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Author Topic: The Legend of Tomiris! Campaign Inspirations!  (Read 965 times)

SHARK

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The Legend of Tomiris! Campaign Inspirations!
« on: October 18, 2021, 05:58:56 PM »
Greetings!

Well, well. I think that I found a real gem of a film here, with "The Legend of Tomiris". The film is about Tomiris--a Saka girl that is the daughter of a Saka Chieftain, a Bronze Age/Iron Age barbarian tribe living on the great Steppes of Central Asia 3000 years ago, before Greece, before Rome, in the time of the majestic Persian Empire, under the leadership and rule of the mighty King Cyrus the Great. Tomiris is trained to be a warrior by her father, Spargap. Tomiris experiences many hardships, and becomes a hunted fugitive and wanderer after her father Spargap is brutally assassinated by traitor clan nobles that want to ally with the more civilized and sophisticated Kwarezmians. Eventually, Tomiris fights her way back into leading her tribe, the Massegetai, and becomes Queen. She heroically unites the tribes of the Steppe against the great invasion by the Persian Empire, who invades the Steppe with Persia's full army, led personally by King Cyrus. This is a fantastic historical movie, a great adventure which embraces themes of love, loyalty, and fortitude. The film has outstanding actors and actresses, great production values, cinematography, and everything. It is an inspiring film that you will likely enjoy very much!

Now, the film also has a number of interesting elements for gaming. The historical time frame--in the ancient world, and covering a barbarian Steppe culture, it shows many aspects of traditional clothing, armour, weaponry, as well as culture and ordinary living conditions. Also of special roleplaying note, are the social aspects, politics, the ruthless scheming going on, treason, usurpers, resistance to empires, and the conflicting goals and ambitions of different characters and people. the details on display throughout the film are really awesome and inspiring! I also appreciate some of the careful strategies and depictions of combat in general, but in particular combat involving Tomiris and fighting against male warriors. Tomiris of course is most successful when fighting at range with her bow, but also does well in close combat. she must always be quick, fluid, and flowing, fighting with her sword and dagger, as well as a shield and spear at different times. whenever she gets in too close, as it were, or is a step too slow, she definitely pays for it. even when she manages to survive and emerge victorious, she is often beaten to a pulp, and is a total mess. she wins, but she literally pays for her victories hard. I find this movie to genuinely attempt to display realistic combat, realistic fighting, as well as not shying away from absolute violence and blood of combat. I think it is especially meaningful that the film shows Tomiris being a genuinely strong, tough, and courageous woman, driven by love, loyalty, and fortitude, and is in stark contrast to the absolutely fake woke "Super-woman" depictions of American films.

It is also meaningful that Tomiris is not some fake, overwrought, SJW super-woman; rather, she is a real woman, a genuine character from history. Tomiris really was a Queen and chieftain's daughter; she really did train and fight as awarrior; and she really did unite the Steppe tribes in resistance to the Persian Empire--

and the mighty King Cyrus the Great of Persia, really did meet his end from Tomiris, and had his head cut off and displayed for all the tribes to see. The Persian Empire was not invincible, and a brave woman stood forth and brought that lesson to absolute clarity to the world, and to the Persian Empire. Quite a humbling for the world's greatest empire at the time.

So, there is so much going on here. I found myself overjoyed with ideas for tribes, culture, armour, weapons, various plots and adventure scenarios, the inspiration for gaming in a campaign is incredible.

I've gone on for long enough though. Watch the film, and take some notes. Tell me what you think of the film! There are so many issues here to be inspired by. I love it! I love how many details in this film are useful for a gaming campaign, especially dealing with the ancient world and tribal life amongst a Steppe environment.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

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Pat
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Re: The Legend of Tomiris! Campaign Inspirations!
« Reply #1 on: October 18, 2021, 07:00:28 PM »
I'll have to give it a look-see. I like stories of the ancient world, especially from less traditional regions.

Though if anyone's looking for a place to watch it, "This video is age restricted and only available on Youtube" is a lie. The Legend of Tomiris is also available on Tubi (free, ads), and Hoopla (no ads, available though many libraries).

SHARK

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Re: The Legend of Tomiris! Campaign Inspirations!
« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2021, 07:48:31 PM »
Greetings!

Outstanding, Pat! I didn't know about the other sources. I watched it on You Tube. I should also note that the film is filmed on location in Kazakhstan, and is produced by a experienced and skilled film crew. I think I have seen a film or two made by the director before, in the same genre, so their passion and experience in crafting historical films really shines through. Of course, the Kazakh National Film Board or Culture board also contributed to the production of the film, which is cool, too. In a similar genre, the film "Mongol" from 2011 or 2012 is also an excellent historical film. With the Legend of Tomiris, here, I am blown away with the beauty and skill of everything done in the film. You would think that here in America we could be making great films like this, but all that we seem to make anymore is absolute garbage. I have seen a good half dozen to a dozen foreign-made films in recent months or years--from Kazakhstan, Russia, India, China--and film makers in these countries are making truly excellent films full of fine acting performance, good directing, writing, story, and production, all focused on celebrating some real aspect or story from history. It's amazing, and refreshing, especially when compared to the garbage made here on a routine basis.

The Legend of Tomiris is outstanding, Pat. It is something well-worth your time. Relax, and soak the film in. It goes for like 2 and half hours, and doesn't rush itself, either. Every moment is good!

When it ended, I was like, damn! That movie was just fucking awesome! So good! ;D

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK
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rytrasmi

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Re: The Legend of Tomiris! Campaign Inspirations!
« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2021, 07:54:54 PM »
Tomiris is one of history's great badass women! I first learned about her from Dan Carlin's Hardcore History King of Kings series.

Thanks for sharing the video Shark!
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Naburimannu

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Re: The Legend of Tomiris! Campaign Inspirations!
« Reply #4 on: October 19, 2021, 03:37:44 AM »
Though if anyone's looking for a place to watch it, "This video is age restricted and only available on Youtube" is a lie.

I believe "Only available on Youtube" means "You can't watch it in this embedded frame (because we can't apply the age restriction on somebody else's website / to a non-logged-in user)", not "You can't find this on any other sites".

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Re: The Legend of Tomiris! Campaign Inspirations!
« Reply #5 on: October 24, 2021, 09:01:13 PM »
Though I've heard they re-written Saka-Massagetae from Iranian confederation (which made it war between two close culturally and linguistically people) to Turkic (to fit cultural and ethnic replacement that happened way later when Kazakhs settled in this area) is that true?
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SHARK

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Re: The Legend of Tomiris! Campaign Inspirations!
« Reply #6 on: October 24, 2021, 09:47:04 PM »
Though I've heard they re-written Saka-Massagetae from Iranian confederation (which made it war between two close culturally and linguistically people) to Turkic (to fit cultural and ethnic replacement that happened way later when Kazakhs settled in this area) is that true?

Greetings!

The film depicts the struggles and resistance of several Steppe tribal peoples, focused on Tomiris returning to her home tribe of the Massagetae, and unifying them against the Persian Empire, and ultimately defeating the Persian King, Cyrus the Great. Historically, while some of the Steppe Tribes had some Iranian roots, their language, religion, culture and way of life were all distinctly different from the civilized, urban-dwelling Persians, Kwarezmians, and other urban cultures of the region.

The film is fun, dynamic, dramatic, and well-done in every way. A really excellent film. There is lots of combat, and blood, too, but not overly so. Lots of fine views of Steppe-tribal armour, weaponry, and good fighting, from both horseback as well as on foot.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK
"It is the Marine Corps that will strip away the façade so easily confused with self. It is the Corps that will offer the pain needed to buy the truth. And at last, each will own the privilege of looking inside himself  to discover what truly resides there. Comfort is an illusion. A false security b