The Ultimate List of Arcanum's Easter Eggs

[Drog Black Tooth]

Around a week ago I decided to make the definite compilation of all Easter eggs and pop-culture references found in Arcanum, since it turned out nobody ever bothered to make one. And here it finally is. Some of the things mentioned in this article could be common knowledge, some are rare, and some were never seen before. This isn't a complete list, however, it's obvious that there will be new additions, so I encourage everyone to contribute by sending me their finds.

Have a good read!

 

[FeelTheRads]

Awesome! Thanks, DrogDrog.

 

[Jaesun]

Nice read Drog. Thanks!

 

[silver crowaxe]

Nice read.

 

[someone else]

Thank thee.

 

[Gragt]

Cool stuff, I already got a few but I ignore some, especially those in reference to pictures. Overal way more subtle than Fallout 2.

 

[The Vanished One]

arcanum_enjoyability++
Really nice, thanks Drog!

 

[MetalCraze]

John Brown Gordon (February 6, 1832 – January 9, 1904) was one of Robert E. Lee's most trusted Confederate generals during the American Civil War. After the war, he was a strong opponent of Reconstruction and is thought by some to have been the titular leader of the Ku Klux Klan in Georgia during the late 1860s.

A key to understanding Lyric Suite

 

[The Vanished One]

- Professor Aldous Hunley of Vendigroth (mentioned in the newspapers), who created a fully submersible watercraft (you can find it washed on the beach on the Isle of Despair), is named after Horace Lawson Hunley, a marine engineer during the American Civil War, whose vessel also sank, killing him.

Could it also be a reference to Aldous Huxley? Any connection between Brave New World and Arcanum?

 

[Wilco]

- Professor Aldous Hunley of Vendigroth (mentioned in the newspapers), who created a fully submersible watercraft (you can find it washed on the beach on the Isle of Despair), is named after Horace Lawson Hunley, a marine engineer during the American Civil War, whose vessel also sank, killing him.

Could it also be a reference to Aldous Huxley? Any connection between Brave New World and Arcanum?

Come to think of it the test tube created citizens and caste system of Brave New World seem similar to the Ogre quest in Arcanum. Actually the Isle of Despair also might have some connection, if I remember correctly one the characters of Brave New World is exiled to a savage reserve for questioning BNW's society too much. Any connection with the ogre?

 

[JarlFrank]

\o

 

[Texas Red]

- Professor Aldous Hunley of Vendigroth (mentioned in the newspapers), who created a fully submersible watercraft (you can find it washed on the beach on the Isle of Despair), is named after Horace Lawson Hunley, a marine engineer during the American Civil War, whose vessel also sank, killing him.

Could it also be a reference to Aldous Huxley? Any connection between Brave New World and Arcanum?

Come to think of it the test tube created citizens and caste system of Brave New World seem similar to the Ogre quest in Arcanum. Actually the Isle of Despair also might have some connection, if I remember correctly one the characters of Brave New World is exiled to a savage reserve for questioning BNW's society too much. Any connection with the ogre?

The ogre is a race of strong but intellectually inferior humanoids.

 

[Black]

The Orcish Question books are a reference to the Jewish question.

JEWS CONFIRMED FOR ORCS

 

[Devadatta]

JEWS CONFIRMED FOR ORCS

I was pretty sure they were meant to be the gnomes.

 

[Elhoim]

John Brown Gordon (February 6, 1832 – January 9, 1904) was one of Robert E. Lee's most trusted Confederate generals during the American Civil War. After the war, he was a strong opponent of Reconstruction and is thought by some to have been the titular leader of the Ku Klux Klan in Georgia during the late 1860s.

A key to understanding Lyric Suite

 

[KKKthulhu.]

Cool!

 

[KurtH]

Ouch

 

[Kz3r0]

Lovely, thanks.

 

[crakkie]

I always thought it was a weird coincidence that Franklin Payne looked like Daniel Day Lewis.

 

[Kos_Koa]

Nice compilation Drog.

 

[Jim Cojones]

Isn't Goeffrey Tallerond-Ashe's surname a reference to Tal Rasha from Diablo?

 

[Pseudofool]

Great stuff; the context for the portraits is awesome.

 

[Fat Dragon]

It always annoyed me that I couldn't choose that portrait for my own character.

Great list, Drog, a lot of those I missed.

By the way, maybe I'm mistaken since it's been years since I last watched that show and don't remember all the details about its story, but I believe the Siamese Twins quest arc was a reference to the X-Files show. Both involved a huge government conspiracy that involved kidnapping people to produce soldiers, and a major theme in both was trying to find the truth (and in the ending to both you never get it, but instead only left with bits and pieces to make of it what you will).

 

[Annie Mitsoda]

God I wish I could've used 2D portraits in my stuff. I love the Arcanum ones.

Also apparently there WERE Bloodlines developer quotes - Troika tradition - but Activision wouldn't let them get put in the game. :evil: This is sad. Devs are always the funniest when they are in that kind of slap-happy crunchtime "fuck goddammit is this game DONE YET" mode. Hee.

 

[Drog Black Tooth]

Added a few more references and a large section dedicated to the epitaphs found in Arcanum's cemeteries.

Also apparently there WERE Bloodlines developer quotes - Troika tradition - but Activision wouldn't let them get put in the game.

Interesting. Is that a rumor, or did you hear that from a Troika developer?