OT: Malazan Book of the Fallen

[Lazy_Perfectionist]

Not a fan of Mercedes Lackey?

While her quality varies from series to series (Valdemar series is highly predictable... look, a magic horse! Guess who's joining up with them! And you can often tell within two paragraphs of meeting who's going to be the love interest) she has a few interesting ones to her name.

Namely, the Halfblood series starting with Elvenbane, and my favorite standalone novel by her, Firebird. Firebird isn't relevenant to this discussion, but the Halfblood puts an interesting twist on the whole fantasy racial sterotypes since Tolkein, what with evil elves enslaving all of humanity and the main character being raised by dragons as a pet rather than out of some draconic nobility. And the the only reason dragons are involved in the world's affairs is the simple fact they like to meddle, not any ambition, vengeance, or purpose.

That novel is rather interesting for having a draconic culture developed, rather than a stereotype.

There is of course, still a place for fearsome monstrous or noble dragons, just as long as they're not typecast the same way in 80% of all books they appear in.

[dirtywick]

I bought House of Chains in an airport once. It was more of a chore to read than enjoyable, and I've avoided anything written by him since.

[Kristoffer O]

I fully agree with you Honeybadger.

[Omnirizon]

on the topic of cliche fantasy (such as dragons)

JRPG's made airships totally cliche, but I still really like airships, and wish there was a game (even a roguelike) built around them. In fact, I kind of have a concept for an airship based fantasy in my head; it is kind of like the setting from Time of Defiance, but in a fantasy period. There are no races, only 'societies' (I've always thought races were not only cliche, but superfluous).

I'd go in more depth, but I don't want to hijack the thread, bore people, or have my material taken

making this game (as a roguelike) is one of my life goals
going into outer space is the other. I actually think both are attainable.

[HoneyBadger]

Thanks Kristoffer Does that mean you'll consider reassessing the role and image of dragons in the game?

I don't want to be harsh, I just find what's been done so far to be uninspiredly reminiscent of D&D, which is very jarring to encounter in Dominions.