[OOC] A New Age - Ancient Era NRP

[Slamurai]

5th century AD and below, if I remember correctly.

[Alfhedil]

Aristo said
5th century AD and below, if I remember correctly.

This is what I thought as well, perhaps Haz can put up some kind of disclaimer in the OP as well as the NS Dump to make sure that weapons and armor are era accurate, as the list linked on the NS Dump covers everything from BC up until the 16th Century.

[Cosmic Fury]

deleted.

[TheSovereignGrave]

Why exactly would they have a colony almost halfway across the world?

[Cosmic Fury]

I was thinking of them having colonies in the area, somewhat like the Phoenicians did with Carthage, during their peak.

[TheSovereignGrave]

But Carthage is a lot closer to Phoenicia than that is to Ralgon

[Wernher]

Cosmic Fury said
I was thinking of them having colonies in the area, somewhat like the Phoenicians did with Carthage, during their peak.

I FOR ONE, WELCOME THIS NEW NEIGHBOR.

Still, the earth is round, perhaps it would be wiser to have a colony on the other side of the continent? There is a tiny bit of peninsula I left open above my country, juuuuust for such a purpose xP

[Cosmic Fury]

I decided to move my entire location to an area where I can do more with my nation, due to the obvious climate benefits. Also note that I have Wernher's nation up nearby, as some of my faction's holdings are rather darn close to his faction. I'll be editing my NS to suit. As there aren't any current claims there, I might as well stake some land here and there in the area. :) The new map is below.

EDIT: There is a lot of sea within its borders. It's actually smaller in terms of land area than the faction above it, and around the same size as my previous location. :)

[HazmatMedic]

The era IS pre-500 AD, but if anything could logically exist before then, it's okay.
For example, the Italian dagger, know as a cinquedea, was created roughly 1500 AD but as it is just a very long knife it is acceptable for someone in your army to have it.

[Alfhedil]

HazmatMedic said
The era IS pre-500 AD, but if anything could logically exist before then, it's okay.For example, the Italian dagger, know as a cinquedea, was created roughly 1500 AD but as it is just a very long knife it is acceptable for someone in your army to have it.

Mmmmm.... I would actually be very careful with that, as that pretty much gives people free-license to insert whatever they want by ways of building logic-bridges. It would really be for the best if we simply stuck with pre-500 and the hundred or so years around that time-line, that way it would give people a good time-frame to work with and ensure that everyone is on an even playing field more or less.

[HazmatMedic]

Ok, how about "pre-500 AD, but most melee weapons are allowed."?
For example, the cinquedea mentioned above is allowed, but we can't say "but I COULD build a cannon because ..." as that would be too risky.

[TheSovereignGrave]

I don't mean to sound rude but I'm noticing that there's quite a few nations that have some sort of widespread education system. Did that ever happen in the ancient world? I mean, I don't expect everything to be just like it was on Earth but isn't the idea of educating anyone aside from nobles and priests relatively new?

[ASTA]

Alfhedil said
Mmmmm.... I would actually be very careful with that, as that pretty much gives people free-license to insert whatever they want by ways of building logic-bridges. It would really be for the best if we simply stuck with pre-500 and the hundred or so years around that time-line, that way it would give people a good time-frame to work with and ensure that everyone is on an even playing field more or less.

I second this.

As in, QFT.

To be fair Haz, that ruling pretty much renders the RP's premise, this being a pre-500 AD setting, completely moot.

TheSovereignGrave said
I don't mean to sound rude but I'm noticing that there's quite a few nations that have some sort of widespread education system. Did that ever happen in the ancient world? I mean, I don't expect everything to be just like it was on Earth but isn't the idea of educating anyone aside from nobles and priests relatively new?

This sounds like a cultural (and legislative) thing, as well as a player's species' method of thinking.

You sort of do have a point.

[Alfhedil]

HazmatMedic said
Ok, how about "pre-500 AD, but most melee weapons are allowed."?For example, the cinquedea mentioned above is allowed, but we can't say "but I COULD build a cannon because ..." as that would be too risky.

And what of things like some of the more sophisticated pole-arms? It really should be a flat "Pre-500 AD" else you leave the door open for shenanigans. I am also one to agree with SovereignGrave in lieu of the whole "Everyone is educated!" type of thing, since that kind of goes against one of your rules about mega-culture. If we keep to the time-frame, then for the most part large portions of societies will be rather uneducated, and actual academia would be highly limited at best.

[Slamurai]

If it didn't exist pre-500 AD, it doesn't exist here.

I'm inclined to agree with Alf's stance on this one and follow this guideline. ^

[ASTA]

So, Wernher and I have some things being hashed out behind the scenes, mostly in regards to trade, possible interwoven histories and other shenanigans.

I'll be getting up an NS soon. In the mean time, anyone have any plot ideas they want to get across?

[So Boerd]

Still here. I am busy, and will be for another day.

[Wernher]

TheSovereignGrave said
I don't mean to sound rude but I'm noticing that there's quite a few nations that have some sort of widespread education system. Did that ever happen in the ancient world? I mean, I don't expect everything to be just like it was on Earth but isn't the idea of educating anyone aside from nobles and priests relatively new?

Well, I know this involves me, only thing I can say is that the educational system, while present, is mainly a mean of indoctrination and insure as much cultural homogeneity in the realm, as I stated, it's only basic calculus, writing and reading, plus most will not even succeed in retaining most of this since there is no measure to help those that can't follow the pace. Only 1/50 maybe retains most of this and 1/100 are good enough to be part of the ruling elite (Which serves anything from warrior, administrator, judge and tax collectors).

So the idea isn't really to educate people more than it is to separate the wheat from the shaft & keep social unity.

[HazmatMedic]

I'd presume all but the most basic education would be unavailable to peasants. By basic education, I mean it would be a stretch for a lower class citizen to count to ten, or write his name.
I suppose, however, it depends on ones job. Messengers and military scouts will have to read, write and count, as they cannot convey useful information otherwise.
As a general rule, higher class = higher education

Some hoplite spears were 2.7 metres (8 ft 10 in) long.

That's bigger than me, if that is your issue. Ancient weapons could be huge, and the Hoplite Spear would make an excellent polearm for the era.

I don't quite understand what you mean by "more sophisticated polearms". Could you explain, or give a comparison? I'm not trying to sound rude or ignorant, I genuinely don't understand.

I currently stand by my ruling that all cold weapons are acceptable, unless someone has a major problem with it.

I mean, it hardly makes a difference if my soldiers are wielding Gladii or Wakizashis does it? They're both swords, both bladed and both are designed to kill. The only differance that it practically has is the time periods, but they look dramatically different aesthetically.

And to return to the cinquedea, is it really that much of an issue if we have cinquedeas rather than, say, daggers? They do the same job equally well and have the same strengths and weaknesses, just one looks prettier than the other.

[HazmatMedic]

Also, I was planning on my Nation's history including two major empires that collapsed somewhat recently. Their ruins would still be fresh, if anyone wants to go on a treasure hunt.