The Peshwa

[Havard]

How do you see the Peshwa? The ZG material seems to present them as Native Americans, but I have always seem them as Scythians or some similar European/Middle Eastern Horseman culture. The Fremen of Dune have also been an inspiration for this people IMC.

Havard

[aldarron]

Well, in the mortality radio interview Dave cites Robert Adams/Horseclans as being an early ifluence on his game material. So, the original inclusion of horsemen of the plains was no doubt a direct result of the popularity of the Horseclans series at the time. Probably the original idea was that they were culturally somewhat similar or based on the horeclans peoples, which in turn, likely has a lot of plains indians influence.

[Havard]

Well, in the mortality radio interview Dave cites Robert Adams/Horseclans as being an early ifluence on his game material. So, the original inclusion of horsemen of the plains was no doubt a direct result of the popularity of the Horseclans series at the time. Probably the original idea was that they were culturally somewhat similar or based on the horeclans peoples, which in turn, likely has a lot of plains indians influence.

Interesting! I have never read the Horseclan series, but I did find alot of interesting stuff about the series on the net. Plains indians influence is acceptable, but am I right that the culture of that series was medieval rather than paleolithic in terms of technology? Googling some of the covers from the Horseclan series novels does not exactly give me a Native American feel:



I like the idea of some of the Horseclan members having telepathic abilities, some being immortal as well as the saber tooth tigers... 8)

-Havard

[aldarron]

Yeah I haven't read them either, but there would have to be some degree of plains indian influence I should think.

[Rafael]

There might be a more accessible and more visual approach to the "Peshwa" as a rider people.

NOT Arnesonian at all, but my personal approach to the theme, and close to Robert Adams, apparently.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Heroic ... _of_Arslan

Here some videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oxvzU0AYBs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ormh1VXR4cQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqaNU8Lo8X0

[Havard]

That is interesting Rafe! Those were some cool videos. One thing that struck me though was that these riders are very clearly European-looking and seem to have a medieval level of technology. Is that a concious decision on your part to portray the Peshwa as such?

Here is a cool picture I found of Sarmatian Horsemen, which also could be an interesting model:

http://melissa-ridge.melissaisd.org/mod ... rsemen.jpg

I'm not discarding the Plains Indians influence, but I would prefer to keep it as a cultural/philosphical influence and allow the Peshwa to use western style armor and weapons, possibly with a slightly oriental feel.

-Havard

[Rafael]

Well, the historical Peshwah/Proto-Persians were Indo-Europeans, and to this day there are many blonde and blue eyed Iranians.
So, as strange as it may seem, the depiction in the anime is legit.

[aldarron]

I'm not discarding the Plains Indians influence, but I would prefer to keep it as a cultural/philosphical influence and allow the Peshwa to use western style armor and weapons, possibly with a slightly oriental feel.

-Havard

Indeed. Plains indians had rifles for about half as long as they had horses, so technologicaly speaking, they wouldn't be a good model. In my head I see the warrior ethos, counting coup, and maybe facepaint being things that would be present in a "horseclans" type culture if influenced by Native Americans. The teepee, because it is so eminently practical and transportable would be the likely form of shelter. Beyond that.....

[garolek]

The Sarmatians made scale-mail armour out of horse hooves. How cool is that?

- Alfred

[Rizak the Really Horrible]

I see them as the kind of Arabian horsemasters that I've always enjoyed from such movies as Lawrence of Arabia and The Wind and the Lion. Unarmoured, lightning fast, honourable and led by a master tactician.