Taking a look at the languages described in the Infinity RPG and comparing them to the Maps given in the Infinity Core Books, I began to wonder if they really match. Maybe some fluff experts can help us here. Let us check it planet by planet:
ACONTECEMENTO: Languages according to the RPG book: - Hindi, Punjabi and Portuguese (choose one) - AND Spanish Which suggests that everyone in Acontecimento speaks Spanish. On the other hand, the map of Human Sphere mentions following States/Regions in Acontecimento: CONTINENT: ARYAVARTA STATE: KHALSA (Punjabi origin --> i.e. Punjabi from the list explained) Cities: Bhai Gurdas (CAP), Bhai Mardana, Plaska Prasravana. STATE: ADARSANA (Etimology: Hinduism related) Cities: Peshawit (CAP) (Pakistan related?), San Fernando de Dagopan --> (Philippines related) CONTINENT: VISHWA ARCHIPIELAGO (This explains Hindi) STATE: BAHRATAVARSHA ISLANDS Cities: Bahrata (CAP), Shakuntala, Dushyanta CONTINENT: MAGALHAES (Portuguese related) STATE: MAGALHAES (Brasilian portuguese) Cities: Riomeio, Portobelo CONTINENT: CAMOES (Portuguese related) STATE: CAMOES (mixed languages, given the names of the cities?) Cities: Selva Preta (brasilian name), Punta Norte (spanish name)) CONTINENT: SIERPES ISLAND (Etimology: Spanish, Costa Rican or Cuban) STATE: SIERPES (Maybe Spanish since the original Montesa Order was a spanish order?) Cities: San Juan de Sierpes (spanish name) CONTINENT: BOMJESUS (Brasilian portuguese) STATE: BOM JESÚS Cities: Cidade de Bomjesus (brasilian name), Zacuto (Name of a spanish/portuguese astromonist of the middle ages), tiradentes (brasilian name), Orujo (spanish name), Puerto La Guardia (spanish Name) CONTINENT: TERRA DE GELO (Brasilian portuguese) Taking a look at these, I can understand the inputs about Hindi and Punjabi but not so much why spanish is the "lingua franca" in the planet instead of brasilian portuguese (even more given that the planet itself has a portuguese name). Any idea?
NEOTERRA: Languages according to the RPG book: - Hindi, English or Italian (choose one) - AND Spanish Which suggests that everyone in Neoterra speaks Spanish. On the other hand, the map of Human Sphere mentions following States/Regions in Acontecimento: CONTINENT: Seps Continental Archipielago (Hindi comes from here) - STATE: RAMANIYAKA - STATE: PRITHVI - STATE: SVARGA - STATE: TRIGARTA CONTINENT/STATE: PAX (Latin) - Cities: San Pietro di Neoterra (Italian), San Giovanni (Italian), Neapolis (Italian), Sybaris (Italian)...etc CONTINENT/STATE: AQUILA (Italian word) - Cities: Santiago de Neoterra (Spanish), Von Moltke (German), Rommel (German), Clausewitz (German) CONTINENT/STATE: LUX (Latin) - Cities: Einsteinburg (German), Hawking´s Junction (English), Newtons City (English), Livingstone (English) CONTINENT/STATE: SOLITUDO - Cities: Santa Maria de la Soledad (Spanish) Given these names, I can understand the Hindi, English and Italian but I am definitely miss German and do not understand the Spanish as "lingua franca" again. As Spaniard, I am happy to see such a promising future :-) :-) but it would be great to know why. Does any one know about the fluff reasons behind?
But the RPG book was written by Modiphious (who is british, right?). Furthermore, in the Infinity books (written by a spaniard) spanish is not that relevant.
I'm probably the nearest thing to a local "expert" on the setting and background. The whole question of languages has been updated substantially in the PanOceania faction book. English is the language spoken by everyone in PanOceania, with the exception of Svalarheima where SvarlaNorse is the only universal language (but German, English and Spanish are all common). On Acontecimento the most common second langauge is Portuguese, followed by Spanish or Hindi/Punjabi (split speakers). On NeoTerra there are a LOT of other langauges going on, but the most common after English are Hindi, Italian and Spanish. On Varuna there is a very different mix (including Maori) but the most common after English are Malay and Tamil. On Paradiso the most common second languages are Portuguese or Hindi again. On Human Edge, along, is Spanish the most common second language. So the simplified version in the Core RPG IS off, in some cases substantially. The more detailed version in the Faction book is far more accurate.
Thanks!! Then I see that the RPG book is quite wrong, e.g. it says: VARUNA: Spanish & Malay PARADISO: Spanish & English
The Kickstarter backers have early access to a copy which we are helping to proofread. I'd guess (based on similar timelines with the other books) that we'll get a "final" PDF version late this month.
Ok. I´d be interesting if the fluff contains interesting details and not only superficial information. Do you know if they tell more about the states, regions and cities of the different planets?
Can I propse that maybe they have gone passed true majority languages. Im thinking they are all conected to the net in the same way Kovacks is, and can download and 'learn' languages in seconds.
Yes, there are regional tables for all the planets and I'm summarising those above. There is a LOT of info in the new book, and I'm desperately trying to find time to write articles about it all for Heart of the Hyperpower. This is absolutely true. The RPG assumes that languages are irrelevant 99+% of the time thanks to instantaneous Quantronic translation via Maya (or Arachne, but that's likely less instant due to the layers of security causing inevitable lag). But it highlights the fact that breaks down any time you don't have Maya access, so your PC group can easily end up unable to communicate with one another if they get caught short!
So from that statement, we can assume that PanO will be the next faction book to be released for the RPG? What time next year do you think Modi will release it?
Based on the timelines for the previous books there's a decent chance it will be available for Christmas. If not, then early next year.
That quick?!? If that is the case then the RPG character generator should be updated around that time. I'll be looking forward to seeing what are the PanO unique careers added to the generator.
Yeah, I wouldn't get your hopes up for that. The Haqqislam stuff isn't in the character generator yet, and that's already out.
Less learning new languages instantly and more the comlog translating it for you. Crash the right person's comlog and they can't communicate with their teammates anymore! I should really go buy the RPG books that are out so far, I like the Modiphius 2d20 system. (Though I kinda wish that CB had stuck with the Infinity mechanics, that would have required someone other than Modiphius to make the RPG)
Spanish is common in the Philippines, though especially considering that Tikbalang is from Tagalog (Filipino), I'm surprised that Tagalog isn't listed as an option for Acon (even though Filipino is listed in the Panoceania/Sol Table).
