D&D 5E Do you think we will get an Oriental Adventures setting for 5th edition?

[Azzy]

So, a mishmash of SE Asian cultures and architecture?

Just for example, one with the castes and deities of India, the Chinese Shaolin-type monasteries, the various yokai of Japan, the veneration of ancestral spirits, and perhaps a nation with a wall to hold off a tribe of mounted barbarians?

Yeah, different nations would be different mishmashes. Something that focuses more on fantasy than simulation.

The setting of the manga/anime Akatsui no Yona is a good example of fictional East-Asian inspired setting. While the setting has very little supernatural elements (limited to a handful of the main characters), it serves as a good example of not being a simple China, Korea, or Japan analogue.

 

[Shasarak]

So which nation or nations in those settings is a direct 1-to-1 Middle Ages England (pre- or post- Norman invasion) analogues? France? Spain? Russia? Other Slavic states? Italy? Germany? Etc.?

Who says you wouldn't? I would just expect it to be as closely analogous to historical Asian states as the Occidental lands of Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk, etc. are analogous to historical European and Middle Eastern states. That is, only in the most broad sense, with elements drawn from various different historical nations (from various different historical points) with fictional and fantastical elements thrown in so that it's not just, say, Merovingian France with the serial numbers filed off or, say, Sengoku Japan with its serial numbers filed off. Y'know, something that's a little more imaginative and creative.

Sure, anything from Cormyr, Sembia, Waterdeep, Baldurs Gate and that is just the Sword Coast; the Known World of Mystara is probably even better for one to one settings.

 

[Azzy]

Sure, anything from Cormyr, Sembia, Waterdeep, Baldurs Gate and that is just the Sword Coast;

So, rather than just list some Forgotten Realms country names, can you tell me which historic, European countries that they are direct analogues of?

the Known World of Mystara is probably even better for one to one settings.

Mystara wasn't on the list of settings that mentioned, but never mind that. What Mystaran countries are direct analogues of which historic, European countries? At best, you've got Karameikos which broadly Slavic-based, the Soderfjord Jarldoms which is broadly Viking Scandinavian-based, Thyatis which is an admixture of Byzantine & Roman Empires.

 

[Demetrios1453]

So which nation or nations in those settings is a direct 1-to-1 Middle Ages England (pre- or post- Norman invasion) analogues? France? Spain? Russia? Other Slavic states? Italy? Germany? Etc.?

For the Realms, the most obvious ones are Rashemen = Russia, Mulhorand = Ancient Egypt, Unther = Ancient Mesopotamia, Chessenta = Ancient Greece, the Moonshaes = Ireland/Wales

In Greyhawk, virtually the entire setting is politically based off the Holy Roman Empire/Germany, with the Great Kingdom at one point having ruled most of the Flanaess, but now shrunk to actually controlling the areas directly ruled by the Overking (like Austria, which even after the HRE was dissolved still maintained the title of Emperor), while all the various Duchies, Counties, Free Cities, and so on that made up the Great Kingdom, and whose titles were based on the Great Kingdom's hierarchy, have all become independent (like 19th century Germany).

(Note that I'm merely answering the question posed. There's no doubt the Kara-Tur setting way over-did it with one-to-one correspondences. I'd like to see Kara-Tur re-released for the new edition, but it needs to have some alterations done to seriously water down the obvious parallels. Thankfully a century or so of time and several world-shattering disasters can easily allow for such changes to be made).

 

[Mecheon]

Rashemen is a bit more complex that just a not-Russia, if you go by NWN 2, Mask of the Betrayer

But yep, Kara-Tur is in dire need of a redoing. I reiterate my point that with all of the apocolypses that Faerun experiences on a daily basis, they can clear it out

 

[Shasarak]

So, rather than just list some Forgotten Realms country names, can you tell me which historic, European countries that they are direct analogues of?



Mystara wasn't on the list of settings that mentioned, but never mind that. What Mystaran countries are direct analogues of which historic, European countries? At best, you've got Karameikos which broadly Slavic-based, the Soderfjord Jarldoms which is broadly Viking Scandinavian-based, Thyatis which is an admixture of Byzantine & Roman Empires.

Ok, Cormyr is a direct rip from England complete with King Azoun (Arthur), Vandeghast, (Merlin) and the Purple Dragon Knights of the Round Table.

 

[Azzy]

Ok, Cormyr is a direct rip from England complete with King Azoun (Arthur), Vandeghast, (Merlin) and the Purple Dragon Knights of the Round Table.

So, literary England with knights in shining armor, based on the Late Middle Ages romances written in several countries, not historical England? The historical Arthur (if he actually existed), lived in the Early Middle Ages a little after Rome recalled its forces from England and existed before there were any knights (knights would have to wait until the Norman invasion roughly 500 years later, and much, much later for plate armor). :/

 

[Nellisir]

But do the oriental peoples find it offensive? I've not heard complaints about it from anyone except urban white folk and a few wealthy black folk.

Already addressed this. My wife finds it offensive, and she's half-Thai and raised in Bangkok. She's also not going to post here, so you'll have to take my rural white male word for it.

 

[Parmandur]

I think the Sword Coast book previews make it more likely we will see Kara-Tur, in an AP or two and a regional fluff guide with crunch.

I'd buy it, but they are not likely to use the word Oriental.