Curse

Shasgaliel · Apr 15, 2009, 10:44 AM // 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Konig Des Todes

.

Also, Yak=short hand way of saying Dolyak.

Indeed but the dolyaks look more like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muskox

than yaks. That is why I think they are a different species

Konig Des Todes · Apr 15, 2009, 04:38 PM // 16:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shasgaliel

Indeed but the dolyaks look more like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muskox

than yaks. That is why I think they are a different species

Er... but yaks are dolyaks... so how can a dolyak be a different species from yaks? When they are the same.

Makes no sense. Yaks may be based off of Muskox, but they are still (Dol)Yaks.

Hildor · Apr 15, 2009, 09:17 PM // 21:17

It appears more in games when they are designed without "mounts" to be used, that horses are left out of it, but not consistenly enough. If you don't want characters to use mounts, you can't put horses in your game, because then people would ask "Why can't I ride that horse?" or "That npc is riding a horse, why can't I?". But that doesn't mean those animals never pop up in sayings and references, even though they weren't meant to be in the game. I think there are no horses in Tyria because the game doesn't use mounts. Except for some of those "cool" things that had horses in them somewhere and were eventually put into the game, regardless of the no-mount thing.

It can be a very normal situation that one game designer comes up with a dialogue for his quest, wherein an npc says "I'm an old workinghorse". That quest designer finds his dialogue pretty good and it is put in the game, without anyone saying "Hey we don't use horses, get rid of that small detail." Or another designer makes the Necrid Horseman model and the whole group likes it so much that they just put it into the game, without minding the fact that there are no mounts. Just like the Stone Summit Dolyak Riders.

In RPG's the world and its lore are very important, but sometimes designers don't put that much effort in it to make everything perfect. They are designing a new world, but they are also designing a game, which is in fact the most important. They are not writing a book or shooting a film and thus some details are overlooked.

Operative 14 · Apr 15, 2009, 10:33 PM // 22:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazey vorstagg

If he's a beggar and has a horse, then they can't be extinct like the lack of horses and undead horses suggests.

He might have been rather wealthy and just fallen on hard times. You never know.

Larqh · Apr 15, 2009, 10:51 PM // 22:51

I was reading this and thought about the Kirin, but can't find much about them. They seem like scaled horses.

draxynnic · Apr 15, 2009, 11:42 PM // 23:42

If you do a more general search on Kirin, you should be able to find a lot. In Asian mythology, they are one of the benevolent spirit animals that brings good fortune and serves as a guardian against evil forces. (There are three others, not coincidentally being referenced through the three other celestials that star in the Nahpui Quarter mission.)

They are often called the Asian unicorn, although apart from being generally horse-like (although kirin are traditionally described as being closer to deer in body shape) and having a single horn (in most cases...), they don't really have much in common. But one other thing they do have in common is a tendency not to be used as mounts.

Now, in Guild Wars, there is a twist, in that most of the spirit animals have been driven insane by the Jade Wind (Zunraa, Albax, and Kuunavang - the latter having been corrupted by Shiro directly until freed - being exceptions). However, that probably makes them even less inclined to be ridden, not more.

Even without that... kirin are magical, intelligent creatures in their own right, not simply animals. While it's possible that an uncorrupted kirin may allow itself to be ridden, the rider had better be someone worthy of the honour... and even then they'd probably be more of a passenger than the one in charge.

Larqh · Apr 15, 2009, 11:50 PM // 23:50

No, I certainly wouldn't believe that a kirin would be allowed to be ridden, but they do seem to have the body build of a horse. Though, one doesn't necessarily have to be ridden to qualify as being a horse.

I did see that it was based on the Asian unicorn. The term was also used for giraffes. I was trying to see it from the GW perspective, but basing it on it's Asian origins to say it's like an Asian unicorn, then it's definitely leaning away from the horse family.

Anyways, seems my thought was way off there.

Konig Des Todes · Apr 16, 2009, 02:14 AM // 02:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larqh

I did see that it was based on the Asian unicorn. The term was also used for giraffes. I was trying to see it from the GW perspective, but basing it on it's Asian origins to say it's like an Asian unicorn, then it's definitely leaning away from the horse family.

By knowing the origin of terms, one may find out deeper meaning within the GW universe.

One of the other "benevolent spirit animals that brings good fortune and serves as a guardian against evil forces" is the serpentine dragon, such as Albax and Kuunavang. And through that, we see the influence of why Albax is a dragon of good luck.

However, not everything is based off of real life references, so one must know where the similarities stop, and the differences begin.

draxynnic · Apr 20, 2009, 08:24 AM // 08:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larqh

I did see that it was based on the Asian unicorn. The term was also used for giraffes. I was trying to see it from the GW perspective, but basing it on it's Asian origins to say it's like an Asian unicorn, then it's definitely leaning away from the horse family.

The giraffe association came from a flatterer who sent a giraffe to an emperor as a gift (the flattery coming from a legend that ch'i-ling appearances herald great sages such as Cunfucius). The emperor's response was basically "I'm no sage, and that's no ch'i-ling."

While it appears the name stuck, they don't think giraffes are real ch'i-ling just like Westerners don't think dragon lizards (even the big ones on Komodo) are the same as mythical dragons.

As for their appearance - the classical description of a ch'i-ling does include "the body of a deer" (and the hooves of a horse, the scales of a dragon, and so on - the Chinese liked describing their mythical beasts as composites of a large number of references). Looking at the in-game model, I have to admit that it does look more horselike - but I don't know deer well enough to know if I'd be able to tell one from a horse if the tail, head, and hooves were replaced with another animal's and all the fur was replaced with scales.

And appearing like a horse certainly doesn't have to indicate a willingness to be ridden. In fact, it's a common trope for horselike intelligent animals to resent the stereotype and consider it an insult.

Raudic · May 21, 2009, 01:34 AM // 01:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheodenKing

The dragons ate all the horses, then went off to sleep for a long time. I hear they are waking up again soon. Someone should tell Zhed he's in trouble.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

agreed haha

but yeah ive never seen a horse either.... weird

UltraCheese · Jun 06, 2009, 10:05 PM // 22:05

I'm sure there are horses in Tyria, but rather more mutated, less pleasant versions. Why are they called 'Necrid Horsemen'? 'Cause they ride undead horses.

http://guildwars.wikia.com/wiki/Necrid_Horseman

Konig Des Todes · Jun 06, 2009, 11:06 PM // 23:06

Necrid Horsemen were brought up already, and they look different because they are undead. It's unknown if the living horses look that "mutated."

draxynnic · Jun 07, 2009, 07:08 AM // 07:08

Indeed. After all, how many of the creatures we animate in-game look even remotely like a Bone Fiend? Or a Shambling Horror? Or a Flesh Golem?

Even taking into account that the lack of resemblance between summoned minions and what they were created from is likely due to not having the resources to make 'minion' forms for each creature, the horses are undead - adding a few horns pre- or post-animation to make the end result more fearsome probably wouldn't bother them much. Given that the Lich Lord developed horns and wings, though, it seems reasonable that the animation process can in fact lead to significant changes in appearance (apart from the whole 'dead and rotting' thing.

)

Free Runner · Jun 07, 2009, 09:33 PM // 21:33

Undead Excutioners are an example of mutation while Undead. They were clearly human yet have horns. The same with the Necrid Horsemen who seem to have horns. It is rather strange.

Obrien Xp · Jun 07, 2009, 10:36 PM // 22:36

All horses lived in orr. That may solve things.

I have no other solution for the Necrid Horseman. The ones above I find likely.

draxynnic · Jun 08, 2009, 08:03 AM // 08:03

It would explain a lot.

One might not even have to be that drastic - the standing armies of all three Tyrian nations got shattered around the time of the Searing. Its possible that horses still exist in Tyria, but that the remaining stock is too rare and valuable to send into combat.

Konig Des Todes · Jun 08, 2009, 08:09 AM // 08:09

Now that I think about it, there was Utopia (or EN) concept art with horses. Maybe Anet was intending to add horses in Utopia? Meaning the Orrian horses could have been imported.

Obrien Xp · Jun 08, 2009, 09:58 PM // 21:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Konig Des Todes

Meaning the Orrian horses could have been imported.

I would expect to see many more of them then. With the Mantle at least.