Taranaich
02-03-2008, 22:10
Aquilonia. Nemedia. Koth. Argos. Zingara. Corinthia. Ophir. Brythunia. Hyperborea. The Border Kingdom. The Picts. The Cimmerians. The Æsir. The Vanir. Turan. The Hyrkanians. Ghulistan. Vendhya. Kosala. Iranistan. Pelishtia. The Zuagir. Khitai. Stygia. Zamora. Kush. Tombalku. Keshan. Zembabwei.
One place remains. Which nation shall join the great bloody brawl that is the Hyborian Age?
I'm still unsure how best to approach the final faction (and it's a long way off before I can even think of implementing it) but I thought it would be good to open it up to the community to see if there are any ideas, and also a small poll to see if there's any strong feeling for any of the faction choices.
The Choices Are:
Khauran. A proud kingdom on the far eastern border of Koth, Khauran is right in the firing lines of Turan. Although Queen Taramis has held Yezdigerd at bay with tribute and canny politics, eventually the small kingdom will have to face the might of Turan's army. Caught between the juggernauts of Koth and Turan, Zamora to the north and the Zuagir to the south, Khauran's situation looks bleak. However, a fortified position on the Kothian Escarpment gives them a great defense against attack.
Pros: A very challenging game.
Cons: Khauran may already have been conquered by Turan by the time of Conan's reign, and the Turanian threat may be too powerful for a fun game. Not a particularly exiting unit list.
Khoraja. Another of the smaller nations to splinter from Koth, Khoraja occupies a very important site: Shamla Pass. This is a break on the vast Kothian Escarpment which rises sharply from the desert, forming great mile-high cliffs that stretch horizon to horizon. Kothic adventurers took this strategic point from Shemite tribes, and broke away from Koth to form their own realm. Like its sister nation Khauran, Khoraja is caught between larger nations: in Khoraja's case, Koth and Pelishtia, though the spectre of Stygia is ever present. Its position on the Escarpment offers natural fortification, and Shamla Pass is an important trade route between south and north, so Khoraja is a rich and important little kingdom.
Pros: A challenging game.
Cons: It might be a bit too small to survive on its own. Not a particularly exciting unit list.
The Kozaks. A new people born on the eastern steppes formed of mercenaries, outlaws, brigands and the indigenous tribes, the Kozaks have been a menace to civilized nations since their formation some 50 years ago. Utilizing a hit-and-run style of warfare reminiscent of their Turanian enemies, the Kozaks live in the saddle, rarely settling except in one of their hidden camps. There are two major Kozak groups: the Zaporoskans and the Illbars, named for the rivers they control, though smaller groups doubtlessly exist.
Pros: Unique Kozak units, challenging game.
Cons: Might not actually exist in Conan's time since Turan's expansion; if they do, then it'll be a challenge simply surviving.
Minor Contenders:
Punt. A land of riches, the people of Punt wash gold from their rivers in wicker baskets, and worship an ivory woman. Unfortunately these riches make Punt a target for their neighbours Keshan and Zembabwei, to the point where they conspired to join forces to plunder the nation. This is all the Nemedian Chronicles tell us of Punt, so anything else would be conjecture based on what is known of their neighbours and possible descendants.
Pros: Liven up the Black Kingdoms!
Cons: next to nothing known about them.
Atlaia. Nothing is known of the mysterious nation of Atlaia save its name, so everything would be conjecture.
Pros: Liven up Black Kingdoms!
Cons: next to nothing known about them.
Amazon. Like Atlaia, only the name of Amazon is known, but the obvious connotations of later Amazonian myth would allow for an... ahem... interesting unit list.
Pros: A matriarchal/gynocentric faction would certainly be interesting. Lots of cool units. Aaaaand... Liven up Black Kingdoms!
Cons: next to nothing known about them.
Darfar. Darfar seems to be a wilderness rather than a Kingdom proper, but the filed-toothed cannibals with kinky haircuts would be interesting.
Pros: Liven up Black Kingdoms!
Cons: Probably not a "real" kingdom, so another kingdom would be more deserving.
If anyone can think of another faction, or a particular reason for one of these that I haven't said, then by all means suggest them.:2thumbsup:
One place remains. Which nation shall join the great bloody brawl that is the Hyborian Age?
I'm still unsure how best to approach the final faction (and it's a long way off before I can even think of implementing it) but I thought it would be good to open it up to the community to see if there are any ideas, and also a small poll to see if there's any strong feeling for any of the faction choices.
The Choices Are:
Khauran. A proud kingdom on the far eastern border of Koth, Khauran is right in the firing lines of Turan. Although Queen Taramis has held Yezdigerd at bay with tribute and canny politics, eventually the small kingdom will have to face the might of Turan's army. Caught between the juggernauts of Koth and Turan, Zamora to the north and the Zuagir to the south, Khauran's situation looks bleak. However, a fortified position on the Kothian Escarpment gives them a great defense against attack.
Pros: A very challenging game.
Cons: Khauran may already have been conquered by Turan by the time of Conan's reign, and the Turanian threat may be too powerful for a fun game. Not a particularly exiting unit list.
Khoraja. Another of the smaller nations to splinter from Koth, Khoraja occupies a very important site: Shamla Pass. This is a break on the vast Kothian Escarpment which rises sharply from the desert, forming great mile-high cliffs that stretch horizon to horizon. Kothic adventurers took this strategic point from Shemite tribes, and broke away from Koth to form their own realm. Like its sister nation Khauran, Khoraja is caught between larger nations: in Khoraja's case, Koth and Pelishtia, though the spectre of Stygia is ever present. Its position on the Escarpment offers natural fortification, and Shamla Pass is an important trade route between south and north, so Khoraja is a rich and important little kingdom.
Pros: A challenging game.
Cons: It might be a bit too small to survive on its own. Not a particularly exciting unit list.
The Kozaks. A new people born on the eastern steppes formed of mercenaries, outlaws, brigands and the indigenous tribes, the Kozaks have been a menace to civilized nations since their formation some 50 years ago. Utilizing a hit-and-run style of warfare reminiscent of their Turanian enemies, the Kozaks live in the saddle, rarely settling except in one of their hidden camps. There are two major Kozak groups: the Zaporoskans and the Illbars, named for the rivers they control, though smaller groups doubtlessly exist.
Pros: Unique Kozak units, challenging game.
Cons: Might not actually exist in Conan's time since Turan's expansion; if they do, then it'll be a challenge simply surviving.
Minor Contenders:
Punt. A land of riches, the people of Punt wash gold from their rivers in wicker baskets, and worship an ivory woman. Unfortunately these riches make Punt a target for their neighbours Keshan and Zembabwei, to the point where they conspired to join forces to plunder the nation. This is all the Nemedian Chronicles tell us of Punt, so anything else would be conjecture based on what is known of their neighbours and possible descendants.
Pros: Liven up the Black Kingdoms!
Cons: next to nothing known about them.
Atlaia. Nothing is known of the mysterious nation of Atlaia save its name, so everything would be conjecture.
Pros: Liven up Black Kingdoms!
Cons: next to nothing known about them.
Amazon. Like Atlaia, only the name of Amazon is known, but the obvious connotations of later Amazonian myth would allow for an... ahem... interesting unit list.
Pros: A matriarchal/gynocentric faction would certainly be interesting. Lots of cool units. Aaaaand... Liven up Black Kingdoms!
Cons: next to nothing known about them.
Darfar. Darfar seems to be a wilderness rather than a Kingdom proper, but the filed-toothed cannibals with kinky haircuts would be interesting.
Pros: Liven up Black Kingdoms!
Cons: Probably not a "real" kingdom, so another kingdom would be more deserving.
If anyone can think of another faction, or a particular reason for one of these that I haven't said, then by all means suggest them.:2thumbsup: