ToME Wiki
Ingeborg Nordén
Email: <runelady AT SPAMFREE chorus DOT net>
ToME fans probably know me best as the creator/maintainer of T-Plus; if you're wondering when the next release will be out, I'm still trying to work the kinks out of the new god-code. I've also added some new "standard" artifacts to the standard game; the other three artifact crossbow bolts, for instance, are meant to fill a few gaps for archers specialized in that weapon. More recently, though, I've begun shifting my priorities from expanding ToME to getting Norseband out of the "vaporware" stage. (In plain English, I've talked about doing a Nordic-themed variant for years and tweaked some edit files--but now I'm dead serious about taking the project further.)
A lot of people who just want to play Norseband have asked me whether it's going to be a module for T-Engine or a variant in its own right. Believe it or not, the answer is "both": One independent release will be based on TheFury's Furyband game; he and I have collaborated on that version, which is still in an unreleased alpha stage. The other release of Norseband will be a module for T-Engine 3. Why do both? Partly because T-Engine 2 is more familiar to most developers and players; I'd like to give them a game that plays and runs in the way they understand best. I also decided on two versions because T-Engine 3 is still an alpha-stage program: It looks very promising for module-makers, since DarkGod and NeilStevens have gone out of their way to use players' ideas and suggestions. Still, much of the engine is unfinished; when a stable version finally exists, I'm looking forward to what it will allow next.
Name that bad guy!
As some of you know, I've been brainstorming about a new version of T-Plus lately. I finally have a coherent story to justify the mixed-world setting, and intend to create some original material (monsters, items, places) related to the end villain and his "New Alliance" of interdimensional evil.
Other than mapmaking, my biggest problem so far is this: What should I name the end villain himself? I'd prefer an original name and description, not one taken from an existing work of fiction--this character exists outside of anyone else's world. If you've got a name worth using (no silly or obscene suggestions, please), post it here; I'll select the best of your submissions based on originality and suitability to the game.
DarkGod: Rokgrruthlath, Betrayer of the Dimensions. background to come
Orvin: Dogkrad RavenRed: Koth, the Blank Space. Koth is a being brought into existence during the great song with which Eru called the universe into being. He was born in the briefest of pauses between the voices in the choir. For Koth, the song of Eru as well as the discord of Melkor are both cacohpony. The only true peace and beauty that Koth sees is that of silence. Therefore Koth seeks to return the universe to that brief moment of silence and stillness. For Koth, life is noise, and this noise needs to be eradicated. In his own way, he's as much of a foe of Morgoth as the forces of good, but he is far more dangerous than Morgoth as his goal is to cleanse Arda of all change, life and to bring an end to time itself. Morgoth wishes to subjugate, Koth wishes only to still. In this sense he is absolutely amoral, as he simply doesn't understand life and change as having any intrinsic value. His disciples have the power of silence, of darkness, invisibility and of death, as little harbingers of their liege.
IngeborgNorden: So, in theory, Koth wants the Ring destroyed as much as any of the Valar do--since choosing to wear it is choosing one aspect of the Music (even a perverted one) above another? He'd probably see even the New Alliance between Morgoth and the "foreign" gods of evil as a temporary arrangement, to be tolerated until his goal is achieved. Definitely a different approach worth taking... By the way, do you have any ideas for the major temptation offered by the other two worlds' dark lords? One of them will be a demon prince (enemy to the Hallows and to the church in Ambarannon); the other will be a major villain from Norseband (probably Nidhogg the Dragon, as a cosmic destroyer who wants all life in the cosmos extinct.) But should their temptations involve using vs. destroying an artifact, or should they offer something a bit more distinctive?
RavenRed: I should qualify this by saying I haven't played T-Plus, and that my knowledge of Norse Mythology is questionable at best. A Demon Prince should offer something significantly demonic. The hand of his devilish daughter/son (depending on the gender/preference of the adventurer) in marriage and dominion of his kingdom, requiring you to repress the innocent in his stead (see DG's mini-module "bone to be wild" for an example of how this character would need to turn out) in return for truly awesome summoning powers? Control of the corrupted of ALL realmsin return for opening a portal to both Arda and Midgard (destroying all towns)? As for Niddhogg, maybe access to the tree of knowledge (giving you TONS of skill points for the loss of a percentage of HP), but only if you defeat Oden and Fricka (?) to give Niddhogg a free reign. Fenris as a companion?