What is Expected from an Oriental Game Setting?

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

I think it's largely a question of genre.

An Arabian Adventures setting lives or dies on whether or not it's possible to run adventures that merge the genre sensibilities of the Arabian Nights, Early Modern Pulp Near Eastern Intrigue, and the Romances of Al-Andulus into a DnD scheme.

Oriental Adventures should do the same thing with a different canon of sources. Some range between the Seven Samurai and Weapons of the Gods should fit all right.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Sorry, a setting without Shou Lung, Tu Lung, Kozakura and Wa can never be called Kara-Tur.

Go find a different pseudo-Asia setting for yourself.

Go read the rest of the message.

 

[GQuail]

Hopefully I'll get this off before the next server asplodes...

Kara-Tur was fine as far as Shou Lung, Tu Lung, Kozakura, Wa and maybe the Hordelands went.

Sorry, a setting without Shou Lung, Tu Lung, Kozakura and Wa can never be called Kara-Tur.

Go find a different pseudo-Asia setting for yourself.

I don't mean to look like I'm picking on you in this thread, Ranger REG, but: I have no idea what you're talking about here. And I mean I really don't understand, not the usual internet way where that means "I disagree with you"

Kobold Avenger posted a large post about the bits he didn't like of the Kara-Tur setting, starting with name-checking that he didn't have a problem with Shou Lung, Tu Lung, Kozakura and Wa. You then, um, seemed to have an entirely different discussion about how people who don't like Shou Lung, Tu Lung, Kozakura and Wa are missing the point of the setting.

Is this just a misunderstanding on your part or am I missing something?

 

[Scribble]

From what I can tell, it's very location-based - in the UK it's less dodgy but it seems in the US it can be more of an issue.

Well, part of the whole thing, from what I'm told, is that it was a word created by the British Empire when they colonized various asian cultures. The word was used to kind of lump all of them together, and is kind of synonimous with: "You all look alike anyway."

 

[ProfessorCirno]

Well, part of the whole thing, from what I'm told, is that it was a word created by the British Empire when they colonized various asian cultures. The word was used to kind of lump all of them together, and is kind of synonimous with: "You all look alike anyway."

That applies to every ethnicity in existence though ;p

 

[Ranger REG]

Go read the rest of the message.

Re-read it. Won't change my opinion about upchucking the countries you mentioned in the first paragraph.

The rest I can agree with, so long culture is exposed here.

As for Eastern Honor, it needs to be emphasized for roleplaying sake. Use low-scoring honor points as you would with action points for select Honorable powers.

Follow the myth as long it is Asian myth.

 

[GQuail]

Re-read it. Won't change my opinion about upchucking the countries you mentioned in the first paragraph.

But he doesn't talk about "upchucking" those countries. In fact, the single line you quoted was...

Kara-Tur was fine as far as Shou Lung, Tu Lung, Kozakura, Wa and maybe the Hordelands went.

I'm not necesarilly disagreeing with your point, I'm just not sure why you're making it since Kobold Avenger didn't propose what you so despise.

 

[ruemere]

As Joe said above...

(By the way, thanks for the kind words, Joe!)

...the links in my sig can lead you to web pages where you can learn more, [...]

Thank you. I'll check the sources you mentioned and will read the interview.

Basically, I'd like to get a feel of the setting before considering committing.

Regards,
Ruemere

 

[Ranger REG]

But he doesn't talk about "upchucking" those countries. In fact, the single line you quoted was...

Kara-Tur was fine as far as Shou Lung, Tu Lung, Kozakura, Wa and maybe the Hordelands went.

"Went" where? Since he didn't specify, I assume he meant "went" into the trash bin in the editing room.

Specify.

 

[Clavis]

I expect an Oriental setting to replicate the reality of Chinese Kung Fu and Japanese Samurai films, and I don't expect or want authenticity. I do expect to see the stock characters and settings of those genres, with a sprinkling of contemporary Asian pop culture for good measure.

I want mysterious Ninjas,
Samurai with an inexplicable code of honor,
Arrogant Mandarins who wear so much gold they sparkle,
Brave peasant King Fu masters who fight corrupt bureaucrats,
Scheming, depraved Imperial concubines,
NPCs who say things like"Your Silver Mantis Style is no match for my Brilliant Eagle-Shark Strike!"
The Flying Guillotine as a weapon,
Opium smuggling gangs
Quasi-Taoist wizards who use bizarre implements,
Drunken Masters,
Wandering Ronin out to redeem their name,
Female Martial Artists out for vengeance,
Hopping Vampires,
Monsters with unnecessary tentacles that they use for....unnecessary purposes.
Magic girls,
And lots and lots of Kung Fu.