Norse Mythology?

Donovan · Jun 10, 2009, 10:23 PM

Okay, this has been bugging me for a long time. Ragnarok Online is supposedly based off of Norse Mythology, but I see very few things relating to it. Granted, the game is called Ragnarok, the "final destiny of the Gods", and the world is called Rune-Midgard. And yes, there's Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life. Other than that, the only other things are the bloody statue of Odin in Prontera, the names of the guild castles, and a few items. Where the hell is the Norse Mythology? I see traces of it, but I mean, bloody hell, one of the MvPs is Thanatos, who is not Norse, but infact, the Greek embodiment of death.

I'll point out some stuff:

First off, most of Rune-Midgard is green forest, green plains, or desert. Norse Mythology is North Germanic(Iceland, Scandanavia, Finland, etc. etc.), all of which were mostly ice. The only icey city/area in RO is Lutie, which is the Land of Christmas. Yes, Christmas is in fact a Pagan holiday, and Norse Mythology is Germanic Paganism, but Christmas didn't exist in the North Germanic areas.

Second, Prontera has a church... A church whose religion looks to be Christianity based. All I have to say is: What the hell?

Third, a majority of the towns are based off of Asian countries(Louyang, Payon, Amatsu). The closest town to being based off of Norse Mythology is Niflheim(r), which in RO is City of the Dead. Niflheimr in Norse Mythology is the realm of the element of Ice. The actual "underworld" or "city of the dead" is Hel/Niflhel. And speaking of Hel, why was Thanatos used instead of Hel? Wouldn't that make more sense for something Norse-based, instead of using the Greek personification of death?

There's a lot more I could point out, but I think you all get the gist of it. Can someone try to explain to me where Gravity went with this?

Hutchy · Jun 11, 2009, 12:03 AM

I think they did what most people do when inspired by something - they took *elements* of it. They didn't make the entire game RAGNAROK NORSE LAND OF ODIN AND RUNES AND STUFF ONLINE, they pepper little bits in here and there, taking what they thought could work for them *and* for the world they were creating.

Donovan · Jun 11, 2009, 12:20 AM

That's pointless then. Why call something (whatever)-based/inspired, but add only add a smidgen of the thing it's based off to it? That'd be like World of Warcraft, being a Warcraft-based MMO, being a cyber-punk world, and the only thing that comes from Warcraft is the name of the lands, and perhaps a Night Elf or two thrown in.

I don't like when someone calls my omelet a pizza because it has cheese and meat in it.

Orange · Jun 11, 2009, 12:44 AM

They thought "hey that name sounds cool"

Sanin · Jun 11, 2009, 01:27 AM

Same reason Bleach is called as such.

Do YOU see heavy influence of laundry in that?

Granted, it'd be fun to go up against a giant f*** Wolf-thing capable of eating the sun, or a giant underwater serpent that circles the entire earth...

Either way if we had gone the way of the name there wouldn't be such things as Practically The Entire Third Class, Gunslingers, Ninjas, or Soul Linkers. We wouldn't be Knights or Crusaders, just straight up angry Vikings smashing everything and being angry about smashing things they smashed.

And I for one will be sad if the Kafra Corporation was not in effect.

Oh, and we'd all have beards.

bleu · Jun 11, 2009, 01:30 AM

Actually Ragnarok Online is based off a manhwa series called Ragnarok, by Myung-jin Lee.

Green · Jun 11, 2009, 02:49 AM

There's also the many items that refer to the Norse dieties.

There is also Moscovia, which is based on more.. Slovanic stories and monsters, but are still.. closer in geography than Asia and the such.

Hel probably wasn't used, because RO didn't want to do a woman that was half young, and half old and decaying. =\

soki · Jun 11, 2009, 05:34 AM

Quote from: Donovan on Jun 10, 2009, 10:23 PM
Third, a majority of the towns are based off of Asian countries(Louyang, Payon, Amatsu)

I'd say it's because Ragnarok was made in Asia(Korea) so i'm not suprised that some
of it's Towns are based off Asian Countries/Culture

LiteX · Jun 11, 2009, 05:48 AM

Quote from: soki on Jun 11, 2009, 05:34 AM
Quote from: Donovan on Jun 10, 2009, 10:23 PM
Third, a majority of the towns are based off of Asian countries(Louyang, Payon, Amatsu)

I'd say it's because Ragnarok was made in Asia(Korea) so i'm not suprised that some
of it's Towns are based off Asian Countries/Culture

Prontera= Medieval European town
Geffen= Medieval Europe
Izlude= Medieval Europe
Al-de-Baran= Medieval European town center
Morocc= Egypt
Comodo= Las Vegas in a cave
Alberta= Medieval European Port
Hugel= Western Village
Einbroch= USA around the industrial revolution
Lighthalzen= USA
Juno= Medieval Europe
Rachel= Middle East
Veins= India
Nifleheilm= Halloween
Umbala= Africa
Lutie= Christmas
Payon= Korea
Amatsu= Japan
Kunlun= China (Art-based)
Louyang= China (Military-based)
Ayothaya= ...dunno, but it has buddha statues in it's dungeons
Moscovia= Russia
2 New World Towns= Dunno, but they seem fantasy-based then RL based to me

In other words, RO locations is like a giant blender

Green · Jun 11, 2009, 06:03 AM

Einbroch = Classic Steampunk.
Light is probably similiar, too.

bleu · Jun 11, 2009, 08:17 AM

Einbroch = New Jersey

SilverStream~ · Jun 11, 2009, 09:53 AM

New Jersy = wannabee New York

unrelated;

New York = wannabee York(from europe)

York = wannabee Jord

Jord = original settlements stuff in norway, waay old.

Pandora · Jun 11, 2009, 10:10 AM

They probably assume most of their player based aren't knowledgeable about norse history, mythology and whatnot, of course they're wrong and the sprinkling of various culture,legend,etc. hasn't escaped our notice.

A92FL0163 · Jun 11, 2009, 10:56 AM

GLOBAL PROJECT, f***, DO YOU KNOW IT?

Loki · Jun 11, 2009, 11:59 AM

I'm Norse.

LemonCrosswalk · Jun 11, 2009, 12:06 PM

They was never really a plan to follow Norse mythology. It was going to be an MMO based on a comic strip and then they went screw that and made their own junk.

Loki · Jun 11, 2009, 12:09 PM

Gravity never really followed the comic's storyline and stuff.

A92FL0163 · Jun 11, 2009, 01:13 PM

We got thanatos and morroc, Still waiting for Faceworms and the Geffenia Keeper.

Dean Stark · Jun 12, 2009, 01:23 AM

Quote from: Green on Jun 11, 2009, 02:49 AM
Hel probably wasn't used, because RO didn't want to do a woman that was half young, and half old and decaying. =\

There's an NPC named Lady Hel though. She's in The Sign quest.

Riceman · Jun 13, 2009, 10:41 PM

RAGNAROK ONLINE is korean right??
the term ragnarok originated from norse mythology and refers to a war between gods and evil forces.
there is also a ragnarok in korean mythology.... i think

RO is based on a ragnarok influenced by asian cultures.. eg. anime

Irrelevant · Jun 13, 2009, 11:59 PM

Quote from: Riceman on Jun 13, 2009, 10:41 PM
RAGNAROK ONLINE is korean right??
the term ragnarok originated from norse mythology and refers to a war between gods and evil forces.
there is also a ragnarok in korean mythology.... i think

RO is based on a ragnarok influenced by asian cultures.. eg. anime

LiteX · Jun 14, 2009, 01:43 AM

Quote from: Riceman on Jun 13, 2009, 10:41 PM
RAGNAROK ONLINE is korean right??
the term ragnarok originated from norse mythology and refers to a war between gods and evil forces.
there is also a ragnarok in korean mythology.... i think

RO is based on a ragnarok influenced by asian cultures.. eg. anime

Ragnarok is norse, NOT korean, and anime has nothing to do with RO except it's art style

theeman · Jun 14, 2009, 01:49 AM

how is lightenhalzen usa?

Loki · Jun 14, 2009, 02:29 AM

The rather modern town and the slums.

LiteX · Jun 14, 2009, 05:33 AM

Quote from: theeman on Jun 14, 2009, 01:49 AM
how is lightenhalzen usa?

Not really, just any random 21st century city which has a rich part and a shantytown

Anti-Static Foam Cleaner · Jun 16, 2009, 03:48 AM

Quote from: bleu on Jun 11, 2009, 01:30 AM
Actually Ragnarok Online is based off a manhwa series called Ragnarok, by Myung-jin Lee.

This. The game is loosely based on the crappy manhwa which was loosely based on norse mythology. So any norse themes out there are double washed-out. It has nothing to do with any part of Ragnarok I know.

LiteX · Jun 16, 2009, 04:14 AM

Quote from: Anti-Static Foam Cleaner on Jun 16, 2009, 03:48 AM
Quote from: bleu on Jun 11, 2009, 01:30 AM
Actually Ragnarok Online is based off a manhwa series called Ragnarok, by Myung-jin Lee.

This. The game is loosely based on the crappy manhwa which was loosely based on norse mythology. So any norse themes out there are double washed-out. It has nothing to do with any part of Ragnarok I know.

The lack of much norse mythology is because this is what happens:
Norse Mythology>Manhwa with 1/10 of the mythology>Game with 1/10 of the manhwa's norse mythology, but It seems gravity will fix the lack of it on the new world

Slice · Jun 16, 2009, 04:18 AM

Quote from: Hutchy on Jun 11, 2009, 12:03 AM
I think they did what most people do when inspired by something - they took *elements* of it. They didn't make the entire game RAGNAROK NORSE LAND OF ODIN AND RUNES AND STUFF ONLINE, they pepper little bits in here and there, taking what they thought could work for them *and* for the world they were creating.

LOL

carbine23 · Jun 21, 2009, 05:19 AM

Name sounds cool crack me up, nweiz never really notice this until now @_@