D&D 5E Do you think we will get an Oriental Adventures setting for 5th edition?

[Tia Nadiezja]

There's a better chance of OA appearing than anything Mystara or Oerth-related appearing. At least Kara-Tur is on Toril, the one planet I see us actually getting material for in the next few years.

 

[Tia Nadiezja]

I never see any conversation about "cultural appropriation" concerning Viking or Norse cultures. Or even Germanic or Greek culture and D&D is riddled with that. I wonder why?

Because the primary designers of D&D are, and basically have always been, mostly Anglo-Saxons? In other words, people of Germanic and Norse descent. Can't appropriate what's already yours.

 

[Nellisir]

Because the primary designers of D&D are, and basically have always been, mostly Anglo-Saxons? In other words, people of Germanic and Norse descent. Can't appropriate what's already yours.

:blink:

I'll be honest, I find this logic bizarre. Following it, I couldn't write Asian-flavored fantasy, but my daughter could, since her ancestry includes Thai-Chinese (she's as Asian as I am Swedish, and more than I am Welsh or Irish.)

 

[Nellisir]

I just did some quick research (google) and it seems to me that oriental is still used in Europe without and negativity. Might be considered old fashioned, but not negative.

My wife feels it's negative (she's half-Thai; grew up in Bangkok), so I don't use it.

 

[miburo99]

In the US though, it has quickly become a more unacceptable term. At least where I am, oriental is something that refers to carpets, not people or cultures.

 

[Remathilis]

In the US though, it has quickly become a more unacceptable term. At least where I am, oriental is something that refers to carpets, not people or cultures.

What IS the proper term then? (doesn't want to offend anyone)

 

[miburo99]

What IS the proper term then? (doesn't want to offend anyone)

To be honest I don't think you'd actually offend that many people (unacceptable was perhaps too harsh a word choice on my part, sorry!), it would just sound a little backward.

I'd say East Asian. Obviously for D&D fantasy worlds that doesn't quite work, which is probably why they use the term Wuxia in the 5E DMG.

 

[Morrus]

I don't know about what it the proper term to use or anything, but "the Orient" is pretty Earth-specific, isn't it?

 

[Barantor]

Yeah I would just use Wuxia, brought over from movies I believe and that way it is associated with a type of 'fantastical' setting already.

There are several different cultures to borrow from under that even, Chinese myths and legends are way, way, way different than Japanese ones.

 

[miburo99]

I don't know about what it the proper term to use or anything, but "the Orient" is pretty Earth-specific, isn't it?

That's pretty true, actually. I can't remember if the original Oriental Adventures sourcebook was based entirely around Kara-Tur in FR or if it was in general about Asian-themed campaigns. That said, "Asian Adventures" sounds...odd..somehow...