Runemaster - Dev Diary 18 - World: Midgard

[SolSara]

This is a new concept to me..

There's a site called Grammarist that has an article on Dwarfs vs Dwarves:

Dwarfs is the standard plural of the noun dwarf. Dwarves is a newer variant popularized (though not invented) by English author J.R.R. Tolkien in his fantasy fiction works, including The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The Tolkien spelling is appropriate when referring to little people in fantasy worlds. Dwarfs is better everywhere else. (There is controversy over whether dwarf is ever a polite term for real-life people, but we won’t go into that here.)

Dwarf also works as a verb meaning to cause to appear small in size. In this sense, dwarf is inflected dwarfs, not dwarves, in the third-person singular present tense.

The below ngram graphs the occurrence of the dwarfs and the dwarves (with the definite article to remove instances of the verb sense) in a large number of English-langage texts published in the 20th century. Of course, it doesn’t show how the words are used, but it does indicate that dwarfs was much more common than dwarves at the start of the century, which is also apparent in historical Google Books searches limited to pre-1930 texts. That dwarves has gained ground in the decades since Tolkien’s books were published makes perfect sense, as his writing is very popular and widely discussed. Plus, due to his influence, dwarves now make its way into non-fantasy contexts much more often than it used to.

 

[V1ribus]

There's a site called Grammarist that has an article on Dwarfs vs Dwarves:

I think I'll find myself using that site quite a bit.

 

[newtlord]

We use "-elfs" as plural and "dwarfs" as plural, not "dwarves" and "-elves".

For whatever it's worth, the dictionaries I have to hand list "elves" as the only plural of "elf" in English. "Dwarfs", I will admit, is a an acceptable plural of "dwarf", albeit these days an uncommon one for this definition.

 

[Jamey]

We have bear cavalry, regular cavalry and stag cavalry. No moose though :/

First day DLC candidate?

Only if there are dwarf bear cavalry

Would dwarfs on goats suffice?

The Fall From Heaven 2 mod for Civ 4 includes Dwarven Boar Cavalry if you control a pig resource as one of the Dwarven factions. I always found it amusing.

 

[Ivashanko]

For whatever it's worth, the dictionaries I have to hand list "elves" as the only plural of "elf" in English. "Dwarfs", I will admit, is a an acceptable plural of "dwarf", albeit these days an uncommon one for this definition.

Yeah- 'dwarfs' is okay, but elfs probably isn't.

 

[Pte Baldrick]

There's a site called Grammarist that has an article on Dwarfs vs Dwarves:

Yeah, I think the introduction to either the Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit mentions it, as well.

 

[Pyoro]

Yeah- 'dwarfs' is okay, but elfs probably isn't.

It'll just mean that in another 100 years people will write articles how a Swedish RPG introduced "elfs" as an accepted plural into the English language...

 

[Thure]

It'll just mean that in another 100 years people will write articles how a Swedish RPG introduced "elfs" as an accepted plural into the English language...

Yes. I mean... didn't Shakespeare invented many words for the English language?

 

[Hector of Troy]

I've no questions. Just have one thing to say: I want this game badly , and I want it now. Don't you dare postponing Runemaster release date any time beyond the year of 2014, do you hear me Paradox team? I have even started getting into Norse mythology solely because of this game.

 

[wolfing]

I've no questions. Just have one thing to say: I want this game badly , and I want it now. Don't you dare postponing Runemaster release date any time beyond the year of 2014, do you hear me Paradox team? I have even started getting into Norse mythology solely because of this game.

you say that now, but when they come sometime around September saying "We'll have to push the game to Q1 2015 to give a few extra months of testing and polishing" you'll be like "great! I'd rather have a polished game later than a buggy game sooner".

I've learned that 99% of the time games are pushed from their initial estimated release time. It's like soccer, the game never ends at the 90th minute, there's always an extra 3-4 minutes

 

[StephenT]

Yeah- 'dwarfs' is okay, but elfs probably isn't.

If Paradox is going to make the plural of elf elfs rather than elves, then I hope they do the same in the Swedish version: 'alvs' rather than 'alver'.

 

[SolSara]

If Paradox is going to make the plural of elf elfs rather than elves, then I hope they do the same in the Swedish version: 'alvs' rather than 'alver'.

There won't be a Swedish version... And "-elfs" can be used, although it isn't as common as "-elves".

 

[KPJ]

I like dwarfs and elfs. They're fantasy creatures anyway, no reason all mythologies ought to conform to the same spelling.

Map looks pretty cool. Is all that text about the hills teeming with game, etc./, evidence that it is easy to gather food in Midgard?

 

[Hector of Troy]

you say that now, but when they come sometime around September saying "We'll have to push the game to Q1 2015 to give a few extra months of testing and polishing" you'll be like "great! I'd rather have a polished game later than a buggy game sooner".

I've learned that 99% of the time games are pushed from their initial estimated release time. It's like soccer, the game never ends at the 90th minute, there's always an extra 3-4 minutes

I totally agree with you, don´t pay attention to my childish rant. I have also been craving for Mount and Blade Bannerlord. Still, I am on the side of those who will keep repeating in the official forum " Please don't put any pressure on the developers' shoulders in regard to deadlines". A game is ready when it's ready. Quality is what really matters.

In fact, there is nothing more disappointing than waiting a long time for a game you want very much only to learn afterwards the final result is nothing but a horrible half-finished alpha game full of errors.

 

[Abnwtwtud]

I like dwarfs and elfs. They're fantasy creatures anyway, no reason all mythologies ought to conform to the same spelling.

Map looks pretty cool. Is all that text about the hills teeming with game, etc./, evidence that it is easy to gather food in Midgard?

Wait, have they said anything about gathering food being needed in terms of the game? I don't think they've said anything about logistics unless I've missed it somewhere.

 

[EmperorTojo]

Yes. I mean... didn't Shakespeare invented many words for the English language?

Shakespeare is the granddaddy of English language.

 

[KPJ]

Wait, have they said anything about gathering food being needed in terms of the game? I don't think they've said anything about logistics unless I've missed it somewhere.

Hmm, I'm not sure I have either, so I guess I'm asking what effects if any the 'climate/terrain' of a region has on armies.

 

[Pyoro]

Some basic stuff like in Expeditions: Conquistador might be pretty neat. Set up camp for the night, send out hunters, scouts, post some guards, maybe get attacked, or find something interesting...

 

[CorruptedSanity]

I like dwarfs and elfs. They're fantasy creatures anyway, no reason all mythologies ought to conform to the same spelling.

That does make sense... But I admit I'm going to have to take some time to get used to seeing them spelled like that . I'm just... Very used to seeing "dwarves" and "elves"

 

[Birken]

Only if there are dwarf bear cavalry

Perhaps a chariot pulled by several dwarven bears?