Jacob Nion

All hail the Queen.. ...Annetta's Revenge! Dread Pirate Captains Morgan and Sinbad strike again! Unperceived by the war torn grand nations, the world sees the dawn of the golden age of piracy.

I did so, my bad. It seems I have become too used to that kind of language. Nevermind, I'm happy about any rule that works well for all of us, without the need for special reglements for one faction.

That sounds a bit harsh. I said nothing about special rules for Sea Rats. The best rules are those which work for every player regardless of his strategy. And if someone collaborates with other people in one city or works on his own is no matter of faction. Therefore I suggested to just abolish the whole rule. But if you are unwilling to play the game without strict reglementation for every triviality to defend the peaceful landlubber economy from the way too overpowered game spoiling sea rats, @Elostirion I have another suggestion: -a player can license up to 3 properties per month, but not more than 2 of them in the same settlement Would this be more to your taste?

I am against flipping the 3/2 rule. This would perhaps be reasonable for the Imperial factions in which it is common that the leadership has partial control of settlement founding, and all towns are supposed to be community builds (or part of a company=team of players). But Sea Rats are an anarcic bunch of illegal immigrants; all our settlements are supposed to be squatter colonies of some sort. So it's more reasonable for us to build in our own little pirate hideout instead of working together on one shared city as it would be planned and run by a professional organized company or government. Not that some wouldn't do that; it just seems more unlogic for pirates. Also perhaps not every member of an imperial faction likes to be part of a company or share a city with others, and be it just because he wants to design the settlement completely by himself, and not because of the EGS. It is just a matter of personal preferences. Maybe you should just make it 3/3. Everything else would either punish people who like to make their own way or disadvantage those who prefer team play.

I think there isn't a differentiation anymore between properties in and around a settlement, since the whole Hinterland reglementation was abolished. Now simply every property runs under the name of a settlement and for game mechanics it doesn't matter if it's within the town or surrounding area. So setting up mines is too limited by the 3 properties per month rule. Or am I wrong?

I'm glad you think about leaving that whole boring politics behind and starting a real pirate adventure! Although I wonder how it comes that the map flew by just in the right moment.

@Brandon Stark maybe you could ask some Kaliphlinian if he allows you to build in his city? I agree with @Kai NRG that there should be no rule against it, but building a whole city is a really big task, considering the workload. Even if you only make a few mocs about it. Building in an already established settlement seems a bit more realistic.

...and much like photograpy skills good writing supports the proper presentation of builds. Of course not every moc is a story build, but there can always be a strong backstory. What a shame if an impressive castle had no story to tell. And this is an RPG. That means there has to be a bit of story development. Also just think about other boards on eurobricks like the mafia games; no building, only story (or the endless exhausting politic discussions of you Eslandoliards in BoBS ;). For me, story writing and character development is one major aspect that keeps me in the guilds. It is so much more fun to think of the quests and adventures your character has to face than only build stand alone mocs. It's also inspirational. Most moc ideas I had because I thought of the story first. One can build for every task, challenge and in every location and one day feels that he is sort of done with it. But if you concentrate on your character, you will always have ne exciting ideas. So yes, I think there must be room for it in GoH.

@gedren_y you mentioned something I thought about recently. We give so much advise about building, I think it would be of great value for some who are interested to have a small guide to story writing. Just a few basic guidelines and helpful things. Sometimes it seems that people struggle to come up with a proper story to their builds. And that has absolutely nothing to do with their building skills.

Oh please, please make the dead parrot sketch! How genius would that be? A pirate captain entering the shop complaining about his late parrot? I love the idea to have a petshop for pirates. But I have to say, the interior looks a bit too modern for me. But nonetheless it's a nice interior.

To be honest that would be awesome. I can wait, I'm happy enough that I won something. Again a huge thank you CopMike. Best case would be that I totally forget about the raffle and some day in march there will be an unexpected delivery in the mailbox. Maximum joy.

Aye, @Henjin_Quilones that sounds like the croodest abomination the swamps could unveil. But really, I did contradict myself here; of course pink can work great aswell, as @gedren_y already pointed out. With the right backgroundstory. Just think about a certain character from a popular fantasy novel who wears a pink coat of arms depicting a flayed man.

Well, I have to partially disagree with Exetrius about the colour question @Lazer First of all, there are really no restrictions about what style or colour you can use. And Guilds of Historica is as much fantasy as we make it. Sure, we all love castle building and medieval/ancient reminiscences from a large variety of cultures; but it is up to you what you make of it. In a world full of magic there could surely be lime green roofs. Shouldn't be a problem. Could be dark spooky glooming of a cursed house. But of course there's something like aestethical harmony. E.g. a pink castle would be a hard task in Nocturnus. That does not mean any certain colour is forbitten. Many impressive builds work because someone was brave enough to mix unusual or at first glance unfitting colours. So feel free to try out new things. We shall not forget that one of the major aims of GoH is to help new builders increasing their skills. Take inspiration from existing mocs, but don't be too shy to figure out your own style. I really liked your first LDD attempt. Especially the shape of the roof and the barbs on the walls. But I don't know if all the slopes you used are actually available in lime green. Regarding the colour, you should ask yourself what you want to depict; is it supposed to be a regular unmagic hut made of wood and stone? Then I would definitely go for more natural colours. Or is it some sort of special material e.g. nocturnian blood oak (I came up with this right now) so that the timber would be (dark) red? You see what I mean? Always keep in mind that lego bricks are not the construction material that people should see when looking at your work. They are supposed to depict the material your build is made of. That means texture is a bit more important than colour. You could really use any colour to build a castle wall as long as it looks like a castle wall and people would recognize it. Same about wooden structures. Building a wall out of brown regular bricks doesn't make it look like wood. You'll have to use tiles or textured bricks. Tis' be it for now. I didn't intend to write a whole book here. But I hope it helps a bit. ...nevermind what do I know? I'm just a human sized talking rat.

But of course there can be potatoes in a fantasy world like Historica. There were even potatoes in Middle Earth.

It really depends on what you want to depict. But first of all, there is no restriction what colours to use. Sometimes even very different colours can go well together. We have many different styles in Nocturnus, regarding both landscape and architecture. If you like lime green, there's already a large variety of builds in which lime is used to depict the Moruth swamps. There's really no limitation here; you can build a forest wirk pink and purple trees, or more natural colours like olive tan and brown, or go with the good old lava field of black and dark bluish grey. And regarding architecture, just look the differences in style of Shadowmere and Skavenport, or Angeli's drow cities, or all the black, Mordor-like towers. As long as it's not as fancy and clean as Avalonian buildings I would say everything can fit. Maybe you should not start with colour choice but instead with your character. On which Adventures shall he go? Where does his quest lead him? Then imagine the place you would like him to visit. And then finally you can think about colours.

Well, he seems a bit savage and ferocious most of the time, but I know, deep in Raavage's heart there's a place for my sword. -"Hey, do you know what's going through Lord Raavage's head when being attacked by the Nocturnus Resistance?" -"No, what's going through his head when being attacked by the Nocturnus Resistance?" -"a spear." Right gentlemen; trash talk starts now.

So... in AG 2 would there perhaps, maybe, if nobody bothers.. be the chance of a possibility to actually play as an alien? If necessary at least as alliance of a corporation? So that it would not count as actual alien builds but as part of the corporation's domination points?

Captain... It is Captain Benjamin Morgan. But at least, you heard of me.

Are you referring to book I or the current book II? Because when you look at the topic Guilds of Historica Story and Challenge Index- Start here! (And I'm sure you have seen this thread) and scroll down a bit to second and third post, you will find the complete written story including pictures from the very beginning until the prelude of challenge I of book II.

A tremendous build for sure! My favourite detail is probably the wharf. What I like about is that it looks like it was a pedestal leading down the stairs. But instead it leads directly into the water But to think that there could be inhabited land beyond the oceans sounds like heresy. I doubt that most common people across Historica will believe in such fancies.

Sounds excellent. But I have my agenda for the next months: free Nocturnus studying save Historica Mount Raavage's head on a spike more studying win challenge V studying then maybe, if possible, create space rats But really, that's an idea I am playing around with for months now.

Ahoy there! A new tale from Skavenport is out now!

Attention! Since it took me nearly a year to continue this story, recent events have overtaken me. Therefore, this story part takes place before MassEditor's prelude story that is linked below. All links are in chronological order. Make sure to (re-)read it! Glance into the future Three Ravens At the Black Knight's Inn The Resistance Unites (by MassEditor) When you ran out of coin, get out of here! the host had said. “Always the same sad business. No one treasures the value of a wise old man anymore.” Perry Ratchett mumbled into his grey beard, while he stumbled out of the Black Knight’s Inn. Aye, that old hoax of the heroic black knight defending a bridge against a king and losing all his limbs, one by one. That was a popular tale here in the East. The old wizard wondered how the people would react when they were told that this very story served as a shining example of chivalry and ideal courage in Avalonia. “I’m too late again! Foolish old dunderhead. “ Ratchett thought. He had never been an excellent wizard. Often he had proven himself not even an average wizard. But, after all, he was one. It was not a matter of the prowess as magician at all, he was just unfortunate enough to live in a wondrous world that offered as much kinds of ale, vine and liquor as it housed magical miracles. But now he was on a quest. He had witnessed what may would be and no it was on him, Peregrine Ratchett, the purple wizard, to prevent this city and its lord from ruin. He could see his course clear, the first time for years he felt the weightiness of his role in the world. He now had influence on the lifes of many. And although he was well aware of the immense threat to come, Perry silently enjoyed the feeling to be of some importance again. This wizard was back into business. As soon as he set a foot on the rough cobblestone the wizard had found for whom he was looking. Several armed men surrounded him, ensuring there would be no escape. A tall rat furred with brown and white hair approached. His look was strict and hard. But for those who were able to listen, his eyes would tell stories of grief and sorrow, deeply immured in an will of iron. The wizard recognized him immediately from his vision. “What is thy business in this town, old man?” the rat lord said. “I was told of a wizard arriving, speaking of great matters; dark menaces toward. Now all I see is a drunken vagabond, maybe hoping to be kept by my household in return for palmistry and other legerdemain. Do not dare to waste my time by trying to fool me.” The old wizard had expected mistrust. But this rat proved to be amongst that kind of stubborn beings who wouldn’t believe in dragons unless they recognised the smell of their burnt skin, or fur in such a case. He had to take care of what to say:”You may take me for a drunkard an impostor. And whilst I cannot deny my flaws I affirm you that serious wizardry is my business. I am Peregrine Ratchett. And I am called the purple wizard. And not only for the colour of my hat, I assure you. That is just frippery.” The lord of Skavenport kept his straight face, while his companions bandied inquiring gazes. A very uncomfortable silence spread and lasted far too long. Perry realised that this lord was still waiting for his explanations, either to be convinced or for having a reason to throw him into the deepest dungeon of the city; “I have come to assist you by the quest that lies ahead of you. For I have seen what may will be, and I say you there is no time to lose!” Osric Isentooth’s face became even more sceptical: “And what quest shall this be? Gathering my troops, march out with all the banners of red and gold waving in the wind? Many souls in Nocturnus call for this. No day that I do not receive requests for assistance from this lord and that village. I have no need for another supplicant to tell me about the sorrows that plague this land. I know them. Call the town watch and chase this vagabond out of my city!” The wizard rushed towards Osric:”The Lord of Shadowmere is calling for you! Will you deny his request?” The lord’s face turned angry: “You should have heard the rumours on your pub crawl. It is told in every tavern; Vladivus is dead.” Ratchett’s lips formed a grim smile: “He is alive. At least as much as his kind can be. You will see. Assemble Skavenport’s army, my lord. March out and engage the Black Spire. You are not alone. Raavage’s craft is to cloud his enemies’ awareness. The resistance is still strong. But you must unite your forces. Separating the last strongholds of the Darklands, destroying the remaining free peoples of Nocturnus one by one is the very intention of the Spire. Unite your armies, reclaim the East from Raavage, and the other guilds will join you. Because this fight is not the mere battle for Nocturnus. If you fail it will conclude the fate of all Historica. Tis the quest I have foreseen, the quest you will have to face up to.” Osric seemed to stare into an abyss, when he finally spoke: “All what you say... it either makes you an egregiously able wizard, or an equally able agent of my foes. Either way, I will learn the truth. Into the dungeon with him!” Perry felt that everything had gone wrong. While he resigned himself to a longer phase of soberness, a black hooded messenger arrived, bowed shortly before lord Osric, giving him a small piece of parchment, before heading away in a hurry. The rat lord looked at the sigil in surprise, broke it and unfurled the writing. It took him a moment to come to terms with it. Then he looked at the wizard and spoke: “Bring him to the castle. Host him in the keep, but do not let him leave it. And keep him sober.” He turned to his two captains, a rat and a grim looking sturdy human: “I have to leave the city. Lord Vladivus is indeed alive, or correctly: undead. A council will be held in Shadowmere. A council of the Resistance. I have to go.” “Alone? My lord! Every swathe of land between Shadowmere and the Grimwoods is occupied by the Spire. Damn it! Every single bloody stone in the Moruth has a Spire soldier guarding it!” the human said indignantly. “I have to go. And no time to lose. But I am well aware of the dangers such a journey involves. Therefore you will escort me, Dunstan. Why shall I fear a thousand Spire soldiers with you roaring at them?” Osric responded. Visibly amused the other captain began to speak: “I rest assured that you will make the journey without harm, my lord. My dear Sir Dunstan is no doubt the loudest man in Skavenport. But what are thy orders to me?” “You, good sir Aethelrat, will procure that an army in readiness will await our return. Gather supplies, lade war machines and keep the city’s fortifications operational.” Lord Isentooth commanded. Then he turned back towards the purple wizard: “I am still in doubt about your intentions. I will concern myself with you when I return. But for the time being I shall not call you a liar; war is to come. Allies are calling. And Skavenport shall answer.” ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________- So far, thanks for reading! And I am deeply sorry about the low photo quality. It's impossible for me to get the right lighting for such a weirdly angled build.

I hope nobody has dared so far to use my rats for his cause. I claim the space rats subtheme for myself.

While you are right about the classic latin language I have to argue that those indefinite articles derive from the old germanic languages. I haven't read any medieval german text without those so far. Also, the common latin during the middleages wasn't the pure classic latin language anymore we know from Seneca and Pliny. It was in fact a variety of distorted forms we rever to as medieval latin.