A quick question about the new Paizo setting: does it have manuscript or print culture? I'm really hoping it will go with manuscript.
As a secondary concern, the setting so far shows no sign of the magico-technological elements that settings like Eberron has, that is, railways and flying ships. I'm hoping these will not be appearing in the setting. I really like players getting around on horseback.
I can always houserule things, but it will influence my decision to use the setting as it, or make a homebrew and convert the Pathfinder materials.
Michael Brisbois
Contributor
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A quick question about the new Paizo setting: does it have manuscript or print culture? I'm really hoping it will go with manuscript.
The printing press does exist, but it's even rarer than magic at this point. The nation(s) that have printing presses jealously guard the technology.
As a secondary concern, the setting so far shows no sign of the magico-technological elements that settings like Eberron has, that is, railways and flying ships. I'm hoping these will not be appearing in the setting. I really like players getting around on horseback.
So do we. There are bits and pieces of magitech in Golarion, but it is by no means widespread. Kaer Maga has some, but Numeria is probably the magitech king (and even then, it's still a mostly medieval place).
As a secondary concern, the setting so far shows no sign of the magico-technological elements that settings like Eberron has, that is, railways and flying ships. I'm hoping these will not be appearing in the setting. I really like players getting around on horseback.So do we. There are bits and pieces of magitech in Golarion, but it is by no means widespread. Kaer Maga has some, but Numeria is probably the magitech king (and even then, it's still a mostly medieval place).
I'm really glad to hear this. (And this is consistent with what we've seen in the Gamemastery Modules so far). I know there are people who love Eberron, but to me it is so bizarre and out there that it doesn't even remotely resemble D&D. And I lament that the online game is set in Eberron.
I'm not saying that people who do like Eberron are wrong, I'm just saying we have very different tastes. But I have an almost unhealthy dislike for the setting. It is a mixed genre setting, and--to me--the mixture feels forced. (Yes, I bought the Campaign guide before I made up my mind). In my opinion, mixing genres is the uncreative person's attempt at being creative. There is an infinite number of cool stories that can be told by creatively imaging what might transpire in a "normal" fantasy world. The hard part is to engage in that creative imagining and to then produce something to convey what has been imagined. But so far, the new material for Pathfinder and Gamemastery seem to be doing just that. Look at what they've done for Goblins. Awesome! They found a new spin on Goblins that is both original *and* coherent with the genre. That is hard to do and even harder to do well. Mixing genres is just lazy.
So I'm glad to hear that our PCs won't be taking the "magic" train to their jobs where they work in "magic" cubicles on "magic" boxes with "magic" screens to send information "magically" over great distances while they worry about their "magic" 401K plans...
A manuscript (as opposed to printed) based culture is important to me as well. Why? I have no idea. Well, just one. I like manuscripts. I think there is something much cooler about unique (as in one-of-a-kind, you know, the actual definition of unique) texts as opposed to widely available. Much the same as many people's opinions on magic items.
Also, please no newspapers. Fine in Eberron. Fine in Ptolus. Not OK in Hyborea or Zothique or Greyhawk. What can I say, I miss the old rumor tables. Newspapers really gank the pre-modern feel.
Well, enough from me. I trust you guys. If for some reason you put a newspaper in some kingdom, I'll look at it with an open mind. OK, maybe slightly biased.
Also, please no newspapers. Fine in Eberron. Fine in Ptolus. Not OK in Hyborea or Zothique or Greyhawk. What can I say, I miss the old rumor tables. Newspapers really gank the pre-modern feel.
Well, enough from me. I trust you guys. If for some reason you put a newspaper in some kingdom, I'll look at it with an open mind. OK, maybe slightly biased.
I always thought using town criers would be an interesting way to distribute information in lieu of a newspaper. There could be a "Crier's Guild" and in major cities there could be a number of "Crier's Posts" where at certain times of the day, say, noon and "a couple of hours before dark" Town Criers go to posts located in strategic spots all over town where they climb a podium (or something) and proclaim any news. It would be a great way for the government to spread (mis)information efficiently. And maybe the criers would take money in exchange for spreading "news" from private citizens. You could go a number of ways with this--they could be simply a way to make wedding announcements, etc., advertise for businesses, they could get caught up in gossip wars...all kinds of things.
Yeah, town criers are cool. I especially like the idea of a criers guild. Might make a good associate guild for the thieves guild, for misdirection and whatnot.