Minkai is an asian influenced nation right? So would their language sound a little like chinese perhaps? Cuz I've got a list of Firefly translations that I'm dying to use in character.
And if you're curious, there are some regulars in here who speak Chinese and some who speak Japanese. If you post a translation question my guess is you'll probably get an answer.
My understanding from other threads on this subject was that Tian Xia is inspired by China and Minkai by Japan. Rumor has it that Logue will be working on it because he's actually been to China and has some appreciation for the culture.
The meaning of the word Tian/Tien would mean "Sky" and Tian Xia means 'under the sky'. It's a great name for really ethnocentric country because it means that where they live is basically "EVERYTHING under the sky". In Chinese today that is how the term is used--Tian Xia literally means everything. It's kind of funny they chose the name because that's been the name of my GH campaign 'China' since 2004.
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Not that differentiating between Chinese and Japanese really matters cuz using Firefly sayings is just cool no matter where your character comes from and it's your game.
PS. In Chinese a language is called 'yu', so Tian Xia's language would be called Tian Yu if it really were Chinese. Not to contradict Erik, cuz he's the Paizo guy, but just sayin'.
The language is called "Tien."
Then the alphabet should be "Chaozu." (Maybe Chiaotsu)[/bad geek humor]
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PS. In Chinese a language is called 'yu', so Tian Xia's language would be called Tian Yu if it really were Chinese. Not to contradict Erik, cuz he's the Paizo guy, but just sayin'.
Actually, "Tien" is simply the name that the people of Avistan assign to all of the Asian-analogue cultures on the other side of the Crown of the World. Tien is actually a whole group of languages that have individual names of their own. Much of the material in the Gazetteer treats very distant cultures from the point of view of the "focus area" of the campaign setting, which is the region surrounding the Inner Sea.
Wo kao!
Is there gonna be a place with those crazy ancient temples like in Thailand, the ones with trees growing on top of them? I love those.
And a nation of awakened monkeys/primates. That's be awesome.
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My understanding from other threads on this subject was that Tian Xia is inspired by China and Minkai by Japan. Rumor has it that Logue will be working on it because he's actually been to China and has some appreciation for the culture.
Yes. Also, your second sentence is an understatement. :)
It's kind of funny they chose the name because that's been the name of my GH campaign 'China' since 2004.
Nick Logue (who is fluent in Mandarin) came up with the name.
Not that differentiating between Chinese and Japanese really matters cuz using Firefly sayings is just cool no matter where your character comes from and it's your game.
Agreed. What I don't like is how whenever we present something vaguely "Asiany" in feel everyone suddenly wants to know if it's Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Southeast Asian, and if we do something "wrong" there's this weird freak-out. Nobody calls us out when we mix French things with German things. We will do what is cool in our fantasy world, because Golarion isn't Earth and Tian Xia isn't Asia. And we encourage the same "do what is cool" approach to your games as well.
PS. In Chinese a language is called 'yu', so Tian Xia's language would be called Tian Yu if it really were Chinese. Not to contradict Erik, cuz he's the Paizo guy, but just sayin'.
That's interesting to know, but as I said above, Tian Xia isn't Asia. Minkai isn't Japan. Qin (or whatever our large country ends up being named) isn't China. You can draw parallels, of course, because the inspirations will be relatively obvious, but we're not creating a historical game here. We will not be bound by real-life cultures, even when they are obviously inspirations.
Actually, "Tien" is simply the name that the people of Avistan assign to all of the Asian-analogue cultures on the other side of the Crown of the World. Tien is actually a whole group of languages that have individual names of their own. Much of the material in the Gazetteer treats very distant cultures from the point of view of the "focus area" of the campaign setting, which is the region surrounding the Inner Sea.
Yes. The language Tien is Tian Xia's equivalent to Common. It is the language of Qin (or whatever our large country ends up being named), and because of that nation's large sphere of influence, it is the most commonly spoken language on the continent. The people of Minkai can speak Tien, but they have their own language (Minkese? Minkaian? Whatever.). The same is true of all other nations of Tian Xia.
And a nation of awakened monkeys/primates. That's be awesome.
They're there. Called "humans" :P
Finally, someone who appreciates the elven perspective.
What's that? Slow?
Blah blah blah
As usual all your well thought out answers please me. Tien as an oriental common sounds awesome and is a great short form and general label.
And I'm glad you guys have someone who knows something about Asia. All told I've spent about 9 years living in Japan, Korea, and (mostly) China (not to mention the East Asian studies and 17 years of martial arts in Canada) and it would really exasperate me to see yet another campaign world with a poorly executed orient.
Of course it's gonna be what... years before we see it?
;)
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Blah blah blahAs usual all your well thought out answers please me. Tien as an oriental common sounds awesome and is a great short form and general label.
And I'm glad you guys have someone who knows something about Asia. All told I've spent about 9 years living in Japan, Korea, and (mostly) China (not to mention the East Asian studies and 17 years of martial arts in Canada) and it would really exasperate me to see yet another campaign world with a poorly executed orient.
Of course it's gonna be what... years before we see it?
;)
Heh. I like how you summed up my huge post in three succinct words. ;)
The current intent is to have Nick Logue and I spearhead the work on Tian Xia. I believe Nick knows at least one other Asian expert gamer (and probably lots more), so we'll try to make it as cool as possible without being a complete Asia knockoff or a complete white-guy-Asia.
Does that make sense?
I'm sure there will be at least a spread (2 pages) about Tian Xia in the campaign setting hardcover. I'll push for more, of course. ;)
Heh. I like how you summed up my huge post in three succinct words. ;)
The current intent is to have Nick Logue and I spearhead the work on Tian Xia. I believe Nick knows at least one other Asian expert gamer (and probably lots more), so we'll try to make it as cool as possible without being a complete Asia knockoff or a complete white-guy-Asia.
Does that make sense?
Mike nails a good point above. I am not interested in an Asian setting, but rather an Asia inspired setting. That's what Mike and I (and my secret other Asia expert) are shooting for. I'm not a big fan of "Look it's China." I rather prefer "Look at this awesome area whose culture/politics/warfare/mythology is based on China, but it's totally D&D!"
I hope that makes sense. Just like Greyhawk isn't just Europe or Egypt, but rather uses real world sources as a springboard into high fantasy, I want to do the same with Tian Xia and Minkai. Wait till you see my India inspired nation...whoa. Let's just say I'm a huge fan of the Natyasastra and the Ramayana, to name a few kickass Indian sources.
Oh and Mike: THIRTY PAGES AT LEAST!!! GO TEAM ASIA!!! :-)
Excellent I can't wait, any other far-flung continents or locales going to get a mention?
Blah blah blahAll told I've spent about 9 years living in Japan, Korea, and (mostly) China (not to mention the East Asian studies and 17 years of martial arts in Canada) and it would really exasperate me to see yet another campaign world with a poorly executed orient.
Why should Asia get a different treatment than Europe?
Excellent I can't wait, any other far-flung continents or locales going to get a mention?
Indonesia...now that place is awesome.
Excellent I can't wait, any other far-flung continents or locales going to get a mention?Indonesia...now that place is awesome.
And Indonesia used to have halflings. And here.
Mike nails a good point above. I am not interested in an Asian setting, but rather an Asia inspired setting. That's what Mike and I (and my secret other Asia expert) are shooting for. I'm not a big fan of "Look it's China." I rather prefer "Look at this awesome area whose culture/politics/warfare/mythology is based on China, but it's totally D&D!"I hope that makes sense. Just like Greyhawk isn't just Europe or Egypt, but rather uses real world sources as a springboard into high fantasy, I want to do the same with Tian Xia and Minkai. Wait till you see my India inspired nation...whoa. Let's just say I'm a huge fan of the Natyasastra and the Ramayana, to name a few kickass Indian sources.
Unhuh.
You guys realize I never meant that you were making Asia, right? Anyway. You guys rule, can't wait, get together a GM module in Tien, ok?
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I hope that makes sense. Just like Greyhawk isn't just Europe or Egypt, but rather uses real world sources as a springboard into high fantasy, I want to do the same with Tian Xia and Minkai. Wait till you see my India inspired nation...whoa. Let's just say I'm a huge fan of the Natyasastra and the Ramayana, to name a few kickass Indian sources.
What, no Kama Sutra? ~_^
What do you mean?I'm guessing that KaeYoss was being flippant and suggesting that Europe tends to get a reductive, stereotypical, etc. treatment in most fantasy rpgs - so why shouldn't the rest of the world...?
Exactly.
There's a lot less fine-tooth-combing of all the western medieval concepts used in fantasy. Beside some complaining about spiked armour, I don't hear people complaining about characters using an armour/weapon combo that has never existed on earth, or things like that.
You usually just accept that this is not actual, medieval Europe just like we know from history books and all that, with just a bunch of supernatural stuff added, but a fantasy world that just borrows from a number of sources. Not even the fantasy elements are consistent with any special folklore, but that doesn't concern too many people, either.
I don't say we should complain that a guy with a claymore in fullplate fighting against a minotaur, a vampire and a succubus, while a priest of Thor uses healing magic on him doesn't make any sense.
I say that we shouldn't go through the asian-flavoured parts of fantasy with a fine-toothed comb, either.
It doesn't have to fit chinese history, or japanese. I don't have any problems with a samurai in leather armour with a qiang, fighting some tokkaebi.
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I say that we shouldn't go through the asian-flavoured parts of fantasy with a fine-toothed comb, either.
It doesn't have to fit chinese history, or japanese. I don't have any problems with a samurai in leather armour with a qiang, fighting some tokkaebi.
This is my feeling exactly. In fact, I get really annoyed at the Asia fanbois who freak out if something is done that doesn't match up perfectly with real-world Asia. And to them I say: get over yourself. It's just a game.
Indonesia...now that place is awesome.
So awesome I had to marry a native. ;p
I'm relatively sure we've also got a distant and mysterious Australia analogue.
And a distanter and more mysteriouser New Zealand analogue?
And Indonesia used to have halflings.
So does New Zealand.
This is my feeling exactly. In fact, I get really annoyed at the Asia fanbois who freak out if something is done that doesn't match up perfectly with real-world Asia. And to them I say: get over yourself. It's just a game.I say that we shouldn't go through the asian-flavoured parts of fantasy with a fine-toothed comb, either.
It doesn't have to fit chinese history, or japanese. I don't have any problems with a samurai in leather armour with a qiang, fighting some tokkaebi.
Amen
I hate it when an Asian setting is pigeon holed into Japan or China only. So many lands and cultures to explore and draw from in Asia.
Should we expect that part of the world have a seperate pantheon or have a local take on the existing deities.
I would personnaly prefer the later since those developped so far seem to fit perfectly the "asianly" setting on so many levels.
I agree with slime, different takes on the same gods is my preference, too many dieties can be bothersome.
Indonesia and Malaysia are seldom-tapped sources of some genuine weirdness.
That they are!
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Should we expect that part of the world have a seperate pantheon or have a local take on the existing deities.
I would personnaly prefer the later since those developped so far seem to fit perfectly the "asianly" setting on so many levels.
We haven't gotten that far yet, but we'll keep in mind your suggestion. ^_^
We haven't gotten that far yet, but we'll keep in mind your suggestion. ^_^
Thank YOU for listening!
Should we expect that part of the world have a seperate pantheon or have a local take on the existing deities.
I would personnaly prefer the later since those developped so far seem to fit perfectly the "asianly" setting on so many levels.
I echo Slime's suggestion. I've always been a big fan of the Glorantha setting (RuneQuest/HeroQuest/WhateverQuest). It always been fascinating to me the interplay between faith and a reality that is sometimes pretty subjective.
That's a muckety muck way of saying "Gods are a reflection of worshippers in the same way that worshippers are reflections of their god.."
So to me, a cultural intepretation of the same entity makes sense...
Rise thread, rise!
Is there one or several asian inspired ethnicities, and what are they named? (I'm not talking about land masses and political boundries).
Rise thread, rise!
Is there one or several asian inspired ethnicities, and what are they named? (I'm not talking about land masses and political boundries).
In the Campaign Setting book, there are several Tian ethnicities. The ones that the book lists are the Tian-Shu, Tian-La, Tian-Sing, and Tian-Min.
Indonesia...now that place is awesome.I gotta chime in for the Philippines. 7,000+ islands (at least at low tide), a couple dozen cultures, conquered/influenced by everyone on the planet ... a lot of potential for adventure there.
It may have also been the source of the historical Shambhala (and may have influenced the legends of Prestor John as well).
Indonesia and Malaysia are seldom-tapped sources of some genuine weirdness.
I'd probably agree if I didn't basically live in the region. When it comes down to it, from my perspective, the West is the one with the exotic culture.
*Shrug*
Either way.
I'm thankful that the staff are putting genuine effort into this. Really happy that Tien Xia isn't just some monolithic homogeneous pseudo-China bloc, something that's been done WAY too much in various campaign settings.