In the interest of consistency Im trying to make sure that certain cultural terms, practices, names and the like follow a given norm in any one area or kingdom. Ive read a bit of discussion on this before but for the record..
How do you see the key kingdoms of the Inner Sea in lite of contemporary culture comparisons?
Is Teldor Spanish? Varisia English? The typical names of the given human races helps a bit, but they are so wide spread.
Would a Cheliax commoner have a scottish sounding name? Gaelic? How about a Welch sounding Andoran?
You get the idea? What are your thoughts?
Varisia is more American colonial frontier with gypsies than anything else. It doesn't really have a close cultural analogue; it's more like "classic D&D adventureland" with a few small towns and a lot of wilderness.
Taldor is more (as I see it) late Byzantine, with cataphracts and feudal lords. It might be a bit more Spanish than Greek culturally, but either way it's the Mediterranean version of knights (as opposed to, say, Lastwall which is "good knights" or Brevoy which is "bad knights", and both of which are probably more Northern European in feel).
Cheliax feels to me like a cross between Spain and Italy, with a heaping dose of "all the worst parts of the Black Legend are true; the Inquisition really is a conscious servant of the Devil; Hell is loose on earth." I doubt either they or Andoran would have Celtic-type names -- there really isn't a good Celtic analogue in Avistan, except maybe the former nation of Sarkoris.
Andoran should be similar in many ways to both Taldor and Cheliax, but with differences -- it's "good revolutionary France, 'bliss was it in that dawn to be alive', 'Rights of Man', etc." vs. Galt's "the Terror never stopped" bad Revolutionary France) -- but all four nations should have substantial cultural similarities, being as they were part of the same empire for a very long time. They should all have a bit of a Latin/Mediterranean feel.
Im suprised there wasnt more interest in this post. I would think this question would be a common on. I usually game in Robert E. Howard's Hyboria and this question takes on epic discussions. Of course I realize that campaign world is based on a pre-history notion but the same issues apply.
How to make sure your kingdoms and cultures stay consistent when assigning the names of characters, military ranks, officials etc.
For example, in Taldoran they mention Prefectures, ruled by Prefects. This is obviously a Roman term so, I would assume their culture is more or less Roman, which effects all kinds of things when fleshing out the culture during play. Should we have legatus, preators and magistrates and such?
Or am I taking the whole idea a bit too seriously? Do you guys generally just use conventional terms? (General, Mayor, Governor or what have you regardless)
Taldor does sound Byzantine, as in failing Roman Empire. In that case Roman sounding names seems to fit, but seems odd in a fantasy setting.
One just has to accept that it's not a perfect fit. Taldor is like Byzantium, but is not itself Byzantium, so some things will be tricky to adapt. Onthe other hand, you can throw in elements you like from other cultures/periods, as long as they fit.
Note that unless your players have some interest in the history/period, they won't notice or care how you adapt stuff. You have to strike a balance between what they want and how much you're willing to teach then about how the society works.
Very true. I just finished reading "Of Dice and Men" and am reminded of the final few paragraphs wherein emphasis is placed on the interaction of the players and GM, not the specifics of the ruels or world. I have a hard time with that as I tend to approach my games from an artistic standpoint, then invite players to enter in. I need to work on that.
If the cultural inconsistencies dont bother my players, why should I let it bother me?
Because it will? I have a bad case of the same thing.
On the other hand, think of it as your chance to fix all the stuff about Rome/Byzantium/Russia that you never really liked in the first place.
Taldor is Byzantium politically, but borrows heavily from Victorian England and Medieval Spain culturally
Cheliax appears to me to be a mix of Italy and France, but also perhaps with some spanish influences
Taldor is Byzantium politically, but borrows heavily from Victorian England and Medieval Spain culturally
Cheliax appears to me to be a mix of Italy and France, but also perhaps with some spanish influences
I would actually go more on a Renaissance era reference. The big look-exception is the remaining "value" of heavy armor. Strangely, magic can (to me) fit the period if it's considered as high values not to be left alone ...
I see Taldor as an ex-full-europe empire in the Medival era that cracked to the many begining Renaissance contry. Kind of like the extreme Roman empire cacking to European contries but with Classic to Medival eras replaced by a Medival to Renaissance spin.
Laugh, good stuff guys - but it bares the question then. What is a typical Taldan name? Renaldo, Fredrick, Maginatus?