Wahoo vs. Traditional

[Desdichado]

I'm always intrigued by the gaming style assumptions that go into a game, such as D&D. D&D is a single game, and you'd expect that if you went from one D&D campaign to another you'd recognize some broad similarities, and yet I don't know that that's true (unless you get really broad.) One aspect in particular that I find interesting is setting assumptions.

Some people play, or expect, an almost Hârnworld-like pseuso-Medieval feel to the game. I read lots of posts on ENWorld, at least, that clearly assume that if it was done that way in "Merry Olde England" then that's what you should expect in D&D. Layer in a little bit of Tolkienana, and that's D&D at this end of the spectrum.

At the other end of the spectrum is something that's got a lot more wahoo. Everyone's tired of the old Tolkien races, and the medieval assumptions. Eberron comes to mind of an exemplar of a setting that's near this side of the spectrum. Low-grade magic has turned the setting into the magical equivalent of the 1920s. Races that this setting introduced are highly polarizing, as folks debate whether or not warforged and the rest are even appropriate for D&D. Mix in some of the other bizarro races, and you could have a setting that completely lacks the PHB racial line-up entirely if you wanted.

Anyway, I'm not talking about things like magic prevalence, high level PCs, and superheroics, but just the nitty gritty of the setting itself; do you prefer a more traditional pseudo-Middle-earth for your setting, or do you want something more like the Star Wars cantina scene, stuffed to the gills with cheap exotica for its own sake?

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

The Eberron style of "Wahoo" suites me fine. I am not a big fan of "grim & gritty realism" overall. Breaking with traditions and putting a new spin (well, new to me) on things is more exciting. Though I like to have a certain "classic" background that adds its own twists.
There needs to be something that brings the "Wahoo" back into relation to the normal.

 

[Aeolius]

My game is filled with Wahoo :

(sorry, couldn't help myself)

...or do you want something more like the Star Wars cantina scene, stuffed to the gills with cheap exotica for its own sake

Gills.. heh heh

 

[Silvercat Moonpaw]

I prefer wahoo because it feels like there's more variety to draw from.

Ex: Traditional races are "humans with funny foreheads".
Wahoo races include fantasy robots and half-werebeasts.

 

[xechnao]

As long as the setting is dynamic with ever going happenings, potentially groundbreaking but with the right dose of stability anything is fine for me.

Illustration themes of the Mayan or ancient Egyptian civilization seem to convey this impression.

 

[Dausuul]

Anyway, I'm not talking about things like magic prevalence, high level PCs, and superheroics, but just the nitty gritty of the setting itself; do you prefer a more traditional pseudo-Middle-earth for your setting, or do you want something more like the Star Wars cantina scene, stuffed to the gills with cheap exotica for its own sake?

Your scale does not extend far enough in the non-wahoo direction for me. I don't even like elves and dwarves; I prefer humans-only.

 

[Desdichado]

The Eberron style of "Wahoo" suites me fine. I am not a big fan of "grim & gritty realism" overall. Breaking with traditions and putting a new spin (well, new to me) on things is more exciting. Though I like to have a certain "classic" background that adds its own twists.
There needs to be something that brings the "Wahoo" back into relation to the normal.

Grim and gritty realism isn't really what I mean, though. I mean really traditional, medieval-esque fantasy. It's not necessarily realistic, unless you think The Hobbit is also realistic. It's just... traditional. Conservative, if you will.

Your scale does not extend far enough in the non-wahoo direction for me. I don't even like elves and dwarves; I prefer humans-only.

That's not necessarily lacking in wahoo, though. Although I take it that you say that with that intent.

 

[Desdichado]

For what it's worth, the thought that sparked this thread came from the "have magic items lost that magic feeling?" thread (or whatever exactly it's called. I may be conflating the thread title with a Hall & Oates song.) Although a handful of other recent conversations have gone down that same path.

Clearly, some of the posters there assume that D&D represents a mythological, Tolkien-style mileu. I actually think that clearly it represents a gallimaufry of influences from all kinds of crazy pulp sources, mostly, mixed in with mythology, pop culture and who knows what else. My own tastes extend quite deep into the so-called wahoo side of the spectrum. In my opinion, trying to do Tolkien only invites comparison to Tolkien, which isn't a good idea unless you're really extraordinary. So why not come up with fantasy that's unlike Tolkien, and purposefully so? Combine this with a recent (several years long, but still relatively recent) focus on my end on pulp-style stories and settings and a rather blasé ennui when it comes to traditional High Fantasy, and I find that the more exotic something is, the more interesting I find it anymore.

 

[Pbartender]

Anyway, I'm not talking about things like magic prevalence, high level PCs, and superheroics, but just the nitty gritty of the setting itself; do you prefer a more traditional pseudo-Middle-earth for your setting, or do you want something more like the Star Wars cantina scene, stuffed to the gills with cheap exotica for its own sake?

I prefer an admixiture of the two somewhere in the middle, where the occasional wahoo bit (especially the PCs themselves) is set emphasized by a general background of more traditional mudanity.

To use a ludicrous example... My games might be not unlike the movie Kung Fu Panda, with the PCs as Po and the Furious Five.

 

[Tigh]

Tolkien vs Lucas

This depends on ones theory of dungeons. If the dungeons are outposts of the underworld or someplace, then a more gritty, rural, cut off from civilization type of setting enhances the ghost story. If the dungeon is more of a plot device, then yes it makes more sense to have the exotica in a local tavern. The local pub makes a lot more sense as a setting for a creature to be passing time playing playing poker, than some hole in the ground. Over the evolution of campaigns I believe monsters started showing up close to town, coming into town, and even living in the town. Lucas beat DMs everywhere to the punch and had, what seemed like every monster, right there in the same cantenna.


Tigh