Deserk's page

I don't mind things changing (in fact, I like many of the proposed changes), but I don't like how Paizo keeps constantly retconing things, as in pretending past lore doesn't exist. In effect Paizo you are making products customers have bought from you in the past more useless. Seriously need to cut that out because it is inexcusably bad world design and disrespectful to past designers as well as older fans.

Make new lore or expand lore without making things you've made in the past invalid.

I also don't quite see the point of erasing Drow. Sure, downplay their importance, so that there is something unique to Golarion's Darklands than other Underdark-esque settings. But you can still have them around in minor roles, and with a different twist. Drow and Duergar aren't really something WotC can sue over, since they are from Norse mythology and English folklore respectively.

Personally I kinda feel the new incarnation of Nocticula could use some work. What material there is written about her currently does not give a clear picture about the deity, nor her purpose within Golarion's setting.

Is she a goddess of misfits and exiles? Is she a goddess of fiends or oppressed tieflings that want to reform themselves? Maybe? That's at least what I would expect based on her assorted labels and her title as the "Redeemer Queen", a demon lord who became a goddess that turned away from evil, though not necessarily towards complete benevolence. Those aspects to me seem more useful, applicable and interesting within the world of Golarion. But the Gods & Magic article concerning her seems to emphasise more than anything else that she is a goddess of underappreciated artists. And that is a real peculiar niche of a niche. It's like having a god of underpaid mailmen. Is Shelyn so coldly indifferent to unsuccessful artists that it necessitates the existence of Nocticula? And the article in Gods & Magic doesn't even explain what why midnight is of significance to her.

Irrisen is another. I don't care for it's literal connections to RW Russia (and that absurd AP that lets you travel into Russia during WW1, and drags back RW historical figures into Golarion's setting), not to mention Baba Yaga essentially being the overlord of it, meaning that it is a place that will never change, because Baba Yaga is such an insanely powerful entity. Who wants to play in such an insufferable place? Also, having two Russian inspired lands (Irrisen and Brevoy) that are remote and not culturally connected whatsoever with each other in the setting is also a bit jarring. It would have been better if it had been inspired by Finnic cultures.

Galt. A country in constant chaos, turmoil and anarchy which really ought not be able to sustain itself.

It is also a pretty big area and I feel it would be more interesting seeing it break a part into numerous states. It could be a good place for monstrous races to gather and form their own petty kingdoms. I do really feel Avistan could use more frontier lands like Varisia.

Heh, this might be news for particularly young people or new people to RPGs, but dwarven women have pretty much always been bearded in fantasy literature. Even since 1st/2nd edition Dungeons & Dragons. Except that in 3rd edition sources they wrote in things like "-some- grow facial hair" or "many of them shave it off".

I love the idea of it. Can't wait to see what they make of it, Archaic/Classical/Hellenistic Greece has so much great history and myths to get inspired from. And since Iblydos is presumably an archipelago made up of many different city-states, they have so much opportunity to make each area feel unique and distinct. I think it would be particularly cool to see Amazon-like society or an island ruled by minotaurs.

Similar to my thoughts on Osirion, it would also be interesting art-wise to see it combine an Ancient Greek aesthetic with a Medieval/Renaissance state of fashion and technology.

It's a good region to make a book about, since there hasn't been really that much focus on them before in PF's publication. And I love it that Paizo actually tries to actually explore new places, rather than the same familiar places all over again (unlike WotC's approach with Forgotten Realms).

Droon or Nurvatcha, or other Southern Garundi lands could also potentially show up in an article in the Alkenstar AP.

I hope Geb turns out to be an interesting and nuanced place. I like the concept of an undead-ruled land that isn't overly aggressive world-wide threat like Tar-Baphon & co. Also, the possibility to play intelligent undead such as ghouls or ghasts would be really neat.

Also, noticed on the meta region map of the Impossible Lands it includes a large swathe of land south of Geb (basically where the Field of Maidens is). I wonder if there will be some new petty kingdoms or cultures of interest down there?

I wouldn't mind that. Though I have to admit Casmaron or Southern Garund are the places that interests me the most.

It would be nice if they could do more gazetteers for small sections of the continents in the various Adventure Paths. This lets them design a little bit here, rather than everything in one go. My favourite article from one of the APs still remains the one from the Hungry Storm, detailing the Crown of the World. Speaking personally, it's often juicy lore detailing a certain region that often makes me consider buying an AP rather than the adventure itself, as I generally like to make my own adventures.

Between the Crown of the World and Avistan, there is a considerably sizeable chunk of uncharted land, that is nearly one-third the size of Avistan, as is evident by looking at the world map of Golarion. I'm guessing some of it is deliberately meant to be harsh tundra wilderness. But given it's vast size and it's obvious proximity to the Inner Sea, it would be interesting to see some minor cultures, small nations and city-states there.

Is there anything you might like to see there?

Speaking personally I think it would be cool if Pathfinder got some sort of large-sized humanoid martial-like race similar to the Goliath of D&D. You could have a race that is basically giant-blooded humans (i.e. jotunblot) with stone, fire or frost, etc. heritages. And a place like northern Avistan could be a convenient spot to put in a small nation of such. In addition to that, a large presence of Adlets might be help make the region unique.

I dislike Galt for it's exaggerated French Revolution themes as well as for being in a state of perpetual anarchy. And so I definitely detest "communist" Bachuan. In my campaigns, it'll just be a province of Po Li.

I don't like it when Paizo puts in things from the 18-20th century or futuristic themes into what ought be a Medieval/Renaissance fantasy setting. It just makes the setting so incoherent and jarring, in my opinion.

One thing I will say about Tian-Xia... in principle I don't care whatsoever about the racial identity of anyone who makes anything, but I would welcome more Asian designers on projects dealing with this continent because they would help make it a more authentic product. Often when my fellow white Europeans try to design or make something related to Asia, there is tendency to overly focus on either the Japanese (particularly Japanese) or (slightly less) the Chinese cultures. As is evident by there being ninjas and samurai virtually everywhere in Tian-Xia. It would be nice to see some attention diverted to places that reflect the many other nations and cultures of Asia, particularly South-East Asia. Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc. all being enormously diverse countries with a rich and colourful history. Minata could in particularly be very promising and interesting, if it echoes Indonesia with it's history of spice trade and piracy between it's many countless rivalling island kingdoms.

I would say Nagajor is really my personal favourite in the region, since it stands out as quite unique. And I do actually like the vast majority of the nations of Tian-Xia (which I can't completely say of the Inner Sea), and that there are quite a lot of non-human nations there in contrast to the Inner Sea where there are fairly few. The Valashmai Jungle would also be a convenient place in some new small nations or city-states, since it's such a vast region.

I actually kind of like there being more genders to the classically one-gender type creatures and beings of myth (nymphs, satyrs, etc.), and by extension the treatment of harpies in PF2. But it would be good if they could put in a reasoning as to why there has been a perception of harpies only being thought of as an only female race. Could be that male harpies are for some reason very rarely seen by adventurers (maybe they are the ones that generally raise the young while the females hunt?), and that's why they have been thought of as such previously. It would help create better continuity with PF1, if they are going to alter something that was already established in the previous version.

Personally I don't see the same sort of issue with the Kuru, as there are cannibalistic like societies virtually everywhere in Golarion. Like the island of Kalva in the Linnorm Kingdoms. But as with anything I agree that they could use more depth and nuance. I would assume the Kuru's degeneracy is probably connected with the same sort of magical affliction that brought down the Ghol-Gan empire. Also, maybe they are hodgepodge of unlucky human sailors of various cultures that were marooned; stuck and banded together and came in contact with this mysterious illness, in a time long before the existence of the modern communities of the Shackles.

It would be nice as well if Paizo could sprinkle a few more small islands out in the High Sea that is populated by non-human maritime cultures. Orcs, goblins, lizardfolk, dwarves, etc.

Speaking personally I think Thuvia is one of the least interesting places of the region, as the OP said it's the "Sun Orchid" place. That's basically how everyone would summarize it. So this land definitely needs to grow significantly beyond that. It could potentially be cool if they highlighted how much this land is a more very loose confederation of various clans and city states rather than a cohesive nation. I definitely think the Inner Sea region could use more areas with city-states.

I like RW history so I do like Osirion as well. Though it could potentially be cooler if they stopped showing it as Bronze Age Ancient Egypt but more like "What if Kemetist Ancient Egypt survived up to the Medieval/Renaissance Era". Consider how different and unique their fashion and culture might be from that. Even if it literally is Ancient Egypt, it has had millennia to develop differently on Golarion compared to Egypt on Earth. Not to mention Osirion has been under Keleshite rule for thousands of years, they would have left a significant cultural imprint on them as well. I would imagine the large metropolises hold the greatest degree of Keleshite influence while the smaller and more remote communities like the desert dwelling tribes or monasteries might hold more veneration for traditional Osirion culture.

Katapesh, Qadira and Rahadoum are the places that grab me the most of this region. The only thing they need is more coverage, and more depth and nuance.

Concerning the Cult of the Dawnflower, I think it's a bad idea and a lack of respect to the past authors as well as to the setting to completely retcon it out of existence. You should instead have had the leaders of the Cult evolve and moderate it's beliefs, or have it shown that it was not actually Sarenrae that was answering their prayers.

Also, I have never seen the Cult of the Dawnflower in the light James Jacobs described, that is to say being essentially "jihadist-like", or having this "convert or die" mentality as others seem to describe, and I certainly don't appreciate such allusions. Could anyone please cite whichever books explicitly speaks of the Cult in this manner?

I actually found it quite interesting idea to have a militant and belligerent faction of an otherwise good faith, and personally I would like to see more cults like it within other good faiths in Golarion, i.e. with Iomedae, or Torag in the way a previous poster spoke about. Cults that dances on the edges of being dogmatically acceptable, because it would stop all of the faiths from being so one-dimensional and uniform. And it would make all adherents have to stop and think about what makes a person a proper follower of this or that god, like we have to struggle with in the RW. It especially makes sense for gods that have a major following in the Golarion like Sarenrae to have many cults and sects. And what makes it more interesting is that it would invite the possibility of religious strife within the same faith, which can be a interesting thing to play around with (i.e. traditional Sarenrae-worshippers and the C. of the Dawnflower competing for influence).

Late Medieval Period (1250-1500) encompasses the early phase of the Renaissance.

I do think yeah Dragon Empires book could have used more writers with cultural background.

There was bit too much of "ninjas and samurai everywhere!". I mean yeah I get the idea was that just like with Avistan the countries are mix of different nations, but Japanese influences were most obvious ones visually <_<

Agreed. I would have liked more focus on the non-Japanese cultures.

One thing I do really like about Tian-Xia though is that there is a good mix of non-human ruled nations, which I really wish was there was more of in the Inner Sea (I guess we got a little bit of that with the addition of Oprak).

And yeah I do dislike Bachuan as well. I really don't like it when Paizo goes way beyond the Late Medieval Period and puts in fashion, technology and ideologies from the 18-20th centuries. It's jarring and makes the setting look incoherent.

There is some wonderfully lost irony to all this. Allow me to illustrate:

Certainly-not-prejudiced-at-all Wokicists: "Goblins like shiny things... hey, who else does that sound like?!"

I hope Paizo could come up with something equivalent to the Goliath. A giant-blooded (but Medium-sized) player race could be interesting. Nothing too powerful. Something a bit like an orc in terms of being a large humanoid with a martial-focused culture, but less bestial or evil-oriented and a bit less at odds with the world.

I think there's definitely good potential to make it an interesting region. It just needs a bit more development.

It would be good if they could flesh out the identities of the various tribes, and how they differ from each other. Also, what sort of threats exist there, either between the clans or from other non-human forces.

One thing I would wish for both the Realms of the Mammoth Lords and the Linnorm Kingdom is that they would get proper names. These are really more titles than names. It make sense for outsiders from distant lands to name them as such, but it doesn't really make sense for the locals to keep calling it that. They don't need a term that tries to explain what their own homeland is, they know their own land; to them their way of life is what's normal. It would be like Cheliax not having any other name than the "Infernal Empire". It just doesn't sound right.

I would've preferred if gunsmithing technology would have not exceeded the 16th century of the RW in any country or place on Golarion. That is to say it is at such a level where it doesn't completely outmatch other forms of ranged weapons (such as bows or crossbows) nor is enough to render armour obsolete.

I definitely want to see more of Casmaron, and I hope there are a fair number of demihuman nations scattered about as well, and that they take their time in designing the continent, to truly make it unique and culturally diverse. For the northern "Siberian" part, it would be cool if they put in mysterious pre-human races equivalent to Neanderthals or Denisovans.

Personally I would have preferred if Sargava wouldn't have been dissolved, that instead it would have reformed, been made more inclusive and accommodating to it's native populace, as well as had the powers of it's aristocracy reduced, and perhaps formed into some sort of a mercantile republic. Wouldn't it have been more interesting, if it could instead act as a bridge between Avistan and Garund? A unique, cosmopolitan land where North meets South? Not to mention that such a land could as well be commercially quite prosperous from such wide connections, as an outpost in the Silk Road would be in Medieval times.

Though conflict is often key to making an interesting setting, it was a big mistake to slip in some unpleasant "18/19 century European colonization of Africa" themes, especially when it almost has this form of a racial level of antagonism between Mwangi native and Chelaxian settler (which is a particularly weird thing for *humans* in this fantasy setting to be fixated on in a world with a massive amount of obviously non-human races)

It would have been much better if the Chelaxian colonization of Sargava was more based more on Phoenician/Greek/Roman colonization which would entail the incorporation of the local populace and likely an eventual cultural synthesis between the natives and the colonists.

I hope the slight Byzantine influences for Taldor (I am aware there are Spanish influences and other ones too) might influence just a little bit how the artwork looks. One thing I really enjoy with Pathfinder books is both the high quality artwork and the high level of detail and thought on creating the distinctive attire that is worn by the figures depicted; which is really noticeable. Byzantine armour and clothing is very unique in that it is a fusion of Medieval European, Imperial Roman and Middle Eastern influences. I think personally that to draw a little bit of inspiration from something like that would be so cool and more iconic, rather than your run-of-the-mill generic stereotypical medieval armour. And it kind of makes sense given Taldor's geographical placement in the world, positioned between the continents of Avistan and Casmaron, and it's historical influences (local, Azlanti, Keleshite) that ultimately formed together and developed what would become Taldan culture.

Also I wonder, will the map of this book extend a bit further East into Casmaron, to show Taldor's eastern border? Like the Qadira book did for it's namesake? I wonder too how given that this is a fairly large country what kind of communities of demihuman races are around. But yeah either way, can't wait to get my hands on this. :p

I really hope that Paizo does another big gazetter book like they did with Tian-Xia, even if it was a lot of work. It's much preferable to have a compact book with everything basic you need to know.

But still the Distant Shore book has been my favourite book of this year. I think it would be cool to get some info on a city on an island (just personally have an obsession with islands), perhaps in Tirakawhan in Southern Garund, which is a Keleshite colony. Could have some kind of Zanzibar vibes there with the East meeting South. And also I believe it's supposed to be right next to the empire of Holomog, so there could be some interesting potential clashes there.

A grand exotic metropolis in the Minata Archipelago in Tian-Xia would be totally cool and unexpected too. Could be inspired around the great maritime empires of Indonesia's past, like that of the Hindu/Buddhist Majapahit Kingdom or the Islamic Sultanate of Brunei.

Finally it would also be interesting to see something in the Crown of the World. Maybe a large Erutaki settlement in an elaborate underground complex that gives them hearth during the worst of the blistering winters, which could have been built by the mysterious civilization hinted in the Crown of the World Gazetter from the Jade Regent AP.

A Latin American-like analogue would be really interesting to see. But I would prefer it to be the result of something else than what one would commonly expect, such as the something modelled on the Spanish conquest of the Aztec & Incans, etc. I think it would be cooler if it were based on myths/theories of Phoenician sailors making contact with Pre-Columbian America (the fantasy genre is one of the few places where we can cherish the truly zany history myths & conspiracies). The ancient Jistka Imperium seems a good candidate to fit that role, with perhaps a segment of it's people forced to flight to the mysterious lands west of the Steaming Sea, during the last days of their dying empire

Linnorm Kingdoms AP like LordofThreshold suggested, plus it could encompass adventures to distant Ulfen colonies like in Valenhall (Arcadia) and Almhult (Crown of the World). Maybe it could even give some info on the northern islands in the Steaming Sea, that are right between Arcadia and Avistan.

An Absalom AP I think is also sorely needed given that this is one of the largest cities in the world of Golarion. It could be a heavy urban based adventure maybe dealing with criminal underworld of the city & political conspiracies that could have implications beyond Absalom (no doubt a huge mercantile metropolis like this probably hosts many political exiles from other lands). Could also include adventures to Shadow Absalom and the neighbouring isle of Erran.

Finally I think an AP centred around both Taldor and Qadira could be really cool. It could potentially be about unknown forces in both countries stirring up bad blood between the two rival realms that could potentially risk the outbreak of another violent religious war. Players could be put in the middle as intermediaries trying to calm the conflict and find out who is responsible for stirring it. This could also include adventures to neighbouring territories in Casmaron (like nearby Keleshite satraps or the Whistling Plains that Taldor claims dominion of)

Marco Massoudi wrote:

Dragon78 wrote:

Tiefling

** spoiler omitted **

Drow
** spoiler omitted **

Thank you Dragon78!

Wow - Drow don´t get much, do they?
Probably in the "Darklands Revisited Campaign Setting in February...

Drow get plenty... most of it is flavor, along with most races in this book. This book is not intended to compete with Advanced Race Guide for rules jukes. It's the inverse of that book in that regard.

And just a note... the revisited books generally don't give out much more—a sample stat block is generally about it for an entry there. Those books are much more about GM tools and world background.

I am, for one, grateful for that. I'd much prefer lore over this stat stuff. Helps give ideas for stories and concepts.

Catfolk country... god damn it, take my soul already, Paizo! I must have this book!

Hey, Erik Mona. I'm a big fan of the Lands of the Linnorm Kingdoms, unless I'm mistaken I think you were quite instrumental in the form and shape it took. It's a favorite country of mine in the already awesome Golarion setting. A country which offers something different than the typical Western European Fantasy setting, and also rooted around Viking culture without (very importantly) being too derivative of their history and mythology. And I love how all the regions within it feel different from each other, and the wide range of themes available to be played around with.

I've been wondering for a while whether the islands depicted in the World Map ( this map http://pathfinderwiki.com/mediawiki/images/a/a3/Golarion_world_map.jpg ), in the Steaming Sea that crosses between Northeastern Arcadia and the Lands of the Linnorm Kingdoms actually exist? And if so, do they have any connection with the Ulfen or other cultures? Perhaps they serve as a bridge between the colony of Valenhall and the Linnorm Kingdoms?

I think if they do, speaking as a fan I would love to see it maybe as a kind of wild pirate infested frontier, basically a Northern Subarctic "Shackles" type of archipelago, perhaps too anarchic and wild to be subjected to the rule of the Linnorm Kings, which attracts political exiles long for new fortune in a new world, vicious outlaws, strange occultists and desperate adventurers from those kingdoms. Maybe it could have volcanic islands, which makes the environment more temperate and hospitable for large populations, yet at the same time attracts more dangerous monsters like dragons and aboleths. And perhaps there could be notable ruins of northern Azlant civilization, and perhaps the island's native inhabitants are strange humanoid people whom are thought to be distantly related to humans (perhaps maybe Neanderthals?) who worship the builders of the Azlanti as gods? It would be cool if there were bands of sea-faring dwarves there too, or snowcaster elves or maybe frost orc barbarians. But yeah just saying what stuff I would like to see of it.

I know of course you probably can't say much if those islands do exist, but a simple yes or no as to their existence would be great to hear. And further just would want to know if there's an ideas or concepts around over what's in this area. :P

I seriously can't wait to see Arcadia. I think Paizo does a great job making various cultural analogues in their fantasy setting, that gives the similiar themes of the RW concept, without them feeling too much the same.

- Blood of Genies: in the style of the Blood of Fiends & Blood of Angels, a book focusing on the Genie-touched and it's variations, i.e. the genasi of Pathfinder.

- People of the Sands: in the style of People of the North, a book focusing on the desert-dwelling people of Northern Garund and Qadira, with information on the potential ethnicities and races to play as (like the Osiriani, Mauxi, Desert Elves, Pahmet Dwarves, etc) and with tips on how to roleplay as those various cultures.

- People of the Darklands: in the style of People of the North, a book focusing on the darkly denizens of the underground realm beneath Golarion, such as the Drow, Duergar, Derro, Svirfneblin, Ratfolk, Serpentfolk, Azlanti-descended people (dark folk, grimlocks, mongrelfolk, morlocks), etc, with tips on how to roleplay as them.

- People of the Jungle: in the style of People of the North, a book focusing on the people dwelling within the tropical regions of Garund, such as the Mwangi, Caldaru, Lirgeni, Wild Elves, Jungle Orcs, M'beke & Taralu Dwarves, Charau-ka Apemen, etc, with tips on how to roleplay them.

Please know PF designers, that many would not want PF to be turned into be a naive fairytale fantasy setting.

Personally I like serious fantasy settings where good, bad and ugly things can happen.

Keep doing what you do. :)