I also am fascinated by history, yet these movies you have mentioned in whole were generally pretty accurate were not completly accurate, Gladiators were not war slaves, they were free men, not usually dieing, the passion of the Christ was much more accurate but, for example the raven and the snake were added in,(I havent seen Troy) it seems history isnt enough for the masses, people generally like accurate bases, with features added in that arent neccesarily accurate, whether it be "reality" TV or "historical" movies, but again I am glad you did, although 90% of the shows on television are fictional there is that 10% that is factual. But then a game could never be totaly accurate, without removing the freedom of choice, therefore installing the bit of fantasy it seems is required. Its funny you mention Lord of the Rings, although obviously a fantasy movie, in many ways its much like a sci fi in that many aspects were very realistic, just because it's a fantasy doesnt mean they can have plastic swords.
And as to the motive, I find far more escapism in mmorpgs. People commonly play these games 10-20 hours a day. Regular rpgs tend to be more entertainment. The difference being mmorpgs can offer are almost a seperate life, an entirely seperate group of friends, job, setting, sometimes even families. While rpgs could never be as interactive, and are more of a combination of a book and movie, with a set storyline, tend to offer entertainment more than an escape from reality.
Previous companies have come to the same conclusion, people like to learn how their ancestors lived, about societies, languages, lifestyles and such, but a different approach was taken, in one instance, Chrono Trigger, probably my favorite rpg shows this, but it's still a fantasy, you travel through the different "epochs" and talk to the people depicting the authors beliefs about society as it changes through time. In this, the curiosity is fulfilled while also adding to the appeasement, or perhaps, amusement would be a better word. "a" meaning without and "muse", intellectual stimulation or thinking.
But dont get me wrong, I really enjoy that you are doing this, its why i have decided to buy a copy and support your productions. I have grown up playing games like Civilization which give insight into historical, technological and political advandces throughout the ages. And when watching television, Discovery or the History channel or the more recent Science Channel, but these, repeat their shows sometimes 2-3 times throughout the day, and Discovery isnt even the same channel anymore, rarely do you see an actual informational program on, I dont know how European tv is, though I expect something like the same.
I also am fascinated by how different but the same the lives were, how so many though were far more ignorant were also far more intellegent. I find it funny how even our history books betray us, telling us that the Italians in the 17th century didnt know the world was round, yet long before christ, the diameter was measured, we are led to believe the greeks came down from a mountain after the seapeoples raid of the known world, and found iron thus beginning the iron age, though it was used before the great flood. It is beat into our brain that life has existed for at least 1 billion years, the building of sediment layers in which these fosslis are found is thought to have taken thousands of years to have formed yet, mt. st. helens created many layers, in just a few seconds that are identical to these, infact, one tree was found to go through many of these layers, a ravine was created like that of which Darwin saw and discovered that a trickle of water slowly carried away sediment to create it over thousands of years. If the world truly desired accuracy, these would be headlines.
In any case, the aspect should become more apparent when Darghul is released. 2 games running under what I assume is the same engine, and also with again I assume the same graphical artist, the major difference will be fact and fiction. And judging from your description, Darghul will be more open, as far as free to travel and explore.
