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Post by Finarvyn on Sept 30, 2014 3:50:35 GMT -6
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Post by tkdco2 on Sept 30, 2014 15:23:01 GMT -6
Thanks for posting these. I had started those boards in DF. Sorry about the confusion about the OD&D boards. I meant the OD&D section of the DF boards, since I wasn't a member here at the time. I edited the post to clarify where it originally was. I'll probably put any new thoughts on Carcosa here rather than in the DF boards.
I have posted some of the topics here, such as the writing and money. I decided not to continue with the Torturers/Executioners idea, since it may violate copyright without significant changes, and I couldn't find a way to change the class without making it a ninja or assassin variant. I had thought of making the guild kind of law enforcement group, but it just didn't sound like a good fit for Carcosa.
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Post by Malcadon on Oct 4, 2014 19:59:19 GMT -6
When it comes to money in Carcosa (or any other fantasy setting), I like to use the barter system, with coins used by those who have to travel lightly. I also like the idea that money is warn instead of being thrown in a wallet, as a display of wealth and power. Imagine people - both men and women - walking around with coins attached to their outfits like they where belly-dancers or wealthy Sultans.  |
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Post by burningtorso on Oct 5, 2014 3:15:48 GMT -6
Funny you mention that. When I was adding possible cultural body modifications for my campaign, I threw in one where they attach coins via piercings.
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Post by Merctime on Oct 5, 2014 8:51:00 GMT -6
That chic that Malcadon posted can dance on my belly anytime! (hehe, sorry... I couldn't resist  ) For Carcosan writing, how about a group of people who's writing involves burning the dried and cured carapaces of large beetles with heated sticks, producing melty-looking holes in the shape of their letters and symbols? They then take each 'sheet' of carapace and tie them with little rings of rope at the top or sides to make a very stiff book kind of thing. Kind of weird, I know; But then again, so is Carcosa! |
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mannclay
Level 4 Theurgist
...you know what you are not, what you are you cannot know... - insane sorcerer
Posts: 116 
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Post by mannclay on Oct 5, 2014 9:10:26 GMT -6
That chic that Malcadon posted can dance on my belly anytime! (hehe, sorry... I couldn't resist ) Glad you did...i'm sure you are speaking for many of us  |
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Post by Malcadon on Oct 5, 2014 23:33:19 GMT -6
Oh, and for written language... I do not use any "standard" or "common" languages. Instead, I treat language, regardless of type, as a reaction roll that specifies the degree at which one might know a language of a newly encounterd person or people (as noted here - 3rd entry). Figuring out new text is handled no differently. I just assume languages in that setting are mostly simple and easier to figure out than the more developed languages on Earth. If I need to create a game prop or flashcard marked with writing on them, there are a number of sites that this showcases old or made-up symbols and lettering which I would steal with impunity. The knot-like writing of the Codex Seraphinianus and the more intricate writing of Tsolyáni (from Tékumel) are all fair game to me (plus, they are so fun to write, even if I have no idea what I'm writing). |
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Post by tkdco2 on Oct 6, 2014 0:05:38 GMT -6
The Talislanta rpg also had a couple of scripts that can be used for writing. I imagine the general population would be largely illiterate, but exceptional individuals would exist.
Instead of racial languages, how about regional languages? So a Blue Man villager may be able to converse with a Brown Man from a neighboring village, but not with another Blue Man whose home is a hundred miles away.
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Post by Malcadon on Oct 6, 2014 5:45:29 GMT -6
I imagine the general population would be largely illiterate, but exceptional individuals would exist. Or rudimentary literacy that relates to symbols that note common objects as a form of phonetic letting. That is, to apply it to English, a simple outline of a house or hut could be used for "H", while a crude stick-figure cow could be used for "C". As crude as that sounds, familiarity with the name of each objects would allow someone to quickly form words and sentences for what is otherwise a string of random objects. Thus, allowing anyone to learn and use. |
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Post by burningtorso on Oct 6, 2014 14:31:44 GMT -6
The Talislanta rpg also had a couple of scripts that can be used for writing. I imagine the general population would be largely illiterate, but exceptional individuals would exist. Instead of racial languages, how about regional languages? So a Blue Man villager may be able to converse with a Brown Man from a neighboring village, but not with another Blue Man whose home is a hundred miles away. As isolated as the villagers get on Carcosa, a regional language makes sense. Maybe have a language evolution flow chart and allow a penalty for a similar but different regional tongue. The language flow chart to determine which languages are related to others. Could easily get complicated but could be fun with the right group of players. |
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Post by burningtorso on Oct 6, 2014 18:03:23 GMT -6
I am now pondering how I can incorporate this idea into my settlement generator program without it becoming a huge mess...doh!
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Post by foxroe on Oct 13, 2014 10:49:18 GMT -6
Some language ideas:
- Locutions of the Collective Voice (common tongue among most men)
- Sigils of the Serpent-men (written language of the snake men; common in older sorcerous tomes and ancient writings)
- Gray-speak (language of the Space Aliens)
- Structures of Cogency (a language of science developed by the Space Aliens; also the basis for AI programming - can be used to communicate with robots)
- Bone-signs (a dactylogical language of gestures and motions developed by the ostracized Bone Men)
- Deep Tongue (language of the Deep Ones)*
- Tones of Those Before Time (the pipings of the Primordial Ones)*
- The Continuum of Concordant Understanding (language of the Great Race)*
- Susurrations of Winged-Ones (simplistic language of the Mi-Go)*
- The Yellow Tongue (spoken by devotees of He Who Should Not Be Named; based on the spoken portion of the language of the B'yakhee)
* Note that the tongues of the Primary Spawn can only be understandable by humans, and normally not spoken by them.
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otiv
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 133
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Post by otiv on Oct 13, 2014 11:16:07 GMT -6
Mind if I throw some of my own ideas in here?
Common;
There is no common language spoken by all men in Carcosa. Instead, each group of players must talk to each other and agree on one language common to their characters. There is a 1 in 6 chance that any group of men they encounter will also speak this language or some variant.
Sword-Speak;
This is the secret language of barbarian tribes. This language is not spoken, but instead uses a system similar to semaphore signals. This language allows the barbarians to communicate silently and across great distances by holding a weapon in each hand and assuming various stances. Each silhouette corresponds to a sound or a number. Somewhere beyond the main campaign map is a company of deaf/mute mercenaries that communicates exclusively through this language.
Honey-Speak;
Some villages use tastes and smells produced by insects or plants in order to communicate ideas that cannot be discussed openly. Smells can be used to offer or request sex acts, to gossip, to threaten with violence, or even to plot a coup against the village leader.
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Post by tkdco2 on Oct 20, 2014 17:51:58 GMT -6
The Dolm HeadIn a barren plain (DM's choice of location) is a column carved from a single stone of black obssidian. The column is 8 feet high and 2 feet in diameter. At the top of the column is a sculpture of a head made from a dolm-colored metal. Any human of the dolm race who sits within a foot of the column at dusk and stares at the face for 3 hours will gain an extra psionic ability (DM's choice) the following day. This also works for characters without psionics. The psionic ability will only be available for the following day; the ability will be lost after that, whether or not it was used. A character may not use the Dolm Head again for another decade. Only Dolm Men may use this artifact; all others who attempt to use it take 1 die of damage. Here's a photo, apologies for the poor quality: www.dropbox.com/s/fx4qleoiy25ajvp/dolm%20head%20-%20Copy.JPG?dl=0
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Post by kesher on Oct 22, 2014 6:50:56 GMT -6
There is simply a mess of awesomeness being generated in this thread!
In no particular order,
Structures of Cogency
Wearing coins as a status symbol
Melting patterns of holes through giant beetle carapaces as a writing system
Bone Signs
Dolm Head. Actually, the whole idea of scattered artifacts or items keyed to specific Man-Colors...
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Post by tkdco2 on Oct 22, 2014 14:39:05 GMT -6
By the way, can you guys see the photo? I've had trouble sharing photos with Dropbox before.
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Post by tkdco2 on Oct 22, 2014 15:25:40 GMT -6
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Post by kesher on Oct 23, 2014 10:07:40 GMT -6
tkdco2, yup, I could see the photo. And somehow the blurriness made it that much more Carcosan...
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Post by foxroe on Oct 24, 2014 11:23:54 GMT -6
By the way, can you guys see the photo? I've had trouble sharing photos with Dropbox before. Yes, and very cool encounter idea. Is that a miniature you whipped up for the idea, or is it an oddity that inspired you? |
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Post by tkdco2 on Oct 24, 2014 15:32:42 GMT -6
By the way, can you guys see the photo? I've had trouble sharing photos with Dropbox before. Yes, and very cool encounter idea. Is that a miniature you whipped up for the idea, or is it an oddity that inspired you? Thanks. The head was a leftover from this kit. The column was made from a cork from a wine bottle. The "dolm" color is a purple tint I made with fluorescent pink and light blue, with silver undertones and a fluorescent white finish. I was planning to take a clearer photo of the miniature, but it has mysteriously disappeared. I think Nyarlathotep stole it. He seemed a little envious of the figure. I still have a couple of hands left over. I've been thinking of doing something based on one of Rodin's hand sculptures. |
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Post by foxroe on Oct 24, 2014 20:33:41 GMT -6
Wow, cool kit. I think I'm going to get a couple of those for my nephews for Christmas! |
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Post by tkdco2 on Oct 24, 2014 20:52:16 GMT -6
Yeah. One thing I noticed is that the heads and hands are a bit hard to attach to the body. Attach before painting, or you can mess up the paint job. Also, get a good primer so that the paint will stick better to the miniature.
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