Okay, So I started work on the East-Asian style city that Mik had talked about before. So far, I only have my house and the Dojo, which is where the rules for building will be posted.
We talked about it a little, and it seems everyone is down with stricter rules.
Some rules that people have been kicking around that seem like they might upset some people are:
1. In order to build in the Asian themed city (Okay, fuck it, it's Japanese lol), you must first have a proper building in Al-Medina.
2. The city will be a strictly planned city, which means each new builder will be given a specific lot to build in. They can do whatever they want inside the space, so as long as it fits the aesthetic. If somebody has something big in mind, we can work with the size.
It's very difficult to isolate what makes a city look 'Japanese' but the biggest things you need to watch are:
1. The Roof. Pointy stuff on the roof makes it look Asian. It's true!
2. The interior. In Japan, every house I've been in or seen has a section where you take off your shoes. The living area is distinctly different than this section. Always a different surface.
3. Most Japanese sleep on the floor. Beds are a no-no.
4. High border-walls, fairly tight to the building.
5. No huge back yard/empty property. Things like elaborate gardens can be built, but when you build them, think of them as more of a public place for the community. I want tightly congested development so that it better reflects Japanese communities. Al-Medina is mostly a few very big elaborate buildings. What I would like to see is a lot of very small and intricate things together.
6. Sugar-cane looks like bamboo. Something to keep in mind. lol
7. We don't have paper doors... so instead, use sign posts to make an outline for the door. It's kinda like the wood frame on traditional Japanese houses... and really, it is just something to set the style apart from Booty-Bay.
Think clean, conservative, and comparatively small. My house, which is kind of a style guide in itself, was rather expensive to build (White/Brown wool) and is surprisingly small on the inside. I built the dojo to show that you don't have to use wool or a wood roof. Find a picture of a Japanese building you like, and try to use that one as an inspiration! Chinese/Korean style stuff is fine, too.
Now, I am completely open to suggestions, including what kind of roads to use and what kind of buildings to build. Also, I am open to names for the city, although the name "Arkyo-to" or just "Arkyo" is catching some steam. It's means basically "Ark's Capital City" in Japanese, based loosely off the real capital city's name, Tokyo-to. Anyway, that's my submission.
What say you, Gaf?
