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Honestly, the only pet peeve I have with the setting are the Lovecraftian inclusions, and that's only because they're called by their real names. For me, it breaks the image of Golarion being its own world, but I can certainly see the appeal for others.
Of course, Golarion is its own world. But for the likes of the Hounds of Tindalos, things like time and space mean nothing.
I love how I can invoke groans of... I think it's fear.... from my players by just opening a Pathfinder and reading aloud... "Lovecraft".
- The doctors degree. There are some NPCs with a doctor degree but no explanation where it comes from or how it is gained.
Is it a Phd? a MD? Are there universities in Golarion?
IMO a doctor degree does not fit in a fantasy campaign world.
Why not? Just like in the real world, fantasy campaign world denizens like their styles and degrees. In a world where people call themselves paraduke, doctor is nothing. I wouldn't be surprised to find an Archdoctor somewhere.
gunpowder
What's wrong with that? Besides the fact that Golarion isn't the only fantasy world with gunpowder, it isn't as if it were wide-spread.
- Golarion in campaign chronicles setting:
too fragmented, too many things and themes.
One Chinese area, one agypt area, one pirate area, one
ravenloft area, one africa area, eberron machines etc. its nice but
it fails to give the world an idendity.
What's wrong with that? Real worlds often are like that, too. In fact, 100% of the real worlds I've seen are like that. Across the ages and continents, we had more cultures and religions than I could count.
I don't call that fragmented, I call it diverse. For me, Golarion's identity is "Best of all possible worlds".
The good part about this is: If you only want one sort of area, you stick to that area. Shouldn't be too restrictive. In fact, the first three adventure parts are taking place in Varisia (okay, the third only starts there, but still, we have more than two APs in one country). And if you do want several cultures at once, you can have it.
And for the record, it's not "eberron machines". Those concepts have been around a lot longer than that campaign setting.
- Worst of all: the names. They sound awful for europeans.
No, they don't. I'm a European, and the names don't sound awful to me.
Sure, you get the bad name here and there, but that really can't be avoided.
"Noleski Surtova" the ruler of Brevoy is a combination of polish and czech. It is clearly a female name and sound silly for european ears.
It is? Isn't clear to me.
The names are inspired by real-world culture, not copied. The sounds might be the same, but not the conventions. I, for one, couldn't tell you whether Noleski is male or female. In fact, I shake my head whenever I see a guy named Kim.
Augustana of Andoran sound like a figure in an Asterix comic.
No, they don't. If it were Augustix or Andoranus, we were in agreement.
Why Baba Yaga? It is a famous myth in russia.
Why elves? Dwarves? Vampires? Hydras? Fairies? Devils? Angels? Demons? Medusae? Basilisks? Manticores? Trolls? The Tarrasque? Ogre Magi? They're all from one real world myth or another.
The statue of liberty on page 200 seems a bit misplaced for europeans.
The thing was created by a European. Why should it seem misplaced to us?
Dont make the same mistake like WoC. The introduction is a bit like to overegg the pudding. WoC says permanently "4E is the best".
Dont fall into the same habbit.
I'm not losing any sleep over that. Paizo appears to me like a really great company, full of people who really care about the game and the people who play the game.
How is it the Age Of Lost Omens, yet the entire COTCT path is all about harrowing and predicting the future?
How is it that the divination school's still around, 100 years after divinations stopped being reliable?
Harrowing is not an exact science. There's a lot in there about intuition and interpretation.
100 years ago, you could make completely reliable divinations. No messing about with percentages and answers that might have been right or wrong. You just did it.
Nowadays, it isn't that easy any more. Everything's vague, you can't bet your house on divinations any more. But that doesn't mean they're impossible.
Cheliax (sounds artifial, don't like the X's unless there is strong precedent)
I love that name. Sounds just like it should. Plus, what's wrong with an X? One of 26 letters in our alphabet, why do you discriminate against it? ;-P
Only thing about the setting that bugs me is too many places are ruled by councils of some sort. The prevailing system of government imho should be monarchies.
Why? What's so special about kings? Is it because it fits medieval Europe so well? Well, religious prosecution and warfare, rampant misinformation in many areas, plagues, and women without rights would fit as well, but we're not shouting for those.
I like some diversity: Some tyrannies, heridetery monarchies, theocracies, magocracies, meritocracies, weirder stuff - bring it on!
Plus Andoran loses a bit of its specialness if there's a dozen other nations ruled by a council.
As a democracy, Andoran stays special. Others might have councils and the like (note that Andoran is actually ruled by the Supreme Elect, i.e. an elected sovereign), but they're not elected by the people. Often, they're those who are powerful enough to buy or fight their way into the council.
I also can't find a nation besides Kyonin where there's a 'Good' King or Queen (I'm not counting Mendev in this) but where's our Queen Victoria? Someone the PCs might be proud to pledge themselves to.
I'd say that a lot of PCs from Lastwall will gladly die for their Watcher-Lord. Beyond that, you don't have to be a paladin-king to have people flock to you. Remember that a nation's alignment doesn't have to match its ruler's alignment:
I'm sure every hermean is a proud subject of Mengkare, and many Ulfens from the Land of the Linnorm King shout out their tribal king's name with every charge.
From "The Middle Ages - A Concise Encuyclopaedia" (translated back to english, since my copy is in portuguese)
"As institutions, universities are a medieval creation. (...) The first universities were, basically, guilds, a community of masters responsible for degree concession and admission of professional men or students.(...)"
If we´re talking specifically about bachelors, doctorates, etc, the muslins already had it going around the 9th century. I beleive wikipedia have that sort of information.
Or you can go further back and point at China and Shian Xiang at 23rd Century BC ;)
Only thing about the setting that bugs me is too many places are ruled by councils of some sort. The prevailing system of government imho should be monarchies.
Plus Andoran loses a bit of its specialness if there's a dozen other nations ruled by a council.
I also can't find a nation besides Kyonin where there's a 'Good' King or Queen (I'm not counting Mendev in this) but where's our Queen Victoria? Someone the PCs might be proud to pledge themselves to.
This would be my only nitpick as well. Golarion is great, but I can't seem to find the equivalent of Camelot. Tandor seems good for a Seven Kingdoms substitute (Song of Fire and Ice by GRRM), or even the River Kingdoms. However, I don't see the noble feudal society that follows the themes of chivalry. Then again, I only have the Gazeteer and am saving up for the Campaign Setting.
Tarek Kieselbach wrote:
"Noleski Surtova" the ruler of Brevoy is a combination of polish and czech. It is clearly a female name and sound silly for european ears.
It is? Isn't clear to me.
The names are inspired by real-world culture, not copied. The sounds might be the same, but not the conventions. I, for one, couldn't tell you whether Noleski is male or female. In fact, I shake my head whenever I see a guy named Kim.
It isn't "Noleski" that sounds feminine, it's the last name that ends in "-ova" instead of "-ov". It's a bit like naming a (male) viking "Olaf Gudmundsdottir".
It isn't "Noleski" that sounds feminine, it's the last name that ends in "-ova" instead of "-ov". It's a bit like naming a (male) viking "Olaf Gudmundsdottir".Tarek Kieselbach wrote:
"Noleski Surtova" the ruler of Brevoy is a combination of polish and czech. It is clearly a female name and sound silly for european ears.
It is? Isn't clear to me.
The names are inspired by real-world culture, not copied. The sounds might be the same, but not the conventions. I, for one, couldn't tell you whether Noleski is male or female. In fact, I shake my head whenever I see a guy named Kim.
Although...
That viking does sound like it has a great story behind him.
"-ova" is generally used for "daughter of" or "wife of" in Eastern Europe, I believe. Also, for the record, the EU does not equal Europe - Europe stretches from Gibraltar to Istanbul and as far north as Finland, but the EU does not cover all of Europe.
Now that you mention it, I do remember the ov/ova thing. Not every -ova name has to be a woman's name, though. Giacomo Casanov would agree with me, if that was his name.
As for Olaf Gudmundsdottir: He must be one of the most experienced brawlers in this world or any other. The sheer number of fights he must be in every day!
"I'm Olaf Gudmundsdottir"
"HA HA, that's a woman's name"
*RAGE* "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASK!"
*Huge brawl*
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I totally agree with the posters above:
Everyone daring to criticise anything in the Pathfinder products (in other words: expressing her/ his personal opinion) should be tared, feathered, flogged, and forced to do the Bart Simpson intro scene writing on a black board "I am not to criticise Paizo products".
Edit: Oops! The sarcasm got almost lost.
I totally agree with the posters above:
Everyone daring to criticise anything in the Pathfinder products (in other words: expressing her/ his personal opinion) should be tared, feathered, flogged, and forced to do the Bart Simpson intro scene writing on a black board "I am not to criticise Paizo products".
Now come on. Now you're berating us for expressing our opinion. Any criticism must hold up to counter-criticism.
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Now come on. Now you're berating us for expressing our opinion. Any criticism must hold up to counter-criticism.
Yes, and usually stating one's counter points once is sufficient, isn't it?
Picking and picking again resembles small mindedness, something totally unlike our open minded and tolerant hobby.Cheers,
Günther
Now come on. Now you're berating us for expressing our opinion. Any criticism must hold up to counter-criticism.Yes, and usually stating one's counter points once is sufficient, isn't it?
Picking and picking again resembles small mindedness, something totally unlike our open minded and tolerant hobby.Cheers,
Günther
Wow.
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Now come on. Now you're berating us for expressing our opinion. Any criticism must hold up to counter-criticism.Yes, and usually stating one's counter points once is sufficient, isn't it?
Picking and picking again resembles small mindedness, something totally unlike our open minded and tolerant hobby.Cheers,
Günther
No one said "Your opinions SUCK!!", not even the OP. He said he likes Pathfinder. Not one person here is a rabid fanboy like you are implying.
Also, your last statement is just not true. I do not see the connection between nit-picking(no one is nit-picking anyway) and tolerance.
Mom! Dad!
Stop fighting!
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- Golarion in campaign chronicles setting:
too fragmented, too many things and themes.
One Chinese area, one agypt area, one pirate area, one
ravenloft area, one africa area, eberron machines etc. its nice but
it fails to give the world an idendity.
The campaign book tries to have a finger in every pie, too much is too much.
I'm for an against this arguement, but first I have to do a thorough discussion of "the setting" as it's laid out.
I think a lot of people look at the map and forget the scale.
So let's look at the map again. Now look at the map of the Earth.
The Inner Sea = Mediterranean Sea.
Obari Ocean = Indian Ocean.
You have everything north of the Inner Sea reminiscent of Europe (traditional D&D.) South of the Inner Sea, Africa and to the East is Arabian culture (age of exploration.)
If there is a problem, it's having oriental culture so close to everything, but I can understand the desire to not have it so far away.
That said, if you're adventurers, not explorers, there's really no reason for you to cross the Inner Sea, Obari Ocrean.. or even leave the Varisia area if you're trying to run a traditional D&D game. Like I said, you're forgetting the scale.
Now what I don't like exactly about all this is that the information we got is so light for everything (but will come) it's very difficult to adventure outside of Varisia without making up a bunch of stuff. There's nothing we can do there, but it's still an issue that will only be fixed with time.
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Now that you mention it, I do remember the ov/ova thing. Not every -ova name has to be a woman's name, though. Giacomo Casanov would agree with me, if that was his name.
Sorry. Casanova is a name from a romance language, not a slavic name. Casanova means "new house" in spanish and/or italian, while ov/ova names come from a language unrelated to spanish/italian. Therefore Casanova does not break the ov/ova rule.
Now that you mention it, I do remember the ov/ova thing. Not every -ova name has to be a woman's name, though. Giacomo Casanov would agree with me, if that was his name.Sorry. Casanova is a name from a romance language, not a slavic name. Casanova means "new house" in spanish and/or italian, while ov/ova names come from a language unrelated to spanish/italian. Therefore Casanova does not break the ov/ova rule.
So unless you can explain it in a foreign language, every -ov/-ova name must adher to that male/female rule? No one may have a name that breaks that rule, even if it's a fantasy name in a fantasy world? Come on.
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If there is a problem, it's having oriental culture so close to everything, but I can understand the desire to not have it so far away.
I don't think that this poses any problems at all. Looking at the european history, we had oriental cultures in our direct neighborhood more often than not. Most people here in Germany (and I think that it's the same in other countries) have no idea about how massively european culture was and still is influenced by arabic/oriental culture(s). In fact I don't even have to leave the country to get in contact with these cultures.
If there is a problem, it's having oriental culture so close to everything, but I can understand the desire to not have it so far away.I don't think that this poses any problems at all. Looking at the european history, we had oriental cultures in our direct neighborhood more often than not. Most people here in Germany (and I think that it's the same in other countries) have no idea about how massively european culture was and still is influenced by arabic/oriental culture(s). In fact I don't even have to leave the country to get in contact with these cultures.
That is so wrong! When I read it, I nearly choked on my kebab in rage.
;-)
you guys are rather funny,
Now what I don't like exactly about all this is that the information we got is so light for everything (but will come) it's very difficult to adventure outside of Varisia without making up a bunch of stuff. There's nothing we can do there, but it's still an issue that will only be fixed with time.
[rant]
And yet, it is still some how manages to convay so much more about each country than the 4E forgotten realms campaign setting does about its countries...[/rant]|
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So unless you can explain it in a foreign language, every -ov/-ova name must adher to that male/female rule? No one may have a name that breaks that rule, even if it's a fantasy name in a fantasy world? Come on.Now that you mention it, I do remember the ov/ova thing. Not every -ova name has to be a woman's name, though. Giacomo Casanov would agree with me, if that was his name.Sorry. Casanova is a name from a romance language, not a slavic name. Casanova means "new house" in spanish and/or italian, while ov/ova names come from a language unrelated to spanish/italian. Therefore Casanova does not break the ov/ova rule.
I see your point. And agree. :)
So unless you can explain it in a foreign language, every -ov/-ova name must adher to that male/female rule? No one may have a name that breaks that rule, even if it's a fantasy name in a fantasy world? Come on.
Here's hoping that we'll see some cool fantasy names like Dëitrich Köeneckër or Charlez Smitth. :-)
Well, some of the names sound funny in Dutch, like a character called "Venster", which means "window" in Dutch. I usually change those names.
I guess this problem is unavoidable when you have readers in so many countries. To be honest, most of the changes I have to make, have to do with language. Anyone ever tried to make a translation of a riddle? This is usually a word pun and does not translate well.
The names do not bother me. I sometimes use maps of foreign countries to pick out fantasy names for my campaign. As long as there is nobody present from that country, it is not a problem.
By the way, I like the names starting with "Van". They sound Dutch enough.
Ideally, I might like to see an linguistic take on Golarion.
Realistically, all the nations and languages would be way too ambitious to develop. A light treatment would be welcome, though.
Creative Director
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Well, some of the names sound funny in Dutch, like a character called "Venster", which means "window" in Dutch.
This is where I point out that in my second-favorite movie of all time, John Carpenter's "The Thing," there was a character named Windows. So I'll take that as a compliment! :)
If you think Venster is bad, what do you think of Harn World? (hint: look up the German word Harn)
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I don't think that this poses any problems at all. Looking at the european history, we had oriental cultures in our direct neighborhood more often than not. Most people here in Germany (and I think that it's the same in other countries) have no idea about how massively european culture was and still is influenced by arabic/oriental culture(s). In fact I don't even have to leave the country to get in contact with these cultures.
But it took what.. a year or two for trade caravans/ships to go back and forth between Europe and China/Japan back in the days of Marco Polo? It existed, it may have influenced, but they were far from being neighbors with China and Japan. Today it's a bit different, but back then your average commoner didn't know what an oriental person looked like. As a matter of fact, they might have thought someone with oriental eyes was evil or something.
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Now that you mention it, I do remember the ov/ova thing. Not every -ova name has to be a woman's name, though. Giacomo Casanov would agree with me, if that was his name.
the convention in question applies to slavic names, not romance language names. casanova was italian, not russian :)
edit: and i see someone beat me to the punch. but i do agree with your response, in that, it's a fantasy world, dagnabbit! names are supposed to be silly and meaningless! not all designers are linguists like tolkien and barker, and don't have the time to create massive, internally consistent languages for every culture.
silly thing to get hung up on, if you ask me...
Only thing about the setting that bugs me is too many places are ruled by councils of some sort. The prevailing system of government imho should be monarchies.
Why? Because the prevailing system of government on Earth in the medieval and Renaissance periods were monarchies? Earth, that doesn't have magic? Earth, that doesn't have literal gods walking around literally building cities? Earth, that doesn't have a god-founded city still standing in the modern world 4700 years after its creation? Earth, that doesn't have orcs, elves, dwarves, immortality elixirs, and so on?
Even if you just count the "founding of civilization" on Earth as the Egyptians (~3150 B.C.), and look at the Egyptian-equivalent Osirion in Golarion (circa year -3470), human civilization has been on Golarion for over 8,000 years (compared to about 5,000 years on Earth). So I don't think it's so strange that given all the non-Earthness of Golarion and the fact that civilization is 3,000 years older there than here that more countries in Golarion have "moved beyond" the monarchal system of government.
If you think Venster is bad, what do you think of Harn World? (hint: look up the German word Harn)
I just can't use the word "Chelish" during games. It sounds to much like either "I lick" or "She licks" in french. No way I can keep it civilised after that!
not all designers are linguists like tolkien and barker, and don't have the time to create massive, internally consistent languages for every culture.
Tolkien didn't create massive, internally consistent languages for any culture.
He created cultures for his massive, internally consistent languages. :D
If you think Venster is bad, what do you think of Harn World? (hint: look up the German word Harn)I just can't use the word "Chelish" during games. It sounds to much like either "I lick" or "She licks" in french. No way I can keep it civilised after that!
I guess it's not much better for English speakders. "What is this Jelly Axe you speak of?"
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I am a big Pathfinder fan, but there are some thinks I dont like
in the Pathfinder setting.- The doctors degree. There are some NPCs with a doctor degree but no explanation where it comes from or how it is gained.
Is it a Phd? a MD? Are there universities in Golarion?
IMO a doctor degree does not fit in a fantasy campaign world.- gunpowder
Then don't use them. That is simple enough.
- Golarion in campaign chronicles setting:
too fragmented, too many things and themes.
One Chinese area, one agypt area, one pirate area, one
ravenloft area, one africa area, eberron machines etc. its nice but
it fails to give the world an idendity.
The campaign book tries to have a finger in every pie, too much is too much.
mmmm maybe the real world should just get rid of Europe and Asia so it has an identity. That isn't a bad idea really. So many tiny little countries who claim to have their own cultures and identities are really tedious. They should all be extenions of the US. You are right. I support that idea.
- Worst of all: the names. They sound awful for europeans.
E.g. there are some names that sound slavish, latin, german, greek.
Combinations of surname and forename are awful.
"Noleski Surtova" the ruler of Brevoy is a combination of polish and czech. It is clearly a female name and sound silly for european ears.
Augustana of Andoran sound like a figure in an Asterix comic.
Why Baba Yaga? It is a famous myth in russia. Ilepodus from Thuvia
sounds like a joke in latin.
I would prefer are more Tolkien-like-style.
I suppose in Europe it is unheard of for cultures to mix and intermarry. Thankfully it is not so in the US. Again if the Europeans and Asians were just eliminated as you suggested previously it would be a better world.
- the statue of liberty on page 200 seems a bit misplaced for europeans.
Yeah, that smaller one in France doesn't really count.
- Dont make the same mistake like WoC. The introduction is a bit like to overegg the pudding. WoC says permanently "4E is the best".
Dont fall into the same habbit.
Anyway thanks for the good work.
I do not understand... is America the only place on this planet that even remotely embraces diversity? But the OP must be right. Worlds need a unified Identity and to that effect I suppose the rest of the world just needs to roll over and embrace American culture and identity and stop clinging to their old outdated identities.
*sigh*
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Only thing about the setting that bugs me is too many places are ruled by councils of some sort. The prevailing system of government imho should be monarchies.Why? Because the prevailing system of government on Earth in the medieval and Renaissance periods were monarchies?
No, not because that's how it was on Earth, because it makes for better fantasy RPGs in my opinion.
I like Magocracies and things like Andoran and Hermea. It just seems that ALL the monarchies are for evil/corrupt lands. Let's list them:
Alkenstar - So close, but it's run mostly by a "High Parliament", also it's role as being the "firearms" nation is going to keep it away from the Knights of the Round Table type campaigns
Brevoy - Chaotic Neutral hereditary monarchy ruled by a family of pirates and scoundrels with an iron grip.
Cheliax - "DIABOLICAL" Empire in Decline. I think we all know enough about Cheliax that I can move on.
Irrisen - Ruled by the descendants of the evil Baba Yaga. Neutral Evil lands.
Isger - Thrall of Cheliax, and just as evil, just not as important.
Jalmeray - Ruled by a Thakur (hereditary monarch I'm guessing) but it's the "ancient mystics, noble Vudrani families, the strange masters of the monasteries and the complex ties of duty to the powerful spirits of the Impossible Kingdom itself that command the obedience of the people."
Kyonin - Good aligned hereditary monarchy, yay! Of course it's not run by Humans, guess they aren't quite 'enlightened' enough.
Lands of the Linnorm Kings - Says it's a monarchy, but it sounds more like leadership passes to the best warrior rather than through bloodlines.
Mendev - Lawful Good, but not Hereditary and I don't quite see Mendev as a full-fledged Kingdom yet. Seems more like...a crusade.
Numeria - ruled by a "Black Sovereign" who's tyranny stands unopposed throughout Numeria.
Osirion - Hereditary monarchy, possibly good and noble, but it's not very clear in the campaign setting.
Qadira - This is a cool monarchy, sounds like it's ruled more by Kaiser Wilhelm II than King Arthur though. Definitely not 'good or noble'
Taldor - "Decadent Falling Empire" Definitely not a ruler most good PCs would feel proud to call their monarch.
Ustalav - Could be developed into such a place, but I don't see it heading this way at all
That's all the monarchies of the major nations. I love the nations don't get me wrong, it just feels like it's missing that crucial fantasy trope.
I think if Absalom became a full-fledged monarchy that would probably do the trick, though I don't see a new nation or a big change like that coming up anytime soon. For now, I'll have to hope the people of Korvosa will accept my Catfolk rogue who spent most of his life in the shingles as their new King after I kill that b****
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Only thing about the setting that bugs me is too many places are ruled by councils of some sort. The prevailing system of government imho should be monarchies.Why? Because the prevailing system of government on Earth in the medieval and Renaissance periods were monarchies?No, not because that's how it was on Earth, because it makes for better fantasy RPGs in my opinion.
I like Magocracies and things like Andoran and Hermea. It just seems that ALL the monarchies are for evil/corrupt lands. Let's list them:
...
Aren't monarchies naturally evil? :)
Actually something I would like to see is a really good hard core theocracy. I know some do exsit, I just want to see them developed and see some adventures and APs in them.
And I would say that from a peasant's viewpoint it doesn't matter whether the country is "good" or "evil". They are still poor downtroden freezing starving masses overburdened with taxes so the rich can feast off of the labors of the masses.
mmmmm sounds famliiar...
*edit* Makes me realize that perhaps ALL governments should be listed as evil...
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Only thing about the setting that bugs me is too many places are ruled by councils of some sort. The prevailing system of government imho should be monarchies.Why? Because the prevailing system of government on Earth in the medieval and Renaissance periods were monarchies?No, not because that's how it was on Earth, because it makes for better fantasy RPGs in my opinion.
I like Magocracies and things like Andoran and Hermea. It just seems that ALL the monarchies are for evil/corrupt lands. Let's list them:
......
Actually something I would like to see is a really good hard core theocracy. I know some do exsit, I just want to see them developed and see some adventures and APs in them.
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That would be pretty cool. personally, I'd like to see a truly democratic society. one where everyone votes on who's in charge once every couple of years, and in theory anyone could win, so the title goes to the person in the community that everyone feels is the best example of who they are. it doesn't even have to be a big country, and it doesn't even have to have much intrigue. In fact, I'd like to see a government that isn't corrupt for a change.
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Power corrupts. Period. And the more power a person has, the more corrupt they become. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
All governments are corrupt, period. The ones we can trust are the the ones that admit to this beforehand. Whom do you trust: the liar who tells you to your face that he's a liar, or the one who tries to claim he's honest?
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Why? Because the prevailing system of government on Earth in the medieval and Renaissance periods were monarchies? Earth, that doesn't have magic? Earth, that doesn't have literal gods walking around literally building cities? Earth, that doesn't have a god-founded city still standing in the modern world 4700 years after its creation? Earth, that doesn't have orcs, elves, dwarves, immortality elixirs, and so on?
Even if you just count the "founding of civilization" on Earth as the Egyptians (~3150 B.C.), and look at the Egyptian-equivalent Osirion in Golarion (circa year -3470), human civilization has been on Golarion for over 8,000 years (compared to about 5,000 years on Earth). So I don't think it's so strange that given all the non-Earthness of Golarion and the fact that civilization is 3,000 years older there than here that more countries in Golarion have "moved beyond" the monarchal system of government.
While I could probably make a decent case that in fact the prevailing systems of government in Europe during the medieval and renaissance periods were not monarchies but rather any of a variety of councils depending on whether by "prevailing" you mean number of distinct governments or territory controlled by specific governments, and while the longer period of civilization does indeed speak for more evolution of the philosophies of governmental theory despite of course rule by councils having preceeded medieval and renaissance monarchy, I would just point to the various nations of Golarion and note that quite a few of them are simply not conducive to the formation of a Louis XIVth style monarchy that is typically associated with the term.
Monarchies did not form on earth out of a philosophical and political background. It took a considerable number of factors to develop them from the "feudalism" (a massively loaded term of its own) that preceeded it, and numerous other factors that drove its development to the constitutional monarchies with parliaments, as well as the parliaments that dismissed their monarchs in the last century, that exist in Europe today.
I feel the information released on Razmiran thus far could have benefitted from a more even-handed approach!
Cheliax too. It's like these writers have some sort of agenda.
Things would be so much better for everyone if people just took the time to understand each other.
Oh come on, you guys have NO idea what bad PR is . . .
I do not understand... is America the only place on this planet that even remotely embraces diversity?
Not even remotely.
I live in an area where people in the neighbouring village use some words that aren't used here. We're talking less than 5km distance here. *THAT* I call diversity :P
Power corrupts.
Knowledge is power.
Power corrupts.Study hard.
Be evil.
(Chelaxian devilinders' motto)
Except, 'the divine right of kings' does literally exist on Golarion, and indeed to a certain extent is apparently acknowledged & tacitly supported by the gods.
Well, by a god. Just because the RM's deity believes kingship is by divine right doesn't mean that all gods feel the same way....