Looking closer at Setting and Society
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Showing posts with label Real World Influences. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Real World Influences. Show all posts
Sunday, July 14, 2019
Setting & Society Sunday - Ancient Peruvian Textiles
Over on latimes.com, they exclaim, "6,000-year-old fabric reveals Peruvians were dyeing textiles with indigo long before Egyptians." That's news to me!
Monday, June 10, 2019
Mapping Monday - David Rumsey Map Collection
Over on Open Culture, they've updated us again on the the ongoing project. You can now "Download 91,000 Historic Maps from the Massive David Rumsey Map Collection!"
Cartography and Mapping are the order of the day,
from setting maps to battlemaps, it's all good.
from setting maps to battlemaps, it's all good.
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Monday, July 25, 2016
Mapping Monday - World Mapping
Over on sciencealert.com, they ask, "Which US state is closest to Africa?" Find out here.
Also, on overlapmaps.com, instantly compare any two places on Earth here.
Finally, on asheepnomore.net, they give us "40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World" here.
Also, on overlapmaps.com, instantly compare any two places on Earth here.
Finally, on asheepnomore.net, they give us "40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World" here.
Cartography and Mapping are the order of the day,
from setting maps to battlemaps, it's all good.
from setting maps to battlemaps, it's all good.
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Monday, June 13, 2016
Mapping Monday - Unexplored Maps
By definition, if they are of the real world, most maps are of places that have been explored. However, as maps were drawn over time, they often included what was known and what was unknown. Naturally, some maps are made by outsiders for other outsiders and there might certainly be others on the inside for which such places are already known. Over on malawicichlids.com, they ask "How do Old Maps Depict the Malawi Region?" Have a look here.
Also, on brilliantmaps.com, they share a "Map of The Unexplored World From 1881" here.
Finally, on loc.gov, check out "Martin Waldseemüller’s 1507 world map" here.
Also, on brilliantmaps.com, they share a "Map of The Unexplored World From 1881" here.
Finally, on loc.gov, check out "Martin Waldseemüller’s 1507 world map" here.
Cartography and Mapping are the order of the day,
from setting maps to battlemaps, it's all good.
from setting maps to battlemaps, it's all good.
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Tuesday, April 26, 2016
The Tuesday Sundries - Mortsafes
Someone on Facebook brought up Mortsafes (wiki entry here) recently while Sharing an old meme showing a picture of a Mortsafe with text suggesting it was being used to keep something in a grave rather than out. Naturally, that's a great gaming idea and such thinking is encouraged among Gamemasters. However, let's look a bit more closely at these curiosities of interment and dig a little deeper into some ideas of how they might be further used.
First, there are a number of kinds of Mortsafes and other structure made for the same purpose. The cage type Mortsafe seems to be the most common and there are many styles of these as well. Likely, these are more widely used because they can handle most situations while using the least amount of material. Since a cage is a mesh of metal bars it will be less costly than any complete encasement whether it is a solid metal box or a stone tower with a sealed entrance or no door at all.
But is it too easy to simply suggest that their use in a fantasy game is to keep the undead within the ground? I think so and it doesn't take into account all the nasty ramifications available if one sticks closer to the real world explanation for them. There was a time when medical science had trouble finding enough corpses on which to experiment, and mainly they were used for training students who would go on to keep people from becoming corpses themselves. But religious beliefs held that someone needed to be in the ground and undisturbed to eventually achieve a place in the afterlife. This led to a great deal of grave robbing and even shipping the bodies across and out of the country or origin. Here the actual real world situation presents enough conflict and grey areas to fuel a large portion of a campaign. Does a party of player characters side with the religious leaders or those seeking to advance medical science? Can alternatives be found? What are the implications in a world where folks can in fact be brought back from the dead? Should all religions in a fantasy setting even condone resurrection? Many questions need to be asked by a GM as a campaign is developed if Mortsafes are to be added.
First, there are a number of kinds of Mortsafes and other structure made for the same purpose. The cage type Mortsafe seems to be the most common and there are many styles of these as well. Likely, these are more widely used because they can handle most situations while using the least amount of material. Since a cage is a mesh of metal bars it will be less costly than any complete encasement whether it is a solid metal box or a stone tower with a sealed entrance or no door at all.
But is it too easy to simply suggest that their use in a fantasy game is to keep the undead within the ground? I think so and it doesn't take into account all the nasty ramifications available if one sticks closer to the real world explanation for them. There was a time when medical science had trouble finding enough corpses on which to experiment, and mainly they were used for training students who would go on to keep people from becoming corpses themselves. But religious beliefs held that someone needed to be in the ground and undisturbed to eventually achieve a place in the afterlife. This led to a great deal of grave robbing and even shipping the bodies across and out of the country or origin. Here the actual real world situation presents enough conflict and grey areas to fuel a large portion of a campaign. Does a party of player characters side with the religious leaders or those seeking to advance medical science? Can alternatives be found? What are the implications in a world where folks can in fact be brought back from the dead? Should all religions in a fantasy setting even condone resurrection? Many questions need to be asked by a GM as a campaign is developed if Mortsafes are to be added.
The Tuesday Sundries on GRYMVALD.com
Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics on GRYMVALD.com
not covered elsewhere or wanting a particular focus.
Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics on GRYMVALD.com
not covered elsewhere or wanting a particular focus.
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Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Worldbuilding Wednesday - Dystopian Views
Over on atlasobscura.com, have a look at "The Real-World Locations of 14 Sci-Fi Dystopias" here.
Also, on atlasobscura.com, view "The Famous Photo of Chernobyl's Most Dangerous Radioactive Material" here.
Finally, on the BI Science YouTube channel, check out "What the Earth would look like if all the ice melted." Chilling!
Also, on atlasobscura.com, view "The Famous Photo of Chernobyl's Most Dangerous Radioactive Material" here.
Finally, on the BI Science YouTube channel, check out "What the Earth would look like if all the ice melted." Chilling!
Worldbuilding Wednesday on GRYMVALD.com
The nuts and bolts of Worldbuilding
for our tabletop RPGing.
The nuts and bolts of Worldbuilding
for our tabletop RPGing.
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Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Worldbuilding Wednesday - Pseudocraters, Supercave, & Man-Made Holes
Over on amusingplanet.com, check out the pictorial article on "The Pseudocraters of Iceland" here. They are fascinating land formations that result from a lava flow over trapped water which erupts to cause the crater-like structure, also known as rootless cones because they have no access of their own to magma below the surface. This sort of land feature in the vicinity a volcano with nearby bogs, marshlands, or lakes can help to break up sight lines and visibility over distances in an otherwise predominantly flat environment.
Also, on nationalgeographic.com, an article from last September discussed how "China's 'Supercave' Takes Title as World's Most Enormous Cavern" here. If you ever worried when creating an extensive underworld for an RPG campaign that you might be pushing something beyond credible distances, supercaves like this one should allay some of those fears.
Finally, on fastcoexist.com, we learn that not all deep structures that extend underground need be wrought by nature. An article here suggests we "Take A Trip To This Horrifying Mine, One Of The Largest Man-Made Holes In The World."
Also, on nationalgeographic.com, an article from last September discussed how "China's 'Supercave' Takes Title as World's Most Enormous Cavern" here. If you ever worried when creating an extensive underworld for an RPG campaign that you might be pushing something beyond credible distances, supercaves like this one should allay some of those fears.
Finally, on fastcoexist.com, we learn that not all deep structures that extend underground need be wrought by nature. An article here suggests we "Take A Trip To This Horrifying Mine, One Of The Largest Man-Made Holes In The World."
Worldbuilding Wednesday on GRYMVALD.com
The nuts and bolts of Worldbuilding
for our tabletop RPGing.
The nuts and bolts of Worldbuilding
for our tabletop RPGing.
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Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Worldbuilding Wednesday - Worldwide Eats and Drinks
As this year comes to a close and folks all over the world are feasting and drinking, as they might each to his own culture, I thought a worldbuilding blog post about worldwide eats and drinks might be interesting. I've had a little look around and, avoiding the Disney Epcot links, picked out a few I thought might be informative. Useful to the game prepper? I think so, insofar as a GM has to have some idea of what folks might be eating not only where the PCs are but also to help distinguish traveling NPC that might turn up. As well as to add some depth to the cargoes of trade ships.
In any event, the first link to check out is from the potsdam.edu website and is on the rather broad topic of "History of Alcohol and Drinking around the World," an article by David J. Hanson, Ph.D. Learn what you can here.
The second link, from the New York Times website, is to an article titled "Rise and Shine: What kids around the world eat for breakfast." Read more here.
Finally, from the National Geographic website comes an interactive infographic that will have you tooling around it for hours. Check out "What the World Eats" here.
So have a safe and Happy New Year!
In any event, the first link to check out is from the potsdam.edu website and is on the rather broad topic of "History of Alcohol and Drinking around the World," an article by David J. Hanson, Ph.D. Learn what you can here.
The second link, from the New York Times website, is to an article titled "Rise and Shine: What kids around the world eat for breakfast." Read more here.
Finally, from the National Geographic website comes an interactive infographic that will have you tooling around it for hours. Check out "What the World Eats" here.
So have a safe and Happy New Year!
Worldbuilding Wednesday on GRYMVALD.com
The nuts and bolts of Worldbuilding
for our tabletop RPGing.
The nuts and bolts of Worldbuilding
for our tabletop RPGing.
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Thursday, December 18, 2014
Historical Thursday - Arms and Armour, Famous Gladiators, & Tolkien's Norse Influences
Starting on page 167 of a paper on academia.edu is a section titled "Arms and Armour: a Farewell to Persistant Myths and Misconceptions" by Dirk H. Breiding here.
Also, check out this feature from August on the Medievalist.net website on "Famous Gladiators of Ancient Rome" here.
Finally, also on the Medievalist.net website, there is a featured article from earlier this week on "Norse Elements in the work of J.R.R. Tolkien" here.
Also, check out this feature from August on the Medievalist.net website on "Famous Gladiators of Ancient Rome" here.
Finally, also on the Medievalist.net website, there is a featured article from earlier this week on "Norse Elements in the work of J.R.R. Tolkien" here.
Sifting through History to
enhance our tabletop RPGing.
enhance our tabletop RPGing.
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Sunday, December 14, 2014
Setting & Society Sunday - Middle Ages Hygiene, Medieval Clothing, & a Secret Ballroom
Over on Life Buzz, they expound on "20 Reasons Why You Would Not Have Kissed Shakespeare (Or Anyone Else In The Middle Ages)" here.
Over on the Medievalists.net website, a recent feature discusses "Fashioning the Middle Ages: Teaching Medieval Culture Through Clothing" here.
Finally, Sunny Skyz tells us in a pictorial article of "A Secret Ballroom Built In The 1800s Lies Under A Lake, Guarded By Neptune" here.
Over on the Medievalists.net website, a recent feature discusses "Fashioning the Middle Ages: Teaching Medieval Culture Through Clothing" here.
Finally, Sunny Skyz tells us in a pictorial article of "A Secret Ballroom Built In The 1800s Lies Under A Lake, Guarded By Neptune" here.
Looking closer at Setting and Society
as a part of what is presented by GMs.
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Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Worldbuilding Wednesday - Deep Ocean, Mayan Cities, & Silk Road Cemetery
According to northwestern.edu and other sources, there's an ocean well below our feet by about 400 miles or so. Read more on the NWU site here and here on earthweareone.com.
Also, Live Science reports that a "1,700-Year-Old Silk Road Cemetery Contains Mythical Carvings" here.
Finally, on news.discovery.com, they feature and article titled "Ancient Maya Cities Found in Jungle" here.
Also, Live Science reports that a "1,700-Year-Old Silk Road Cemetery Contains Mythical Carvings" here.
Finally, on news.discovery.com, they feature and article titled "Ancient Maya Cities Found in Jungle" here.
Worldbuilding Wednesday on GRYMVALD.com
The nuts and bolts of Worldbuilding
for our tabletop RPGing.
The nuts and bolts of Worldbuilding
for our tabletop RPGing.
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Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Worldbuilding Wednesday - Chinese Tomb Murals, Roman Skeletons, & the Teotihuacan Tunnel
Over on Live Science, a recent article describes how a "1,000-Year-Old Tomb Reveals Murals, Stars & Poetry." Read more here.
Also, on sobadsogood.com, discover "Unbelievable Skeletons Unearthed from the Catacombs of Rome." See more here.
Finally, from the Huffington Post, "Archaeologists Make Incredible Discoveries In Tunnel Sealed 2,000 Years Ago." Find out more here.
Also, on sobadsogood.com, discover "Unbelievable Skeletons Unearthed from the Catacombs of Rome." See more here.
Finally, from the Huffington Post, "Archaeologists Make Incredible Discoveries In Tunnel Sealed 2,000 Years Ago." Find out more here.
Worldbuilding Wednesday on GRYMVALD.com
The nuts and bolts of Worldbuilding
for our tabletop RPGing.
The nuts and bolts of Worldbuilding
for our tabletop RPGing.
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Saturday, October 18, 2014
Saturday in Space - Laniakea, Dark Matter, & ISS Shipping
A breakthrough this year in how we view the universe has scientists reorganizing it in regard to galaxy super-clusters that divide it up in new ways. It places our home galaxy, the Milky Way, on the fringe of a super-cluster named Laniakea, Hawaiian for "immeasurable heaven." A recent video uploaded to the Nature Video YouTube channel explains.
A recent io9.com article suggests that a "Curious Signal Could Be Dark Matter Pouring From The Sun's Core." Read more here.
Finally, according to the Popular Science website, "The Space Station Is Getting A UPS-Style Shipping Service." Learn more of this innovation here.
A recent io9.com article suggests that a "Curious Signal Could Be Dark Matter Pouring From The Sun's Core." Read more here.
Finally, according to the Popular Science website, "The Space Station Is Getting A UPS-Style Shipping Service." Learn more of this innovation here.
Saturday in Space on GRYMVALD.com
What's happening in Space and
What's happening in Space and
what can it mean for our tabletop RPGing?
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Sunday, September 21, 2014
Setting & Society Sunday - Camel Shearing, Hurling History, & Medieval Scandals
Over on the Simply Creative blog, there was a recent posting featuring "Beautiful Camel Shearing at Bikaner Camel Festival." See more here.
Over on IrishArchaeology.ie earlier this month, they posted on "Hurling, its ancient history." Read more here.
Finally, on the Medievalists.net website, check out their "Top 10 Scandals of the Middle Ages" here.
Over on IrishArchaeology.ie earlier this month, they posted on "Hurling, its ancient history." Read more here.
Finally, on the Medievalists.net website, check out their "Top 10 Scandals of the Middle Ages" here.
Looking closer at Setting and Society
as a part of what is presented by GMs.
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Saturday, September 20, 2014
Saturday in Space - Mars One Colony
I've been reading a bit about the Mars One privately-funded colony project lately from its own marketing and from various detractors. What I've come to realize is, from my perspective it doesn't matter whether it is a sham, a reality show, a true scientific effort, or portions of each and more. I just like the idea. To me, this is going to be a fantastical unfolding story for many years and will bring me as much joy to follow if it fails to launch not nearly as much as if it becomes a rousing success story, but still fantastic at either extreme.
There is the distinct possibility, if it actually gets off the ground, that a tragedy awaits anyone making the attempt to first colonize Mars. But these are adults, making choices and knowing the risks. I've never been from the school of thought that we need to overly protect people from themselves and label every sewing pin as pointy. Who could or would read the warnings anyway?
So, I say, buckle up and enjoy the ride, or at least the show, as the Mars One is unveiled over the years to a waiting public, or just me. Read more here.
There is the distinct possibility, if it actually gets off the ground, that a tragedy awaits anyone making the attempt to first colonize Mars. But these are adults, making choices and knowing the risks. I've never been from the school of thought that we need to overly protect people from themselves and label every sewing pin as pointy. Who could or would read the warnings anyway?
So, I say, buckle up and enjoy the ride, or at least the show, as the Mars One is unveiled over the years to a waiting public, or just me. Read more here.
Saturday in Space on GRYMVALD.com
What's happening in Space and
What's happening in Space and
what can it mean for our tabletop RPGing?
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Saturday, September 6, 2014
Saturday in Space - Ringworlds, Mars Jarts, and Saturn's Geysers
A couple of days ago, PopularMechanics.com ran a story titled "Could We Build a Ringworld?" It's part of their cosmic megastructures series which includes, among other articles, Artificial Worlds and Dyson Spheres. See more on their Ringworld theories here.
Last month on PopSci.com, they explained "Why Scientists Want To Throw Lawn Darts At Mars" here.
Finally, earlier this summer, Time magazine's online component ran an article titled "NASA Discovers 101 Active Geysers On Saturn Moon." Read more here.
Last month on PopSci.com, they explained "Why Scientists Want To Throw Lawn Darts At Mars" here.
Finally, earlier this summer, Time magazine's online component ran an article titled "NASA Discovers 101 Active Geysers On Saturn Moon." Read more here.
Saturday in Space on GRYMVALD.com
What's happening in Space and
What's happening in Space and
what can it mean for our tabletop RPGing?
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Thursday, September 4, 2014
Historical Thursday - Roman Empire Explained with Maps
A mid-August article on VOX by Timothy B. Lee was titled "40 maps that explain the Roman Empire" but it is more than just maps. See more here.
Sifting through History to
enhance our tabletop RPGing.
enhance our tabletop RPGing.
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Saturday, August 23, 2014
Saturday in Space - Rover Wear, Space Plankton, & Sailing Past Triton
Over on theverge.com, they take a "Look at what two years on Mars did to the Curiosity Rover." Read more here.
Russian scientists have made a curious discovery of sea plankton on the outside of the International Space Station. Read more here. Over on Forbes, they outline the debate that this has sparked here.
NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft sailed past Neptune's moon Triton back in 1989 and they've taken the data to produce a video of what that flyby would look like. It's been uploaded to the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory YouTube channel. Enjoy.
Russian scientists have made a curious discovery of sea plankton on the outside of the International Space Station. Read more here. Over on Forbes, they outline the debate that this has sparked here.
NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft sailed past Neptune's moon Triton back in 1989 and they've taken the data to produce a video of what that flyby would look like. It's been uploaded to the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory YouTube channel. Enjoy.
Saturday in Space on GRYMVALD.com
What's happening in Space and
What's happening in Space and
what can it mean for our tabletop RPGing?
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Thursday, August 21, 2014
Historical Thursday - Tomb Guarded by Two Sphinxes
It's been reported over the last couple weeks around various archaeology websites about the tomb in the Macedonian region of Greece with two sphinxes guarding the entrance. Dating to approximately 300 B.C., it is the largest tomb ever found in Greece. Could this be the mysterious tomb of Alexander the Great? What treasures will be found? Snakes? You go first . . . Read more here on ancient-origins.net (they've got the best pics for this one).
Sifting through History to
enhance our tabletop RPGing.
enhance our tabletop RPGing.
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Sunday, August 17, 2014
Setting & Society Sunday - Virginia Renaissance Faire Ruins
Imagine a Renaissance Era village gone to seed. Now, imagine it exists in Virginia in the United States. That's a bit of what you might expect to see if you travel to the abandoned site of Virginia's Renaissance Faire which ran from 1996 to 1999. More can be found on an article from last October on io9.com here.
Looking closer at Setting and Society
as a part of what is presented by GMs.
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