It started while reading LOTR

[jthomlin]

How about Tekumel?

http://www.tekumel.com/

(and a quick plug for Howard's miniature range ...  )

http://thetekumelproject.blogspot.com/

The non-humans are certainly not based on any human civilization past or present and even the humans in this world take a bit of getting used to because they are based on non-western cultures.

Then again the argument could be made that Tekumel is Sci-Fi and not Fantasy as the non-humans are 'aliens'. However, the original native races would view the humans as the aliens.

I suppose that's the point, if the non-human race is familiar: short, tall, fat, ugly etc, but basically 'humanish', then we base their emotions and culture on human templates, whereas if they look totally alien then it's anything goes.

Cheers!
Joe Thomlinson

[FramFramson]

Actually Tekumel has a pretty strong visual and thematic basis in south asian and southeast asian mythologies.

That's not a complaint though - that's an extremely underutilized bit of history as far as fantasy stuff goes.

[maxxev]

I believe Zombie smith has 2 universes without humans, though both based on historical type settings / forces.

There's alwaysTor game's Relics, thats a bit out there when it comes to no humans.

Personally I coulden't care less about human factions, as long as there are dwarves .

[Brummie]

Your going to get similarities anyway, I think trying to make something too weird is maybe taking it a step too far. Not saying that everything should have two legs, and the build of a humanoid. I'm talking more about basic needs for any society; food, water, resources in general really.

Just look at other species on Earth, there are similarities due to basic needs.

[Conquistador]

<snip>

Personally I coulden't care less about human factions, as long as there are dwarves .

Roger that!

Gracias,

Glenn

[Steam Flunky]

Usually, as already mentioned, its just a human race slightly different as elves,dwarves etc.
Sometime though it goes the other way around and fantasy races based on insects,reptiles,birds or fish turn up in books, but they are usually made more humanoid (e.g.walking upright on 2 feet).
I dont think "The Blob" in that film was based on humans........but when i think of it...........there was this girl i used to know......

[Vermis]

Lol

I like humans - I used to go to school with a bunch of 'em.

[cyagen]

If you can read French have a look at Les Chroniques D'Erdor

http://membre.oricom.ca/samedi/cde-home.html

(disclaimer I was part of the team that tested the game)

A lot of work when in making the 3 principles races (Jamiriens, Sirtiens and Edriens) original and not "like culture X".

I can confirm that it is a challenge, but doable.

Unfortunatly, this result in niche products because it usually is "too weird" for the average gamer.

[Conquistador]

<snip>

Unfortunately, this result in niche products because it usually is "too weird" for the average gamer.

From work, my Apple is repaired but I need to pick it up (and figure out how to pay over $400 for the work/parts...)


I don't read French, (hurt me in the French Revolution and Napoleon Seminar in college too, because of the books not available in English,)      unfortunately but I think the above applies to games, books, and miniatures in many cases.   

People complain about clones/copycat <fill in the blank> but finding others willing to, "brave the frontier," is hard.

Gracias,

Glenn