I love the kimono my character wears. I wish we could get more that are in the house colors, but I would really love to see some obi in the game to go with the kimono. Obi silks tend to be far more intricate than kimono and have some amazingly beautiful embroidered patterns. I thought it would be fun if the obi were like those scarves by Adrienne where you could move it into a different style.

Here are a few things I wrote down that are far from polished but might be a start.

a violet silk brocade obi

Push obi
Tap- a violet silk brocade obi tied in the back with a plain cross knot

Turn obi
Tap- a violet silk brocade obi tied in the back with a simple knot that resembles a clam shell

Pull obi-
Tap- a violet silk brocade obi intricately tied to resemble an iris in full bloom

Roll obi-
Tap- a violet silk brocade obi decorated with a drum-shaped box knot

Pinch obi-
Tap- a violet silk brocade obi adorned with a formal blooming chrysanthemum-shaped knot

Wave obi-
Tap- a violet silk brocade obi that streams two long sashes from the back knot

Yank obi-
Tap- a violet silk brocade obi that is knotted to look like a rising phoenix

Prod obi-
Tap- a violet silk brocade obi bearing an intricate rose-shaped knot

Shake obi
Tap- a violet silk brocade obi secured with a wide knot shaped like a butterfly

Obi knots are so complex and beautiful, I think it would really add to kimono styles. You could even do a knot resembling the flowers of each of the provinces, or even a sacred flower like the sirese. Also, it would be awesome if there were some knots that only Elotheans could make. Just some thoughts.

-Milabeth

What about mehe, the Gerenshuge word for belt, instead of obi or sash. I like the idea of having it be a distinctly Elothean object.

As for the Japanophilia thing, I kind of like having a bit of Asian flair in the game. So much of the game seems so European, which I understand is the intention, but even Medieval Europeans had contact with other cultures, so we will have to agree to disagree on that point.

-Milabeth

>>I seriously hate the japanophilia thing the Elotheans have going on and it kind of killed any appeal the race had to me.

Just out of curiosity, is it the Japanese influence or the actual word usage (kimono, katana) that you dislike?

I'm a little confused since other races are seriously influenced by RL cultures as well. I also agree that having strangely named items is annoying, but again that's definitely not Elothean only.

With regard to the obi, I would favor the word "sash" with perhaps the Gerenshuge word for sash in the item description. I can kind of accept the word kimono since it is a well known word in the English-speaking world that easily evokes an image of the particular type of robe being worn. I would probably still prefer just "robe" though, to get away from it feeling too Japanese (and keep the focus on the in game culture, which is not the same).

-- Player of Niieth

>>For me, it's the direct word theft. When possible, I'd prefer words in the actual in-game language for racial items. While the majority of players understand what a kimono is, if you want it to be Elothean-themed, make it Elothean, not Japanese.

Yes, I can agree with this.

I'm mostly curious about Reene, since she seems really irked, and kimonos (and certainly katana) are relatively rare.

-- Player of Niieth

Not true, Magdar bought one at auction years ago.


Regards,

Sortny/Braunwen

Regardless, some more katanas would be hot.

More Elothean/Japanese weapons in general, actually. Renshear bows, etc.

Maybe some of those sexy articulated ninja-style helms like Sorsha wore in Willow.

Ok really I need to lay off the caffeine :)

-Meanne

>Regardless, some more katanas would be OOG.

>Regardless, half the items in DR are OOG.

Say what you really mean.

~ Kougen

Moon Mages: Ripping reality a new one since 586 BL

One thing to keep in mind...

While I understand wanting to have IG language words for the items, on the other hand, folks have also complained about that. You're in discussion with someone, you see them pull out a hbreanur''gtehaiiiniikla'th and have no idea if they're pulling out a weapon or a silk robe. Since that would kinda change your response. Folks have complained about the racial weapons, and their characters not knowing what it is - since they should be able to immediately "see" a big sword, a halberd-type weapon, etc.

A kimono immediately calls to mind a specific type of garment (far more complex than just "a robe"), and allows your character to react immediately to what you the player know they're seeing, vs. wondering whattheheck that string of Gerenshuge is.

A katana is no different in that respect. Heck, you could make the same argument about a rapier, you know?

I'm not saying I don't understand and agree that it would be nice to have specifically Elothean named garments and weapons, but we do also have complaints when we go that route.


-V, rambling.

"Reject me not, sweet sounds! oh, let me live,
Till doom espy my towers and scatter them.
A city spell-bound under the aging sun,
Music my rampart, and my only one."
-Edna St. Vincent-Millay

Anything with a racial name (Or other made up word) needs a VERY clear description, and that brings me back to the need of the ability to look at items on others...

Of course the other way to solve it is to make things that are clearly descriptive (A long curved sword) that in the look explain the "racial name" for it is a katana.

---

SEND[Abasha] It warms my heart to see three people die for a cupcake.

>>>Of course the other way to solve it is to make things that are clearly descriptive (A long curved sword) that in the look explain the "racial name" for it is a katana.

>>I would like this much better.

---

Squire Xalahai Zayasero, Player of
"This idea may have worked in another time and another place, but here it immediately fell on its face and went 'Durp durp.'" - Armifer

FYI. Most the Rakash weapons DO describe what they are when you look at them. I dont want to hijack the thread, but Rakash weapons really are a poor example of this. Sure they could have a beefy-er TAP but from what I understand your complaining about having to RP the fact that you dont know what these weapons are, as a non-Rakash you shouldt know what they are. You see a metal tip on a long piece of wood, for all you know it could be a pike/poleaxe/halberd/2hb/etc.

an ilglaiks skefne
Look: Polished to a fine gleam the edges on this spear's black head bow outward slightly before meeting in a deadly point.

a duraka skefne
Look: This sixteen-hand spear's hollowed shaft enhances lift and allows it to float like a mist while in transit.

---

Play the game!

>> The real problem is as a player I have no clue if a ilglaiks skefne is a pike or a cupcake.

^^ This, pretty much.

The iltesh does not have this issue because its nature is right there in the TAP: It's a weapon with an edge designed for dueling. Based purely on those bits of information alone, you can make an educated guess on what an iltesh is and frankly probably be right.

All weapons with racial names should be designed like that.

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Rev. Reene

"The time will come when the sun will shine only on free men who know no other master but their reason." - Nicolas de Condorcet

I personally am ok without further racially specific worded items...

However, having more masamunes/katanas etc would be pretty nice :)

You do realize that english is like the king of language theft right? Rapier is spanish, and I'm pretty sure there are other items that are named from things taken from other languages. That's just a part of speaking english. If you are going to have issues with things from certain languages you should apply them to all and not some. Just my 2 kronars


Oderint Dum Metuant

Two things


1. You are absolutely right, English steals words left and right. For better or worse once we steal that word it becomes part of the english language, westernized and easily recgnoizable by any english speaker. Feel free to put any word into DR that was stolen so well most people dont even realize it, like as you said rapier. The fact that english absorbs words from other lanuages isnt a reason to add other language words that have not and may not ever be part of common english.




2. Yes I hate seeing people pull out Grtuy PHillork'se like everyone else. But what if it was "a long curved Khiloty with a tempered blade" or "a long tapered single edged Tolstoy". With a descriptive look that explained in detail the weapon so everyone would realize it looked like a katana? That I could live with.



___________
V, Player of

For some reason, these discussion always make me think of this (nsfw-ish language):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_Qh3tWImXM

---

The Moose
"My advice? Run to a safe room, then re-roll. It's guaranteed awesome."

>Words like Kimono haven't been "Adapted" long enough. People know what they are but also consider them exotic and foreign.

This. While If i took 5 seconds to think about it I might recall the origin of Rapier, Scimitar, etc. but no, at a glance the images of of musketeers or deserts and camels do not cross my mind.

Katana and Kimono very strongly strikes sushi and naruto and Akiyama Rina (hawt) into my mind.


P.S./derail Masamune is a swordsmith, and it is as accurate to refer to a sword "Masamnue" as it is to refer to a car "Toyota". Hence it is extremely jarring if what people say about Masamune being in game is true. Alternatively it refers to some legendary one-eyed general during 14~19 years of age conquered about 1/6 of Japan-proper.

I always think of Sinbad when I see Scimitar

I'm waiting for the Ilithi trader's guild to recall their rented caravans and sue the Elothean houses for faulty brakes.