Its in bold on the back cover of "Lands of the Linnorm Kings".
And, in todays Store Blog:
Destiny has brought your characters through goblins, vikings, and the artic creatures of the far north.
(emphasis mine)
However, in the actual book (LotLK, that is), I could not find the term applied to either the culture or the people of the Linnorm Kingdoms.
If I recall correctly, they used the word "viking" at least once in the (3.5) Pathfinder Campaign Setting. I'm not sure what the current policy is on it, though.
"Viking" is an activity, not a culture. It's synonymous with "raiding" or "going out to kill people and steal their stuff". Or, as we like to call it "adventuring".
That may be true if you want to be an unsufferable know-it-all.
In the real world "viking" refers to a culture, specifically the culture of the norse or scandinavic people during the early medieval period. In the two examples I gave its used in that way. Even professional literature uses it that way.
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
|
In the real world "viking" refers to a culture, specifically the culture of the norse or scandinavic people during the early medieval period.
Not among my circle of friends.
Even professional literature uses it that way.
Then they're doing it wrong. The name of the culture is "Norse".
Moreover, the term "vikings" as "raiders" makes perfect sense in the context of the blog post.
Peace (and no raiding) be upon you.
Then they're doing it wrong.
No they do not. The Norse were even called Vikings by contemporaries.
Your interpretation "vikings" = "raiders" is disputed by some historians btw.
It may be true, but other plausible explanations are possible.
This somewhat fruitless discussion aside: I would really like to know if "vikings" is supposed to be an in-world term.
|
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
|
I'd never met the man, although many of my friends had. (I started playing in the mid-80's, and he'd already started to drift away by then.) As you might gather from a man who styled himself Yang the Nauseating, who decided that a bunch of geeks recreating the culture of the middle ages was too dull and boring and needed to be shaken up, he was well known.
Creative Director
|
If I tell someone who's never heard of Golarion, "There's a land ruled by Ulfens!" they won't care. Even if I say "Ulfen RAIDERS!" they won't care. At best, they'll think I'm saying "elfin" (which isn't even a word as far as Paizo is concerned), which would give an entirely different feeling of fantasy than what I'm getting at.
That said, if I say, "There's a land ruled by Vikings!", everyone knows what I'm talking about. Even if they've never even heard of RPGs in the first place.
Which is why the word "Viking" appears on the back cover of the book, where a casual browser in a book store is most likely to go to learn more about the pretty book they just picked up.
I direct all of you to Viking Blood and it's flavor text....
Off topic... You two (Chris and Ray) are SCA huh? I'm curious your opinions on my circle of friends
|
[temporary continuince of Threadjack]
I'm only somewhat interested -- I'm a HUGE Robert Asprin fan, and for that matter, Chris has been one of my favorite posters here for several years (taught us how to memorize pi -- wrote the only decent chapter in the olde Castle Greyhawk hijinx adventure back in the day -- and he thinks he's as good as I am in chess;) ). Figured I'd ask if he knew Asprin.
I checked your link, cool.
[/temporary continuince of Threadjack]
|
"Viking" is an activity, not a culture. It's synonymous with "raiding" or "going out to kill people and steal their stuff". Or, as we like to call it "adventuring".That may be true if you want to be an unsufferable know-it-all.
In the real world "viking" refers to a culture, specifically the culture of the norse or scandinavic people during the early medieval period. In the two examples I gave its used in that way. Even professional literature uses it that way.
In modern English usage it’s acceptable to use the word Viking as a noun either to describe a Norse / Scandinavian raider of the time period when the ‘Vikings’ were active, or (somewhat less commonly), any member of that culture in that time period. It can also be used as an adjective (eg, Viking longship, Viking helmet).
In the original Norse it meant something along the lines of ‘an expedition by sea’. It was originally a noun but came to be used in verb form, by which time the meaning had generally changed to mean ‘a raiding expedition’.
And I’m pretty sure I came across the word viking used in the adventure text of Adventure Path volume 50.
|
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
|
Artemis,
I have a lot of friends who play in the Amtgard system. I am myself mostly involved in the arts and sciences of the SCA -- I was inducted into the Order of the Laurel for work in music -- rather than the heavy weapons or rapier fighting. And -- at least here in Iowa and up in the Twin Cities -- Amtgard is almost entirely a combat club.
Artemis,
** spoiler omitted **
I've been looking at SCA, it seems interesting. I'm told that SCA goers tend to have rather inflated egos, but that may be a California thing...
As far as I'm concerned, "viking" is definitely a Golarion word.
Well thanks!
In Golarion, it seems that people's use of the word 'Viking' mirrors its use in Earth's Middle Ages: A Chelaxian or Taldan might use it to refer to any Ulfen northerner, while those in the Land of the Linnorm Kings might use it only to describe those who have sailed on raiding expeditions.
I've been looking at SCA, it seems interesting. I'm told that SCA goers tend to have rather inflated egos, but that may be a California thing...
SCA groups vary wildly in their character, from "party baronies" interested in the social aspects of the organization to groups focused on combat or the arts. Some areas favor particular periods of history, but ideally, the SCA is a 'big tent'-type organization. Overall, we're not as historically accurate as many other groups, but we try to have room for everyone.
"Viking" is an activity, not a culture. It's synonymous with "raiding" or "going out to kill people and steal their stuff". Or, as we like to call it "adventuring".That may be true if you want to be an unsufferable know-it-all.
In the real world "viking" refers to a culture, specifically the culture of the norse or scandinavic people during the early medieval period. In the two examples I gave its used in that way. Even professional literature uses it that way.
In the "real world" Viking is an activity, or job discription (Pirate).
Celt's went a viking, Goths went a viking, Norse went a viking.Hollywood may present it as a culture, but then hollywood misrepresents many things ;)
|
|
I guess this is one of those things like the word "gay" that may technically mean one thing but really means the other. Or better yet, since "gay" meaning homosexual is only a couple generations new, and we still know the original, how about "lord" which is technically the guardian of bread. But it just doesn't mean that, and hasn't since,.... well, since the time of the viking raiders, actually.
As a descendant of Norwegians, my ancesters were Vikings, Pal. Well, and fishermen. Whether "norse" is more accurate or not, as a descendant, they were vikings who went raiding. (But mostly Norwegians who went fishing.) (Then went to Minnesota.)
Scruffy, long-haired barbarians - Check
Live in cold northern lands - Check
Ride Linnorms - Check
Adviced names include Ostog and Ragnar - Check
I'd say they are more viking than vikings themselves. Or norsemen. Or bloody scruffy hide-wearing coastland raider guys.
"Say, do you have a lot of wealthy unprotected coastal cities or what?"
Hollywood may present it as a culture, but then hollywood misrepresents many things ;)
I resent the implication that I get my historic worldview from hollywood movies. I most certainly do not.
