Thread: Questioning chirine ba kal

Chirine,

Just out of curiosity, are the names for non human species given in EPT Tsolyani terms, or is it what they refer to themselves as? For Example, do Ahoggya call themselves "Ahoggya", or do they use some other term? Could you tell us what the Mu'ugalavyani, or Salarvyani, or Yan Koryani, or Saa Alaquiyani word for Pe Choi, or Ahoggya, or Ssu is?

Shemek.

I don't remember what the Shen call themselves... it may be Shen... but in the days of the Three Light Drive they called themselves "Grg-hss".

Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya

I don't remember what the Shen call themselves... it may be Shen... but in the days of the Three Light Drive they called themselves "Grg-hss".

Cool, Thank you Glorious General.
They all must have some different type of self-identifier species name than those presented in the book. I can't see Phil missing something like that given his anthropological training. Now whether or not he wrote it down is another thing altogether.

Shemek.

I was on the old Blue Room site, and found this post. I thought it was interesting. Any further comments from Chirine or the Glorious General? I'm sure that they would be appreciated by all.

[Moderator's Note: Chuck Monson shares information about Battle Magic. ]

"My tales of battle magic are based on battles with Barker present in days
when I still had hair. Indeed, lacking strong battle magic resources is a
near thing, but never insurmountable in my experience. In a balanced game,
where generals are supposed to have a working knowledge of the opponent on
the field, both sides often make sure of magic resources before engaging.
In each of three battles I was the Yan Koryani commander where I had lesser
resources in the magic field than my opponents. In fact, I generally
discounted any effect of magics short of tactical advantage (dropping a tree
on an insidious archer with a magic bow, blowing up a bridge while an enemy
unit crossed it, and on one dire emergency, firing spells into the ranks of
oncoming armor plated Shen at short range). The operations for most battle
magics is to keep the opponent priests from fragging your command staff and
your magic users.
In one battle, my rolls of dice were phenomenal (three d100 1's in a row) to
have normal archers penetrate the comfort zone of the Tsolyani command
platform and succeed in nailing the General himself inspite of magical
shields, magic armor, and a couple of offensive spells. (I believe that the
officer of that group was the only one to stagger back to my lines.) Battle
magics are powerful. They are just not the only lethal effect in battle.
Luring the enemy into his doom is always a nice touch, but don't rely on your
magics to go unheeded by the enemy priests. Or unavenged by nasty Mad Ones
who could care less about such things.
Field tactics are almost magical in themselves. I learned about toe-clips
for sandals allowing a dust cloud to be raised. At a distance safe to
manoeuvre at speed, my army reassembled for an assault by hiding behind the
obscuring dust wall and marching to the right flank. The Tsolyani had to pick
up their entire seige train to chase me. Disrupting the enemy position on a
battlefield is more successful than simply knocking about a few hundred
troops with spells.
Magics with sound military plans and good opportunities work well, but do not
rely on the magics to stop enemy legions. It might make your troops lack
confidence in your military skills or question your worthiness to lead the
boyos into death's maw. Honor is ever at the fore and success depends on who
is left standing beside you."

Shemek

Chirine,

I also found this post from Phil:

"Yes, in "official" Tekumelani history there is a legion lost in the
Unending Grey. Arrogance on the part of its general led to a confrontation
with Other-Planar creatures, which in turn caused said general to use a
very potent Nexus Point spell, which led directly into the Unending Grey.
They're still in there..."

Do you know the name of legion, or the name of the General, or the story of the "confrontation
with Other-Planar creatures" that is being referred to?

Shemek

Originally Posted by Shemek hiTankolel

I was on the old Blue Room site, and found this post. I thought it was interesting. Any further comments from Chirine or the Glorious General? I'm sure that they would be appreciated by all.

[Moderator's Note: Chuck Monson shares information about Battle Magic. ]

* snippity*

Shemek

He's right. Magic is one arm of your strategy, not the answer to everything. A moron with magic is still a moron. (Write that one down, Chirine, it'll look great in the memoirs.)

Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya

He's right. Magic is one arm of your strategy, not the answer to everything. A moron with magic is still a moron. (Write that one down, Chirine, it'll look great in the memoirs.)

Ain't that the truth. I liked his summary and tactical analysis that's why I posted it here. Was he a member of the Thursday Night Group, and do you know which battle he's referencing?

Shemek.

Originally Posted by Shemek hiTankolel

Chirine,

Just out of curiosity, are the names for non human species given in EPT Tsolyani terms, or is it what they refer to themselves as? For Example, do Ahoggya call themselves "Ahoggya", or do they use some other term? Could you tell us what the Mu'ugalavyani, or Salarvyani, or Yan Koryani, or Saa Alaquiyani word for Pe Choi, or Ahoggya, or Ssu is?

Shemek.

First off, yes; I'd suggest looking at a copy of "Humanspace Empires", where the author has collated all of these names from the various texts. See it at: http://ixians.blogspot.com/2010/12/h...e-empires.html

Second, I'll have to look; Phil didn't do a lot of development on many of the languages. I have all of what exists, and I'll troll through them for you and see what I can find. It may be the weekend before I have anything; lots of real-world stuff going on right now. (I start a new job on July 11th, for example.)

Originally Posted by Shemek hiTankolel

Cool, Thank you Glorious General.
They all must have some different type of self-identifier species name than those presented in the book. I can't see Phil missing something like that given his anthropological training. Now whether or not he wrote it down is another thing altogether.

Shemek.

He didn't; it's in there, but we have to dig around a bit for it.

Originally Posted by Shemek hiTankolel

I was on the old Blue Room site, and found this post. I thought it was interesting. Any further comments from Chirine or the Glorious General? I'm sure that they would be appreciated by all.

[Moderator's Note: Chuck Monson shares information about Battle Magic. ]

"My tales of battle magic are based on battles with Barker present in days
when I still had hair. Indeed, lacking strong battle magic resources is a
near thing, but never insurmountable in my experience. In a balanced game,
where generals are supposed to have a working knowledge of the opponent on
the field, both sides often make sure of magic resources before engaging.
In each of three battles I was the Yan Koryani commander where I had lesser
resources in the magic field than my opponents. In fact, I generally
discounted any effect of magics short of tactical advantage (dropping a tree
on an insidious archer with a magic bow, blowing up a bridge while an enemy
unit crossed it, and on one dire emergency, firing spells into the ranks of
oncoming armor plated Shen at short range). The operations for most battle
magics is to keep the opponent priests from fragging your command staff and
your magic users.
In one battle, my rolls of dice were phenomenal (three d100 1's in a row) to
have normal archers penetrate the comfort zone of the Tsolyani command
platform and succeed in nailing the General himself inspite of magical
shields, magic armor, and a couple of offensive spells. (I believe that the
officer of that group was the only one to stagger back to my lines.) Battle
magics are powerful. They are just not the only lethal effect in battle.
Luring the enemy into his doom is always a nice touch, but don't rely on your
magics to go unheeded by the enemy priests. Or unavenged by nasty Mad Ones
who could care less about such things.
Field tactics are almost magical in themselves. I learned about toe-clips
for sandals allowing a dust cloud to be raised. At a distance safe to
manoeuvre at speed, my army reassembled for an assault by hiding behind the
obscuring dust wall and marching to the right flank. The Tsolyani had to pick
up their entire seige train to chase me. Disrupting the enemy position on a
battlefield is more successful than simply knocking about a few hundred
troops with spells.
Magics with sound military plans and good opportunities work well, but do not
rely on the magics to stop enemy legions. It might make your troops lack
confidence in your military skills or question your worthiness to lead the
boyos into death's maw. Honor is ever at the fore and success depends on who
is left standing beside you."

Shemek

Great find! Chuck played with Phil back in the days before there were any published rules sets, and using various historicals rules with modifications. He's dead on about how Phil viewed how military sorcery should work in his world, and it's how I functioned in it. While I am a powerful weapon, I am also a very high-value target and have to be used very carefully and tactically. See also Third Mar...