games/sports

From: Harald Smith 617 726-2172 (SMITHH@mr.mgh.harvard.edu)
Date: Fri 01 Apr 1994 - 05:35:00 EEST


          Hello everyone--
          
          Although the speculation about national/regional sports has been 
          interesting, I think for a 'Bronze Age' flavored world most such 
          sports are extremely unlikely.
          
          Since most of the world's population does not live in cities, but 
          in small villages, you are unlikely to have enough people to play 
          sports that require large teams.  Most games such as soccer or 
          baseball are urban developments of the early modern to modern 
          world.  Far more likely in the villages are wrestling matches 
          (certainly popular in my development of Imther and also IMO in 
          any Orlanthi based culture) or games involving a limited number 
          of teens or young adults utilizing the cultural weapons be they 
          javelins, spears, bows, etc.  And in the nomadic areas where most 
          people spend their time looking after the herds or hunting (just 
          surviving day-to-day), you are unlikely to have any sports except 
          at major tribal gatherings (again picturing games or competitions 
          which emphasize the cultural weapons or skills).
          
          Instead of transposing earth games, I think we should be starting 
          with the local village/tribal cultures and work up, developing 
          unique Gloranthan games like Shield Push.  The games is towns and 
          cities are most likely then enhancements, enlargements, or 
          formalizations of the old village/tribal games.
          
          --Harald Smith



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