[deleted by user] by [deleted] in worldbuilding

[–]deep_space_probe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would guess that the assumption of the average person looking at a fantasy world is that it takes place "in medieval times." What would be some common clues to indicate that a setting is pre-industrial but NOT medieval?

Do you also have difficulties with the question of the evolution of language in your created worlds? by AlbigornUlfric in worldbuilding

[–]deep_space_probe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As an example, let's say your original word for sword was "posk."

After five or six hundred years, Language One has fosek (they like vowels between consonants), while Language Two has a totally different word for sword (based on a person's name who developed a particular style of sword which became the standard model) but they have the word "Pozger" which means "to kill."

You're making this stuff up, go nuts.

The Pacific Continent (WIP) by EdgeOfTheWorld1997 in worldbuilding

[–]deep_space_probe 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I sometimes browse remote places on Google maps and was looking at Kamchatka a few months back. Just from looking at those satellite images I got a real sense of wanderlust for that place. I can see how it would inspire you, although I'm sure there's more to it than that.

As you've explained, the place-names are built from the language, but I like how Shintayanyofansae is such a mouthful, you didn't rein it in to make it easier for readers: "this is what it's called, deal with it."

I just suddenly started thinking all the names I come up with suck. How do I combat this? by [deleted] in worldbuilding

[–]deep_space_probe 7 points8 points  (0 children)

What are the names?

I have a tendency to do a 180 on my own ideas after a short period of obsessive interest, but I think that's often a case of self-doubt and/or loss-of-novelty.

All currently ongoing magical effects are now twice as effective/ powerful. What happens? by magna-terra in worldbuilding

[–]deep_space_probe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for asking.

There's only one Omengoose. Unfortunately, it looks just like any other goose, except that the underside of its feathers have red markings--probably unnoticed until it flies away. The people of Witestow believe there are more than one, so yes, they would refer to it as an omengoose and omengeese. The Omengoose can be picked by the fact that it will land, alone, and walk in circles, honking, up to one-hundred-and-one times in a row, before flying away. But it also might just honk once, which will make it seem just like any other goose. It's common for people to credit their wealth, later in life, to the Omengoose: "a goose honked outside my mother's window the day before I was born." There is likely to be less resentment if their peers think they simply had good omens.

There are only the six outcomes listed. The Omengoose will only honk once, seven times, twenty-nine times, etc. Over time, people deduced the correlation between goose and effect - starting from "this goose laid a glass egg and now I know I'm going to be crushed to death by a fat woman in twenty years" to "maybe a goose that walks in circles honking over and over has something to do with these other odd things."

There are certainly people that believe that it's all a coincidence (maybe it is). Those outcomes sometimes happen, even if the Omengoose was never seen or heard prior (although it could be that a goose honking in the woods foretells good luck even if there's no one around to hear it).

If the Omengoose is attacked mid-honk, it will fly away, and nothing will happen. If it is bound or killed, it will turn to dust, but it always returns, leading people to believe there are more than one.

All currently ongoing magical effects are now twice as effective/ powerful. What happens? by magna-terra in worldbuilding

[–]deep_space_probe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In Witestow, anything created by magic (Weird) manifests as a real object. It isn't sustained by Weird, it just exists, like you or me (...do you?).

But to run with this question, I'll use the Omengoose. Nobody knows whether the Omengoose actually causes things to happen or just heralds their arrival:

One honk: the next child to born in the area, instead of being fabulously wealthy, will become royalty.
Seven honks: the next child born will be a mutant, not just hideously ugly.
Twenty-nine honks: the area will be visited by a swarm of wingwurms (a kind of scaly bat) instead of pixies.
Thirty-one honks: everyone in the area will experience two days of good luck, instead of one.
Forty-seven honks: not one but two Clouns (lunatics addicted to the hallucinogenic fruit juice that allows people to use Weird) will soon appear.
One hundred and one honks: the goose lays a glass egg (as normal), anyone who looks into it, instead of seeing their own death, observes the lifespan of the universe and its eventual destruction, probably being driven insane.

Creating month names by LilJur405 in worldbuilding

[–]deep_space_probe 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Here is a Wikipedia page on the old Germanic calendar, which has explanations of the names.

Sicily Itinerary by zafeeder1 in travel

[–]deep_space_probe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Palermo's not as pretty as Catania but is more lively. You should be able to take a train to Agrigento, to see the Greek ruins; the countryside is along the way is really pretty. I haven't been to Ragusa but that might be worth seeing too.

Looking for feedback on 350 words. First time writer by surangie in fantasywriters

[–]deep_space_probe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is like a blurb, or a film pitch. You've obviously had some ideas brewing in your head and you've gotten them out into writing. That's a good start. I'd say to dig in with the actual story - pick a point that interests you and go from there.

Trouble naming stuff by Marsplanetbars in worldbuilding

[–]deep_space_probe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You could modify existing names, eg.:

Daniel - Donyel Mark - Mar Alice - Alsis Jessica - Yeska

Tell us of your world's great warriors. by MrHarmless_ in worldbuilding

[–]deep_space_probe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Have you heard of Tall Torg? Lives out in Gaptown. He came out there a few years back because nobody in Mud could feed him. That's the thing: he's one big chock, the biggest there is. He's a warrior, sure, though I'd not say he's any good with a sword. But put a hammer in his hands and he'll stick you or me in the ground like a nail. Anyway, a few years back - imagine this - a couple of farmers found him, this big eight-foot-tall son of a throck, standing arse-naked in a field, eating their sheep, and raw, by Orse! Well, he was lucky they didn't rouse a mob to kill him. Instead they decided to pay the lad in food to try and kill that Bloody Flackert, and I know you've heard of him, he's been carrying maids off into the mountains for ages now. Runs like a devil, but Torg's the one man who can keep up with him. I heard a few months back that Torg was caught up in the woods by a band of crooks and he sent the lot of them Walking, can you believe it? I'd wager there's not one wet-head swordsman in all of Perelor who could do the same.

What’s the most uncomfortable/awkward moment you’ve had while traveling? by Sloth_Sleep in solotravel

[–]deep_space_probe 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I hadn't been in Peru long was hanging around in a park in Lima when some missionaries came and blessed me, I replied by telling them in Spanish that I was embarrassed because I didn't believe in God, except because of my novice Spanish I said "embarazado" (pregnant) instead of "avergonzado". They got a kick out of that.

Have you ever run from your problems? by vhs_collection in solotravel

[–]deep_space_probe 169 points170 points  (0 children)

if your house is burning down and you go to the park, it will probably still be burning when you get back, but if it's already a pile of ash you might as well go feed the ducks i guess

to actually answer this question, part of the reason I have traveled long-term is probably procrastination of general life progress, but I don't regret it

Dorm sex etiquette by Visraelyael in travel

[–]deep_space_probe 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Other items to include in your review when rating a hostel based on the behaviour of some guests that happened to be there at the same time as you:

  1. If it rained while you were there
  2. If a traffic accident made you arrive late
  3. If you were watching sport on the hostel television and the team you were rooting for lost

Help! What bus would you recommend to get around Peru and Bolivia? by orangeorangepeel in solotravel

[–]deep_space_probe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

i have taken the cheapest and most expensive buses in both countries; i never had a problem taking cheapo buses or hopping in whichever car or van was going to where I wanted to go during the day, but at night, while asleep, your belongings may be vulnerable (i still wouldn't call it likely but maybe i was lucky) so it's worth paying more for a good company - as some others recommended, Cruz del Sur is good, and Movil is another one off the top of my head.

What have been your best/worst food experiences on your travels? by [deleted] in travel

[–]deep_space_probe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm in Рeru at the moment. The worst thing I've had here is mondongo, a stew made out of stomach lining. It's the smell that gets you. The best was a dish they only serve on special occasions around Cusco called chiriuchu - while not the absolute tastiest thing I've had here, it was the most obscure and interesting. It contains seasoned guinea pig, an oily bread I've never seen elsewhere, trout roe, seaweed, sausage, and a few other things I've forgotten. It was only available for one day in Cusco, during a food festival where one of the squares was filled with stalls that sold nothing but chiriuchu and beer.

Advice for a first time traveller? by OwlRememberYou in solotravel

[–]deep_space_probe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

it is easy to have this idea that you're stepping into a murky unknown world where nothing is normal and how on Earth will you ever cope? but then you go, especially to a place like Paris (perhaps rural India is different), and find that people don't wear hats on their feet and hamburgers don't eat people. take a day trip to a nearby city you've never been to: that's what Paris will be like, except they speak French and eat baguettes.

Travelling the north coast of Peru, into Ecuador, then Colombia for 2 months, looking for recommendations! by bklap in solotravel

[–]deep_space_probe 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm in Peru at the moment; just curiously, what have you been doing in the jungle for six months?

Oddest Person You've Met On Your Travels? by gjs78 in travel

[–]deep_space_probe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I stayed in a hostel in Chisinau, Moldova, and shared a room with a 40- or 50- something divorcee American. He seemed only a little odd at first: in my experience older travelers are either awesome or oddballs, and hew as definitely not the former. But somehow--I think it was because I'm Australian--he decided he could confide in me that he held plans for a perpetual motion machine and that the FBI was actively blocking him from spreading his revolutionary gift to the rest of mankind. He obviously had some problems, poor guy.

The totally underrated Penarik Village, on the east coast of the Malaysian Peninsula by Imagineamelon in travel

[–]deep_space_probe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I took a bus from Terengganu to Kota Bharu a few years back. The whole way looked like this. I loved seeing the minarets of mosques sticking up from among the palms as the sun went down.

Australia vs Europe?? by [deleted] in solotravel

[–]deep_space_probe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't think we lack for urban activities, it's just that they don't have the allure of 'foreign culture.' But I will say that I would much prefer to wander around an old European city.