David Haller |
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That depends on what you mean by "Spain" - which period?
Taldor is decidedly NOT Britain - its the generic decadent, opulent fading Empire - so it COULD be Spain post-Age of Exploration (it could also be Byzantium, easily).
Cheliax has quite a bit of the feel of Inquisitorial Spain, with the Hellknights and the rigid, legalistic system of oppression.
Overall, though, with its demented, inbred royalty, dreams of former glory, nobility stalled in a state of decaying splendor, AND menaced by "arabesque" foes (Qadira), I think Taldor is the most perfect "Spain".
IceniQueen |
This is per James Jacob on another thread that talks about Taldor
- To me, Cheliax seems to be a closer fit to ancient Italy. Taldor (and to a lesser extent Molthune and Nirmathas) feel like the best Britian stand-ins... both due to Taldor's world exploration element and due to the fact that there's lots of Robin Hood type stuff going on in Nirmathas.
QUOTE HERE CLOSEST THING TO GREAT BRITAIN ON GOLARION?
Charlie Bell RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2013 Top 16 |
3.5 Loyalist |
Taldor is inspired by Byzantium in part, the developers said it themselves. Course your post above makes me think there is disagreement. I've read a little on Byzantium, and it surely has that flavour. Even in some of its rivals and enemies: Islamic/Arab horsemen next door, threatening to take it over, a huge sultanate on the horizon, a great looming threat to the decadent empire which once shaped the world. Its time has past but it will last for some time yet.
Agreeing with Gorb again, g+# d!#n it!
The falcata is pre-Roman Iberian, not Spanish. Spain at its decadent height more loved the straight swords, the kopis which is very similar is old Greek.
Bucklers? Lot of folk used bucklers.
Quandary |
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Cheliax kind of seems like Inquisition Spain combined with Fascist Italy and Imperial France (colonies/expansionism).
It's neighbors Nidal could be compared to Basques, given their obscure millenia-old origins.
Taldor is kind of like Royal France in a late decline Byzantium scenario.
Galt seems to be a shoot-off of Taldan culture, and is clearly French-Revolution-gone-bad in style.
Charlie Bell RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2013 Top 16 |
David Haller |
Varisia could work as Spain pre-Reconquista.
I tend to think of Varisia as more akin to the Balkans, plus maybe Romania and environs, because of the "gypsy" character of the people.
That said, it *could* be parts of Spain (I've seen gypsy caravans around Barcelona and the Costa Brava).
3.5 Loyalist |
More to screw up my players, I describe all Orcs as having the same accent as Antonio Banderas
Then, I present to you an Orcish love song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3jliQKhRh4
Cheliax has a lot of room inside its borders, you can actually have good and non-evil characters that come from what is so vile a place in parts. I had a good warmage come from there. Her "campus" wasn't as corrupted. Cheliax was one of the more interesting setting creations.
Andoran is part of the philosophy behind early America, but its continental location makes it a bit Dutch and Swiss-canton as well, they had early experiments in democracy. Andoran isn't heavily American in my games, but some of their enemies sure are dark, and very very close. Andoran being close to Byzantine Taldor is also pretty quirky.
3.5 Loyalist |
Also, something really odd, I know a few Singaporeans, and Singapore bears a bit of resemblance in the guiding philosophy and the benevolent accepted dictatorship model of Hermea.
Hermea: "The government of Hermea is an unusual mix of meritocracy and legal totalitarian dictatorship."
Singapore: Meritocratic and highly competitive single party island city-state. Run by a very aged leader whose guidance is considered benevolent, just and wise.
It is also very firmly overseen, and competing political groups and dissent have been stamped out.
Hermea is lush though and Singapore is a concrete jungle.
xn0o0cl3 |
To me, most of the human empires felt like they had a lot of different influences in them. Cheliax does feel mostly like Italy, and Andoran is pretty solidly a revolutionary America, but I always saw Taldor as having the most Spanish influence. I think I imagine the similarities lying in their culture and naming conventions more than their history though. Historically they remind me more of the East Roman Empire.