day research and let professional writers to elaborate on "setting", characters and plots. If there is not enough explosions or pretty half-naked scientist we easily may change the channel to find something more like it.
Sci-fi is a mainstream entertainment. It is dead.
Why? Originally science fiction was answering to the questions and needs of those who was trying to adjust to rapidly changing world and find their own path in the new world. It was half soul searching half explanation of how-to-use-the-world around you for generation whose parents still lived in pre-space age. Author's used it as test bed for ideas, visions and what would happen scenarios. (Of course the usual way of sci-fiing the metaphor wasn't lost.) As the popularity of genre grew, along with profits the need to print something similar to competitor's product attracted writers who used science as a background instead of meaning. This pro-pulsed the trend, which caught up and overtook the initial humble stories by those writing scientist. And now, anyone can write about hyper space jump over galaxy but few know how to fix the kettle.
But most of all, scientist were writing! The stuff they were writing was so different from the established genres and the ways of building up the story that they actually gave birth to a science fiction. That is even despite the fact that similar motifs of progress, technology and incredible achievements were used before industrialization. Suddenly the old fairy tales got a chance of rebirth and what's more important they became believable! If a fairy tale is coming from someone who actually knows how world operates, the fairy tale becomes a prediction, and prediction has a chance to become reality.
But now more than 50 years after the peak of science-fiction this credibility is lost. The world described by previous generation of writers is already here and we are
Sci-fi is a mainstream entertainment. It is dead.
Why? Originally science fiction was answering to the questions and needs of those who was trying to adjust to rapidly changing world and find their own path in the new world. It was half soul searching half explanation of how-to-use-the-world around you for generation whose parents still lived in pre-space age. Author's used it as test bed for ideas, visions and what would happen scenarios. (Of course the usual way of sci-fiing the metaphor wasn't lost.) As the popularity of genre grew, along with profits the need to print something similar to competitor's product attracted writers who used science as a background instead of meaning. This pro-pulsed the trend, which caught up and overtook the initial humble stories by those writing scientist. And now, anyone can write about hyper space jump over galaxy but few know how to fix the kettle.
5 February 2013
Lakedonian Empire: concept
To be honest I have posted this concept on the forum of Dark Space Corporation [http://www.darkspacecorp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=1159&p=8869#p8869], but decided to re-post it here as note to myself. This is basically a "sketch gone wild", I was playing with idea of organization for one of futuristic settings and Beyond the Gates of Antares gave me a spark to put it on paper.
Images are taken from site http://mandragoreminiatures.free.fr. Sculptor is Gael Goumon. Used without permission. No challenge to property rights intended.
Name: Lakedonians
Race: Revers
Homeworld: Lakedonia Prime
Planet Lakedonia is 1,6 bigger than Terra, has oxygen based atmosphere, with harsh climate, arid plains and mountainous terrain divided by great number of lakes, seas and rivers. Planet is moderately rich in natural resources. Lakedonia has three moons: Melitele, Arisaka and Shakta.
Origins:
Lakedonian's are descendant of humans who settled on Lakedonia countless ages ago. Current civilization has been re-build after previous has made a contact with unknown group of Concord. The result of this contact was an uncontrolled spread of unknown lethal disease which affected mostly male population of planet. Disease, or Male Sin as was latter called was stopped when scientist created an genetic modification which prevented the micro-drone technology from hosting and affecting human bodies. This event dramatically changed world perspective of this nation, creating a fusion of technology and religion.
Physical:
Not so different from normal humans, Lakedonians normally stand at 1 meter 70 centimeters. Majority has blue, green and grey eyes, pale or olive skin and have a slim and frail looking physique. However as their planets gravitation is more than standard Terran, they are strong and muscular. Major slim body type attributes to the fact that certain bloodlines fared much better than other during eradication of Male Sin.
Government:
Lakedonians are governed by matriarchal theocracy, where the High Priestress of Melitele and Sekmerra appoints the planetary government every twelve cycles in accordance with prophetical visions and reading of their dual deity will. Citizens share all wealth of Empire, but not allowed to have more than certain limit of personal possession. All members of society (except Ilhotes) are provided with education and financial support. Those who excel in during harsh educational process usually are provided with better career chance and more responsibilities.
Religion:
Religion of Lakedonian's is monotheistic in nature. It worships two aspect of their main unnamed, but certainly female deity: Melitele and Sekmerra. Melitele is an aspect of love, fertility and growth through work and improvement. Her primary color is white. Sekmeraa is aspect of war, oppression and deceit. She creates destruction in order to give way for new life. Her main color is red. Both deities have came to rescue Lakedonian's in times of Male Sin, when previous civilization was being absorbed by Concord and majority of male population was losing its fertility and independence. Both are worshiped in same temples in accordance of calendar and have their Saints. Religion of Melitele and Sekmerra contains not only popular texts, but predictions on return of the Concord and instruction on how to boost human bio-resistance to its influence.
Technology:
Lakedonian's are relatively young space faring nation of Antarean space. Their technology emphasizes robustness and mulch-purposeness. For example Lakedonian infantry mag-gung could be upgraded in field conditions to a heavy support weapon. Major achievements of Lakedonians lie in the area of bio-resistance and genetic modifications. It's a common practice for Lakedonian units to be accompanied by guardian animals designed for task of spotting and harassing enemy.
Society and Cultural priorities:
Male population of Lakedonia is less than 1/7 of entire population. This is a direct consequence of Male Sin and contact with Concord. As a result most of active roles in society is are filled by females. Male are generally divided into two separate castes: the Breeders and the Ilhotes. Breeders are those few bloodlines which survived Male Sin and remained generaly unaffected. They provide seed for legal fertilization and procreation. Breeders are controlled by the Cult and are priceless in terms of preservation of Lakedonians. The Ilhotes are bloodlines which has been affected but were retained for the use as slave workforce. They are generally genetically modified or lobotomized for the task purposes and under no conditions they are allowed to breed.
Female roles in society are divided into so-called Gifts to Lakedonia. Depending on age and social position Lakedonian female is either fulfilling and preparing for one of the Gifts.
They are:
Gift of Blood: initiation into adulthood achieved by killing at least one Ilhote.
Gft of Tears: the birth of at least one healthy child for the Cult.
Gift of Spear: active military service either in planetary army or as Lakedonian mercenary
Gift of Craft: active service as foster parent, tradesmen or official.
Allegiance:
Will not ally with Concord or Isorian shard under no circumstances, will not commonly ally with aliens. Any Rever, PanHuman or Simhuman group.
Images are taken from site http://mandragoreminiatures.free.fr. Sculptor is Gael Goumon. Used without permission. No challenge to property rights intended.
Name: Lakedonians
Race: Revers
Homeworld: Lakedonia Prime
Planet Lakedonia is 1,6 bigger than Terra, has oxygen based atmosphere, with harsh climate, arid plains and mountainous terrain divided by great number of lakes, seas and rivers. Planet is moderately rich in natural resources. Lakedonia has three moons: Melitele, Arisaka and Shakta.
Origins:
Lakedonian's are descendant of humans who settled on Lakedonia countless ages ago. Current civilization has been re-build after previous has made a contact with unknown group of Concord. The result of this contact was an uncontrolled spread of unknown lethal disease which affected mostly male population of planet. Disease, or Male Sin as was latter called was stopped when scientist created an genetic modification which prevented the micro-drone technology from hosting and affecting human bodies. This event dramatically changed world perspective of this nation, creating a fusion of technology and religion.
Physical:
Not so different from normal humans, Lakedonians normally stand at 1 meter 70 centimeters. Majority has blue, green and grey eyes, pale or olive skin and have a slim and frail looking physique. However as their planets gravitation is more than standard Terran, they are strong and muscular. Major slim body type attributes to the fact that certain bloodlines fared much better than other during eradication of Male Sin.
Government:
Lakedonians are governed by matriarchal theocracy, where the High Priestress of Melitele and Sekmerra appoints the planetary government every twelve cycles in accordance with prophetical visions and reading of their dual deity will. Citizens share all wealth of Empire, but not allowed to have more than certain limit of personal possession. All members of society (except Ilhotes) are provided with education and financial support. Those who excel in during harsh educational process usually are provided with better career chance and more responsibilities.
Religion:
Religion of Lakedonian's is monotheistic in nature. It worships two aspect of their main unnamed, but certainly female deity: Melitele and Sekmerra. Melitele is an aspect of love, fertility and growth through work and improvement. Her primary color is white. Sekmeraa is aspect of war, oppression and deceit. She creates destruction in order to give way for new life. Her main color is red. Both deities have came to rescue Lakedonian's in times of Male Sin, when previous civilization was being absorbed by Concord and majority of male population was losing its fertility and independence. Both are worshiped in same temples in accordance of calendar and have their Saints. Religion of Melitele and Sekmerra contains not only popular texts, but predictions on return of the Concord and instruction on how to boost human bio-resistance to its influence.
Technology:
Lakedonian's are relatively young space faring nation of Antarean space. Their technology emphasizes robustness and mulch-purposeness. For example Lakedonian infantry mag-gung could be upgraded in field conditions to a heavy support weapon. Major achievements of Lakedonians lie in the area of bio-resistance and genetic modifications. It's a common practice for Lakedonian units to be accompanied by guardian animals designed for task of spotting and harassing enemy.
Society and Cultural priorities:
Male population of Lakedonia is less than 1/7 of entire population. This is a direct consequence of Male Sin and contact with Concord. As a result most of active roles in society is are filled by females. Male are generally divided into two separate castes: the Breeders and the Ilhotes. Breeders are those few bloodlines which survived Male Sin and remained generaly unaffected. They provide seed for legal fertilization and procreation. Breeders are controlled by the Cult and are priceless in terms of preservation of Lakedonians. The Ilhotes are bloodlines which has been affected but were retained for the use as slave workforce. They are generally genetically modified or lobotomized for the task purposes and under no conditions they are allowed to breed.
Female roles in society are divided into so-called Gifts to Lakedonia. Depending on age and social position Lakedonian female is either fulfilling and preparing for one of the Gifts.
They are:
Gift of Blood: initiation into adulthood achieved by killing at least one Ilhote.
Gft of Tears: the birth of at least one healthy child for the Cult.
Gift of Spear: active military service either in planetary army or as Lakedonian mercenary
Gift of Craft: active service as foster parent, tradesmen or official.
Allegiance:
Will not ally with Concord or Isorian shard under no circumstances, will not commonly ally with aliens. Any Rever, PanHuman or Simhuman group.
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