Cultural Driven Settings

[AEthernaut]

Hi,

Over the past few months I have had the erg to develop a fairly unique campaign setting for D&D. The reason I am writing is that it will be a culturally based setting. The only way I can describe it, at this stage, is it will be Greek/Hellenic focused in the manner in which D&D does for Western European (this is just a generalisation here) Myth and Legends. That is, a mixture of the different time periods into a sort of hybrid fantasy Greek setting.

Essentially, I am asking is whether you believe that campaign settings, such as Al-Qadim et al, being culturally centred isolate players from relating to this kind of specific type of fantasy world? That is, as opposed to “normal” or “standard” fantasy settings.

Thank You,
AEthernaut

 

[fusangite]

It all depends on what sort of players you have and whether you choose to emphasize similarity or difference. Essentially, this is your choice. A lot of games, regardless of setting are basically set in modern 20th century society just situated in a different setting.

 

[JeffB]

Hi,

Over the past few months I have had the erg to develop a fairly unique campaign setting for D&D. The reason I am writing is that it will be a culturally based setting. The only way I can describe it, at this stage, is it will be Greek/Hellenic focused in the manner in which D&D does for Western European (this is just a generalisation here) Myth and Legends. That is, a mixture of the different time periods into a sort of hybrid fantasy Greek setting.

Essentially, I am asking is whether you believe that campaign settings, such as Al-Qadim et al, being culturally centred isolate players from relating to this kind of specific type of fantasy world? That is, as opposed to “normal” or “standard” fantasy settings.

Thank You,
AEthernaut

You should take a look at Glorantha. It would be great food for thought for your idea, as it is a "bronze age" world that is steeped in mythology and legend vs. your typical Sword and Sorcery setting.

www.glorantha.com

 

[Tonguez]

It will depend a lot on your knowledge of the setting/culture and your ability to make it a 'real living environment' that the PCs can relate to rather than just people in funny costumes doing unusual 'ethnic' things.

For instance my current campaign is set in Mythic Polynesia but luckily enough I am Polynesian and also have a degree (Anthro/Sociology and Education) that focussed on Polynesian Myth

in the past I have done the Yuan Empire (inspired by Mongol Empire straight after the death of Ghengis Khan)

and an Afrikan setting using ideas from both Medieval Afrika (Mali, Songhey) and Antediluvean Afrika (and Phillip Jose Farmer)

The Mongol setting went okay becuase most people have a general idea of 'Asian' (if not Mongol) Civilisation

Afrika was harder but by setting it in the Sahel it provided a link between the more familiar Egypt and North Afrika and the exotic Equatorial Afrika...