D&D General IRL nominations (historically classic ie religious, pantheonic, folkloric, no newer than 1600) for mythical cosmologies you enjoy including in d&d.

[Son of the Serpent]

There will be a poll that goes up in 3 days time in which we will vote for the most popular cosmologies to include in d&d. You may nominate 3. If you do not list all 3 when you make your initial post dont post the additional one(s) in later posts, rather, edit them into your original. Mythological cosmologies that get 2 or more nominations will be included in the poll unless less than 12 are nominated total (i doubt that will be the case) at which point all will be included. You have 72 hours.

Another round of nominations for mythos post 1600 will happen later for one of 2 later polls. If you have a mythos you would like to vote for which originates more recently than 1600 save it for then. It will get its chance.

Addendum: also you may edit your post and choices up until the time limit is reached.

 

[Son of the Serpent]

I nominate:
Nordic/scandinavian
Germanic
Indo-european

 

[Mistwell]

Celtic
Mayan
Icelandic

 

[Zardnaar]

Egypt
Greek/Rome
Nordic

 

[Coroc]

Babylonian

 

[TheCosmicKid]

Slavic
Sumerian
Norse

 

[Lanefan]

Ancient Greek
Norse
Celtic (as in a generic mashup of the several-at-least different versions that are/were out there)

 

[Morrus]

Greek
Norse
Cthulhu

 

[Son of the Serpent]

Greek
Norse
Cthulhu

Cthulu will need to be substituted out for a mythos that originates no later than the year 1600. There will be 2 later similar rounds of nominations, one of which it (or lovecraftian by a different name. But cthulu works fine) will qualify for. You can of course replace it with the substitution until 72 hours from the creation of this thread. I am sorry for inconveniencing you.

 

[Morrus]

Cthulu will need to be substituted out for something. There will be 2 later similar rounds of nominations, one of which it (or lovecraftian by a different name. But cthulu works fine) will qualify for. You can of course replace it with the substitution until 72 hours from the creation of this thread. I am sorry for inconveniencing you.

Feel free to switch it for something or remove it as you wish.

 

[Son of the Serpent]

Feel free to switch it for something or remove it as you wish.

Very well but i will give you the opportunity until the time is up. At the end if its not replaced I'll just take the two you have as its perfectly fine to list less than 3. Thankyou for understanding.

 

[Omand]

Egyptian
Greco-Roman
Norse

 

[gyor]

Polynesian (Hawaiian) Ancient Hawaii - Wikipedia

Grecoegyptian (Ptolemaic Kingdom)

Ptolemaic Kingdom - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Eblain (a Canaanite Kingdom with Hititte and Mesopotamian influences know for it's powerful Queens and Princesses)

Ebla - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I hope someone seconds my nominations because I think it's good to get something outside the usual suspects. Otherwise it's just going to be the predictable Greek, Pharonic Egyptian, Norse, Celts which misses so much exciting possibilities. I'd just like to see fplks broaden their horizons.

 

[Ulfgeir]

Hawai'ian (Polynesian would also work)
Japanese
Slavic

 

[Celebrim]

All of them?

For gaming purposes, I'm particularly fond however of:

Japanese
Norse (broadly "Northern European")
Yoroba (broadly "East African")

However, in terms of aesthetics such as art and architecture, I very heavily borrow from Hindu and Mayan. I would also say that very fine theological or cosmological distinctions are hard to draw, and because everything is being imported into a completely different theological and cosmological framework anyway, that saying I'm doing even pastiche of any of the above would be a stretch. I think it would be almost impossible to claim any sort of fidelity unless you also have a historical setting.

I think it's almost impossible to play D&D and not have some influence from Greek myths, as the bestiary is chock full of creatures loosely inspired by Greek myth.

In short, I would have a very hard time narrowing it down in practice to three.

UPDATE: Oh yeah, Slavic is good too.

 

[Son of the Serpent]

Polynesian (Hawaiian) Ancient Hawaii - Wikipedia

Grecoegyptian (Ptolemaic Kingdom)

Ptolemaic Kingdom - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Eblain (a Canaanite Kingdom with Hititte and Mesopotamian influences know for it's powerful Queens and Princesses)

Ebla - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I hope someone seconds my nominations because I think it's good to get something outside the usual suspects. Otherwise it's just going to be the predictable Greek, Pharonic Egyptian, Norse, Celts which misses so much exciting possibilities. I'd just like to see fplks broaden their horizons.

This thread is not about the mythos you personally think features too much. Its about your favorite ones to include. There is no diversity agenda to this thread nor should anyone profess their dissatisfaction with the choices of others. This thread is about the choices you would love and adore to include yourself. Please attempt to maintain that spirit. Dont cast shade on the choices others think are fun to include.

Speaking of which ive never heard of eblain. Cool. I will be reading up on it in the future.

 

[Son of the Serpent]

All of them?

For gaming purposes, I'm particularly fond however of:

Japanese
Norse (broadly "Northern European")
Yoroba (broadly "East African")

However, in terms of aesthetics such as art and architecture, I very heavily borrow from Hindu and Mayan. I would also say that very fine theological or cosmological distinctions are hard to draw, and because everything is being imported into a completely different theological and cosmological framework anyway, that saying I'm doing even pastiche of any of the above would be a stretch. I think it would be almost impossible to claim any sort of fidelity unless you also have a historical setting.

I think it's almost impossible to play D&D and not have some influence from Greek myths, as the bestiary is chock full of creatures loosely inspired by Greek myth.

In short, I would have a very hard time narrowing it down in practice to three.

UPDATE: Oh yeah, Slavic is good too.

is it correct for me to assume that your nominations are
Japanase
Norse
Yoroba
?

Just making sure. I didnt want to accidentally assume those were the 3 when you were indicating others and i somehow misunderstood.

 

[Celebrim]

is it correct for me to assume that your nominations are
Japanase
Norse
Yoroba

Yes. I just am not convinced you can meaningfully answer the question of what real world influences are most popular in D&D.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Oofta]

While I use norse mythology as the primary religion in my campaign I think there are a number of religions that don't really fit "a religion" but could also have examples animistic, shamanistic, ancestor worship.

If that's not specific enough I'd nominate Bhudism and Confucism.