M.A.R. Barker, author of Tekumel, also author of Neo-Nazi book?

[Hussar]

That's dodging the question.

Edit to add: But, to answer your question - the default setting of Coyote & Crow isn't a despotic, imperialistic tyranny. Imperialism as we experienced it was cut off by world events, and didn't happen in that world.

Sorry. I thought we were talking about DnD.

And it’s dodging nothing. If 99% of the settings for DnD are despotic tyrannies, it’s not really unfair to call that out.

 

[Faolyn]

Sorry. I thought we were talking about DnD.

And it’s dodging nothing. If 99% of the settings for DnD are despotic tyrannies, it’s not really unfair to call that out.

Are you talking homebrew or official? Because I don't recall the Realms in general as being a despotic tyranny (there are despotic tyrannies in the Realms, but they don't seem to be the norm), Eberron doesn't have many despotic tyrannies either (I can only think of Droaam). I don't know all that much about Greyhawk; I know there are despotic tyrannies there, but there's also the Free City of Greyhawk. I don't know much about Krynn, either, but I would imagine that the Good side of the conflict is neither despotic nor tyrannical. Only Ravenloft seems to rely heavily on evil governments--and even there (at least in 3x and before) not every government was actually evil. And my homebrew world doesn't have any, and is in fact set up so that such a thing is impossible (the world, or at least this part of it, actively fights against large settlements).

So where is this 99% coming from?

 

[Hussar]

Are you talking homebrew or official? Because I don't recall the Realms in general as being a despotic tyranny (there are despotic tyrannies in the Realms, but they don't seem to be the norm), Eberron doesn't have many despotic tyrannies either (I can only think of Droaam). I don't know all that much about Greyhawk; I know there are despotic tyrannies there, but there's also the Free City of Greyhawk. I don't know much about Krynn, either, but I would imagine that the Good side of the conflict is neither despotic nor tyrannical. Only Ravenloft seems to rely heavily on evil governments--and even there (at least in 3x and before) not every government was actually evil. And my homebrew world doesn't have any, and is in fact set up so that such a thing is impossible (the world, or at least this part of it, actively fights against large settlements).

So where is this 99% coming from?

I did just mention Waterdeep. Masked lords, chosen in secret, whose identity is kept from the public, rule the city state without any oversight.

Sounds like a despotic tyranny to me.

The Free City of Greyhawk absolutely IS a despotic tyranny. Here's the Wiki description:

Greyhawk's Directing Oligarchy elects one of its own to as Lord Mayor, who serves as the head of state in addition to his directorial duties. The current Lord Mayor, Nerof Gasgal, has held office since 571 CY. The Lord Mayor heads both the Directing Oligarchy and the Council of Mayors and Manorial Lords. The chief of state also officially heads the military, though actual command is most often left to the Captain General of the Watch.

In what way is that not a despotic tyranny? Or are we going down the nit picking road that I'm not using exactly the right word to describe this?

My point being, these are horrifying governments. The kind of thing we've spent centuries fighting. And that fact is entirely lampshaded. Of course it is. It wouldn't be a fun game otherwise. But, we should still recognize what's going on here - the romanticization of societies that were incredibly unjust and frankly horrifying in so many ways.

------

Although I think maybe where we're not communicating that well is that you are presuming that only evil governments are despotic or tyrannical. I am not. A lawful good paladin King (note, not constitutional monarch), pure and noble of heart, who has not a single speck of evil in his soul is still a tyrannical despot.

 

[Myrdin Potter]

I did just mention Waterdeep. Masked lords, chosen in secret, whose identity is kept from the public, rule the city state without any oversight.

Sounds like a despotic tyranny to me.

The Free City of Greyhawk absolutely IS a despotic tyranny. Here's the Wiki description:



In what way is that not a despotic tyranny? Or are we going down the nit picking road that I'm not using exactly the right word to describe this?

My point being, these are horrifying governments. The kind of thing we've spent centuries fighting. And that fact is entirely lampshaded. Of course it is. It wouldn't be a fun game otherwise. But, we should still recognize what's going on here - the romanticization of societies that were incredibly unjust and frankly horrifying in so many ways.

------

Although I think maybe where we're not communicating that well is that you are presuming that only evil governments are despotic or tyrannical. I am not. A lawful good paladin King (note, not constitutional monarch), pure and noble of heart, who has not a single speck of evil in his soul is still a tyrannical despot.

You keep saying we fought and making sweeping statements.

Who is “we”?

What is not a not a “despotic tyranny”? Most of the good aligned political entities in the default D&D settings are well connected to the people and the government serves the people pretty well.

Handwaving and complaining about nitpicking is dodging the questions you keep getting.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Are you talking homebrew or official? Because I don't recall the Realms in general as being a despotic tyranny (there are despotic tyrannies in the Realms, but they don't seem to be the norm), Eberron doesn't have many despotic tyrannies either (I can only think of Droaam). I don't know all that much about Greyhawk; I know there are despotic tyrannies there, but there's also the Free City of Greyhawk. I don't know much about Krynn, either, but I would imagine that the Good side of the conflict is neither despotic nor tyrannical. Only Ravenloft seems to rely heavily on evil governments--and even there (at least in 3x and before) not every government was actually evil. And my homebrew world doesn't have any, and is in fact set up so that such a thing is impossible (the world, or at least this part of it, actively fights against large settlements).

So where is this 99% coming from?

I addressed this in the other thread I started, but Greyhawk contains a staggering number of different government types, including elected governments such as the Yeomanry (a kind of Republic) and Hightown.

 

[darjr]

What is the government of Iuz?

 

[J.Quondam]

What is the government of Iuz?

Cryptobrocracy--
Oh wait, I thought you said government of "lulz". My bad.

 

[darjr]

Cryptobrocracy--
Oh wait, I thought you said government of "lulz". My bad.

Ooohhhh. I’m going to form one of those!

who’s with me?!

Oh.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Cryptobrocracy--
Oh wait, I thought you said government of "lulz". My bad.

Once Iuz has conquered Greyhawk, it will be NFTs forever! Do you think the Circle of Eight can defeat Iuz's BLOCKCHAIN?

 

[Parmandur]

What is the government of Iuz?

Direct theocracy.