D&D 5E Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks Would Like To Explore Kara-Tur

According to Reddit poster bwrusso, who was in a small group investor meeting with Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks last week, Hasbro's CEO (who was previously President of Wizards of the Coast before being promoted to his current position) currently plays in a Kara-Tur campaign and would personally like to see that setting explored further.

Kara-Tur is part of the Forgotten Realms, and is inspired by real-world East and Southeast Asia cultures, including China, Japan, Mongolia, and other regions. It was originally published in the 1985 book Oriental Adventures, and has since appeared in other formats including a boxed set in 1988. Eight adventure modules for the setting were published in the late 80s. In 2015's Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, Kara-Tur is briefly described.

Cocks also touched on Spanish-language translations of D&D books in Latin America, and indicated that there were distribution issues with former licensing agreements in that region.

 

[tetrasodium]

Related to that, I'd never heard of xianxia before:
.

low fatasy vrs (very) high fantasy

Exploring Martial Worlds: Wuxia, Xianxia, and Western Cultivation Fantasy – Dreamscape Publishing

www.dreamscapepublishing.com

Spoiler: One Publisher's writeup

If you like progression fantasy, chances are you’ve run into words like Xianxia, Wuxia, and “Western Cultivation” along the way.​

Lovers of progression fantasy already know there are many nuances between its seemingly endless list of subgenres. Words like Xianxia, Wuxia, and “Western Cultivation” may appear in the description, but that doesn’t always clear everything up for LitRPG “newbs.” What exactly are the differences between these subtypes?

We are so glad you asked!

Before we dive into it, it’s important to know that these three subgenres all pull inspiration from Eastern cultural history – Chinese to be specific. Because of this, progression fantasy novels of these types will often take place in ancient China, center around historical characters/events, or even feature gods and demons from Chinese folklore. Writers in these subgenres are also heavily influenced by Taoism and Buddhism with cultivation levels sometimes based on real-world meditations and exercises like martial arts and qigong.

Now that we know what makes them similar, let’s talk about what makes them unique.

We’ll start with the Chinese equivalent of “High Fantasy,” Xianxia.​

Xianxia translated to English means, “immortal heroes.”

With a name like that, you can assume these stories are led by otherworldly and superhuman characters. The main character in a Xianxia novel begins their journey at a lowly status in a world that is filled with magic and governed by extremely powerful gods or leaders. For this character to “level up” and reach their goal at the end of their hero’s journey, they must practice the art of “cultivation.”

Xianxia cultivation typically involves martial arts, meditation, and otherworldly characters.

Cultivation can mean a number of things, but in Xianxia, this typically involves character development through some combination of martial arts and meditation. The levels also range from lower-class humanity to heavenly heights. Along their adventure, heroes in this subgenre encounter gods, demons, and otherwise powerful characters who help or hinder them by sharing wisdom or exchanging blows. Eventually, this character can develop enough to become a xian or immortal, godlike character themselves, elevating them to the highest level of cultivation.

A popular example of a LitRPG fantasy with Xianxia elements is Tao Wong’s A Thousand Li series.

Conscripted to join the Verdant Green Waters Sect, Wu Ying must decide between his pedestrian, common life and the exciting, blood-soaked life of a cultivator. As the story progresses, the reader follows Wu along his journey to immortality. With an expert blend of Eastern and Western cultural elements, this series honors its Chinese roots but is also easy to enjoy for those less familiar with that culture.

If you’re looking for a great introduction to Tao Wong’s work, check out his audiobook, The Nameless Restaurant.​

Set in a magically hidden restaurant in the heart of Toronto, this cozy cooking fantasy kicks off his new Hidden Dishes series and features many elements of Xianxia without progression. Comparable to games like Coffee Talk and its newest second edition, this story allows the listener to grab a seat at a uniquely otherworldly dining establishment.

Learn more about this title >

​

Now, let’s consider our next subgenre – Wuxia!​

In English, Wuxia can be translated to “martial heroes” or “martial art.”

As the name implies, the action that takes place in a Wuxia saga revolves around ancient Chinese martial arts history, techniques, and lore. In these stories, the characters will often represent real historical figures but with martial arts skillsets that surpass the typical human.

Wuxia combines rich, Chinese history with an action-packed storyline.

A great example of this can be seen in popular martial arts movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Set during China’s Qing Dynasty and featuring characters committed to mastering the martial art of Wudang, this story is rife with typical Wuxia tropes. Their fight sequences, for instance, are heavily stylized and amplified, but are based on real fighting styles that have been studied for thousands of years!

Are you a fan of martial arts action like this? We highly recommend the exciting Wuxia audiobook, The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang.​

Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller, this martial arts-inspired masterpiece is based on one of the earliest Chinese novels written in vernacular Mandarin, Water Margins. This story follows Lin Chong, an expert martial arts instructor for the Emperor’s soldiers. Lin Chong recruits the Liangshan Bandits, mountain outlaws who proclaim a belief in justice, to help her bring down the powerful and corrupt empire.

Learn more about this title >

You’re probably thinking, “Xianxia and Wuxia are both so similar… are they the same thing?”​

Well, yes and no.

Xianxia and Wuxia can be separated or blended across a spectrum of adventure!

Often, Xianxia is seen as an even further subgenre to Wuxia. Others separate them with the distinction that one is “high fantasy” (Xianxia) while the other is “low fantasy” (Wuxia). Like many other subgenres within the fantasy realm, these types often blend across a spectrum of possible adventures to enjoy!

​

Hey, wait a minute. What about “Western Cultivation?”​

Western Cultivation is basically the West’s answer to the same type of progression fantasy celebrated in the East. The main distinctions between Xianxia/Wuxia and Western Cultivation are the settings and cultural elements within the story.

Even though the plot and story devices are often inspired by martial arts and Chinese folklore, these elements aren’t always present in a literal sense.

A popular example of this is Will Wight’s New York Times best-selling Cradle series.

Inspired by Chinese martial arts novels, the Cradle Series is steeped in magic and lore. At the opening of the first volume, Linden begins his journey in spite of being forbidden to learn the sacred arts. Like so many other main characters in this subgenre, he must acquire this secret knowledge to cultivate new skills and powers along the way.

Fans of the Cradle series will love the Sulterra: Unblood series, written by Robyn Wideman and the Scribes of Sulterra.​

When a tragic mistake unlocks a powerful artifact that changes time and space, our hero Kiran’s life is forever changed. Danger brings opportunity, and for a young cultivator, there is nothing like pressure to force them to adapt and grow stronger! Featuring light romance and a story to excite all ages, this audiobook is perfect for anyone starting to read Western Cultivation.

Learn more about this series >







Well, that about covers it.

In the ever-changing world of progression fantasy, there will always be more subgenres to explore. As fellow audiobook adventurers, we hope you find the perfect story to inspire the hero within and transport you to other realms!

Barring story specific differences many of themes & tropes tend to be fairly applicable across all three.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

We have to be polite, respectul and those things, but we aren't helping very much if we are creating a "pink legend" and showing some people better than really they are, with their lights and shadows, virtues and flaws.

Even when the best intentions you could face serious troubles because some misunderstanding. For example a story uses as source of inspiration the Taiping rebellion, caused by a "crazy preacher". This story is written to be a warning against "false prophets with sheep's clothing". OK, some time other person creates a second story, maybe a fan-art sequel of the previous, and here the troubles start, because this can be a satire against the Mao's cultural revolution, or somebody understand this.

My fear is something could totally right for Taiwan, but in continental China the goverment censorship said other thing.

* For D&D standards, wuxia+xianxia main characters are "overpowered". They are practically superheroes. And D&D is not about becoming stronger but using the brain to survive and fixing troubles with right social skills when it is possible. Usually literature is about the main hero against the big bad guy, but in TTRPGs there are lots of different factions and possible enemies.

* If Dragon Ball is inspired in Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, wouldn't be it cultural apropiation?

 

[Eyes of Nine]

I'm Jewish and members of my family were killed by Nazis in the 40s. Some of them were deported by Mussolini's forces to the death camps. You are a giant piece of s.h.it if you play any kind of Axis character in an RPG.

Thank you for sharing that.
My uncle was a kamikaze pilot-in-training. If not for my grandfather dying of cancer and the Japanese government allowing his oldest son to come home to take over his affairs (Japan was and is a very patriarchal society), my uncle would have died in WWII. Which is to say, the member individuals who fought for the Axis nations were actually real people. So I think we need to be cautious to paint individuals with a broad brush. After all, it's the people in power broad-brushing and saying "all this type of person is less than human and should go into camps" is what gets us into the mess in the first place.

And that's about as far down that path I want to go, as it's already skating the political edge

 

[Demetrios1453]

The main world-building issue is that Kara-Tur doesn't seem to have the buffer regions that separate Chinese culture, and the northern and east Asian regions, from the West in the real world. I'm not aware of a FR Himalayas, or a FR "India" that is as populous, diverse, and powerful as real world India, or a FR Thailand, or Turkmen. Not that I would want to copy these nations exactly, but I think you want a smooth transition from FR-Europe to FR-Mediterranean to FR-Indo-Persia to FR-Eastern Asian regions.

Here's a detailed map of Kara-Tur, including the eastern edges of Faerun:

View attachment kara-tur-2023.png

Kara-Tur has a huge buffer region from the Himalaya-like Yehimal in the south to the Quoya Desert and the Hordelands to the north. Khazari and Ra-Khati are like the Silk Road towns in the Tarim Basin, after which you cross mountains and wasteland until you get to Semphar, which is fantasy Persia as well as being the easternmost part of Faerun. The mostly jungle area to the south of T'u Lung are the region's equivalent to Southeast Asia, with various competing states. The Durpar area south of Raurin is sort of Faerun "India", but it's only vaguely similar. The setting really doesn't have an outright fantasy India.

 

[Umbran]

I'm Jewish and members of my family were killed by Nazis in the 40s. Some of them were deported by Mussolini's forces to the death camps. You are a giant piece of **** if you play any kind of Axis character in an RPG.

Mod Note:
I get where you are coming from.

However, calling people excrement is not something we allow around here. Creative spelling to get around the profanity filter, likewise, isn't acceptable.

So, please, in the future, keep within the community guidelines you agree to in using the site. Thank you.

 

[Myrdin Potter]

There is no need to have an Asian only group of writers to work on a setting in Asia just like there is no need to for only people of European descent to work on other areas.

You just need a writer or a team of writers that can write interesting material that holds together well as a game.

The rabbit hole of enforced only people of the right blood can do it is a terrible road to go down. I speak more mandarin and have lived in Asia (Singapore and Shanghai) while many of my Chinese descent colleagues speak little to no Chinese and have never been to Asia. Why are they better than me? Even their experience as a minority is not exclusive.

It is impossible to meet all requirements of all the different cultures in Asia, many of which actively dislike each other (which is way more evident in Asia which has less filters than we do).

Some Chinese descent person from Toronto or Vancouver or San Fransisco is highly likely to have a different world view that some who grew up in China itself or one of the more established immigration areas in south east Asia.

I would love more Asian settings and would love them to appeal to people in Asia. I don’t care if the whole team is from there.

 

[EthanSental]

I was reading the recently released World Of Kensei by RiotMind and it has a good Asian themed “feel” to it. The art helps with the evocative Kung fu elements, for me at least. Worth checking it out if someone is interested.

 

[pawsplay]

Here's a detailed map of Kara-Tur, including the eastern edges of Faerun:

View attachment 365088

Kara-Tur has a huge buffer region from the Himalaya-like Yehimal in the south to the Quoya Desert and the Hordelands to the north. Khazari and Ra-Khati are like the Silk Road towns in the Tarim Basin, after which you cross mountains and wasteland until you get to Semphar, which is fantasy Persia as well as being the easternmost part of Faerun. The mostly jungle area to the south of T'u Lung are the region's equivalent to Southeast Asia, with various competing states. The Durpar area south of Raurin is sort of Faerun "India", but it's only vaguely similar. The setting really doesn't have an outright fantasy India.

Yehimal appears to be essentially unpopulated.

Durpar entirely lacks any sense of ethnic diversity. Durpar, for instance, has an almost singular religion, with only a minority practicing typical Faerunian religion, and apparently, the entire country is focused otherwise on wealth. It doesn't seem to export any religion, and despite being in the southeast, doesn't seem to have any major relations with nearby islands. It doesn't have the diversity or the historical impact of, say, ancient India, or Rome.

I'm going to say that even with this additional level of detail, the surrounding areas of Kara-Tur lack the essential characteristics I think are important for verisimilitude. There doesn't need to be an exact analog of India, but without an ancient and powerful kingdoms in the region, I don't feel a sense of depth, or a sense of real diversity.

 

[Demetrios1453]

Yehimal appears to be essentially unpopulated.

Well, it is a towering mountain range, with peaks up to 30,000 feet tall. I think the only real settlement is the Spelljammer port near the middle.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

Cultural consultants may be necessary, but don't hope they were totally objetive and honest, because nobody wants to talk about the flaws of your own land.

Even if a title was "Chinese-friendly" and right for the eyes of the Chinese community, the goverment censorship could have a radically different point of view.

Even if there are mistakes and unitentional offenses my opinion is these risks are necessary because a "xuanhuan" D&D could help to build a bridge between different cultures.

And don't forget: injuries by the WWII hasn't healed in Pacific Asian coast yet.

I guess WotC will bet for the strategy of Asian-themed settings by 3PPs in D&D Beyond.



We can't know what could be talking WotC and the megacorporation Tencent, but something could be possible.

Even with the best inteintons to be impartial, Japan has to be the strongest influence because currently their soft-power is the highest one thanks decades of manga and anime, and here China and South-Korea are relatively just arrived.