Reading the thread, it seems more like people are guessing they have this as a policy. I haven't seen a statement from WotC on the matter. And the presence of Asmodeus and Hades and Hell and many other things in the DMG seem to discredit this "no real world religion, period" notion lol. A cult of Orcus is features in Dragon Delves, for crying out loud. Not to mention the omnipresence of Tiamat this edition.
Asmodeus is not a real god, even if the name has origins in occultism.
I prefer the "esque" approach that borrows from, rather than misrepresents. It feels wiser.
It was inappropriate because of some of the pantheons and IP chosen lol. In terms of real world religion and mythology, let's just have look at a small selection of the new DMG. We have referenced:
Right, still proving the point, no real gods.
Egyptians are proud and sensitive about their Egyptian cultural heritage. There was even an outcry because some movie didnt portray Cleopatra as Greek enough. The Egyptian gods require caution when utilizing in a gaming product.
In 2023, they published a book that features the Anakim from the Torah, the Enochian Watchers, and Samael. I don't think Dragonborn Enlil scares them.
Yet they didn't include a single Mesopotamian, Greek, Egyptian or Norse deity in Planescape.
We'll find out in 11 days. I'll come back here and admit I'm wrong if they aren't there. Note I do consider a little line like "Since the Second Sundering they have taken new names" to be the same as them still being there for obvious reasons.
Complete wipeout, take that to the bank.
