Recent content by Zāl Dastān

Ditto. If you've got specific questions, I'd love to help...but there isn't really any question here. Seems fine on the surface.

Furthering Terry Greer, I was thinking that your Chupabracadabras (sp?) could domesticate a creature that travels to the surface and brings back the processed sugar like the ants do. Just a thought :)

I like the comparison that tropes are kind of like ingredients in a recipe. Although it's true that many meals call for the same ingredients, the thing that matters most is how those ingredients are arranged. So, yeah. I don't think that there's nothing wrong with being influenced by or...

I now believe fervently in this conspiracy theory. Aliens perpetuating hack shows about aliens to convince us all that there aren't aliens. It's perfect.

I would totally read a blog on Temporal Diversity. Just saying. Also, I checked out the blog in your signature. Very good stuff!

Just wanted to say that you've got some great work here. Great job! :D

Well, it seems I can't send you a PM and I can't post attachments (presumably due to being new here). You can just send me your e-mail or something and I can shoot you the pdf. Whatever's convenient!

Thanks for the welcome, Tom! As for the Muqaddimmah, I should have a PDF of an English translation on my computer that I can send you. Let me dig around a bit and I'll send it in a PM. Last I checked hard copies can get a bit pricey. The original is in arabic, but as a non-arabic speaker...

Thanks for the welcome! Zāl Dastān is a hero from Shahnameh, the Persian Book of Kings by Abol Qasem Ferdowsi. It's an amazing fantasy piece written in the Middle Ages. Definitely check it out if you're interested!

One of the great lessons one can take from the Souls Series (Demons' Souls, Dark Souls, & Dark Souls II) is that the more substance to that your world that you imply exists without stating it outright, the better. What better way is there to do this than to create said substance? Tom Nimenai...

It's absolutely possible to have the local government be highly feudal (Dukes, barons, etc) and still have the central government be ministerial. Perhaps let that serve as the King's leverage over the nobility, with ministries open both to nobles and commoners. Conversely, there's nothing wrong...

The pre-Roman Iberians are a favorite of mine. I also wonder why so little is done with the distinctive, yet efficient imperial models of nations like Venice or the Incas. It's especially tragic how merchant republics so rarely take center stage. Also, pretty much anyone in Africa before the...

So very true. Thanks for the link, OP. Very interesting!

That. Sound. Amazing. Thanks for the heads-up! :D

Two things are absolutely imperative here: power projection and national identity. First, if the central government lacks the capacity to enforce its rule, the society will collapse in short order. What's to stop one of the constituent cities from rebelling? Usually military forces, but then...