Volume 5 is worth it just for the Arcadia setting.

[keftiu]

Seriously, this Xopatl writeup is pretty much ready for a campaign, and it’s awesome to see the Mesoamerican and Latinx inspiration here. I’m dying for more of this, and soon!

Even if the caraca did make me cackle when I saw him. Outsider calavera mariachi with a handgun? Incredible.

[magnuskn]

I was a bit disappointed that we get the stereotypical Aztecs/Maya expy civilization. I mean, it wasn't unexpected and probably the most likely for an introduction to Arcadia, but I was hoping for something not inspired by real life.

[keftiu]

magnuskn wrote:

I was a bit disappointed that we get the stereotypical Aztecs/Maya expy civilization. I mean, it wasn't unexpected and probably the most likely for an introduction to Arcadia, but I was hoping for something not inspired by real life.

It’s got no blood sacrifice, so that automatically makes it not stereotypical Aztecs. It also has people playing guitars and wearing lucha masks. There’s plenty there beyond just playing the history straight.

“Hoping for something not inspired by real life” is fine, but I’m perfectly okay getting cultures represented in the setting that haven’t had anything yet, and indigenous and latinx folks deserve the recognizable before the completely fantastical. It’s not like Avistan doesn’t have plenty of real-world-y nations.

[NotBothered]

I was hugely disappointed. I was hoping from the brief glimpses we'd had of Arcadia before to get a Native American setting. What we have in fact been given is Maztica Light (or in some cases Maztica light entertainment).

[Ron Lundeen]

NotBothered wrote:

I was hugely disappointed. I was hoping from the brief glimpses we'd had of Arcadia before to get a Native American setting. What we have in fact been given is Maztica Light (or in some cases Maztica light entertainment).

Arcadia is enormous. We have much, much more to say about it than the few locations we've already shared. If there's something you wish Arcadia had that you haven't seen, keep in mind you haven't seen all of it!

[zimmerwald1915]

I'm in it for the map. How is the map?

[Yakman]

i would have gone overboard for a far more awful Aztec blood sacrifice demon worshiping society. Which is hinted at, and which, were I to ever do anything with, I would go hardcore into. in my personal campaign, i would have no noble savages, just death cults.

but as it is, pretty good stuff.

Personally, I would like for Arcadia to NEVER be covered by Paizo.

[keftiu]

Yakman wrote:

i would have gone overboard for a far more awful Aztec blood sacrifice demon worshiping society. Which is hinted at, and which, were I to ever do anything with, I would go hardcore into. in my personal campaign, i would have no noble savages, just death cults.

but as it is, pretty good stuff.

Personally, I would like for Arcadia to NEVER be covered by Paizo.

Take a second and think about "I want the setting's indigenous/latinx representation to be stereotypical jungle murderers."

[The Shifty Mongoose]

As a random real-life aside, the Mayans had flushing toilets and sediment filtration.

Though back to the topic at hand: when it comes to evil societies in Arcadia, I would like to see more about what syrinx civilization is like. Would PCs be able to successfully bargain with a parliament of philosopher-monarchs, or would they consider you to all be tough and stupid for lacking natural flight? Are there populations of syrinx who aren't eternally snooty?

[zimmerwald1915]

The Shifty Mongoose wrote:

Are there populations of syrinx who aren't eternally snooty?

Probably. There are populations of elves who aren't and apparently all the returned Thassilonians will be curious and open-minded rather than haughty and snobbish.

[NotBothered]

Ron Lundeen wrote:

Arcadia is enormous. We have much, much more to say about it than the few locations we've already shared. If there's something you wish Arcadia had that you haven't seen, keep in mind you haven't seen all of it!

So there is still hope for a Native American part of Arcadia then. You have reinvigorated my interest good sir

[zimmerwald1915]

NotBothered wrote:

Ron Lundeen wrote:

Arcadia is enormous. We have much, much more to say about it than the few locations we've already shared. If there's something you wish Arcadia had that you haven't seen, keep in mind you haven't seen all of it!

So there is still hope for a Native American part of Arcadia then. You have reinvigorated my interest good sir

. . . considering that that term applies to all pre-Columbian inhabitants of both American continents, in other words, to a span of tens of thousands of years and millions of square miles, congratulations, you've gotten your wish.

Did you have anything more specific in mind?

[Yakman]

keftiu wrote:

Yakman wrote:

i would have gone overboard for a far more awful Aztec blood sacrifice demon worshiping society. Which is hinted at, and which, were I to ever do anything with, I would go hardcore into. in my personal campaign, i would have no noble savages, just death cults.

but as it is, pretty good stuff.

Personally, I would like for Arcadia to NEVER be covered by Paizo.

Take a second and think about "I want the setting's indigenous/latinx representation to be stereotypical jungle murderers."

yup.

[NotBothered]

zimmerwald1915 wrote:

NotBothered wrote:

Ron Lundeen wrote:

Arcadia is enormous. We have much, much more to say about it than the few locations we've already shared. If there's something you wish Arcadia had that you haven't seen, keep in mind you haven't seen all of it!

So there is still hope for a Native American part of Arcadia then. You have reinvigorated my interest good sir

. . . considering that that term applies to all pre-Columbian inhabitants of both American continents, in other words, to a span of tens of thousands of years and millions of square miles, congratulations, you've gotten your wish.

Did you have anything more specific in mind?

Why yes I did, thank you for asking.

I am hoping for a setting that features an expy of the native people of what is now the USA and also southern Canada, but stopping short of the area that now comprises Central America.

Also well done for working out that America, which is how the USA is commonly referred to abroad, can also be misconstrued to mean the entire continent for pedantic purposes although sadly not amusing ones.

[Voltron64]

I hope that the various indigenous peoples of America are treated respectfully in their analogues in Arcadia.

As well as filled with the same amount of batshit crazy that makes up the fantasy kitchen sink that is Golarion.

[MMCJawa]

Xopatl is more Maya than Aztec (They ARE different cultures). Razaltan (sp?) seems perhaps closer to the Aztec empire analog.

I was pretty happy with the amount of info they jammed in there...definitely one of hte best backmatter sections

[Luis Loza]

It warms my heart to see people liking the Xopatl gazetteer. I had a lot of fun writing it and would love to dive back into Arcadia as soon as they'll let me!

[Voltron64]

MMCJawa wrote:

Xopatl is more Maya than Aztec (They ARE different cultures). Razaltan (sp?) seems perhaps closer to the Aztec empire analog.

I was pretty happy with the amount of info they jammed in there...definitely one of the best backmatter sections

And the name alone lets me think Razatlan was one of the successors states of the Azlanti post-Earthfall ala Taldor.

[keftiu]

Luis Loza wrote:

It warms my heart to see people liking the Xopatl gazetteer. I had a lot of fun writing it and would love to dive back into Arcadia as soon as they'll let me!

Should you ever need someone for a game set there - or heaven forbid, an AP - I’m here!

Kinda dying to make a “various factions are trying to rig the ball game championship” scenario.

[The Shifty Mongoose]

Luis Loza wrote:

It warms my heart to see people liking the Xopatl gazetteer. I had a lot of fun writing it and would love to dive back into Arcadia as soon as they'll let me!

They had better let you back in soon. That stuff was great, and I, like the many others, am eager to read more about it!

[Yakman]

OK, so I am trying to get this AP up and running, and re-read Book 5.

I like the general idea: send the PCs to the exotic origin point of the obols.

It takes them out of Lastwall, throws some non Tar Baphon stuff at them, and gives them a chance to gear up.

But obviously, there are issues with going to Arcadia, including teleport spells and coming back to Lastwall.

So... I am thinking, and bear with me:

Spoiler:

A kumaru tree grew in Eox.

Yes, Eox, the dead world.

What if Arazni was Eoxian (or in Starfinder parlance, Elebrian). And Aroden came to Eox prior to its disaster, and did everything the same.

The PCs, instead of going to Arcadia, are instead sent to Eox. They roughly have the same adventure, but instead of jungles, it’s radioactive wasteland. Maybe the bitterness towards Aroden is he did something to take away Eox’s ability to recover from the disaster which killed it.

Arazni is now not the lost daughter of a thriving society-she’s the lost daughter of a dead one, peopled by ghosts, liches, and shadows. The PCs can meet immortal undead who have direct connections to her and Aroden.

Plus it shows the party what Golarion will look like if the Whispering Tyrant succeeds.

I dunno... thoughts?

I like the Arcadia flavor, and would probably put a lot of the material into the new location, but with attendant changes.

[rkotitan]

I made a lot of changes (mostly additions) to book 5 but I also kind of made it the center of my campaign. I'm excited to see how they play out with my players. I kind of amped up a Mayan flavor (playing off some college studies).

[King of Vrock]

I'm converting a lot of the Arcadia material from 2e Gears & Guns, especially beast gunners. I have a steelhound investigator/ graveslinger so having some more firearm wielding opponents is nice. My players are also Mythic so they quickly start being called Yan/Yanti by the denizens of Jolizpan as they interact with the encounters during the Festival of Flowers. I'm adding beast guns to the monster hunters that are said to live on the outskirts of the city across the canal. They're asking for more and more payment from the city and they find someone willing to pay their fees (The Children of Kamaru).

--FlintVrock Muskets