D&D 5E What’s So Great About Medieval Europe?

[doctorbadwolf]

So you're happy to go into a Brazilian favala at night time as a well dressed tourist?

How about certain areas of say Columbia or Bolivia?

I can’t imagine how it would even be possible for a person to care less about a thing, than I do about whatever it is you’re doing, here.

 

[Zardnaar]

I can’t imagine how it would even be possible for a person to care less about a thing, than I do about whatever it is you’re doing, here.

There's parts of the globe where you probably don't want to go as a tourist at night. You stand out and there's a decent chance you get kidnapped/killed.

Slums in South America, places connected to the drug trade, parts of the Caucasus, obvious warzones like Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen. Parts of Venezuela come to mind.

Some parts you wouldn't go in daylight. You'll stand out and look/dress different.

 

[TheSword]

I can’t imagine how it would even be possible for a person to care less about a thing, than I do about whatever it is you’re doing, here.

I agree, the fact that in the real world some areas suffer from more crime has zero bearing on whether different races would be accepted in your fantasy village.

The poster appears to be trying to provide justification for why villagers in a fantasy setting might act in a xenophobic way towards another player race. The fact is, that it’s a work of fiction in a fantasy setting and is completely under the control of the DM.

If as DM you want to make that an issue In the campaign that’s your call. You choose to have people behave in a certain way. Know your audience. You don’t need to justify it by citing the favelas.

 

[Son of the Serpent]

So you're happy to go into a Brazilian favala at night time as a well dressed tourist?

How about certain areas of say Columbia or Bolivia?

Its a death sentence to be an obvious westerner (or usually someone obviously from an asian country too. Either. Moreso western though.) in muslim controlled areas and stumble upon bacha bazi festivities or similar events in the middle of when they are happening. You will die so fast.

 

[Zardnaar]

Its a death sentence to be an obvious westerner (or usually someone obviously from an asian country too. Either. Moreso western though.) in muslim controlled areas and stumble upon bacha bazi festivities or similar events in the middle of when they are happening. You will die so fast.

No idea.

A DM doesn't have to run that way if course but there are areas of the world you're taking your life in your hands if you stand out. And we're the same species.

Might be due to war, poverty, secrecy (drug plantations etc). Pre Covid you could get to some of these places but bad things can happen.

Obviously it's not a requirement but it makes sense if a DM runs the game that way IMHO.

Places you could go pre Covid.

Afghanistan
Dagestan
Chechnya
Yemen
Somali
Venezuela
North Korea
Kurdistan/Iraq
Syria

If you really want to you can visit.

 

[Mirtek]

Creating said content usually involves making a fantasy world full of stereotypical representations of people and dated racist caricatures.

And the "medieval european" content usually involves making a fantasy world full of stereotypical representations of people and dated caricatures born of the view of cultural supremancy over the middle ages that was especially fostered during the rennaisance (which is when the derogatory term "dark age" originated).

 

[FlyingChihuahua]

You can still get stared at. At night you avoid certain areas in some countries.

It's almost like were're talking about a fantasy world where things can be different or something... Or maybe people, right. don't want to deal with that kind of crap in their elf game...

Nah... Clearly every human being in [INSERT D&D WORLD HERE] should be a massive bigot because "realism!"

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

People who haven’t seen that sort of thing kinda freak out, in that they stare and point and the like. And in most towns, you’re gonna still be welcome at the local diner.

In a world where Dragonborn have a reputation as noble and honorable people, who have nations and towns and families just like you, they’re gonna just be a foreigner.

The idea they’d be somehow mistaken for dragons is pretty dang absurd.

Honestly, I can tell you as a black man who lives in D/FW that people who HAVE seen “that kind of thing“ can get still get antsy. Violent, even. Just because a sight is familiar doesn’t make it welcome or comforting.

See also racism, xenophobia and other forms of profound distrust.

And that’s without actually having claws & fangs.

How many bipedal reptilian races are there in D&D? Do you think the average peasant can tell the difference just by looking? (Before you answer, consider how many Sikhs have been targeted by anti-Muslim attackers.)

Bigotry isn’t universal. It doesn’t have to be. Wrong place, wrong time is enough to cause a problem.

 

[Zardnaar]

It's almost like were're talking about a fantasy world where things can be different or something... Or maybe people, right. don't want to deal with that kind of crap in their elf game...

Nah... Clearly every human being in [INSERT D&D WORLD HERE] should be a massive bigot because "realism!"

Did you miss the part I said you don't have to run that way.

If you do though it makes sense. It makes more sense than not playing that way to be honest.

Neither way is wrong though if a DM goes full Xenophile or Xenophobe they're not playing wrong. As long as it's in game of course.

Don't like it don't play. The way you dressed was a death sentence 1941-45 in places like Poland and USSR.

Not required at all IMHO.

 

[imagineGod]

So here I am on the sidelines watching a battle of words by combatants with tunnel vision. All this talk of the Medieval influence or even the European Renaissance influence on role playing games and yet very few wish to discuss the obviously anthropomorphic role playing game Historia for Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition.



So many comments about cultural appropriating or mis-appropriation, and yet few detailed reflections on why in Historia the RPG, the dogs and cats are dressed in human garb.

Would those dogs and cats have evolved their fashions along similar lines if their evolution brought them to sentience the same way ours has?

Are human-styled fashions and armor practical for such bi-pedal canines and felines both?

Are the power dynamics between the species balanced, or is their stereotyping at play?

Will these depictions offend dog lovers or cat lovers, or is it even cruel to dress animals in human guise? Is it dog-face or cat-face cosplay?

Seriously, most comments on this thread seem stuck in the quagmire of entrenched trench warfare firing off salvo after salvo of artillery shells, hoping to route the enemy, but, instead just catching innocent bystanders who look upon the carnage and wonder why the hobby has become so steeped in vitriol.