Sometimes Turbine can really wow me with the thought and effort they put into the little details they put into the game. For example, this week a player named Rippentuck posted on the forums the similarities to the decorative stone behind the superior scholar station to a real piece of Viking art called the Sleipnir Stone. Rip even shared this wonderful comparison image to see both at once.
Rip wasn’t the only one to notice it as this was reported by Daeross back in September in a different forum thread.
All this makes me feel super un-observant. However, I’m glad it is there and Turbine took the time to make it and I’m glad we have very clever players able to recognize the effort and share with the rest of us!
December 6, 2012 at 8:59 am
erm, I guess it can qualify for an easter egg, but I’m more of the mind that an almost exact copy is just an artist saving some time. in literature its called plagiarizing. if they are trying to replicate the lore for atmosphere, then fine, but viking?
that being said… its purty.
December 6, 2012 at 2:54 pm
It’s not so much plagiarizing as it is an homage. And I find it to be an interesting piece to be sure.
December 6, 2012 at 6:01 pm
I also think it’s more of an homage rather than plagiarism. Tolkien himself was very much influenced by European mythology, including Norse mythology, so I think it’s fitting and pretty neat that the game devs would put some of that in, especially when they could have just as easily made it up or made something more generic. Show’s they are doing their homework.
December 10, 2012 at 10:17 am
If someone reads Letters To Tolkien or watched Documentaries that feature his son Christopher and Tolkien Professors it is pointed out like @Limm said that Tolkien took inspiration from much of his real life loves which greatly included Norse or Viking Mythology. Inf act his son stated that the Dwarven culture is greatly modeled from the Viking stories and how ancient Norse culture was. And the fact that Turbine has taken that note and slipped it into their artwork both in costumes, decorations and architecture. So I give thumbs up and kudos to not only the artists but also the designers over all to stay true to that form of Tolkien’s visions of his world.
December 6, 2012 at 12:19 pm
I found this too, inside the superior study in Hytbold. It’s a very cozy building and I like ending my dailies by going inside.
December 6, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Very cool indeed!
Tolkien himself based much of his magnificent creation on ancient cultures and language so it is fitting for Turbine to emulate him in this regard.
A relief from the mudane complaints about everyday issues like the expansion, store… and see the love some at Turbine have for the works of Tolkien.