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Usurp

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2008

The burbs of Atlanta

13 Mar 2008 at 19:22 - 1

So...I have a question. If this has already been discussed...please send me a link.

Obviously the last two campaigns have a connection to real-world cultures:
Factions = Asian (China = Cantha)
Nightfall = African (Elona = Egypt)

Based on the appearance of the characters and the geography, I would assert the Prophecies has a western European motif. However, the name Tyria does not follow suit with the others (ie. Cantha & China with "c" and Elona and Egypt with "e"). The closest that I have come is Tyria = The UK...but this doesn't work well because the geography lends itself to a larger region of sorts.

Anyone have any ideas or input?

Natures Spirt

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Dec 2007

Canada

Symbol of Pain

Mo/E

13 Mar 2008 at 20:34 - 2

i would say Tyria might have been based on Turkey

Usurp

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2008

The burbs of Atlanta

13 Mar 2008 at 20:45 - 3

Mmmm Turkey...that is a delicious possibility.

Sirius-NZ

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2007

Bellevue, WA (I know ... but I moved out of NZ)

Xen of Onslaught

D/

14 Mar 2008 at 04:40 - 4

I don't think there was any alliterative effect here - purely coincidence. After all, Cantha is based on a generic Asian/Oriental motif from the names and designs - not just Chinese but Japanese and to some extent Korean as well.

Furthermore, Elona has touches not just of Egypt but tribal Africa, and the Middle East (Arabs etc).

mazey vorstagg

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2006

Nodnol

Meeting of Lost Minds

E/Mo

14 Mar 2008 at 06:24 - 5

I'd say it's all split up. Most of Elona is african in style, but it's not all just Egypt. There's influences from many different african countries there.

Likewise, Shing Jea is like a chinese monestery whereas I'd say Keineng is more japenese in style. The luxons are nomadic, not chinese or japanese but something more like mongols perhaps. And the Kurzicks building's are german in style.

So in Tyria. Ascalon is really western in style, medieval western buildings. The dwarfs build like Scandanavians. Kryta is like quite turkish, or possibly roman (in a more industial way, not fancy, but aimed at practicality). The desert has hints of Egyptian ruins in it, and the jungle is purely fantasy I'd say. Nothing looks like the buildings the druid's built.

So I guess it's a bit like
Elona = Africa
Cantha = Asia
Tyria = Europe

beregond

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2007

Paladins of Eternal Truth[POET]

W/Mo

14 Mar 2008 at 15:23 - 6

Yeah, that's basically what it is...

Tyria = Europe
Cantha = Asia
Elona = Africa

RiKio

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2007

Plato's Cave

W/E

14 Mar 2008 at 15:37 - 7

I agree.

Tyria= Asia
Cantha: Africa
Elona: Europe.

So, in which part of teh wuorld is based GWEN?

Usurp

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2008

The burbs of Atlanta

14 Mar 2008 at 16:17 - 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiKio

I agree.

Tyria= Asia
Cantha: Africa
Elona: Europe.

So, in which part of teh wuorld is based GWEN?

Ummm...proof check on this guy.

I definitely see that:
Tyria = Europe
Cantha = Asia
Elona = Africa

As for GWEN...maybe Siberia or some other northern European region.

Kattar

EXCESSIVE FLUTTERCUSSING

Join Date: Mar 2007

SMS (lolgw2placeholder)

Me/

14 Mar 2008 at 16:39 - 9

Quote:

Originally Posted by Usurp

As for GWEN...maybe Siberia or some other northern European region.

Nah, not all of it is that far north. It just extends on the European theme that Tyria has. More or less.

Serenitysong

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Mar 2008

Clandestiny of Solitude [LaZy]

E/

14 Mar 2008 at 18:13 - 10

I've associated GWEN with a Scandinavian theme.

beregond

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2007

Paladins of Eternal Truth[POET]

W/Mo

14 Mar 2008 at 19:56 - 11

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiKio

I agree.

Tyria= Asia
Cantha: Africa
Elona: Europe.

uhhhh.......

Eldin

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

America. How about you, commie?

Fellows of Mythgar [FOM]

R/Mo

14 Mar 2008 at 21:54 - 12

Tyria Asian? OH GOD NO!!!

Anyway, what I think:

Tyria
Ascalon is real medievalness. For sure. Kryta has the monarchy and whatnot of a medieval European location, but the structures are different. I'd say the Deldrimor Dwarves follow sort of a Russian setup, at least in climate and the Prophecies voice actors. Some of the more-realistic names for Deldrimor sound sort of Russian too.

Cantha
All Asian. I think the nomenclature is more Chinese than Korean/Japanese.

Elona
Istan is sort of Egyptian, Kourna I'm not sure (probably something generic), Vabbi is definitely middle east.

DarkFlame

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Feb 2005

Ascalon

E/

15 Mar 2008 at 03:59 - 13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Usurp

However, the name Tyria does not follow suit with the others (ie. Cantha & China with "c" and Elona and Egypt with "e"). The closest that I have come is Tyria = The UK...but this doesn't work well because the geography lends itself to a larger region of sorts.

Anyone have any ideas or input?

I think you are just reading too much into the names. Just because Cantha and Elona are spelled with a "C" and "E" doesn't mean anything. And remember, Elona was named long before NF.

draxynnic

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Nov 2005

[CRFH]

16 Mar 2008 at 10:26 - 14

I tend to think of the Luxons as being Greek, myself.

Eldin

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

America. How about you, commie?

Fellows of Mythgar [FOM]

R/Mo

16 Mar 2008 at 16:00 - 15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Usurp

However, the name Tyria does not follow suit with the others (ie. Cantha & China with "c" and Elona and Egypt with "e"). The closest that I have come is Tyria = The UK...but this doesn't work well because the geography lends itself to a larger region of sorts.

1) Tyria is not supposed to follow suit with the other names. THE OTHER NAMES ARE SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW SUIT WITH TYRIA! Remember, it came first.

2) Cantha and Elona (the names at least) both existed back in Prophecies, so it wasn't an oversight later on. Numerous Krytan NPCs, the Guild Hall NPC, Jiaju Tai, and Xunlai Agents talk about Cantha and its trade relations with Kryta. Most ghosts in the Crystal Desert were from Elona, and speak of it, and there is even a mission named after Elona.

3) A reminder that Tyria is the name of not only the continent, but also the world (kinda like Blizzard with Azeroth the WC1 kingdom and Azeroth the world, though I think in WoW they renamed the kingdom Stormwind. WHAT THE HELL?).

silfo

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2007

[Pie]

Rt/

16 Mar 2008 at 16:51 - 16

The Asuran GWEN part is inspired by mayan and other south american cultures, i believe.

Fangclaw

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2008

Maguuma Jungle / Tarnished Coast

R/

22 Mar 2008 at 23:40 - 17

That is true...

and what about Orr? Anyone that has been in Shards of Orr can give us some feedback?

Thats probably the only place in Tyria (world) with Orrian architecture of some sort. Im pretty sure it looks like Greek architecture (City of the gods = Olympus).

Shadowmere

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2007

The Grim Squeakers [REAP]

N/

23 Mar 2008 at 00:03 - 18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fangclaw

That is true...

and what about Orr? Anyone that has been in Shards of Orr can give us some feedback?

Thats probably the only place in Tyria (world) with Orrian architecture of some sort. Im pretty sure it looks like Greek architecture (City of the gods = Olympus).

Well their archetecture is anyone's guess really, however if Vhizer is a good example of what a "typical" orrian person was then the people of Orr were very arabic/mid-eastern in nature.

Fangclaw

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2008

Maguuma Jungle / Tarnished Coast

R/

23 Mar 2008 at 00:05 - 19

That is possible, but must I recall who (or what) The Vizier really was? Not a very trustworthy source of information there...

That thing was a professional liar.

And what about The Charr Homelands anyway?

silfo

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2007

[Pie]

Rt/

23 Mar 2008 at 01:32 - 20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fangclaw

That is possible, but must I recall who (or what) The Vizier really was? Not a very trustworthy source of information there...

That thing was a professional liar.

And what about The Charr Homelands anyway?

sherwood forest with oversized dogs/cats? ionno

Konig Des Todes

Ooo, pretty flower

Join Date: Jan 2008

Citadel of the Decayed

The Archivists' Sanctum [Lore]

N/

23 Mar 2008 at 06:36 - 21

The charr are cat-creatures. And many people have thought that the Charr's homeland/personalities are based off of Americans, which I would have to disagree with personally.

That Iron Maiden

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Oct 2007

Cynn Was A Maiden Untill We [Came]

D/

23 Mar 2008 at 12:29 - 22

The way i see it...
If we go throughout all the regions...

Tyria

Ascalon: Yeah, some kind of Medieval Great Britain thing
Southern and Northern Shiverpeaks: Russia in my opinion for the accents or maybe Swizerland
Kryta: The people seem kinda Spanish or French, but it looks like... I dunno the landscape looks kinda Irish eccept for all the palms which make it tropical.
Maguuma: Yes, in my view total fatasy.
Crystal Desert: Of course an introduction into Elona
Ring of Fire: Fantasy doh
Orr: The fact that it was sunken reminds me of Atlantis, but Greek it does look.

Cantha

Shing Jea: Tibet no doubt
Kaineng: I would say Beijing (china capital)
Echowald: German gothic forest, but I don't see how that fits in Asia
Jade Sea: Chinese shore? lol

Elona

Istan: Egypt definetly, with some influences of maybe Mesopotamia
Kourna: Tribal Arfica with savannahs and all that
Vabbi: Turkey, Middle East, no doubt. With also some influences of Mesopotamia.
Desolation: well yeah xD

EotN Regions:

Far Shiverpeaks: No doubt scandinavia, you can smell it by a mile cuz of the old Norse and Swedish names.
Charr Homelands: again: well yeah
Tarnished Coast: Mesoamerica, Mayans, Aztecs, all that.

It's how I figure it. Please comment.

Fangclaw

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2008

Maguuma Jungle / Tarnished Coast

R/

23 Mar 2008 at 16:03 - 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azazel The Assassin

The charr are cat-creatures. And many people have thought that the Charr's homeland/personalities are based off of Americans, which I would have to disagree with personally.

Whats the similarity between Americans and Charr? I cant find much things they have in common, besides being blinded and brainwashed by crazy, savage and war-hungry leaders.

No seriously, anyone has an answer for that?

Shadow Kurd

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2006

Netherlands

Scouts of Tyria

P/

23 Mar 2008 at 16:53 - 24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fangclaw

Whats the similarity between Americans and Charr? I cant find much things they have in common, besides being blinded and brainwashed by crazy, savage and war-hungry leaders.

No seriously, anyone has an answer for that?

Lol, now thats something to think about seriously

Gmr Leon

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2006

23 Mar 2008 at 18:32 - 25

From my observations of the Charr, I theorized that they had Aztec influences, what with the sacrifice of people for their Gods, the Titans and their small temples. Temples being like the one you see that they use to cast the Searing. Their clothing definitely fits, in my opinion. To sum it all up though, they're a mixture of Aztec, or were before shedding their Gods, and Mongols. Think about it, Ascalon has a Great Wall, the Charr invade from the Northlands.

Asura definitely have a basis in Mesoamerican culture, but I'd lean more towards Mayan than Aztec as they're not particularly warlike.

I've actually looked at the Orrian Undead and the Vizier, and to be honest with the positioning of the Orrian peninsula in relation to Elona and Tyria I'd imagine it would have a Spanish (Spain) type of culture. Keep in mind that Spain's history contains a mixture of Saracens and Romans, making for a very different type of place.

Saracens being northern Africa, mind you. Plus, and this is solely subjective, I've found the Vizier's voice to have what I think of as a Spanish accent.

Jade Sea and the Luxons are almost certainly based off of Greece and the outlying islands in the Aegean Sea such as Crete and way too many others.

Far Shiverpeaks, definitely Scandinavia, though I'd describe it more as Norse and Celtic, Celtic only in the woad and the criss-crossing artstyle that is prevalent.

Oh and the Egyptian-style architecture in the Crystal Desert and Desolation is Forgotten architecture.

Konig Des Todes

Ooo, pretty flower

Join Date: Jan 2008

Citadel of the Decayed

The Archivists' Sanctum [Lore]

N/

23 Mar 2008 at 19:46 - 26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fangclaw

Whats the similarity between Americans and Charr? I cant find much things they have in common, besides being blinded and brainwashed by crazy, savage and war-hungry leaders.

No seriously, anyone has an answer for that?

Thats just what people say, which is said mainly because they are war-hungry and, well yeah, brainwashed. Personally, with their social system and nothing else, I think they are like russia. Before GW its pre-russian revolution. During GW, its during the revolution *charr like pyre are starting to revolt* and the revolt ends in EotN. Then it is kinda like soviet russia after the revolt. I got this mainly because it has always been in chaos according to the ecology of the charr along with the way the revolt went; also after the revolt, pyre makes the charr atheists like how the soviet russians were. But I don't think anyone at all will agree with that far-out idea anyways

.

As for Orr, I think that the names of bosses are arabic, so I think that Orr was just overall an Arabic culture. And the Desolation seems to be like a ruined Egypt, the ancient armor makes that clear to me, along with the undead that are there. The Crystal Desert does have some hints of egyptian culture, which makes sense seeing that the Desolation and the Crystal Desert are the same desert, just 2 halves.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GmrLeon

From my observations of the Charr, I theorized that they had Aztec influences, what with the sacrifice of people for their Gods, the Titans and their small temples. Temples being like the one you see that they use to cast the Searing. Their clothing definitely fits, in my opinion. To sum it all up though, they're a mixture of Aztec, or were before shedding their Gods, and Mongols. Think about it, Ascalon has a Great Wall, the Charr invade from the Northlands.

Charr have living sacrifices to the Titans? uh, source?

Gmr Leon

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2006

23 Mar 2008 at 19:58 - 27

Althea. The quest from Piken Square. They burned her alive as a sacrifice in the Flame Temple Corridor.

Konig Des Todes

Ooo, pretty flower

Join Date: Jan 2008

Citadel of the Decayed

The Archivists' Sanctum [Lore]

N/

23 Mar 2008 at 21:06 - 28

Ah, right. Been so long since I did that quest that I forgot about it.

Zamorakk

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2007

Team of the North

W/

29 Mar 2008 at 08:34 - 29

And what about the Kurzick/Luxon Area? I personally think not the landscape but just the rest of the Kurzicks is a little bit German

Like Kommandant

Konig Des Todes

Ooo, pretty flower

Join Date: Jan 2008

Citadel of the Decayed

The Archivists' Sanctum [Lore]

N/

29 Mar 2008 at 10:05 - 30

When looking at concept art for the kurzick warriors, I think right to the Samurai. But the buildings are defiantly Gothic in style.