J.R.R. Thorald's Blog
July 9, 2017
Power
Power not only corrupts, it also attracts others who seek to have it.
There are other mages out there.
People will want to overthrow an open tyrant. Other mages can use this to their advantage and inspire such a rebellion to take that mage's place.
Mages not just powerful, they are smart too.
In Warcraft III the Frozen Throne (just before the first World of Warcraft) Illidan recruited Broken Draenei into Illidari promising to rid the Outland of Magtheridon and his tyranny. And did at least the first part, becoming new Lord of Outland in the process.
Only later in WoW Illidan was made into a villain. Before he was grey misunderstood character who did many good things like killing Tichondrius to help stop the Legion before the battle for Mount Hyjal or helping Kael'Thas Blood Elves to escape an unjust execution by the racist Alliance commander Garithos. He even saved Tyrande from Scourge while so called 'good' Maev just left her to die. But most of it went unappreciated. Draenei could have also end up like Fel Blood Elves and Naga: one of the staples of new order in Outland. Only in WoW they ended up enslaved.
Hershel in Clash of Mages, much like Illidan in Warcraft also a gray character who uses cunning and wit in addition to his magic skills to obtain what he wants, but does good things too. Just like Illidan or Lelouch in Code Geass it was his tragic past that made him this way.
Illidan assaults Black Citadel that later in WoW became Black Temple
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RreF6...
And the Clash of Mages:
https://www.amazon.com/Exploits-Party...
There are other mages out there.
People will want to overthrow an open tyrant. Other mages can use this to their advantage and inspire such a rebellion to take that mage's place.
Mages not just powerful, they are smart too.
In Warcraft III the Frozen Throne (just before the first World of Warcraft) Illidan recruited Broken Draenei into Illidari promising to rid the Outland of Magtheridon and his tyranny. And did at least the first part, becoming new Lord of Outland in the process.
Only later in WoW Illidan was made into a villain. Before he was grey misunderstood character who did many good things like killing Tichondrius to help stop the Legion before the battle for Mount Hyjal or helping Kael'Thas Blood Elves to escape an unjust execution by the racist Alliance commander Garithos. He even saved Tyrande from Scourge while so called 'good' Maev just left her to die. But most of it went unappreciated. Draenei could have also end up like Fel Blood Elves and Naga: one of the staples of new order in Outland. Only in WoW they ended up enslaved.
Hershel in Clash of Mages, much like Illidan in Warcraft also a gray character who uses cunning and wit in addition to his magic skills to obtain what he wants, but does good things too. Just like Illidan or Lelouch in Code Geass it was his tragic past that made him this way.
Illidan assaults Black Citadel that later in WoW became Black Temple
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RreF6...
And the Clash of Mages:
https://www.amazon.com/Exploits-Party...
Different Points of view in Fantasy
Heroes of Might and Magic IV in particular has several campaigns for different fractions with different characters dedicated to the building of a new life in a new world. World from which they came is also mentioned occasionally, it was destroyed by a cataclysm and the only way to escape death were the portals.
Also in the old very first WarCraft: Orcs and Humans you can play as orcs who just came to Azeroth via the Dark Portal (the same one through which many years later WoW players went into what was left out of orcs' homeworld to fight against Illidan in Outland) to launch an invasion against Stormwind (whch at the time was called Kingdom of Azeroth).
Also in the old very first WarCraft: Orcs and Humans you can play as orcs who just came to Azeroth via the Dark Portal (the same one through which many years later WoW players went into what was left out of orcs' homeworld to fight against Illidan in Outland) to launch an invasion against Stormwind (whch at the time was called Kingdom of Azeroth).
June 28, 2017
Great Fantasy worlds in video games
Well WarCraft (particularly the RTS games that came before WoW) has a story and the world that can rival many fantasy series and there are many books that are written in WarCraft's world and expanding its Lore.
Many of WarCraft's characters fight hard to prevail over their opponents and fate, achieve their ambitions, such as conquering the world or part of it, or otherwise succeed, win. There is a constant tension that heroes about to achieve something huge and dramatic and change the world and their fates in fundamental way. That feeling that victory is possible and just over the horizon.
I guess it is because I am so ambitious and want to succeed big is why I can relate to WarCraft characters so much.
Many of WarCraft's characters fight hard to prevail over their opponents and fate, achieve their ambitions, such as conquering the world or part of it, or otherwise succeed, win. There is a constant tension that heroes about to achieve something huge and dramatic and change the world and their fates in fundamental way. That feeling that victory is possible and just over the horizon.
I guess it is because I am so ambitious and want to succeed big is why I can relate to WarCraft characters so much.
June 6, 2017
What influenced Exploits of a War Party from Seraph'Ithil
Exploits of a War Party from Seraph'Ithil is in many ways a compilation of influences of many other books, video games and anime that I read or played over the course of my life. I though about making the world vast and diverse like in Tolkien's works or World of WarCraft, so that anyone would be able to find something in there that they can love and relate to.
I also though about making it more realistic and believable without making it too gloomy and gritty. Real but likable like in The Witcher, Medieval Total War.
And finally I decided it should be fun and entertaining with lots of battles and likable characters like in Code Geass, Naruto, Fate/Zero or Captain Blood many of the above mentioned titles
I also though about making it more realistic and believable without making it too gloomy and gritty. Real but likable like in The Witcher, Medieval Total War.
And finally I decided it should be fun and entertaining with lots of battles and likable characters like in Code Geass, Naruto, Fate/Zero or Captain Blood many of the above mentioned titles
