Hawaiian Flavor type game?

[Conaill]

Did a little Googling... and found this excellent collection of texts on Pacific islander mythology and legends:

Pacific Islander Religions

This link is a real gold mine. Heck, the first link in there contains the full text of a 300+ page book on Oceanic Mythology (the Polynesia part of which is about 100 pages by itself). And that's just the start! Like having a whole library at your fingertips...

 

[Tonguez]

I have a question concerning -- well how to say that -- modern sensibilities and what is really useful to a D&D game.

So: I am reading the Legendes Tahitiennes game and collecting the info in it (that I will turn into an English summarized text). There are several aspects of the ancient Tahitian society that our modern culture would frown upon. Some of them, I guess, should be kept as they add to a D&D game; but others I would like to know if we rather deliberately forget about them in describing a d20 Polynesian-fantasy setting. Examples:

-- Slaves (from war) are kept to be sacrificed to the gods. Obviously we can keep that as an interesting and much traditional plot device of D&D games.
-- Polynesian societies (at least in Tahiti) allow great sexual freedom. This aspect, IMO, certainly brings nothing to the game, so we can probably forget to mention it.
-- Ariori (bards) have total sexual freedom but are forbidden to sire children, so when they do the babies are killed.. As above, I think it doesn't bring anything to the game and could be forgotten.
-- Except for noble women, all women are considered inferior to men. We can certainly tell that Polynesian women traditionally won't be warriors, fishers, etc., but I don't see it a good idea to make them socially inferior and subject to many taboos.

So: what do you think?

I think Slaves Human Sacrfiice and Cannibalism should stay as they are great plot devices. I'd even go as far as makign all barbarians cannibals (especially in Tahiti (who considered themselves quite civilised) people from the Marquesas etc were considered to be savage and uncouth primarily because they were Cannibals).
I agree the practice of infanticide (which was not widespread outside the Arioi cult) can be forgotten. And the sexual freedom could easily be glossed in a statement like

"Polynesian societies did not have the same sexual taboos as in western cultures, both men and women went about barechested depending upon fashion."

Now as to the role of women.
It needs to be stated (for the record) that in Polynesian society all commoners were considered inferior and yes commoner women more inferior than commoner men.

However most PCs in a Polynesian setting wont be commoners, they will instead be from the Mata'aina (ra'atira) caste (Aristocracy) where the relationship between women and men were more 'equitable'. ie Women were able to be leaders, warriors and 'tuhuna' albeit that this was still not as common as men taking on those roles.
Still you do get a variety of legends to confirm such eg Nafanua of Samoa was a hero who became a godess of War, Queen Pomare of Tahiti is known from european contact, and in my own people the tohunga who controlled pigeon hunting was always a women.

 

[Turanil]

However most PCs in a Polynesian setting wont be commoners, they will instead be from the Mata'aina (ra'atira) caste (Aristocracy).

Well, I understand that priests have a high social status, but should be there otherwise a Noble character class? Also, I think we may feature the (OGC) Expert class (with an appropriate fluff) of Unearthed Arcana for most Tahua/Tuhuna, even if PCs will seldom choose that class.

 

[XCorvis]

-- Except for noble women, all women are considered inferior to men. We can certainly tell that Polynesian women traditionally won't be warriors, fishers, etc., but I don't see it a good idea to make them socially inferior and subject to many taboos.

One of the things that "regular" D&D was very careful to do was to present their "fantasy europe" as being egalitarian and have sexual equality. I think it's a good idea to continue here, at least in general. Having a specific tribe have a taboo about female fishermen (fisherwomen?) might be OK, but spending half your game dealing with the cultural inequalities of gender is upsetting for many and boring for everyone else.

 

[Tonguez]

Well, I understand that priests have a high social status, but should be there otherwise a Noble character class? Also, I think we may feature the (OGC) Expert class (with an appropriate fluff) of Unearthed Arcana for most Tahua/Tuhuna, even if PCs will seldom choose that class.

Hereditary is everything in Polynesia and Social status and Social stratification in Polynesia were determined by it primarily by way of Primogeniture (of descent), 'Vassalage' and Captivity.

Social stratification occurs in the clan by way of hereditary and primogenture (ie senior vs junior descent lines) In this case three (sometimes four) tiers can be identified being Ariki, Ra'atira, and Matakainga

1 Ariki - the Senior descent line nobility inludes the chiefs and most priests
2 Ra'atira - junior descent lines related to the Ariki. Often war leaders
3 Matakainga (Villagers) - from the lowest descent lines and primarily workers, sometimes experts (tuhuna). However as they share descent from the founding Ancestor they have a degree of mana

Below these are the Commoners who are generally not considered part of the descent group and often live in a state of Vassalage occurings when one group comes to hegemonically dominate another group either by conquest or by submission (ie the vassal group seeks protection of or otherwise submits to the dominant group). If this persists for multiple generations then the vassal group will eventually become a 'commoner caste' who work the land on behalf of the village leaders (the Manahune of Tahiti were probably such a vassal group - original inhabitants dominated by later arrivals). The EMpire of Tonga is also an interesting case study in hegemonic dominance and vassalge

Below these are the slaves again two groups - Mokai (favoured slaves - often the children of former slaves) and Taureka (captives whose fate is either to be sacrificed to the gods or eaten (in cannibal societies). Slaves had no rights however a chief would be judged on his care of his slaves thus ensuring they were kept feed and generally cared for). Also the children of a mokai and a freeman was accepted as a member of the community and had all the rights thereof (albeit as commoners or at best matakainga).

The status of Outcast was known to exist but was a fate worse than slavery. Outcast would be killed on sight, they were non-persons who could be beaten and abused, have all their possession taken and no one would intervene

so we have

1 Ariki (Noble)
2 Ra'atira (Aristocrat)
3 Matakainga (Freemen)
4 Ware (Vassals)
5 Mokai (Favoured Slaves)
6 Taurekareka (Captive Slave)
7 Outcast

Most PCs should come from the Ra'atira or Matakainga caste. Ware and even Mokai is possible but these would need to be an associate to a higher ranking character) so maybe better as Cohorts.
I'd adapt the Noble class to represent the Ariki caste (leadership from level 1 sort of adjustment) and maybe give it some 'kupua' supernatural abilities (see the kupua myths of Hawaii for what I'm refering to)

NB As an interesting factoid Tonga rcognised a class of people known as 'Poea', usually characterised as rougish layabouts who travelled around having adventures!

 

[Kankichi]

Perhaps these social classes can represent backgrounds rather than classes. I was looking at the Blue Rose Supplement and then because it was brought up the three generic classes in Unearthed Arcana. I think these three classes may be sufficient for our needs, with the thug taking up the general warrior class, the expert being the kahuna who is the master of crafts and things, and the magic user being the mystical kahuna.

I think one thing to consider is how much language to throw at people coming without any polynesian background. The language can seem cumbersome and we might want to look for a balance of including enough for flavor, but not so much that a person reading it just reverts to using an English descriptor.

 

[dreaded_beast]

Don't know how much help I can be, but I live in Hawaii and know a smattering about local culture and taboos.

Hawaiian history and culture is a required course in all levels of schooling, even up to the University level. In addition, there is a very strong Hawaiian activist movement here.

Anyways, if there are any questions I can help answer, lemme know.

 

[Dragonblade]

I have thought about a fantasy Hawaii d20 game every since my wedding and honeymoon there back in 2003. And like Sean Reynolds, I even picked up a book on Hawaiian magic as inspiration. I'll watch this thread with interest.

 

[Turanil]

Perhaps these social classes can represent backgrounds rather than classes.

Well, my own intent was that only the Noble character class would be specifically related to a social class (in this case Ariki). No other social classes would attached to a specific character class.

I was looking at the Blue Rose Supplement and then because it was brought up the three generic classes in Unearthed Arcana.

Well, this is going to be a d20 Polynesian supplement, using the D&D rules. When I mention the Unearthed Arcana Expert character class, it's because it is better for a PC than the DMG npc Expert class. However, other than this class, I had no intent of using the three generic classes of UA.

Of course, anyone is thereafter free to use that setting for any set of rule he wants, be it Blue Rose/True 20 or Iron Heroes as someone else mentioned.

 

[Turanil]

I live in Hawaii and know a smattering about local culture and taboos.

Thanks. Taboos have certainly a great potential for role-play and plot devices. I would like to get many examples that we can use in game, with effects if these taboos are transgressed.