D&D General D&D Settings with No Problematic Areas?

[Mercurius]

Yes, as much as a lot of older gamers look back on Kara-tur or Maztica or al-Qadim with fondness through rose-colored glasses that obscure the problematic parts, I think all those regions should be left alone and not updated for 5E, or a future 6E. Either do more MtG settings that are similar in flavor and theme or maybe even, however unlikely, a brand-new world. But they were obviously up to something before all this stuff blew up. They did not need a bunch of cultural consultants and sensitivity readers just for Theros alone or to adjust the PC monster races. Whether we will still get what they had planned, or it is just delayed, only WotC knows. Actually, back when the Tabaxi were updated to 5E, I was sure that meant something to do with Maztica would be coming out eventually. Maybe they can still do something with that, as of those three regions I mentioned, Maztica would be the least hazardous to update. Plus, unlike the other two, is there even a MtG setting with a similar theme?

I believe Ixalan is the Mesoamerica-inspired world.

 

[Raduin711]

One nice thing about these settings is that they give players an opportunity to learn about these cultures that they might not get otherwise. In the case of a setting like Al-Qadim, this might be one of the few positive portrayals of the middle east (even if it is put into a fantasy context) that are available to them. I think for that alone, these settings are worth doing.

However, WotC may not be the company to do it right now. To do it right would take writers with a more intimate familiarity with these cultures, and based on what we heard out of Orion Black, that might not be the case.

 

[Azzy]

Yeah with regards to fixing things this is a "Could you do Kara-Tur 5e, but respectful this time? Or should you just ditch Kara Tur for an asian-inspired MTG setting like Tarkir".

Personally, I'd like to know if Kara-Tur could be salvaged. Given that, as part of the Forgotten Realms, it's been over 100 years in game since it was presented in the only product that actually detailed (the old boxed set), and there have been a few cataclysmic upheavals (the Time of Troubles, the Spellplague, the Sundering, and probably something else that I'm unaware of), there plenty of in-game reasons that could be used to justify huge, sweeping changes. But the question remains: Can Kara-Tur be reimagined in a way that isn't offensive to Asian American gamers?

 

[Panda-s1]

Personally, I'd like to know if Kara-Tur could be salvaged. Given that, as part of the Forgotten Realms, it's been over 100 years in game since it was presented in the only product that actually detailed (the old boxed set), and there have been a few cataclysmic upheavals (the Time of Troubles, the Spellplague, the Sundering, and probably something else that I'm unaware of), there plenty of in-game reasons that could be used to justify huge, sweeping changes. But the question remains: Can Kara-Tur be reimagined in a way that isn't offensive to Asian American gamers?

no. it is impossible. no matter how you portray us we will always be offended. do not even try.

 

[Panda-s1]

really though, why are you asking "isn't offensive to Asian American gamers?" that puts the burden on people like me and if we don't accept it then we're just unreasonable.

how about instead you ask "Can Kara-Tur be reimagined in a way that is respectful to Asian cultures?"?

 

[Fenris-77]

how about instead you ask "Can Kara-Tur be reimagined in a way that is respectful to Asian cultures?"?

This is the key right here IMO. Frankly, I don't care all that much about a product from 35 years ago, whether its for sale or not. I do care about how things can be done better moving forward.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

As a class in D&D, clerics don't needs gods. Ancestor reverence, animism, and other spiritual forces could be used as the source/explanation of a cleric's power.

And monks definitely don't need gods or religious sects.

Yes, but also...religion isn’t on the chopping block at all. D&D is gonna keep on having religion.

I think all those regions should be left alone and not updated for 5E, or a future 6E. Either do more MtG settings that are similar in flavor and theme or maybe even, however unlikely, a brand-new world

I’d rather have FR be a world that actually has culturally distinct regions, so it isn’t a “pseudo-European with a few oddballs places” world.

 

[Azzy]

really though, why are you asking "isn't offensive to Asian American gamers?" that puts the burden on people like me and if we don't accept it then we're just unreasonable.

how about instead you ask "Can Kara-Tur be reimagined in a way that is respectful to Asian cultures?"?

My bad—it was not my intention to imply that. Sorry about that.

But, yes, can Kara-Tur be reimagined in a way that is respectful to Asian cultures or is it too tied up in racist stereotypes?

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

My bad—it was not my intention to imply that. Sorry about that.

But, yes, can Kara-Tur be reimagined in a way that is respectful to Asian cultures or is it too tied up in racist stereotypes?

I think that's something they are going to have to hire a sensitivity reader for.

 

[Azzy]

I think that's something they are going to have to hire a sensitivity reader for.

Oh, of course. I was just shooting the question to the board to see what (good-faith) opinions our community could offer.