Inspiration for Dominions nations

Trumanator · #1 July 15th, 2008, 05:05 PM

I'm really interested in learning about the different mythologies that inspired the nations of Dominions 3. I can guess at a lot of them, but some kind of elude me. Abysia? Fomoria? Caelum? Agartha? Where did these come from?

HoneyBadger · #2 July 15th, 2008, 05:21 PM

Fomoria is based on Celtic Irish mythology, centered around the Second Battle of Mag Tuireadh. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fomorians

They're the counterpoints to the Tuatha De Danann, the "devils" to their "angels", sortof. Possibly based on a pre-Celtic pantheon of gods. They may also have been influenced by Greek pirates in the area, since they have some elements of Greek myth in their story.

Other "monstrous" deities in Irish myth include Crom Cruiach, the Cailleach, and ofcourse the Ban Sidhe.

Tifone · #3 July 15th, 2008, 05:23 PM

For the wonderful Agartha, you can just check on wikipedia too. there is a huge page about this underground mysterious city

Caelum maybe reminds me the old Hawkmen from both Flash Gordon and He-Man. In latin as I think everybody knows, it means "sky".

Abysia could possibly be an original creation, but there are much more expert players than me, who played this game since Dominions: PPP, who will give you a better answer maybe

HoneyBadger · #4 July 15th, 2008, 05:32 PM

Agartha is the Hindu/Buddhist/Tibetan underworld paradise, sortof, with Shamballa as it's capital city.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agartha

The Agarthans themselves might be based on the Shaver mysteries, or Brad Steiger's article "The Hollow Earth, Myth or Reality" in 'Atlantis Rising'.

By the way, I use Wikipedia because it's often a good place to start this kind of research, but it should in no way be confused with ultimate wisdom on any given subject. It just makes it easier for me to point people in the right direction, on a specific subject.

Edi · #5 July 15th, 2008, 05:36 PM

Abysia is original, IIRC. It may have some influences from somewhere, but not a lot.

Tifone · #6 July 15th, 2008, 05:41 PM

No. The Agarthans are based on me. Tall, fat, pale, little arms and just one eye.

Oh well, actually, I'm the complete opposite

but I still love them

Endoperez · #7 July 15th, 2008, 05:42 PM

Manual has info on all nations that existed on release. Abysia, as an example, is explained as something with no clear sources. "Think of great temple ziggurats adorned with ever-burning braziers fed with still-beating hearts in pompous ceremonies" etc. Page 97 for Abysia.

For some nations, searching for the name will give surprising results. Agartha and Patala are some of these.

Tifone · #8 July 15th, 2008, 05:45 PM

Oh, oh, about that. I think they use HUMAN virgins' hearts for blood magic, right? Not from their own race? Someone thinks the other way?

Endoperez · #9 July 15th, 2008, 05:53 PM

There are no fire-resistant blood slaves....

Also, we don't even know if Abysians have genders. They were born from magma or something similar, as mentioned in some EA units' descriptions (Burning Ones etc), and Warlocks' Blood Magic was needed to "breed" Abysians with humans, demons etc. Garnet Amazons are mentioned to be a result of those experiments, so at least humanbreds appear in both varieties, and perhaps Abysians do as well.

thejeff · #10 July 15th, 2008, 05:58 PM

I believe blood slaves are all supposed to be human. They're not fire-resistant. They don't breathe water.

On the other hand you can hunt them in any land province regardless of population type. I guess even the lizardman swamps have lots of human virgins around?