Pathfinder 2E Paizo drops use of the word phylactery

[Argyle King]

I feel like this is just hitting the difference between descriptive expressions versus proper nouns. The latter is meant to be descriptive, and can vary based on delivery and intent, so that your emotion will change the meaning within the group.

This is... less so with the former example. I'm reminded of the South Park episode where they tried to defend a more "neutral" usage of the word, without really addressing the fact the power it has as a general curse is derived from the homophobic power of the original. The slur is specific, and trying to generalize it is hard, especially when its power is derived from the original.

(Man, that episode has aged horribly in retrospect.)

And that's part of the problem: "phylactery" is a specific noun. There is a generalized form, but it has been almost completely superseded by the specific form. It's hard not to reference the specific, especially when you can see the (admittedly muddled) intent to make that reference. While it may not have been intended as offensive, I think it's hard to argue it wasn't used carelessly. This is why making up words (like the example brought up earlier of "Horcrux") is a safer and generally smarter option.

I think something like "horcrux" sounds cool. To me personally, "Soul Cage" sounds like a 90s alt-rock band.

I believe that how things sound can matter in regards to how well they catch on. "Bae" (to reference a significant other) hasn't had as much widespread appeal or staying power as similar words -partially because of how it sounded. While it still lingers, my perception is that it didn't have the same impact as things such as "boo," "boo-thang," "babe," "hubby/wifey," or similar words.

The reason I brought up the negative (f-slur) example is that it's an example of something being taken and used in a very negative manner (as phylactery being used in a negative manner). Yet, the perceived change in meaning to become a slur has been accepted as part of contemporary language. I see that as an interesting case study when contrasted against the idea that a change's acceptance depends upon being a positive shift.

In the upthread phrase example, a phrase comparing something to burning feces means something overwhelmingly positive.

 

[Justice and Rule]

I think something like "horcrux" sounds cool. To me personally, "Soul Cage" sounds like a 90s alt-rock band.

I believe that how things sound can matter in regards to how well they catch on. "Bae" (to reference a significant other) hasn't had as much widespread appeal or staying power as similar words -partially because of how it sounded. While it still lingers, my perception is that it didn't have the same impact as things such as "boo," "boo-thang," "babe," "hubby/wifey," or similar words.

The reason I brought up the negative (f-slur) example is that it's an example of something being taken and used in a very negative manner (as phylactery being used in a negative manner). Yet, the perceived change in meaning to become a slur has been accepted as part of contemporary language. I see that as an interesting case study when contrasted against the idea that a change's acceptance depends upon being a positive shift.

In the upthread phrase example, a phrase comparing something to burning feces means something overwhelmingly positive.

I mean, evolution in language complicated. In this case, I think it's pretty clear that even if it's not outright offensive, it's just ill-conceived and we shouldn't be flippantly using specific religious terminology and items for the sake of exoticism. However you individually come to a replacement, though, is up to you.

 

[darjr]

test

 

[TreChriron]

... I call it Animarium. From Latin anima meaning “soul” plus -arium suffix meaning “container”. Thus, soul container. ...

I like this alternative. I find "soul cage" and "soul vessel" to be a little boring. Not so much that I would cry havoc into the dark night sky...

My initial opinion on this was "tempest in a teapot" and didn't really understand the controversy. This thread has informed me and I now feel I understand the change. My learnings;

1. Paizo creatives thought the word was used both in the wrong context and a potentially bad context and decided that "soul cage" was a more fitting term. It was a creative decision vs. a moral reaction.
2. The word does have religious context. While some Jews don't mind the term, others do. It's the latter that is the most important. Why use terms that might hurt people?
3. Context is everything. Using a religious term in a way that is respectful and relevant is not so offensive. Using a religious term as the opposite meaning is very likely offensive. The apostles don't rule hell and evil undead liches are not using phylacteries or tefflin in a relevant or appropriate manner. Better to just drop the term for a new one.

I would also note that the nerds here (I use this term affectionately) are very into language debates and brought out ALL THE GUNS in a way I've never witnessed before. We just witnessed one of the great nerd wars of 2021. And it was glorious!

 

[Scars Unseen]

Either it's a reference and a bad one, or it's not and you'd probably be better giving it a more evocative name.

"Soul cage" is evocative much in the same way "blood blocker" would as a replacement for "bandage." It's the equivalent of running into an NPC names "Bob the Elf." It may be easy to understand, but that doesn't make it good nomenclature given the nature and setting of what it's describing. We're talking about the artifact of an arcane ritual meant to sustain the existence of a potentially ancient being of great power. The name for this should evoke feeling as much as meaning, and "soul cage" fails pretty hard in that respect. As a counter example already mentioned multiple times in this thread, "horcrux" is extremely evocative of fantastic and mysterious feel despite having no meaning at all. Sometimes "sounds cool" is important.

So let's look at an alternative. The Greek root of phylactery would be "phulaktḗrion" or "safeguard." Looking at similar words, the easiest substitution seems to be "prostasia" for "protection." There's also "katafýgio" or "aigís" for "shelter," "ánkyra" for "anchor," Going a bit more abstract, you could go with "ório" for "boundary," "klouví" for cage and so on. Now let's combine that with something that does evoke the full meaning by looking at "psychís" for soul, spirit or "the animating principle of life." Now, since we aren't using a historical setting, there's no need to be grammatically correct in the combination, so we can take a page from Harry Potter's book and just use a quasi-combination that "sounds cool." Of the words I picked out above, I could see "ánkyrpsych" being a decent substitution, both because it has a decent sound to it, and because it can be easily explained as "an anchor for the psyche."

"Soul cage" may be descriptive, but it's also boring and unimaginative. Even the old "liberal use of the thesaurus" method is better than that.

 

[Justice and Rule]

"Soul cage" is evocative much in the same way "blood blocker" would as a replacement for "bandage." It's the equivalent of running into an NPC names "Bob the Elf." It may be easy to understand, but that doesn't make it good nomenclature given the nature and setting of what it's describing. We're talking about the artifact of an arcane ritual meant to sustain the existence of a potentially ancient being of great power. The name for this should evoke feeling as much as meaning, and "soul cage" fails pretty hard in that respect. As a counter example already mentioned multiple times in this thread, "horcrux" is extremely evocative of fantastic and mysterious feel despite having no meaning at all. Sometimes "sounds cool" is important.

I think Soul Cage is fine, but I can agree that it doesn't have that "fantastical" feel. Though I think that's easily supplemented by having different cultures in your world having different names for it in their own tongues and such. "Soul Cage" as the colloquialism that everyone can quickly understand it in, but the dwarves call it "Undkul", which is a mashing of the words for "Keep out" and "Death".

So let's look at an alternative. The Greek root of phylactery would be "phulaktḗrion" or "safeguard." Looking at similar words, the easiest substitution seems to be "prostasia" for "protection." There's also "katafýgio" or "aigís" for "shelter," "ánkyra" for "anchor," Going a bit more abstract, you could go with "ório" for "boundary," "klouví" for cage and so on. Now let's combine that with something that does evoke the full meaning by looking at "psychís" for soul, spirit or "the animating principle of life." Now, since we aren't using a historical setting, there's no need to be grammatically correct in the combination, so we can take a page from Harry Potter's book and just use a quasi-combination that "sounds cool." Of the words I picked out above, I could see "ánkyrpsych" being a decent substitution, both because it has a decent sound to it, and because it can be easily explained as "an anchor for the psyche."

"Soul cage" may be descriptive, but it's also boring and unimaginative. Even the old "liberal use of the thesaurus" method is better than that.

That's not a bad suggestion.

 

[VelvetViolet]

I like this alternative. I find "soul cage" and "soul vessel" to be a little boring. Not so much that I would cry havoc into the dark night sky...

My initial opinion on this was "tempest in a teapot" and didn't really understand the controversy. This thread has informed me and I now feel I understand the change. My learnings;

1. Paizo creatives thought the word was used both in the wrong context and a potentially bad context and decided that "soul cage" was a more fitting term. It was a creative decision vs. a moral reaction.
2. The word does have religious context. While some Jews don't mind the term, others do. It's the latter that is the most important. Why use terms that might hurt people?
3. Context is everything. Using a religious term in a way that is respectful and relevant is not so offensive. Using a religious term as the opposite meaning is very likely offensive. The apostles don't rule hell and evil undead liches are not using phylacteries or tefflin in a relevant or appropriate manner. Better to just drop the term for a new one.

I would also note that the nerds here (I use this term affectionately) are very into language debates and brought out ALL THE GUNS in a way I've never witnessed before. We just witnessed one of the great nerd wars of 2021. And it was glorious!

I also think tempest in teapot. My objection is to Gygax and co took archaic dictionary words and invented unrelated meanings that drowned out the original (and fascinating) meanings in fandom.

A word like animarium is versatile. It can be used for the secret heart of a heartless immortal or the prison of a hapless victim.

 

[Argyle King]

Part of the challenge is finding a word which was a coolness factor (befitting a special item for a lich) but remains easy enough to pronounce and be used by a general audience.

 

[Aldarc]

Part of the challenge is finding a word which was a coolness factor (befitting a special item for a lich) but remains easy enough to pronounce and be used by a general audience.

'Soulstone' works for the Diablo franchise.

 

[Tormai]

Paizo has discontinued the use of the word "phylactery" in its Pathfinder publications due to the word's origins as an item used in real-world religious customs.

I wish there was a better name than “soul cage”

Pathfinder Drops Phylactery From In-Game Terminology

Paizo has discontinued the use of the word 'phylactery' in its Pathfinder publications due to the [...]

comicbook.com

I’m going to stick with phylactery no matter what Paizo chooses. Personally, the more changes I see occurring like this, the more I begin to question the unhealthy level of empathy being displayed. But that’s me and by no means indicative of anyone else, so feel free to disagree, I won’t mind.