| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| drkissinger1 |
Posted - 16 Sep 2014 : 01:39:28
I'm sure this topic has been addressed in various iterations before, but I'm a History grad student and can't help myself:
Inventing an entire fictional culture ex nihilo is almost impossible. Generally, we use real-life cultural and historical archetypes as shorthand to get the reader/player a sense of the locale. Some regions are simple to characterize this way: Calimshan is straight out of 1001 Nights, for example. Others are a bit more complicated but still manageable, like in this excerpt from Mysteries of the Moonsea:
quote:
The best way to express the feel of the Moonsea is in real-world terms. If you combine the “harsh land makes a strong people” themes of the Viking civilization with the “we will persevere against adversity” attitude of the pre-Soviet Russian commoners and the strike-it-rich frenzy of the California gold rush, you get a reasonable approximation of the region’s temperament.
Cormyr and the Dalelands always struck me as Faerun's most standard medieval Western Europe setting. Rashemen has a unique pagan barbarian flavor that I've yet to quite pin down (perhaps pagan Slavic?). Thay is a classic evil magocracy with vaguely Egyptian fashion.
A few regions have always kind of baffled me, either because I haven't delved enough into their lore, they have no cultural analogues, or because, like the Moonsea, their analogues are subtle and mixed. I've never quite gotten the flavor of Damara or Tethyr, for example. |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Delwa |
Posted - 16 Sep 2014 : 03:05:26
quote:
Originally posted by drkissinger1
I definitely agree that real-world analogues are counterproductive to fantasy when applied too simply or adhered to too rigidly. That's why I like the the quoted description of the Moonsea so much. "Viking, Tsarist Gold-Rush" doesn't map to any real-world society all that easily, but it gives the reader some shorthand insight into the culture.
Bingo. It also helps when you're taking people who've never played the Realms, or role-played at all for that matter, and they're taking baby steps to get used to it. I don't like direct analogues, which is why certain areas of Toril haven't peaked much interest to me.
There was a document that might help you over in Alaundo's Library or Tethtoril's bookshelf that had a listing of the different cultural blends/analogues by region. I'm trying to find it.
Edit And here it is |
| drkissinger1 |
Posted - 16 Sep 2014 : 02:51:43
I definitely agree that real-world analogues are counterproductive to fantasy when applied too simply or adhered to too rigidly. That's why I like the the quoted description of the Moonsea so much. "Viking, Tsarist Gold-Rush" doesn't map to any real-world society all that easily, but it gives the reader some shorthand insight into the culture. |
| Delwa |
Posted - 16 Sep 2014 : 02:46:36
I'm honestly kind of of two minds on the subject. On one hand, I agree with Mr. Krashos, I'd rather see something original than just a real-world-with-magic copy. On the other, having the stereotype helps frame cultural concepts in my mind, and I appreciate it for that. I do agree with drkissinger1 that making a "fictional culture ex nihilo" is nigh impossible if you study history and cultures long enough. You will find a similar culture if you dig in enough tomes long enough.
I've always been mildly confused by Rasheman myself. From the very little exposure I've had, it seems to have a little Russian influence, coupled with some Native American spirit/animal worship. I will admit, the first character I think of when I think of Rasheman is Minsc from Baldur's Gate, and depending on how accurate that beloved Ranger was to the Rashemi people, (I'm assuming the videogame took liberties) that may have tainted my view. |
| George Krashos |
Posted - 16 Sep 2014 : 02:26:07
Damara has never really been fleshed out in that regard.
Much as I hate real-world analogues for the Realms, I always regarded Tethyr as using the Scottish highlands and feudal Spain (i.e. when they were fighting the Moors) as touchstones.
-- George Krashos |
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