Difference between revisions of "Meta:Inspirations"

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* The [[Druids]] and [[Warlock|warlocks]] are based on the Jedi and Sith as they are depicted in the ''Knights of the Old Republic'' era.
 
* The [[Druids]] and [[Warlock|warlocks]] are based on the Jedi and Sith as they are depicted in the ''Knights of the Old Republic'' era.
 
* The Mandalorians, as well as the Qunari from ''Dragon Age'' were the main inspiration behind the [[Warrior Monks]].
 
* The Mandalorians, as well as the Qunari from ''Dragon Age'' were the main inspiration behind the [[Warrior Monks]].
* The island town [[Milay]] is inspired by Atho City from the videogame ''Knights of the Old Republic''.
+
* The island town [[Tual]] is inspired by Atho City from the videogame ''Knights of the Old Republic''.
 
* The Witches of Dathomir have a very strong influence on the culture of the [[Katra]], especially the Nightsisters sect.
 
* The Witches of Dathomir have a very strong influence on the culture of the [[Katra]], especially the Nightsisters sect.
 
* The name of the [[kaas]] and some other of their elements were inspired by the Cathar species.
 
* The name of the [[kaas]] and some other of their elements were inspired by the Cathar species.

Revision as of 10:41, 13 April 2015

The Ancient Lands were inspired by a wide variety of different sources. Information on many of these are listed below.

Atmosphere

The following sources have been the main inspirations for the overall feel and style of the Ancient Lands setting.

  • Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
  • Conan the Barbarian (1982)
  • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
  • Dark Sun (RPG setting, 1991)
  • The Empire Strike Back (1980)
  • Heavenly Sword (PS3, 2007)
  • Knights of the Old Republic (PC/Xbox, 2003)
  • Mass Effect 2 (PC/Xbox360, 2010)
  • Princess Mononoke (1997)
  • Raiders of the Lost Arc (1981)
  • The Savage Frontier (RPG setting, 1988)
  • The Witcher 2 (PC/Xbox360, 20119

And of course the art of Frank Frazetta, Ken Kelly, and Gerald Brom.

Additional art that contributed to the creation of the Ancient Lands setting can be found here.

Conan

  • The Witchfens are greatly inspired by Conans homeland of Cimmeria.
  • The Vandren are partly based on the Hyrkanians and Kozaki that appear in some Conan stories.
  • The naga and their kingdoms are highly inspired by the nation of Stygia.

Dark Sun

  • The idea that sorcery has a corrupting effect that kills the land and twists living creatures is based on the Defilers, whose magic has a similar, though much more extreme effect on the world of Athas, turning it into a giant desert.

Dragon Age

  • The different types of demons are directly inspired by various types of from the Dragon Age games, including the Ash Wraith (ash demon) and Rock Wrait (rock demon).
  • Blood Magic works quite similar to the way it is portrayed in Dragon Age, but is completely unconnected to demons.
  • Like Conans Cimmeria and the planet Dathomir from the Star Wars universe, the Kokari Wilds were one of the inspirations for the Witchfens.

Forgotten Realms

  • The vasts forests and mountains of the northern Ancient Lands are greatly inspired by the High Forest and the Spine of the World.
  • Dread Warriors are based closely on undead creatures of the same name which are created by the Red Wizards of Thay.

Eberron

  • The Yagashi are inspired by the dark elves of the continent Xen'drik in the Eberron campaign setting for Dungeons & Dragons.
  • Quori were one of the sources on which the demons are based.
  • The Inspired and the Dreaming Dark were one of the many inspirations for warlocks and the Neshanen sorcerers.
  • The concept for the Underworld as a different realm of existance instead of a massive, physics defying cave network comes from Khyber, which is one of the three realms of the world in Eberron.
  • The island homeland of the Keyren is partly inspired by the elven island kingdom Aernal.

Mass Effect

  • The Turians played a very strong role in shaping the final culture and personality of the lizardmen, in particular the Mayaka empire.
  • The Burried City was largely inspired by the prothean ruins on the planet Feros.
  • The island port Kelay and its pirate queen are inspired by the space station Omega.
  • The Nos Astra space port on Illium was one of the inspiration for the Neshanen city Ven Marhend.

Star Wars

  • The Planets Endor and Dagobah are one of the main inspirations for the kind of landscape and environment that dominated the Ancient Lands.
  • The Druids and warlocks are based on the Jedi and Sith as they are depicted in the Knights of the Old Republic era.
  • The Mandalorians, as well as the Qunari from Dragon Age were the main inspiration behind the Warrior Monks.
  • The island town Tual is inspired by Atho City from the videogame Knights of the Old Republic.
  • The Witches of Dathomir have a very strong influence on the culture of the Katra, especially the Nightsisters sect.
  • The name of the kaas and some other of their elements were inspired by the Cathar species.

The Elder Scrolls

  • The Takari are based heavily on the Dunmer Great Houses from Morrowind.
  • The Deadric Lords Azura, Hermaeus Mora, Hircine, and Nocturnal were among the many inspirations for several of the gods of the Ancient Lands.

The Lord of the Rings Online

  • The Mari are heavily inspired by Lossoth as presented in the Forochel region.
  • Ice Demons are inspired by the Frost Grims of Forochel.
  • The overall design of Hill Giants and their culture is based on the Jorthkyn, which in turn have been based on a very liberal interpretation of the mention of "ogres" by Tolkien.

The Witcher

  • The way magic works in the Ancient Lands is partly inspired by the books.
  • The city of Vizima and Lake Vizima as shown in the videogame The Witcher are direct inspirations for Kevaik and the surrounding area.
  • Battle demons are inspired by the draugir from The Witcher 2.
  • Spiderfiends and based on the endrega.
  • Slasher Roots are partly ispired by the echinops from the first game.

Warcraft

  • In an early concept phase, one summary for the Ancient Lands was "Kalimdor before the demon invasion", which set up elves and lizardmen as the two dominant races of the world.
  • Jungle trolls are one of the main inspirations for the culture of the lizardmen, particularly the Gandju and Kulaka.
  • The Neshanen are based on the ancient Highborn elves of Kalimdor.
  • Rock Demons are based on the Infernals from Warcraft III.
  • The Demon Wastes are losely inspired by the Twilight Highlands and Felwood regions from World of Warcraft.
  • The fortress Nar-Korut is based on the orc city Orgrimmar.
  • The Void is directly based on the Twisting Nether, the realm of the Burning Legion.
  • The Naga from The Frozen Throne are one of the many snake people who inspired the naga of the Ancient lands.

Others

  • The design of the Amakari is based on reconstructions of homo heidelbergensis, an earily hominid and ancestor of humans and Neanderthals, and particularly on one population from Africa which was marked by a very high body height.
  • Kayaka ships are essentially shooners, while Takari and Mayaka ships are based on junks.
  • The Alchemicals are influenced by the movies Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell, but also the magen from the Mystara campaign setting for Dungeons & Dragons.
  • The Order Colony is inspired by the prolog and first chapter of the videogame Bound by Flame.
  • The appearance of the Blue Squids is inspired by the Cephs from the Crysis series.
  • Swamp eels are based on the Swamp Sharks from the videogame "Gothic".
  • Like the endrega from The Witcher 2, the spiderbugs from Metro: Last Light are one of the inspirations for spiderfiends.
  • Tar Demons are based on the alkilith tanar'ri from the Planescape setting for Dungeons & Dragons.
  • The kaas race is based very strongly on the Ferai from the Playstation 2 game Primal.