I think one of the things that has always stuck with me about
Glorantha, even as I struggle with its implications, is that it is
not a simulation of some era of Earth, but instead, as Greg said, is
accessed through descriptions of analogs, although they are not
etirely accurate.
"Bronze" is not really bronze as real world bronze is copper and
tin. It is mined from the bones of dead gods, and its properties as
far as strength, flexibility and weight are in someways comparable to
terristrial bronze, and in other ways totally different. The
cultural developments, the physics, everything is different.
And so too I imagine with ships. Further, with magic and the gods,
etc. mucking about, the world will be full of things seemingly
anachronistic, but are just the way they are in Glorantha (such as
flintlocks and bronze age cuirasses). It all works, as long as you
play with the spirit of fun and "realism" that makes the world work
for you.
No one should have galleons shoved down their throa, but, on the
other hand, no one should feel shamed out of them if they work in
their Glorantha. Frankly, like everythinging in this detailed and
elaborate world, it sometimes feels more like a PhD project in a
combined major of history/anthropology/political science and
comparative religion than a game, and it sometimes is hard to know
enough about the difference between a trireme, a dhow, a junk and a
galleon to do anything much convincing or reality based in ocean
going campaigns. Speaking for myself, I am pretty much stuck with
what I know from having seen several Sinbad movies, a slew of pirate
movies with Errol Flynn et al, and the ocean battle in Ben Hur. Not
exactly graduate seminar background. And then the world oceans in
Glorantha just are not like the oceans that faced our best know
bronze and early iron age analogs (Greeks, Egyptians, Phoneacians,
Romas, Cathagenians etc.) No protected Middle Sea for Glorantha, but
the coasts and then the vast expanse between continents or among the
islands.
So, hopefully with help, and not too mch reproof we can muddle along
an create some mutually acceptable visions of the ocean going
material cultures of Glorantha.
- In WorldofGlorantha_at_yahoogroups.com, Greg Stafford <Greg@...>
wrote:
>
> YGWV
>
> valkoharja wrote:
>
> > Personally I'm exasperated by the anachronisms in some parts of
> > published glorantha, where triremes are found side by side with
> > medieval sailing craft and even things approaching the pirate era
> > galleons.
>
> I've never seen pirate era galleons, myself.
>
> One thing to remember is that the anachronisms are because this
isn't
> earth, and when I (and I cannot speak for others) wanted to
describe a
> ship I often used a shorthand --i.e. described a terrestrial
analogue.
>
> > I love the idea that sailing ships in Glorantha are bronze age /
early
> > iron age in style and inspiration. Biremes and Triremes are much
more
> > atmospheric, that having Glorantha be just another fantasy
setting
> > where large, late era, sailing vessels rule the waves.
>
> May of the deepwater ships even o the early Greek era wee not
really
> that different from medieval ships. Sure, add a forecastle or
something,
> but they are either fat tubs for the deep and cargo carrying, or
sleep
> oar-driven things for war. And let us not forget that he Viking
ships
> were pretty poor when at sea in a storm.
>
> --GS
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
Received on Sun 16 Sep 2007 - 15:04:54 EEST