 Mommy says I'm special |
Lady Nerevar
Marquise
Registration Date: 2006.01.04
Posts: 1,362
Location: Not in hiding anymore
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currently, highrock is essentially medieval europe. as much as I love
europe, highrock needs to be different from it. so, I would like to
discus how to make it its own province, not just europe in Tamriel.
this should be achieved mostly through the incorporation of
non-european elements into the province's design.
since architecture is still in progress, perhaps we can mix in some
nontraditional elements? ornate wood carvings, incorporated along the
roofs, windows, and doors of upper and middle class houses, could add
some extra flavor:
  
a more unique approach can also be used in things like clothing,
equipment, and decoration, which will help to break up the europe-ness
of the province.
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2008.10.18 00:25 |
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Lady Nerevar
Marquise
Registration Date: 2006.01.04
Posts: 1,362
Location: Not in hiding anymore
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nordic inspiration is a good start, as is more Mediterranean design
further south towards hammerfell. yes, players may be expecting
europe... but remember, generic is one of the major thing people hated
about oblivion. I dont think some asian or slavic influence in a 'curve
ball,' its just a little variety in something which is otherwise very
familiar (and may be boring for some). I think making it cool and
unique is enough justification to add little details to architecture.
the architecture suggested in the other thread is already quite good,
in some cases great, but I think adding some small variety (brightly
colored accents, wood carvings, tile, etc.) would turn them up a notch,
taking them from european to highrock.
actually, my mom doesnt say I'm special 
I just like using spiffy titles.
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2008.10.18 01:27 |
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The Old Ye Bard
Princess
Registration Date: 2006.05.25
Posts: 3,663
Location: Post-Feminism
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| quote: |
Originally posted by Lady Nerevar
nordic inspiration is a good start, as is more Mediterranean design
further south towards hammerfell. yes, players may be expecting
europe... but remember, generic is one of the major thing people hated
about oblivion. I dont think some asian or slavic influence in a 'curve
ball,' its just a little variety in something which is otherwise very
familiar (and may be boring for some). I think making it cool and
unique is enough justification to add little details to architecture.
the architecture suggested in the other thread is already quite good,
in some cases great, but I think adding some small variety (brightly
colored accents, wood carvings, tile, etc.) would turn them up a notch,
taking them from european to highrock.
actually, my mom doesnt say I'm special
I just like using spiffy titles. |
Well currently, Betony isn't using generic architecture (I've been
trying to give it a Hammerfellian edge -which you'll see once I upload
the latest pics), Wayrest is more Mediterranean, Orsinuim is waaaay out
there in terms of Architecture, Farrun is going to be unique being
built ontop of a Fjord with glacial water running through it, with lots
of bridges and Nordic influences, Jehanna has a strong Nordic Influence
in it's architecture (if not the strongest) and Shornhelm has a very
strong Imperial influence (basically the design right now is 'bruma, if
it had looked like an Imperial City' and it looks very nice).
The only major city's that are actually more 'Breton' than anything
else are Camlorn, Northpoint, Daggerfall, and Evermore (though I'm
trying right now to make some unique things for Evermore).
Also, you have to remember High Rock has always meant to be the most
medieval of all provinces in Tamriel, we can't just change this because
it has the possibility, infact the oringinal pge actually explicitly
states everything looking the same, and that you only need to see once
town to have seen all of High Rock -we aren't dealing with one of the
more stylistially differnt provinces of Tamriel, we can't just go off
on random tangents.
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2008.10.18 01:40 |
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MarcusAurelio
First Knight
Registration Date: 2008.02.24
Posts: 156
Location: Tallinn , Estland
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| quote: |
Originally posted by nick_op
I agree, perhaps some more eastern european architecture could be taken
as influence, rather than the more typical western europe that we're
used to seeing.
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I think the nomad-Reachmen and their villages should take care of that problem.
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2008.10.18 02:03 |
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Gez
Guardian
Registration Date: 2006.06.19
Posts: 53
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Just pointing out that Europe is a very diverse place and that
"European architecture" encompasses more variety than can reasonably be
contained in a single game. Even within just one European country large
enough to have several regions (like Germany, France, the UK, Spain,
Italy...) there are many different traditional styles. This doesn't look like this nor like this.
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2008.10.18 04:07 |
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The Old Ye Bard
Princess
Registration Date: 2006.05.25
Posts: 3,663
Location: Post-Feminism
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| quote: |
Originally posted by Gez
Just pointing out that Europe is a very diverse place and that
"European architecture" encompasses more variety than can reasonably be
contained in a single game. Even within just one European country large
enough to have several regions (like Germany, France, the UK, Spain,
Italy...) there are many different traditional styles. This doesn't look like this nor like this. |
Only one of those links work.
And I agree europe is very diverse, it's not like we are short on inspiring imagery.
But, like I said we can't go too far away from established traditions, we can't make things differnt just to be differnt,
it's not like High Rock is as culturally unique as Hammerfell which had
lots of room work with, High Rock is meant to be rather plain, and the
lore backing this up:
| quote: |
PGE, First Edition
Although the Bretons are divided into numerous mutually antagonistic
factions, to the outsider a singular uniformity in dress, architecture,
and customs prevails throughout the land. Bretons are not an
imaginative people, a legacy of the Elves, perhaps, and traditional
ways are not lightly abandoned. Their villages are pleasant collections
of half-timbered structures of one or two stories, with the rustic inn,
a shop or two, and perhaps a lordly manor completing the picture. The
traveler need not visit more than a handful of Breton communities
before satisfying himself that he has captured the flavor of the whole.
The people, too, despite their cherished particularism, are remarkably
similar in name, accent, and dress throughout the province. It may be
that this unacknowledged homogeneity bodes well for the future harmony
of High Rock. |
The architecture needs to be close to each other, but not reusing it.
e.g. Half-timering would be found throught the province, the differnce
being things like in Wayrest with Terracotta tiled roofs, and more
stonework with it being lighter in colour, or in Jehanna where it would
be found, however the wood work would be more Nordic with intricate
carvings, and steeper roofs so that snow doesn't build up and cause
damage - to the outsider, this would seem close, however on further
inspection the culture could be seen bleeding through.
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2008.10.18 06:45 |
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Lady Nerevar
Marquise
Registration Date: 2006.01.04
Posts: 1,362
Location: Not in hiding anymore
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so, since architecture is out of the question...
... how about including some less generic european references in other
things? namely weapons, clutter, and clothing? clothing for example
could follow a traditional renaissance cut and style but have trims not
typically found in renaissance europe (such as those from the east and
africa).
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2008.10.21 00:30 |
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Coinneach
Knight
Registration Date: 2007.01.31
Posts: 77
Location: Alba
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how about a more celtic influence in the north west inland areas? Possibly some La Tene
architecture amongst sheperds and bards in the hills. I think that
having a celtic influence would be interesting, especially since High
Rock is a very factionalized and splintered place, theres not very much
of a uniform culture? 
just ideas 
__________________
Writer, Ideas, Concept
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2008.10.21 01:25 |
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The Old Ye Bard
Princess
Registration Date: 2006.05.25
Posts: 3,663
Location: Post-Feminism
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| quote: |
Originally posted by Lady Nerevar
so, since architecture is out of the question...
... how about including some less generic european references in other
things? namely weapons, clutter, and clothing? clothing for example
could follow a traditional renaissance cut and style but have trims not
typically found in renaissance europe (such as those from the east and
africa). |
It would probably be most appropriate in areas closest to Hammerfell,
or Orsinuim, though in the areas closer to Skyrim, you'd find much more
of a Nordic Influence, furs appearing in the clothing, etc.
I do beleive that in Shadowkey, there was Ra'Gada weapondry and armour
throughout the High Rock areas, which would provide a basis for a
Redguard/Orinental/African influence.
It would be great if you could do some of that great concept art of yours to illustrate your ideas clearly 
If you do, I'll see if I can find some good fabrics to photograph for source imagery, for making the textures
(either to be applied as retexes, or for new models).
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2008.10.21 01:51 |
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IAMTHEEMPEROR
Duke
Registration Date: 2006.07.04
Posts: 1,965
Location: New England
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2008.10.26 06:36 |
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IAMTHEEMPEROR
Duke
Registration Date: 2006.07.04
Posts: 1,965
Location: New England
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I know, that one really caught my eye as well. I'd love to see a city
in that style. It's still substantially European, which by all right
High Rock should be, moreso than Oblivion, but retains the
individuality people are looking for. When anyone complains about High
Rock just being another fantasy European environment like Oblivion,
throw a city that looks like that at them. |
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2008.11.02 06:13 |
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IAMTHEEMPEROR
Duke
Registration Date: 2006.07.04
Posts: 1,965
Location: New England
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Well, that sure doesn't look like any American architecture I've seen,
unless you mean Latin America. But I'm positive that High Rock is meant
to be European, especially French, as the Breton NPC's in Oblivion now
have almost-French Accents. |
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2008.11.02 18:50 |
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Lady Nerevar
Marquise
Registration Date: 2006.01.04
Posts: 1,362
Location: Not in hiding anymore
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2008.11.02 18:54 |
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Gez
Guardian
Registration Date: 2006.06.19
Posts: 53
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| quote: |
Originally posted by IAMTHEEMPEROR
I know, that one really caught my eye as well. I'd love to see a city
in that style. It's still substantially European, which by all right
High Rock should be, moreso than Oblivion, but retains the
individuality people are looking for. When anyone complains about High
Rock just being another fantasy European environment like Oblivion,
throw a city that looks like that at them. |
All the pictures you've quoted have been taken in France, aren't they?
Just goes back to what I was saying about "generic European" -- there's
no such thing. Just in one country (okay, admittedly, the largest
Western European country) you've got all these different architectural
styles.
PS: For those who claim the links didn't work, you just have to reload; but here are imageshack mirrors:
Also, about Breton architecture, I'd recommand taking a hint from Brittany:
http://www.servanoa.nl/Fotos/France2007/bretagne.htm
http://flickr.com/photos/16322168@N00/362137703/
http://picasaweb.google.com/guillemotdet...226355210752274
You'll notice that, even within just one region, there's still a lot of
interesting variations: compare, for example, the following pairs:
 
 
This post has been edited 1 time(s), it was last edited by Gez: 2008.11.02 19:27.
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2008.11.02 19:12 |
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*gives a cookie*
