Camels?

[FiveDisgruntledMonkeysWit]

My question is... Why not?

We have some mamilian mounts already in Zalanthas... Could it be possible that camels, or an animal similar to them, had survived througout the ages? I mean, they are sort of -made- for desert travel.

I ask because I've been interested in Zalathan mounts recently (not sure why). I've been writing up new mounts, tinkering around mounted combat in game, that sort of thing. I think it'd be nifty to have a new type of mount, even if incredibly rare. Just some musings, of course... I'm not planning on having it happen. What IC explanation would there be for a whole new species popping up and being domesticated within the span of an IC week? :wink:   Just wondered what your thoughts might be.

[Frog Fairy]

Surely camels would make sense.
Then again, I must admit that I really like the fact that most of the creatures in Zalanthas are very different from those on earth.
I feel that this stresses the fact that this planet is truly something very much different from what we're used to.
It makes things exotic!

Riding enormous bugs is very exotic and weird.
Riding a beetle makes me think I'm starring in a SciFi-movie with a Dune-like setting and plot.
Riding a camel would probably make me feel like I was starring in a Bollywood movie.
I would be expecting the fighters to drop their weapons and launch a singing-dancing-scene with a phony background of the Swiss alps at any moment, hehe.

[Yasbusta]

Never seen a camel, but I have seen a coupld of horses, been quite some time since I've seen one, so might have been taken away from the game but they used to be extreemly rare. If horses are around I don't see why Camels might not have made it in some form or another.

[FiveDisgruntledMonkeysWit]

That's what I was referring too when I said 'we have some mammilian mounts already', Yasbusta. But I guess we'll never have camels, for fear of everyone breaking out into their own version of 'Arabian Nights' from Walt Disney's 'Aladdin'.

'Aladdin', by the way, is the greatest Disney movie ever.

[JollyGreenGiant]

Emperor's New Groove was funnier, I thought.

[Dakkon Black]

The narrow glared templar arrives from the west, riding a short haired camel.

The narrow glared Templar adjusts the dynamite under his Turban before riding off.

The narrow glared templar leaves to the west, riding a short haired camel.

Think well... thats a frikken special app and a half

[Uber-sensitive]

I'm not sure about the camels, but I'll have to disagree with you on the Aladdin thing.  That certainly was not the best Disney movie, mostly due to the way Arabs were depicted in it and some of its aspects were decidedly demeaning to the Arab people, in my perception.

First of all, there's at least one line in the theme song, something like "It's barbaric, but hey, it's home" that really stands out as just wrong.  Though it might not have been intended to do so, it's effectively stating that the Arab culture or the people themselves were barbaric.  It could be describing the land they inhabit, but the quality of being barbaric would usually be associated with people, of course.  I'm not saying this was intentional...though it may be, knowing Disney's attitudes over the years, but this line seems a bit demeaning.

Secondly, the portrayal of Arabs in the movie isn't really right.  The hero has fair skin, and if my memory is right so is Jasmine, implying that those with fairer skin are on the "right" side.  On the other side, one can see that the guards who often chase Aladdin and are supposed to be considered the enemy and evil have dark skin and are often drawn with cruel facial expressions.  Though it may or may not have been intentional, this could possibly lead one to associate those with fair skin as good people, and Arabs with dark skin as bad people out to kill or imprison those with the lighter skin tones.  At least, that's how I see it.

Of course, this isn't really associated with the topic, just my explanation of why I disagree with the statement that Aladdin was the best Disney animated movie.  The associations of ideas and appearances may not be intentional, and I could have been high, I don't know...but that's just how I see it.

Oh, and the best Disney animated movie was probably "Beauty and the Beast".  Classic theme, it's pretty amusing and the interpretation of the text is pretty good in the animations...couldn't see many stereotypes in that one, except maybe for the French-sounding candle guy.  Of course, I was about 6 when I watched it first, so there might have been something else.

Actually...damn, you can't hardly find a Disney movie that doesn't somehow insult some culture subtly or blatantly.  And, I just may be uber-sensitive to corporate jerks trying to emotionally or phsycologically damage my fellow human being.

[Malifaxis]

*GASP*

Are you referring to Our Lord Disney in a less than sanctimonious tone???!??!?!

Are you SUGGESTING that *POSSIBLY* Our Lord Disney's motives are somehow *less* than pure?!

Next you'll be saying that they exploit children, are racist, are bad for the environment, and work sexual symbols and messages in to the animations!

SHAME!!! SHAME!!!! SHAME ON YOU!!!!!

[Carnage]

You know, it's polite to not derail other peoples threads regarding the game with blither about how a Disney movie was racist and sarcastic conspiracy theories against Walt Disney.

[Anonymous]

Hrrrmmm...I always though that everyone in Aladdin was darker skinned...been some time since I watched it though...
Then again, I'm not so focused on the color of people's skin...perhaps you are too focused on such things yourself.
I think people are too damned sensitive about such things...I've black friends who I give crap about eating too much fried chicken, latin friends who I give shit about eating too many burritos, gay friends who I mess with about...well, I won't mention it here...and they all give me just as much crap in return...because we all know how -ridiculous- it all really is.

[FiveDisgruntledMonkeysWit]

... I just liked Robin Williams as Genie...  :cry:

Anyways, a big thank you out to Carnage, mentioning the severe derailing of this thread (though I, the original poster, started it, heh). Come on guys, let's not have this land in the Idle OOC Forum. Does anyone out there have ideas as to why or why not camels should appear in game? Any other real-life or Dark Sun based mounts you'd like to see?

I'm just desperate to get some non-Disney related discussion going... Although I'll admit the Emperor's New Groove was funny stuff. :wink:

[Malifaxis]

Okay, okay...

rerailment attempt #1:

I also would love to see a few more non-reptilian, non-insectoid mount types.  An avian, or even semi-avian mount (perhaps with wings that don't enable it to fly long distances, but to do a two to three room 'hop' in a specified direction.

I, personally, have always thought that HGs should be mountable by the smaller races, with of course a command they can use like 'toss' or something to get rid of an unwanted rider.

Camels would be cool, but I really enjoy the fact of how rare and coveted any sort of 'horse' type mount is.  Maybe if zalanthan camels were even stronger willed and more annoying to deal with than earth camels?  Prone to taking off at a gallop, biting the riders etc?  I mean, there would have to be some bad side to having a camel... the things are damn near tireless on earth (from what I have heard).

One thing I've always wanted to see is some sort of mount with a limited telepathic capacity, kind of like out of the Horseclans series by Robert Adams... you rent it, name it, and then if you get separated, you can contact your mount, issue it an order to find out, and it can begin to track you or somesuch.  Extremely rare, of course, but I could see several plot arcs developing over obtaining such a beast, up to and including raiding it from an opposing faction, or even telepathically contacting it and bribing it.

In the realm of insectoid mounts... a centipede mount would rule for subterranean travel.  Perhaps slightly phosphorescent and aggressive to any 'artificially' generated light - IE torches, glow crystals, balls of fire/light.

Just a few ideas from my sleep dep addled mind.  On with the show, and hopefully the original purpose of this thread.

Next?

[Carnage]

even telepathically contacting it and bribing it.

What do you bribe a telepathic horse with? 'I swear, if you run away I'll give you the SWEETEST bed made out of hay and all the oats you can eat!'

[Rindan]

I personally always toyed with the idea of an extremely slow, but long lasting mount.  Picture a mount that basically never really got tired and could carry a terrifying amount of weight.  The down side is that first, the creature being extremely slow.  Make it 10 or more seconds between moving.  Second, it would not be able to be stabled in normal stables.  So, it would be a large lumbering creature that moved very slowly, but was very steady and reliable.  It would be the ideal beast for a dune trader, nomad, or long distance hunter.  Of course, if you get into trouble you would need to fight it off, as the creature would not be able to run away.  It would be the perfect creature to use when exploring.  It could easily go the distance, and if you end up leaving it for a few hours, no worries, because if it is not there when you return because someone stole it, it is a simple matter to follow its tracks.  It isn't like it could have gotten very far.  It would be sort of like a poor man's caravan.  It would be much slower then a caravan, and have absolutely no defense (not even running would be an option), but with a proper escort and enough time an independent merchant might be able to haul in a good load.

[witchman]

cripes if we add camels it won't be long before we have camel hair jackets or, even worse, camel toes.
*shiver*

The camel-toed templar wanders into the tavern, a smirk of pleasure on his face.

[Lazloth]

[EDIT]  Literary devices inserted.

cripes if we add camels it won't be long before we have camel hair jackets or, even worse, camel toes.

The camel-toed templar wanders into the tavern, a smirk of pleasure on his face.

His?  You really redefine the concept of effeminate in my eyes.

So remember, remember, remember
Never underestimate the effeminate templar
For his eyes are wise
And wild.

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

Picture a mount that basically never really got tired and could carry a terrifying amount of weight.  The down side is that first, the creature being extremely slow.  Make it 10 or more seconds between moving.  Second, it would not be able to be stabled in normal stables.  So, it would be a large lumbering creature that moved very slowly, but was very steady and reliable.  It would be the ideal beast for a dune trader, nomad, or long distance hunter.  Of course, if you get into trouble you would need to fight it off, as the creature would not be able to run away.  It would be the perfect creature to use when exploring.  It could easily go the distance, and if you end up leaving it for a few hours, no worries, because if it is not there when you return because someone stole it, it is a simple matter to follow its tracks.  It isn't like it could have gotten very far.  It would be sort of like a poor man's caravan.  It would be much slower then a caravan, and have absolutely no defense (not even running would be an option), but with a proper escort and enough time an independent merchant might be able to haul in a good load.

I like.

[Anonymous]

I personally always toyed with the idea of an extremely slow, but long lasting mount. Picture a mount that basically never really got tired and could carry a terrifying amount of weight. The down side is that first, the creature being extremely slow. Make it 10 or more seconds between moving. Second, it would not be able to be stabled in normal stables. So, it would be a large lumbering creature that moved very slowly, but was very steady and reliable. It would be the ideal beast for a dune trader, nomad, or long distance hunter. Of course, if you get into trouble you would need to fight it off, as the creature would not be able to run away. It would be the perfect creature to use when exploring. It could easily go the distance, and if you end up leaving it for a few hours, no worries, because if it is not there when you return because someone stole it, it is a simple matter to follow its tracks. It isn't like it could have gotten very far. It would be sort of like a poor man's caravan. It would be much slower then a caravan, and have absolutely no defense (not even running would be an option), but with a proper escort and enough time an independent merchant might be able to haul in a good load.

I submitted a proposal for something like that about a year ago.  I was thinking plains ox might be big enough.  Basically I was thinking something that even at its fastest gallop would be slower than walking, but would be strong enough to hold a mul and several full bags of hides or what have you.

The idea was not accepted.

[Mr.Camel]

Yes, Camels would be a good idea. Heh, my grandfather owns some camels, i've ridden them and they are very uncomfortable, not really agile, but can walk for days without tiring and dont need even half as much food/water a horse needs, in other words, Camels are only good at travelling. They were used in battles sometimes, but only because of the lack of horses, or the rough terrain.
-------------------------------------------------------------
oh, and i dont like my culture being offended the way it was in Aladdin

[Angela Christine]

Yes, Camels would be a good idea. Heh, my grandfather owns some camels, i've ridden them and they are very uncomfortable, not really agile, but can walk for days without tiring and dont need even half as much food/water a horse needs, in other words, Camels are only good at travelling. They were used in battles sometimes, but only because of the lack of horses, or the rough terrain.

Heh, they sound just like kanks.  Except less insectoid.  

Angela Christine