Documentary Review

I thought that the documentary was very informative and interesting. I learnt a lot  about comics and how they have progressed through history, from being small strips in a newspaper to being a full feature movie in the cinema.

There were many different icons in the comic books that have been made over the years. And they have had more influence on the world than i first thought they would have. From propaganda to anti drug editions, the comic books have influenced the countries in which they were created.

The main two companies that started out printing their own comic books were Marvel and DC. And example of these companies is first of all Marvel. One of there most iconic and popular characters is Spider Man. And for DC it would be Super Man or Batman. Over the years these two rival companies have on really had each other in compettion. There has been times where both of them have been on top of one another and when both of them have been near bankruptcy. DC comics was the first ever real comic book company, starting in the 1930's and shortly after being very successful, Marvel began to run their own comic book company.

I think that some of the main points in the documentary where about the start of both of Marvel and DC. About when they started up their companies, who was involved and what comics they brought out first. For example, the first comic book that DC comics came up with would be Super man. Super man was a comic that was rejected from every newspaper that it was advertised to. Then after approaching DC it was the biggest thing that DC ever had

Concept

Weapons

There were a variety of weapons that the Roman Legions had at there arsenal. But all soldiers were given standard issue weapons.

The Gladius Sword.

This sword was very important. For example, it was light, well made, and no more than 50 cm so that the soldiers could use this weapon for quickly stabbing an enemy. 

The Shield

The shield was broad and sturddy. Lightweight and easy to use. The legionary wore his sword high on the right side of his body. this enabled t to be drawn underarm with his right hand without interfering with the shield which he carried with his left.

Pilum (Throwing Spear)

Main Character

Quick Background

Lucius Cornelius Sulla, was nominated Quaestor to Gaius Marius, who had been elected consul for that year. He had the rare distinction of holding his position in the council twice. He was a natural leader, and has a reputation of steering politicians and generals in the right direction. He was a outstanding general, he was the only person to occupy Rome and Athens at the same time. He never lost a battle. He aslo marched on Rome with his army twice to restore his place in government. However after the second time of a dictator of Rome, he set laws up that would balance the power between the senate and the people. He then shockingly retired to private life to live out his days.

My story will take place on his first assignment, before he was famous for being a great general. The assault africa against the numidians. This is a famous war because it was because of Sulla that the roman army won.

Ideas For Game

In 107 BC The Roman Empire set sail for North Africa to extend their empire. A general named Gaius Marius, lead the roman army into North Africa. He was accompanied by a supporting general and centurion, Lucius Cornelius Sulla.

The campaign began by Gaius taking over contol of the army and the section of the senate. He was a brilliant commander and had never lost a battle, knowing this the senate allowed him to take his army to North Africa against the Numidians and thier King, Juguthar.

Gauis asked for a subordinate to come along wiht him to assiste with the sigde. A Centurian was given the chance to become a general wiht him in this campagin and his name was Lucius Sulla. He had never lost a battle either, even though they had been on a much smaller scale than Gaius.

After many engagments, Gauis didn't seem to be getting anywhere. There were alot of stal mates and they were running out of time and recources. The young Lucius hatched a plan however. That would end up putting him permantly as a general and a place in the senate.

After taking part of the army Sulla decided to take matters into his own hands and took a journey through different sections of africa, taking on titans and ancient deamons to get to the kindom they were trying to take down.

Luius decided to befrend a nearby kindom and persuaded their king, King Boccus and convinced him to lead an army to take down the numidian king.

Epic battle.

Rome Wins.


I would make the game a twist of fantasy and realism. For example, the romans heavily believed  the Gods so i would put a twist on that. Granting you the ability to have mystical powers. Perhaps later on in the story ou find yourself to be a demi - god, half man half god. They would appear to you and grant you new talent and weapons, their would be a progressive upgrade system.

The ideas for the game are based on real events and characters. The research that i have done gave me the initial ideas for a basic plot story line. However my own ideas started to come as i was structuring how the plot would unfold. Some ideas were my own for example, the main story will follow Sulla journeying through Africa with a small portion of the roman army to try to flank the african kingdom.

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centurion

http://www.pvv.ntnu.no/~madsb/home/war/vegetius/dere05.php#04

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_rome\

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Cornelius_Sulla#First_march_on_Rome

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/107_BC

http://primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/romans/weapons.html

Representing Other Cultures in Comics & Video Games

The character that i have chosen to research is a Roman Centurion. The Roman Centurion lived in Ancient Roman times and served the Roman Legion. The roman Empire stretched across the entire world and was hundreds of years old. Rome was founded in 27 BC and the Empire lasted until 1453 AD. The time in which Centurions were most likely to be alive would be in 107 BC.

The rank of centurion was considered a great honer and was one of the highest ranks in the Roman legion. It was considered to be a promotion with many prospects and one that would only go to the toughest of soldiers. The highest rank of centurion was "Primus Pilus". This person commanded the 1st century of the 1st cohort. An ordinary centurion was like the rank of captain we now have today, where as the higher ranks were like colonel.

Centurions had to have connections, be literate and educated. Also be at least 30 years old and have served in the Roman military and have letters of recommendation. A Centurion had to be steady in battle, an natural leader and born surviver. He had to to be strong and smart, BE able to adapt to different battle situations. He had to be strict in exercises and keep dicsipline. He had to be well presented, clean and well dressed. All of his armour had to be polished and bright before an after battle. Think of a Roman Centurion as a captain in the Royal Marines.

All soldiers were in different cohorts (regiments) and in case a soldier got lost, they would be able to find there way back due to the colour coded shields and swords of his cohort. There would also be names on swords and shields to identify fallen ally's, or to distribute armour and weapons.

Trumpets would be sounded by the centurions or the cohort group. This would signify a charge or a retreat.

The most distinguishable art of a Centurion would be the transverse crest on the helmet. This could either symbolise rank or to be identified.

Roman religion was slightly different form greek mythology. For example the gods they believed in were not personified and they thought that everything had it's own spirit. As contact with the Greeks continued however, the Romans became more associated with the Greek's version of the Gods. In 1 AD it was considered wrong to be Christian or to be associated with them and was punishable by death. The Romans later took to the religion Roman Catholic, refusing to believe that a mere mortal was the saviour of the world.