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Whatcha got for us? We await with bated breath.
I will continue to get blunter on this topic until people get the message or my posts contain enough profanity to be removed. - Armifer
I can't really announce any sweeping plans yet, though I have the seeds of a few ideas sitting in the back of my head.
Those of you who read the Bard forums likely know I'm technically on vacation until the 19th (Let's hear it for hotel WiFi!) so I won't be around as much until then - just an hour or two in the evenings to catch up if the hotel WiFi is usable.
A few things I will put out there for now:
An introduction to me - If you haven't run into me yet, I'm the new guy on Team Lore. Right now I'm unofficially assigned to Bards so that's where a lot of my focus is going right now until Heritages get pushed out. However I'm good at multitasking and that should give me some time to ease into figuring out what we want to do with Kaldar. Generally speaking I'm a forum hound, always happy to chat and like player input.
That said I also believe in being honest with you guys, so I'm not afraid to admit I've never really played a Kaldar. But, hey, I've never had a Bard above 2nd circle either so that hasn't stopped me yet! I went digging through all the documentation I can find on the race and old forum posts before I decided to accept the position.
Which brings us to my view on the Kaldar. Not gonna put a whole lot out there right now but a few themes for what I want to do:
1) Kaldar are a very interesting race that unfortunately has seen very little done with it since the initial lore dumps. This makes them very open for development.
2) Directly as a result I view Kaldar as having a significant problem finding an identity that isn't "Big human" or "Gorbesh". Kaldar are neither of these things, and I'd like to work towards making that clearer.
So expect my first few projects to push towards answering the question "What the heck is a Kaldar?"
3) Player meetings. Much like I did with Bards when first assigned to them, I'd like to hold a few mini meetings with Kaldars just to feel things out. I'll try and schedule these out when I'm back in town. Maybe the 20th and the 21st (at significantly different times). Thoughts?
4) Finally, and I know this statement may not be popular, please do not hold me to any promises given by past GMs about Kaldars. I'm not trying to be mean here or anything but I'm not them. I don't have their notes, I don't know where they were going with projects, I don't know what they promised and I don't know if their visions will mesh with what my eventual vision for Kaldar ends up being. If you feel they had some really good ideas that never got developed - throw em out there and I'll give em a listen. This isn't at all a blanket "Everything before me was invalid", but more "Please let me find my own identity as the Kaldar Champion".
... Wow. That ended up long for what was intended to be a quick "Greetings". Did I mention I tend to be long winded?
-Raesh
Those of you who read the Bard forums likely know I'm technically on vacation until the 19th (Let's hear it for hotel WiFi!) so I won't be around as much until then - just an hour or two in the evenings to catch up if the hotel WiFi is usable.
A few things I will put out there for now:
An introduction to me - If you haven't run into me yet, I'm the new guy on Team Lore. Right now I'm unofficially assigned to Bards so that's where a lot of my focus is going right now until Heritages get pushed out. However I'm good at multitasking and that should give me some time to ease into figuring out what we want to do with Kaldar. Generally speaking I'm a forum hound, always happy to chat and like player input.
That said I also believe in being honest with you guys, so I'm not afraid to admit I've never really played a Kaldar. But, hey, I've never had a Bard above 2nd circle either so that hasn't stopped me yet! I went digging through all the documentation I can find on the race and old forum posts before I decided to accept the position.
Which brings us to my view on the Kaldar. Not gonna put a whole lot out there right now but a few themes for what I want to do:
1) Kaldar are a very interesting race that unfortunately has seen very little done with it since the initial lore dumps. This makes them very open for development.
2) Directly as a result I view Kaldar as having a significant problem finding an identity that isn't "Big human" or "Gorbesh". Kaldar are neither of these things, and I'd like to work towards making that clearer.
So expect my first few projects to push towards answering the question "What the heck is a Kaldar?"
3) Player meetings. Much like I did with Bards when first assigned to them, I'd like to hold a few mini meetings with Kaldars just to feel things out. I'll try and schedule these out when I'm back in town. Maybe the 20th and the 21st (at significantly different times). Thoughts?
4) Finally, and I know this statement may not be popular, please do not hold me to any promises given by past GMs about Kaldars. I'm not trying to be mean here or anything but I'm not them. I don't have their notes, I don't know where they were going with projects, I don't know what they promised and I don't know if their visions will mesh with what my eventual vision for Kaldar ends up being. If you feel they had some really good ideas that never got developed - throw em out there and I'll give em a listen. This isn't at all a blanket "Everything before me was invalid", but more "Please let me find my own identity as the Kaldar Champion".
... Wow. That ended up long for what was intended to be a quick "Greetings". Did I mention I tend to be long winded?
-Raesh
Some counter-questions.
1) How much do the Kaldar differ from the Gorbesh? Obviously the difference is great enough that they consider themselves an entirely new race, but how does this translate to life on a daily basis?
2) How far might a Kaldar character draw inspiration or cultural influence from Gorbesh society/culture before he ceases being Kaldar? An example that comes to mind is African Americans: many feel cultural connections to Africa, but African Americans are a highly unique culture unto themselves, influenced by both American history and cultural roots.
3) What have Kaldar been doing since they arrived? ( *cough kaldar town cough*)
4) What is the Kaldar stance on magic? (Quote from racial page: Within the kaldar society the path of magic is frowned upon...) I don't think it is to the point of being dishonorable to use magic - even the Gorbesh, in their allegiance with the Gnomes and their use of battle spheres, seem highly practical in regards to their association with magic, but they largely abstain themselves. Does this hold true of the Kaldar?
5) What is the Kaldar and/or Gorbesh view of sorcery? Obviously, living in Kermoria, younger characters have probably adopted the standard kermorian view of sorcery and all Kaldar are subject to said prejudices within the judicial system, but would Kaldar - who abstain from magic to a significant degree (in theory) - view sorcery as different than any other magic?
6) Same as #5, only with necromancy? I think this one's much more obvious, but I do not see Kaldar as having the same historic struggle with Necromancers as Prydaen do.
7) What are their views of other races? Elotheans generally consider themselves superior, as do S'kra. Do they take fondly to one race over another?
8) How important is their system of personal honor and achievement? How is this reflected, culturally?
In my experience you will find that player opinions on much of these run a wide gauntlet of answers. Given the relative sparsity of outlines concerning roleplay, culture, and character influences, many talented players have filled in most of the blanks themselves. I would encourage you to set some definitive answers, even if some of them run contrary to what I have been playing before.
Suggestions:
- I'd like to see a special cultural connection between Kaldar and Gnomes. Obviously I think they should each have their own individual cultures, too, but emphasizing the historic and cultural union between these two races strikes me as a way to distinguish each from other races.
- I'd love to see the ocular feature in future storylines. Maybe some ancient taboos followed some of the kaldar on their exodus?
Thanks for being our champion. Most of all, we've had several promising champions racial champions and no development. Development of any form, please, even if it arrives only in the form of a couple books!
1) How much do the Kaldar differ from the Gorbesh? Obviously the difference is great enough that they consider themselves an entirely new race, but how does this translate to life on a daily basis?
2) How far might a Kaldar character draw inspiration or cultural influence from Gorbesh society/culture before he ceases being Kaldar? An example that comes to mind is African Americans: many feel cultural connections to Africa, but African Americans are a highly unique culture unto themselves, influenced by both American history and cultural roots.
3) What have Kaldar been doing since they arrived? ( *cough kaldar town cough*)
4) What is the Kaldar stance on magic? (Quote from racial page: Within the kaldar society the path of magic is frowned upon...) I don't think it is to the point of being dishonorable to use magic - even the Gorbesh, in their allegiance with the Gnomes and their use of battle spheres, seem highly practical in regards to their association with magic, but they largely abstain themselves. Does this hold true of the Kaldar?
5) What is the Kaldar and/or Gorbesh view of sorcery? Obviously, living in Kermoria, younger characters have probably adopted the standard kermorian view of sorcery and all Kaldar are subject to said prejudices within the judicial system, but would Kaldar - who abstain from magic to a significant degree (in theory) - view sorcery as different than any other magic?
6) Same as #5, only with necromancy? I think this one's much more obvious, but I do not see Kaldar as having the same historic struggle with Necromancers as Prydaen do.
7) What are their views of other races? Elotheans generally consider themselves superior, as do S'kra. Do they take fondly to one race over another?
8) How important is their system of personal honor and achievement? How is this reflected, culturally?
In my experience you will find that player opinions on much of these run a wide gauntlet of answers. Given the relative sparsity of outlines concerning roleplay, culture, and character influences, many talented players have filled in most of the blanks themselves. I would encourage you to set some definitive answers, even if some of them run contrary to what I have been playing before.
Suggestions:
- I'd like to see a special cultural connection between Kaldar and Gnomes. Obviously I think they should each have their own individual cultures, too, but emphasizing the historic and cultural union between these two races strikes me as a way to distinguish each from other races.
- I'd love to see the ocular feature in future storylines. Maybe some ancient taboos followed some of the kaldar on their exodus?
Thanks for being our champion. Most of all, we've had several promising champions racial champions and no development. Development of any form, please, even if it arrives only in the form of a couple books!
First of all, I just wanna say this:
First Bards, and now Kaldar... Raesh, you are my personal hero. ;)
>>3) Player meetings.
Sounds good. Please please announce the times ahead of time?
>>What makes a Kaldar different than a Human?
I agree essentially with Pureblade's definition (Russian vs. Brazilian), in the sense that they are technically the same species (can interbreed).
However, I think it's really important to remember how drastically different they are in some respects. The most obvious of these is height -- the shortest Kaldar (6'5") is much taller than the tallest Human (6' by Simu's definition). Average Kaldar (7'2") absolutely tower over Humans, and indeed even the slightly taller races (Elves, Elotheans). They're big, and they're strong.
More importantly, the Kaldar bring with them a presence. They have a charisma bonus, and I don't think this is because they have flowery tongues -- rather, they can stare down a superior foe. They project the strength of their personality with absolute force.
Culturally, I tend to see Kaldar as obsessed with personal strength. Life is a test. Surviving in Albaria is a test. Honor is about proving that you and you alone can withstand that test. For this reason, I see them as heavy proponents of combat and survival training for everyone, which is why in earlier posts I mentioned that I see them surviving in tribes where everyone takes on these roles, in addition to gathering/caring roles. Like Ryeka, I do also see them as very much based on Vikings, with a dash of Native American.
>>I think Kaldar like to think of themselves as more noble, disciplined, and generally capable of greater things verses the average Human.
Agreed. Then apply it to all the other races equally. Excepting perhaps the Gnomes, whom they acknowledge have important aspects that they do not.
>>What makes a Kaldar different than a Gorbesh?
Keep in mind that Remembrance was written over 469 years ago (Elder Duveus died in 70 BL). As for current relations, there's been some relatively recent in-fighting -- the Gorbesh declared war on the Kaldar in 208 after a Kaldar assassinated the Emperor. But this seems to have dissipated by 323, when they were working together again against the Ocular.
More importantly, the major difference I can ascertain is that the Kaldar have decided to focus on self-sufficiency and unity with nature, while the Gorbesh are fine with working as a unit (i.e. in a hierarchy) within cities. In other words, the Gorbesh have "gone soft." This is why there's such a major political divide between them.
>>4) What is the Kaldar stance on magic?
I would love to know this. I have been playing under the assumption that a blanket hatred of magic is just a little silly, and that they can certainly produce accomplished mages (particularly warrior mages -- revered as warriors, clerics -- revered as priests, and moon mages -- revered as prophets).
As always, thanks for the questions and listening to the answers.
First Bards, and now Kaldar... Raesh, you are my personal hero. ;)
>>3) Player meetings.
Sounds good. Please please announce the times ahead of time?
>>What makes a Kaldar different than a Human?
I agree essentially with Pureblade's definition (Russian vs. Brazilian), in the sense that they are technically the same species (can interbreed).
However, I think it's really important to remember how drastically different they are in some respects. The most obvious of these is height -- the shortest Kaldar (6'5") is much taller than the tallest Human (6' by Simu's definition). Average Kaldar (7'2") absolutely tower over Humans, and indeed even the slightly taller races (Elves, Elotheans). They're big, and they're strong.
More importantly, the Kaldar bring with them a presence. They have a charisma bonus, and I don't think this is because they have flowery tongues -- rather, they can stare down a superior foe. They project the strength of their personality with absolute force.
Culturally, I tend to see Kaldar as obsessed with personal strength. Life is a test. Surviving in Albaria is a test. Honor is about proving that you and you alone can withstand that test. For this reason, I see them as heavy proponents of combat and survival training for everyone, which is why in earlier posts I mentioned that I see them surviving in tribes where everyone takes on these roles, in addition to gathering/caring roles. Like Ryeka, I do also see them as very much based on Vikings, with a dash of Native American.
>>I think Kaldar like to think of themselves as more noble, disciplined, and generally capable of greater things verses the average Human.
Agreed. Then apply it to all the other races equally. Excepting perhaps the Gnomes, whom they acknowledge have important aspects that they do not.
>>What makes a Kaldar different than a Gorbesh?
Keep in mind that Remembrance was written over 469 years ago (Elder Duveus died in 70 BL). As for current relations, there's been some relatively recent in-fighting -- the Gorbesh declared war on the Kaldar in 208 after a Kaldar assassinated the Emperor. But this seems to have dissipated by 323, when they were working together again against the Ocular.
More importantly, the major difference I can ascertain is that the Kaldar have decided to focus on self-sufficiency and unity with nature, while the Gorbesh are fine with working as a unit (i.e. in a hierarchy) within cities. In other words, the Gorbesh have "gone soft." This is why there's such a major political divide between them.
>>4) What is the Kaldar stance on magic?
I would love to know this. I have been playing under the assumption that a blanket hatred of magic is just a little silly, and that they can certainly produce accomplished mages (particularly warrior mages -- revered as warriors, clerics -- revered as priests, and moon mages -- revered as prophets).
As always, thanks for the questions and listening to the answers.
