The origins of the people of Varisia

[Marusaia]

So. I've been very interested in the world of Golarion and the Pathfinder adventure paths, and I was curious about a few things... specifically, what real world ethnicities and nationalities (if any) the various peoples of Golarion were modeled on.

My own theories so far: the Varisians remind me a lot of a combination between the Irish and gypsies... which I guess makes them similar to the Irish Travelers. I associate the Varisians with Irish music, and they frequently have Irish accents in my mind. The Chelaxians are a bit less obvious. Their culture seems to resemble some odd combination of the ancient Romans and the British Empire, from what little I know of it. The Shoanti are the ones that I have the least understanding of.

Anyone else have any ideas? I'm not even sure if this is the right place to post this, but nowhere else seemed fitting.

[James Jacobs]

While we did draw upon some real-world cultures for the ethnicities of Golarion... we also tweaked them here and there. The Varisians, for example, are VERY heavily based on the Romany and a few other European cultures... Irish perhaps a little bit, but also Celtic and maybe even a little Russian. The Chelaxians are indeed less obvious; they don't really map to any ethnicity that well, but are a pretty big mix of all sorts of European folk with a healthy mix of mystical Atlantean type stuff.

The Shoanti are a mix of Scottish, Native American, African, and Conan-type barbarians. Which, like the Chelaxians, makes them pretty unique and not really analogous to any real-world culture as well. Which is pretty much by design...

[Marusaia]

James Jacobs wrote:

While we did draw upon some real-world cultures for the ethnicities of Golarion... we also tweaked them here and there. The Varisians, for example, are VERY heavily based on the Romany and a few other European cultures... Irish perhaps a little bit, but also Celtic and maybe even a little Russian. The Chelaxians are indeed less obvious; they don't really map to any ethnicity that well, but are a pretty big mix of all sorts of European folk with a healthy mix of mystical Atlantean type stuff.

The Shoanti are a mix of Scottish, Native American, African, and Conan-type barbarians. Which, like the Chelaxians, makes them pretty unique and not really analogous to any real-world culture as well. Which is pretty much by design...

I love this. This is what makes you guys great at what you do. You started out with a bunch of real-world cultures and stewed them all up until you had the right flavor you were looking for. Or perhaps you started out with the flavor you wanted, and then borrowed and invented until you had it. I don't know which it was, Mr. Jacobs, but however you and everyone else on the Paizo crew did it, you did it well.

Thanks for the clarification. For a guy like me who thinks in terms of history (especially real world history) this makes a nice benchmark for giving me an idea of how to play these groups. Of course, that doesn't mean I won't be adding my own interpretations. ;D

Thanks again, and happy gaming and happy creating. I look forward to more work from you and the rest of the Pathfinder crew!

[F. Wesley Schneider]

James Jacobs wrote:

The Shoanti are a mix of Scottish, Native American, African, and Conan-type barbarians.

There might be a little pissed-off Greek/Spartan in there too. Sorry, I had just finished playing God of War II when I was writing the Rise of the Runelords Players Guide.

[Marusaia]

F. Wesley Schneider wrote:

James Jacobs wrote:

The Shoanti are a mix of Scottish, Native American, African, and Conan-type barbarians.

There might be a little pissed-off Greek/Spartan in there too. Sorry, I had just finished playing God of War II when I was writing the Rise of the Runelords Players Guide.

Heh, pretty reasonable really. The Spartans were the military bad@$$es of their day.

And, of course, my mind immediately goes to a half-dressed, bearded Shoanti screaming about what this place is before he kicks a Chel into a well. XD

[Ask a Shoanti]

Chell-in-a-well! LOL!

-Ask

P.S. I always suspected Conan had some Shoanti going for him. . .

[Chambodian]

I have found it to be confrontational to compare real world races to those of the fantasy world. I HIGHLY recommend not to do this verbally in public, speaking from past experience of course. Let us please leave the fantasy world were it belongs, and not try to compare everything to something else. Even though it tends to be human nature.(_)3CHEERS!

[Rookseye]

Chambodian wrote:

I have found it to be confrontational to compare real world races to those of the fantasy world. I HIGHLY recommend not to do this verbally in public, speaking from past experience of course. Let us please leave the fantasy world were it belongs, and not try to compare everything to something else. Even though it tends to be human nature.(_)3CHEERS!

Golems remind me of robots. Filthy. Stinking. Robots!

...they're all trying to steal our jobs!

[Marusaia]

Chambodian wrote:

I have found it to be confrontational to compare real world races to those of the fantasy world. I HIGHLY recommend not to do this verbally in public, speaking from past experience of course. Let us please leave the fantasy world were it belongs, and not try to compare everything to something else. Even though it tends to be human nature.(_)3CHEERS!

Well and good. It wasn't my intention to be confrontational, this is just how I tend to think. Though in the future, I'll try to think of the races of Golarion on their own terms, goodness knows they're pretty well developed already. :D

[WormysQueue]

Chambodian wrote:

I have found it to be confrontational to compare real world races to those of the fantasy world. I HIGHLY recommend not to do this verbally in public, speaking from past experience of course. Let us please leave the fantasy world were it belongs, and not try to compare everything to something else. Even though it tends to be human nature.(_)3CHEERS!

In fact I found this to be the most confrontational post in this thread.So sorry if it isn't to your likings but I'll ignore your recommendation (especially based on the fact as given by James Jacobs that the Golarion cultures are based on real-world cultures).

I don't mean to be disrespectful or overly harsh at all. I just cannot stand it if someone tries to tell me what I may or may not talk about.

regards,
Wormy

[Chambodian]

WormysQueue wrote:

Chambodian wrote:

I have found it to be confrontational to compare real world races to those of the fantasy world. I HIGHLY recommend not to do this verbally in public, speaking from past experience of course. Let us please leave the fantasy world were it belongs, and not try to compare everything to something else. Even though it tends to be human nature.(_)3CHEERS!

In fact I found this to be the most confrontational post in this thread.So sorry if it isn't to your likings but I'll ignore your recommendation (especially based on the fact as given by James Jacobs that the Golarion cultures are based on real-world cultures).

I don't mean to be disrespectful or overly harsh at all. I just cannot stand it if someone tries to tell me what I may or may not talk about.

regards,
Wormy

The funny part about this is that I'm not trying to be confrontational or by any means tell anyone what they may or may not talk about. I was merely strongly recommending not to conduct comparisons VERBALLY in PUBLIC about real world races with those of the fantasy world. I would not have even brought it up, but it has happened to me before. Which lead to a somewhat comical yet frustrating confrontation with a little person. I personally could care less what or who you want to compare in this thread. Obviously you have taken my post out of context. I guess that's what I get for trying to impart a small kernel of my wisdom to my fellow gamers that I have learned the hard way myself, which should be common sense to most. SO, in closing I shall ignore your disrespectful and overly harsh comment.=P (_)3CHEERS!

[Norgerber]

I had the same thought that Chambodian put a voice to here. There are comments elsewhere on this very message board that generalize aspects of Varisians. The material published for the game also makes some sweeping generalizations about how "Chelaxians are like this" and "Varisians are like this" and "Shoanti are like this."

Given those kinds of statements it is potentially dangerous to then suggest that these generalizations made about the "fictitious" races of people are based on real peoples.

I saw nothing but warning in Chambodian's comments, and a warning I would heartily second. Someone misinterpreting a warning as a command or some attempt at control is looking to pick a fight in my estimation.

[WormysQueue]

Chambodian wrote:

SO, in closing I shall ignore your disrespectful and overly harsh comment.=P (_)3CHEERS!

It's not that I changed my opinion topic-wise but as far as the tone of my previous post is concerned you may be right so please take my apologies.

Chambodian wrote:

]which should be common sense to most.

just to ask: Why should that be? Maybe it's because of my cultural background (german) but I've no patience for people thinking they are something special just because of their nationality/culture. To use your words: that's a lesson we germans learned the hard way. Those comparisons aren't meant offending in any way and shouldn't be understand as such. To use your words once again: which should be common sense to most.

regards,
Wormy

[Chambodian]

WormysQueue wrote:

Chambodian wrote:

SO, in closing I shall ignore your disrespectful and overly harsh comment.=P (_)3CHEERS!

It's not that I changed my opinion topic-wise but as far as the tone of my previous post is concerned you may be right so please take my apologies.

Chambodian wrote:

]which should be common sense to most.

just to ask: Why should that be? Maybe it's because of my cultural background (german) but I've no patience for people thinking they are something special just because of their nationality/culture. To use your words: that's a lesson we germans learned the hard way. Those comparisons aren't meant offending in any way and shouldn't be understand as such. To use your words once again: which should be common sense to most.

regards,
Wormy

I have no desire to debate real world topics with you anymore. I just prefer to leave the fantasy world out of the real world, and vica versa.

It seems like a shame to pollute the fantasy realm with the baggage of the real world. Either way I think this thread is bunk, and thanks for the apologies. I guess common sense isn't very common.(_)3CHEERS!