D&D 5E What should an official Indian subcontinent inspired setting have?

[Yaarel]

You know what you really can't separate? The millions and millions of people who died in the name of Religion throughout human history. And sadly, at least in some game settings, that carries over into the metaplot.

And the millions more who killed in the name of nationalism and communism?

The problem is ANY ideology can become dysfunctional.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

And the millions more who killed in the name of nationalism and communism?

The problem is ANY ideology can become dysfunctional.

I was including them. Whether it is done in the name of a religion or because of a hate for a religion, it still happened because organized religions exist. And that just being a casual part of a fantasy setting is a bad thing. Same with slavery or caste systems being treated as anything other than the horrible and oppressive things they are.

 

[Tonguez]

I was including them. Whether it is done in the name of a religion or because of a hate for a religion, it still happened because organized religions exist. And that just being a casual part of a fantasy setting is a bad thing. Same with slavery or caste systems being treated as anything other than the horrible and oppressive things they are.

Heya, Im not a moderator or a policeman but if you want to further your discussion could it be done somewhere else?

 

[Yaarel]

I was including them. Whether it is done in the name of a religion or because of a hate for a religion, it still happened because organized religions exist. And that just being a casual part of a fantasy setting is a bad thing. Same with slavery or caste systems being treated as anything other than the horrible and oppressive things they are.

Ah. Yeah. I strongly agree.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I'm not American!

That makes it worse not better, dude. If you're British, it's actually not okay that you don't know this stuff, it's downright ignorant. Anyway, point is, it's not "making it political", it's already political, thanks to the current Indian government and it's extreme policies towards non-Hindus and very much towards non-Hindu elements of Indian culture and history (which is to say it would like there to no be any of those).

 

[Yaarel]

Heya, Im not a moderator or a policeman but if you want to further your discussion could it be done somewhere else?

I think the comment is appropriate, with the general point that religion is so sensitive a topic that it is irresponsible for WotC to inject the topic into the game casually and thoughtlessly.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Oh, I know. I am just saying that I am including Hindu with the other Big Three as religions that are followed by too many people to be able to fantasize in a way that will not offend a large number of people. I don't even like using the real world dead religions any more. I want my fantasy worlds to have fantasy religions.

I mean, if you wanted to do an Indian subcontinent-inspired setting in that case is basically go the Theros route, by making a setting which evoked the mythologies and religions of those cultures, without actually following them.

I think that could work.

I do think it would be a problem if you were only inspired by Hindu mythology and history but I suspect that would be unlikely to happen if you got sufficiently knowledgeable and imaginative people on the case.

 

[Parmandur]

Maybe yes, maybe no.

I’m a lifetime Roman Catholic who has taken not only courses on our theology, but also college-level religion courses. Finding out there’s over 30k different denominations of Christianity- including those that do not believe in the triune nature of God- was eye opening. Things some branches consider heresies are central tenets of others.

Look at any faith, and you’re bound to find fractalized branches that are difficult to reconcile with the roots.

All religions are complex, for sure,but Hinduism is pretty different in thst the differences are often less ideological, and usually more based in which gods and traditions are local to an area. "Hindusim" as an "-ism" to check off on a census form is kind of an intenvtion of British colonialism wanting tie everything together neatly and tidily.

 

[Parmandur]

I mean, if you wanted to do an Indian subcontinent-inspired setting in that case is basically go the Theros route, by making a setting which evoked the mythologies and religions of those cultures, without actually following them.

I think that could work.

I do think it would be a problem if you were only inspired by Hindu mythology and history but I suspect that would be unlikely to happen if you got sufficiently knowledgeable and imaginative people on the case.

Yeah, I have a problem with the premise of the thread insofar as I would rather find out by letting some talented Indian creators put something out than try to dictate what would be appropriate or cool.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

"Hindusim" as an "-ism" to check off on a census form is kind of an intenvtion of British colonialism wanting tie everything together neatly and tidily.

I mean, that's how the "How it Started" picture, but the "How it's Going" picture is um, well it's the BJP and Hindu Nationalism. I mean as usual the bloody British are to blame for starting it.