Toril and Earth - Coincidence?

[Rae ArdGaoth]

Has anyone else noticed the extreme similarities between Toril and Earth? Take a look in your FRCS. Notice that Faerun looks like western Europe and Russia. It is the "center" of Toril, if you will. The part that we are all most knowledgable of. Look at Kara Tur, the Far East. Notice how there's a smegging book written on Kara Tur and it's all about samurai and eastern-flavored culture. Zakhara to the south east of Faerun has genies and magic carpets. Middle East, anybody? And across the Trackless Sea is Maztica, a land of uncivilized savages. How about, North America before the Europeans came along? Just take a look at the whole map. There's Australia, Eurasia, the Americas, everything!

Thoughts?

 

[RSKennan]

Are you joking?

 

[Galethorn]

If he is, it's not funny...because he's hitting too close to the mark, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[sabby]

Has anyone else noticed the extreme similarities between Toril and Earth?

I remember that being moderately intentional.

Many of those old settings were like that.

Heh. The one I always thought was freaky was Earthdawn, because it was later shown to be intentional when they found remnants from that setting in Shadowrun's "normal maps."

 

[Zenodotus of Ephesus]

Spoiler

shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[Dagger75]

Earthdawn took place on Earth way way way in the past. Barsaive was like Western Europe and Thera was actually on the isalnd of Thera in the mediterrianian.

Whats the big deal anyway.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

This was most likely intentional in Ed Greenwoods mind. He claims that Elminster hjas visited him on many occassions. One could definetely use this as a base for a Second World hook. Interesting ideas.

 

[Swordsage]

No, that wasn't Ed's intention at all. It was TSR/WotC who made the Realms seem as they do to the originator of this thread. All of the places mentioned aside from Faerun itself were tacked on additions to the world when the Realms were the default setting for 2E. Hence any new campaign settings that weren't self-contained (like Dark Sun or Birthright) were just added to the map. Kara Tur, Maztica, Zakhara were all never part of Ed's original vision for the Realms. Heck, parts of Faerun like Vaasa, Damara, the Moonshaes, and Icewind Dale weren't part of the 'original' Realms either.

-- George Krashos

 

[Kae'Yoss]

No, that wasn't Ed's intention at all. It was TSR/WotC who made the Realms seem as they do to the originator of this thread. All of the places mentioned aside from Faerun itself were tacked on additions to the world when the Realms were the default setting for 2E. Hence any new campaign settings that weren't self-contained (like Dark Sun or Birthright) were just added to the map. Kara Tur, Maztica, Zakhara were all never part of Ed's original vision for the Realms. Heck, parts of Faerun like Vaasa, Damara, the Moonshaes, and Icewind Dale weren't part of the 'original' Realms either.

-- George Krashos

The Moonshaes and Icewind Dale were the locations of the two first novel serieses, though.

 

[WayneLigon]

I don't think we've ever seen a map of the actual, original Realms, though. It would be fascinating to see Greenwood's actual notes and sketches.