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<blockquote data-quote="aramis erak" data-source="post: 6506510" data-attributes="member: 6779310">You're sorely mistaken about Mystara.Darrokin is Italy, sure... but not medieval. Glantri isn't eropean nor medieval, either. Thar's badlands certainly aren't. Minrothad isn't either - it's more Ancient Crete with Medieval Tech. Atruhuagani are Plains Amerind. Alfheim's pretty well ripped off Tolkien. Alphatia and Thyatis are essentially Grego-Roman - pre-medieval. What might have happened if (1) their deities showed the same level of interference as the Immortals of Mystara do and (2) they didn't get over run by the Thracians and the Vandals, respectively.It's got more borrows than are sensible. Unlike the realms, where broad areas share similar cultures, Mystara has smaller regions, each with a very different culture.&nbsp; The only thing medieval european is the general tech level and two of the empires' governments. And one of those really isn't the feudal medieval most people think of, but the renaissance Italian city-states model... applied to an empire, instead of a city. Cross from the Republic of Darrokin into the 5 Shires, and you're into something neither Tolkien's shire, nor Lucas Nelwyn, but easily just as vibrant.Or go the other way into Alfheim, and it's a pretty close pastiche on Tolkien's elves. And yet, it's not too close.Thar's Badlands are infested with more evil races than Mordor. Except that, where Tolkien had them organized by Humans, Mystara has them organized by one of their own.The gods of Mystara actively protect their favorites, justifying the crazy quilt of alienness; it's patchwork nature is only exceeded by the Domains of Dread.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="aramis erak, post: 6506510, member: 6779310"] You're sorely mistaken about Mystara. Darrokin is Italy, sure... but not medieval. Glantri isn't eropean nor medieval, either. Thar's badlands certainly aren't. Minrothad isn't either - it's more Ancient Crete with Medieval Tech. Atruhuagani are Plains Amerind. Alfheim's pretty well ripped off Tolkien. Alphatia and Thyatis are essentially Grego-Roman - pre-medieval. What might have happened if (1) their deities showed the same level of interference as the Immortals of Mystara do and (2) they didn't get over run by the Thracians and the Vandals, respectively. It's got more borrows than are sensible. Unlike the realms, where broad areas share similar cultures, Mystara has smaller regions, each with a very different culture. The only thing medieval european is the general tech level and two of the empires' governments. And one of those really isn't the feudal medieval most people think of, but the renaissance Italian city-states model... applied to an empire, instead of a city. Cross from the Republic of Darrokin into the 5 Shires, and you're into something neither Tolkien's shire, nor Lucas Nelwyn, but easily just as vibrant. Or go the other way into Alfheim, and it's a pretty close pastiche on Tolkien's elves. And yet, it's not too close. Thar's Badlands are infested with more evil races than Mordor. Except that, where Tolkien had them organized by Humans, Mystara has them organized by one of their own. The gods of Mystara actively protect their favorites, justifying the crazy quilt of alienness; it's patchwork nature is only exceeded by the Domains of Dread. [/QUOTE]

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