Recent content by Dragev

As several have said before, it helps making a story. You don't need violence as such, but it's easier. A story without any kind of conflict would be like "The Hobbit" if Gandalf didn't show up. Also, many fantasy stories (not to say most) are set in an alternative medieval age, a time where...

But don't you think that apart from the tactics they used, hoplites (adapted to the timeline) would be a powerful asset? It would be a united group of professional soldiers in heavy armor (= full chainmail for early middle ages and plate for late middle ages) and long spears, swords and shields...

I agree with Penpilot above. As long as it looks pronounceable (i.e. you don't have to look at it for 5 minutes to figure it out), you should be okay. Tywin is "tie-win" and Dusan is "due-sahn". Even more colourful ones like Shib-Niggurath and Yog-Sothoth get quite easy after a couple of...

I agree with the above; a person can be made a knight by most people bearing a title (not sure if knights could ennoble, though). However, if only the King can ennoble someone, you could call them Freeriders, or as skip.knox suggested, men-at-arms. You also have the real example of "Edle" Edler...

I don't know how realistic you want to make this, but I'm not sure the actual WWI airplanes could take off from a short platform; from what I read, they were incredibly fiddly and difficult to fly and climbed very slowly. I think you should read these; Dicta Boelcke - Wikipedia, the free...

Well, Jabrosky's pictures certainly look dangerous; I'd hate to have those things thrown at me. However, they don't look very practical to have to carry for anything longer than a hunt.

In norwegian, Earl is obviously Jarl, but Countess is "Grevinne". The "ess" ending is not necessarily french; In Welsh, there is "Iarlles" Royal and noble ranks - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Which brings us back to Earless or Arless ( Dragon Age ftw! :p)

I think it's more of a tactical weapon (as Yellow above states it), however, that also goes for throwing stars/shuriken; I remember reading something by Masaaki Hatsumi (Masaaki Hatsumi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) who said they are used for distraction and not for killing as it's not...

Wow nice topic! I have Jewish family on my mother's side (they immigrated to Scandinavia from Lithuania or Poland around 1900), but the last Jewish person in my direct line is 6 generations back, so I don't know a lot about it. I always wondered what connection Judaism has with the Old...

Damage done to the Brachial plexus would suit admirably; Brachial plexus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "Depending on the location of the injury, the signs and symptoms can range from complete paralysis to anesthesia". Apparently, it can also cause "abnormal muscle contractions...

In writing fantasy, I guess we all write about stuff we don't know (hands up all who participated in epic battles between monsters and elves :p ) But it's true that I tend (as I guess we all do) to put in my own experiences; the subway I ride every day to work goes out from the ground between...

Elves and faeries are usually more vague and can be changed quite a lot. Dreamy elves, evil elves, warlike, peaceful, mischievous or just strange elves can work. Dwarves are harder because their image is more solidly defined; They're short, they have beards, they use axes, they mine or live in...

"With a crypt, with a future" could be a dark humorous advert by an enterprising undertaker :D I'm quite happy about that; "Monster-God Changed the Sky" and "Eons in Daylight Horror" would not have brightened my day!

I find "maimed/mutilated/mangled arm" would be more appropriate, given Linda's reaction, but for all I know, the cut is clean and the arm is fine.

I don't want to get technical but "Linnea hid her face behind her tea cup and sipped" sounds really stilted to me. Anyway, I agree with the above posters; "Linnea sipped her tea, hiding her face in the cup" means it happens at the same time (and implies that she deliberately sips her tea to...