UPDATED May 28th, 2013 Dwarf Fortress is almost tailor-made to tell Greek Comedies and Tragedies. As such, this is a serial adventurer/fort game where adventurers do great deeds and possibly retire on Mt. Olympus, if judged worthy by the Players who have taken the roles of the various Greek gods. The most popular suggestions of the week before will be placed in a weekly poll determining what the next Great Task to be accomplished should be, simulating the Council of the Gods. Gods themselves will be able to increase their reputations (and therefore standing in the Pantheon) by either building one of the locations/lairs from Greek Mythology in the proper place (fortress mode) or sponsoring a Hero to undertake one of the heroic journeys from Greek Mythology (adventure mode). A third way to gain reputation is through worship - civilizations who have had a "close encounter" with one of the Gods may engrave walls or statues about them. Any time a specific player's God is mentioned in an artifact, that Deity will also increase their reputation.
Zanzetkuken The Great has done up a series of
maps for Ancient Greece in PerfectWorldDF for use with the game.
There will be two versions of the map, one Medium and one Large, known as "Mythos Minor" and "Mythos Major"
According to how the new poll goes, Mythos Minor and/or Mythos Major may be used as testing grounds for the new modifications until all the changes have been completed.
When I mentioned that the lack of boats might be problematic, Rumrusher suggested that skipping mine-carts across oceans could work instead, so our Helen of Troy won't have "The beard that launched a thousand carts" after all. (
Update: so the skipping minecarts idea doesn't work after all - guess the Heroes will have to teach their companions to swim instead.)
To Do:
add giant fire breathing cattle to the creature list
add Cerebus, the giant three-headed mastiff to the creature list (possibly as a "cave titan" or something?)
find a way for Deities to curse people into becoming "animal-men"
remove all the inappropriate "animal-people"
add the twelve pre-Olympian Titans in as specifically named pseudo-FB's
add each of the Gods as a specific adventuring entity using the special body stats provided by sackhead
Fix Ithica so it's no longer a peninsula
add satyrs in as a adventuring race (A type of demigod)
add in deity "powers" like Dionysius' ability to make women into maenids
add in fire breathing horses for Helios' Chariot of the Sun
add the Greek (sounding) language file
add in special Greek weaponry and armour
include a glossary of terms so players will know what each item is and how it was historically used
move the [THOUGHT] tag from the brain to the heart
change the creature and plant lists to reflect area specific creatures only (adding any missing flora and fauna as needed)
add in amphorae and clay pots with black/red "engravings" on them
more stuff to be added as the discussions continue...
Players may be any God "created" after the twelve Titans. (Any deity below the shaded boxes in
this chart.)
The mortal races of Mythic Greece:
The Golden Men, Firstborn
First of all the deathless gods who dwell on Olympus, made a golden race of mortal men who lived in the time of Cronos when he was reigning in heaven. And they lived like gods without sorrow of heart, remote and free from toil and grief: miserable age rested not on them; but with legs and arms never failing they made merry with feasting beyond the reach of all evils. When they died, it was as though they were overcome with sleep, and they had all good things; for the fruitful earth unforced bare them fruit abundantly and without stint. They dwelt in ease and peace upon their lands with many good things, rich in flocks and loved by the blessed gods. These are named today, "Elves".
The Silver Men
They who dwell on Olympus made a second generation which was of silver and less noble by far. It was like the golden race neither in body nor in spirit. A child was brought up at his good mother's side an hundred years, an utter simpleton, playing childishly in his own home. But when they were full grown and were come to the full measure of their prime, they lived only a little time in sorrow because of their foolishness, for they could not keep from sinning and from wronging one another, nor would they serve the immortals, nor sacrifice on the holy altars of the blessed ones as it is right for mortals to do wherever they dwell. Then Zeus the son of Cronos was angry and put them away, because they would not give honour to the blessed gods who live on Olympus. These are named today, "Kobolds".
The Bronze Men
Zeus the Father made a third generation of mortal men, a brazen race, sprung from the
nymphs of the ash trees and it was in no way equal to the silver race, but was terrible and strong. They loved the lamentable works of Ares and deeds of violence; they ate no bread, but were hard of heart and terrible of deed. Great was their strength and unconquerable the arms which grew from their shoulders on their strong limbs. These are named today "Goblins"
The Demi-gods
Zeus the son of Cronos made yet another, the fourth, upon the fruitful earth, which was nobler and more righteous, a god-like race of heros who are called demi-gods, the race before our own, throughout the boundless earth. Grim war and dread battle will destroy a part of them, some in the land of Cadmus at seven-gated Thebe when they will fight for the flocks of Oedipus, and some, when it brings them in ships over the great sea gulf to Troy for rich-haired Helen's sake: there death's end will enshroud a part of them. But to the others father Zeus the son of Cronos will give a living and an abode apart from men, on the steep slopes of fair Olympus. These are named today "Humans"
The Iron Men
Again far-seeing Zeus made yet another generation, the fifth, of mortals who are upon the bounteous earth.
Thereafter, would that I were not among the men of the fifth generation, but either had died before or been born afterwards. For now truly is a race of iron, and we never rest from labour and sorrow by day, and from perishing by night; and the gods lay sore trouble upon them. But, notwithstanding, even these shall have some good mingled with their evils. And Zeus will destroy this race of mortals also in time. The father will not agree with his children, nor the children with their father, nor guest with his host, nor comrade with comrade; nor will brother be dear to brother as aforetime. Men will dishonour their parents as they grow quickly old, and will feed them to carp, chiding them with bitter words, hard-hearted they, not knowing the fear of the gods. They will not repay their aged parents the cost their nurture, for might shall be their right: and one man will sack another's city. There will be no favour for the man who keeps his oath or for the just or for the good; but rather men will praise the evil-doer and his violent dealing. Strength will be right and reverence will cease to be; and the wicked will hurt the worthy man, speaking false words against him, and will swear an oath upon them. Envy, foul-mouthed, delighting in evil, with scowling face, will go along with wretched men one and all. And then Aidos and Nemesis, with their sweet forms wrapped in white robes, will go from the wide-pathed earth and forsake mankind to join the company of the deathless gods: and bitter sorrows will be left for mortal men, and there will be no help against evil. These all know are named today "Dwarves"
Gods claimed:
sackhead: The Titan, Prometheus son of Iapetus, Trickster, Fire-thief and Champion of Mortal Men
Zanzetkuken The Great: The Titan, Atlas son of Iapetus, Lord of Astronomy and Navigation
laularukyrumo: The Goddess, Enyo daughter of Zeus, Destroyer of Cities and Goddess of War
Eric Blank: The God, Dionysus son of Zeus, God of Wine, Ritual madness and Ecstasy
Em3rgency: The God, Hades son of Cronus, Keeper of the Underworld and God of Death
Thegoatgod_Pan: The God, Pan son of Dionysus, God of the Wilds, Companion of the Nymphs
Paaaad: The Oceanid, Styx daughter of Oceanus, Oathbinder and Boundary Keeper
Pie Maker: The Titan, Helios son of Hyperion, Suncrowned and Brother to the Moon
Zoolimar: The God, Hephaestus son of Zeus, Clever Artificer and God of Metal and Volcanoes
The Master: The Goddess, Artemis daughter of Demeter, Mistress of the hunt, the wilderness, childbirth and virginity