Inspiration for Dominions nations

[johan osterman]

>The Agarthans themselves might be based on the Shaver mysteries, or Brad Steiger's article "The Hollow Earth, Myth or Reality" in 'Atlantis Rising'.

There is not that much of proper historic outside influence on Agartha, IIRC the name was tacked on after the nation was concieved.

[Tifone]

Wow, so maybe Abysians are not that evil. I mean, they just sacrifice what for them are lesser beings, in order to achieve the upper hand in war and protect their people... If taking away the hearts of 100 cows you could get a Northrop-Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, wouldn't you just do it for your nation if you were a general?

[HoneyBadger]

Even if they're cute little baby cows with big brown eyes?

[sector24]

I love animals. They're DELICIOUS.

[HoneyBadger]

Vegetables are genetically not too far removed from animals, and evidence suggests that plants have feelings too (and even experience the "phantom limb" phenomena, when they lose what amounts to a bodypart), so basically, when you're munching on a carrot, you're not much better morally than those vicious cow-eating carnivores. Worse, infact, because a carrot can't even defend itself as effectively as a cow can.

[Sombre]

thejeff said:
I believe blood slaves are all supposed to be human. They're not fire-resistant. They don't breathe water.

On the other hand you can hunt them in any land province regardless of population type. I guess even the lizardman swamps have lots of human virgins around?

I think of it this way. Throughout the game humans are very often the lowest form of sentient life and are often slaves. Blood hunting is therefore not just hunting down poor humans, but getting suitable slaves by stealing them or confiscating them from other races, merchants etc. This decreases the pop because slaves are part of a population and because people get pissed off and leave if you go around stealing their property.

[MaxWilson]

That is, in the context of a morality which centers on avoiding pain. "Pain = bad / pleasure = good," to quote the Culture.

(Sorry, I'm reading Consider Phlebas at the moment. Couldn't resist.)

-Max

[Ironhawk]

I just finished that book, Max. Was ok, but I didnt feel like it compared with other books of his.

[Tifone]

HoneyBadger said:
Even if they're cute little baby cows with big brown eyes?

EXPECIALLY if they are so Oh well yeah, I invented the lamest example in all human existence ^_^ poor cows

[Lingchih]

Ironhawk said:
I just finished that book, Max. Was ok, but I didnt feel like it compared with other books of his.

Really? How odd. I think Consider Phlebas is the best Culture novel, and I have read them all. But then, it was the first one I read, so maybe I am biased towards it.