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<blockquote data-quote="Dungeonosophy" data-source="post: 5874966" data-attributes="member: 6688049"><p><strong>What kind of Backgrounds?</strong></p><p></p><p>It looks like the 5e Backgrounds we've seen so far are pretty generic and abstract (Commoner, Apprentice, Noble). They remind me of 0-level characters from the 1e <em>Greyhawk Adventures</em> book.</p><p> </p><p>Wasn't the term "Background" used in 3e Forgotten Realms to cover the cultural homeland of each player? This was more specific and flavorful.</p><p> </p><p>And "Background" was also used in WotC's Wheel of Time d20 game as the equivalent of "race" in D&D, to distinguish the various PC human cultures since there was only one non-human PC option in that game.</p><p> </p><p>Will 5e Backgrounds fill all these roles?</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p><p>If so, then I'd like to see 20 archetypal human cultural Backgrounds, with a brief synonymy for the various <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/dndphilmont/culture-books" target="_blank">D&D Worlds which employ real world cultural features</a> (Toril, Abeir, Oerth, Aerth, Ravenloft, Mystara, and Birthright's Aebrynis). This would cover nearly all the Real World cultural flavors featured in those Campaign Settings: </p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Northman</strong> (quasi-Viking; Uthgardt Barbarians of Toril; Ice, Snow, and Frost Barbarians of Oerth; Antalians of Mystara; Rjurik of Aebrynis; also Ice Barbarians of Krynn)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Valesman</strong> (quasi-Medieval English; Dalelands and Cormyr of Toril; Tharquish Empire in Oerth; Darokin of Mystara; Anuire of Aebrynis)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Hillman</strong> (quasi-Celtic; the Ffolk of Toril, Old Faith Oeridians of Oerth; Thratian Barbarians of Mystara)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Isenman</strong> (quasi-Medieval German + Dutch; Hattias and Heldannic Knights of Mystara, Brechtur of Aebrynis)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Sylairois </strong>(quasi-Medieval French; Nouvelle Averoigne and Renardie in Mystara)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Kerendano</strong> (quasi-Medieval Italian + Spanish; Amn and Chondath in Toril, Caurenze, Espan Baronies in Mystara; the "generic core" name is from Kerendas, which is the origin of both the Italian and Spanish cultures in Mystara)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Hordesman</strong> (quasi-Mongol; Tuigans of Toril; Tiger Nomads of Oerth; Ethengarians of Mystara)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Emirati</strong> (quasi-Arab; Zakharans and Calishites of Toril, Bakluni of Oerth, Amber Wastes of Ravenloft, Alasyians of Mystara; Khinasi of Birthright)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Eastlander</strong> (quasi-Russian/Slavic; Rashemen of Toril, Stonefist Barbarians of Oerth, Traladarans of Mystara, Vosgaard of Aebrynis)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Nubian</strong> (quasi-African; Chult and Katashaka of Toril, Touv of Oerth, Tanagoro of Mystara)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Rover</strong> (quasi-Native American; Anchorome natives of Toril or Abeir, Arapahi of Oerth; Atruaghin Clans of Mystara; also Plains Barbarians of Krynn)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Anawakian</strong> (quasi-Mesoamerican; Mazticans of Abeir, Olmans of Oerth, Azcans of Mystara)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Dreamtimer</strong> (quasi-Aboriginal; Osse of Toril, Wallarans of Mystara)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Zindian</strong> (quasi-South Asian; Utter East of Toril, Zindia of Oerth, Sind of Mystara, Sri Ravji in Ravenloft)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Cathayan</strong> (quasi-Chinese; Shou Lung and T'u Lung of Toril; Sufang of Oerth; I'Cath of Ravenloft, Ochalean of Mystara)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Nippon-jin</strong> (quasi-Japanese; Wa and Kozakura of Toril, Nippon of Oerth; Myoshima of Mystara)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Thessalian</strong> (quasi-Greek: Chessenta of Toril; Milenians of Mystara)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Khemite</strong> (quasi-Egyptian; Mulhorand of Toril, Erypt of Oerth, Aegypt/Khemit of Aerth, Thothia and Nithia of Mystara)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Nesian</strong> (quasi-Pacific Islander; Makai of Mystara)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Untherite</strong> (quasi-Mesopotamian; Unther of Toril, Ishtarland of Oerth, Nimmur of Mystara)</li> </ul><p>There are precedents: various Real World cultures were mentioned in the class descriptions of the 2e PHB. And these cultures were featured in the pantheons of 1e Deities & Demigods and 2e Legends & Lore. </p><p> </p><p>These Backgrounds also form the cultural framework for other fantasy IPs: JRRT's Middle-earth, REH's Hyborian Age, Theah of the <em>7th Sea</em>, and Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay.</p><p> </p><p>As shown above, the names would either be "genericized" or would use an actual name from Oerth (or one of the other D&D Worlds) as the default. </p><p> </p><p>These would be real, flavorful Backgrounds that players could get a handle on. If the Backgrounds are supposed to be open to all races, then "-man" could be replaced with "-folk": "Northfolk", "Hillfolk", "Hordesfolk", etc.</p><p> </p><p>From this Real World-inspired base, many more Backgrounds--including "mixed" or invented fantasy cultures--could be featured in 5e Campaign Setting books.</p><p> </p><p>This is what I'd like to see for Backgrounds in D&D Next.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dungeonosophy, post: 5874966, member: 6688049"] [b]What kind of Backgrounds?[/b] It looks like the 5e Backgrounds we've seen so far are pretty generic and abstract (Commoner, Apprentice, Noble). They remind me of 0-level characters from the 1e [I]Greyhawk Adventures[/I] book. Wasn't the term "Background" used in 3e Forgotten Realms to cover the cultural homeland of each player? This was more specific and flavorful. And "Background" was also used in WotC's Wheel of Time d20 game as the equivalent of "race" in D&D, to distinguish the various PC human cultures since there was only one non-human PC option in that game. Will 5e Backgrounds fill all these roles? If so, then I'd like to see 20 archetypal human cultural Backgrounds, with a brief synonymy for the various [URL="https://sites.google.com/site/dndphilmont/culture-books"]D&D Worlds which employ real world cultural features[/URL] (Toril, Abeir, Oerth, Aerth, Ravenloft, Mystara, and Birthright's Aebrynis). This would cover nearly all the Real World cultural flavors featured in those Campaign Settings: [LIST] [*][B]Northman[/B] (quasi-Viking; Uthgardt Barbarians of Toril; Ice, Snow, and Frost Barbarians of Oerth; Antalians of Mystara; Rjurik of Aebrynis; also Ice Barbarians of Krynn) [*][B]Valesman[/B] (quasi-Medieval English; Dalelands and Cormyr of Toril; Tharquish Empire in Oerth; Darokin of Mystara; Anuire of Aebrynis) [*][B]Hillman[/B] (quasi-Celtic; the Ffolk of Toril, Old Faith Oeridians of Oerth; Thratian Barbarians of Mystara) [*][B]Isenman[/B] (quasi-Medieval German + Dutch; Hattias and Heldannic Knights of Mystara, Brechtur of Aebrynis) [*][B]Sylairois [/B](quasi-Medieval French; Nouvelle Averoigne and Renardie in Mystara) [*][B]Kerendano[/B] (quasi-Medieval Italian + Spanish; Amn and Chondath in Toril, Caurenze, Espan Baronies in Mystara; the "generic core" name is from Kerendas, which is the origin of both the Italian and Spanish cultures in Mystara) [*][B]Hordesman[/B] (quasi-Mongol; Tuigans of Toril; Tiger Nomads of Oerth; Ethengarians of Mystara) [*][B]Emirati[/B] (quasi-Arab; Zakharans and Calishites of Toril, Bakluni of Oerth, Amber Wastes of Ravenloft, Alasyians of Mystara; Khinasi of Birthright) [*][B]Eastlander[/B] (quasi-Russian/Slavic; Rashemen of Toril, Stonefist Barbarians of Oerth, Traladarans of Mystara, Vosgaard of Aebrynis) [*][B]Nubian[/B] (quasi-African; Chult and Katashaka of Toril, Touv of Oerth, Tanagoro of Mystara) [*][B]Rover[/B] (quasi-Native American; Anchorome natives of Toril or Abeir, Arapahi of Oerth; Atruaghin Clans of Mystara; also Plains Barbarians of Krynn) [*][B]Anawakian[/B] (quasi-Mesoamerican; Mazticans of Abeir, Olmans of Oerth, Azcans of Mystara) [*][B]Dreamtimer[/B] (quasi-Aboriginal; Osse of Toril, Wallarans of Mystara) [*][B]Zindian[/B] (quasi-South Asian; Utter East of Toril, Zindia of Oerth, Sind of Mystara, Sri Ravji in Ravenloft) [*][B]Cathayan[/B] (quasi-Chinese; Shou Lung and T'u Lung of Toril; Sufang of Oerth; I'Cath of Ravenloft, Ochalean of Mystara) [*][B]Nippon-jin[/B] (quasi-Japanese; Wa and Kozakura of Toril, Nippon of Oerth; Myoshima of Mystara) [*][B]Thessalian[/B] (quasi-Greek: Chessenta of Toril; Milenians of Mystara) [*][B]Khemite[/B] (quasi-Egyptian; Mulhorand of Toril, Erypt of Oerth, Aegypt/Khemit of Aerth, Thothia and Nithia of Mystara) [*][B]Nesian[/B] (quasi-Pacific Islander; Makai of Mystara) [*][B]Untherite[/B] (quasi-Mesopotamian; Unther of Toril, Ishtarland of Oerth, Nimmur of Mystara) [/LIST]There are precedents: various Real World cultures were mentioned in the class descriptions of the 2e PHB. And these cultures were featured in the pantheons of 1e Deities & Demigods and 2e Legends & Lore. These Backgrounds also form the cultural framework for other fantasy IPs: JRRT's Middle-earth, REH's Hyborian Age, Theah of the [I]7th Sea[/I], and Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. As shown above, the names would either be "genericized" or would use an actual name from Oerth (or one of the other D&D Worlds) as the default. These would be real, flavorful Backgrounds that players could get a handle on. If the Backgrounds are supposed to be open to all races, then "-man" could be replaced with "-folk": "Northfolk", "Hillfolk", "Hordesfolk", etc. From this Real World-inspired base, many more Backgrounds--including "mixed" or invented fantasy cultures--could be featured in 5e Campaign Setting books. This is what I'd like to see for Backgrounds in D&D Next. [/QUOTE]
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