Does anyone else feel like the Byzantine Empire is the closest thing human-kind had to an Elven civilization analogy during our actual history's middle ages? Or am I crazy?Even the part where their highly advanced culture was eventually wiped off the face of the Earth and forgotten in most normie perceptions of history.
>>97222151The displeasure and enmty the Pope fostered against the Byzantines is underrated in pop history.A Venetian or a Florentine would have died rather than recognising them as "more advanced" or even "more Roman"
i dont really know enough about the actual societal structure to give you a solid answer, but to count as a elven-esque civilization, my criteria would be>high culture>disciplined>sophisticated>refined>skilled in craftsmenship, art and scholarship>strong sense of identification and loyalty with their nation and the ruling structuresAll counting for a high elven-esque society, of course.
>>97222151>was eventually wiped off the face of the EarthElves leave to a better place.Fallen elfen empires killed by lesser races is soulless garbage.And making blunt analogies between fantasy tropes with entire real life cultures is midwit garbage. Try writing a fantasy race that only works as a fantasy race.
>>97222151Traditional games?
>>97222151Meh, I don't think so. The ERE was cool as fuck but they were way too religious to be considered elves. Faith is most of the time a human characteristic in fantasy settings. Plus they weren't really insular or non-interventionist. Both characteristics that usually represent elves.
>>97222213What about them?
>>97222151You're crazy and you don't play games.
I've seen so many "bro elves are basically Byzantines trust me I read books bro" takes over the years. Nothing is original.
>>97222275Ah no answer because nogames. Typical.
>>97222207I remember reading some schlock spiritual novel (maybe The Way of the Peaceful Warrior?) that put forth the idea that the Mayans had disappeared as a civilization because on a societal level they attained spiritual enlightenment and ascended into a higher plane of existence. Maybe the Mayans were elves.
>>97222151Nah HRE is closer
