I'm currently building a campaign based around the seven deadly sins and their opposites, the seven capital virtues. My players will be chasing the BBEG across several kingdoms based around the virtues, with one of his minions corrupting it with the corresponding sin. I'm having a little trouble thinking of what races to use for each kingdom. Patience I know will be a kingdom of mixed races for two reasons. The first being it's where the game will start so a mixed race kingdom makes it easier for my players to pick whatever races they want. The other reason being that it takes a lot of patience to get along with people different than yourself. Diligence is either going to be dwarves, centaurs, or both. Haven't made up my mind.
The other five though I'm drawing blanks. So what do you think fits each virtue best? Mixing races is acceptable, I'm just trying to streamline a little so it's easier for me to reflect the respective virtues. The sins are much easier for me to plan out, various monsters fit them well enough plus corruption is always easy.
For those who don't know the virtues: Chastity, opposite of Lust Temperance opposite of Gluttony Charity opposite of Greed Diligence opposite of Sloth Kindness opposite of Envy Patience opposite of Wrath Humility opposite of Pride
I'd say humans - for everything - since they're human virtues. They'd be different for dwarves or elves.
But that's kinda unhelpful. Warforged are certainly chaste, tho =)
Maybe halflings are unusually kind?
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
The Eight Virtues of the Avatar are based on Love, Courage, and Truth. Compassion <- Love Honesty <- Truth Valor <- Courage Honor <- Courage, Truth Justice <- Truth, Love Sacrifice <- Love, Courage Spirituality <- Love, Truth, Courage Humility <-
In the time of the Guardian and the Shadowlords, the Virtues became extremist versions that mirrored their opposite in the name of the Virtue, the former version more insidious because people felt righteous than the latter when people knew they were being oppressed.
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Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider. My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong. I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲 “It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
I'm going to be unhelpful, but the real answer is: whichever you want.
The races don't have a set culture. You can define them as you like. If you want to make the Orcs embody temperance, you can. (Even if you stick to the "orcs are violent and warlike" trope, you could absolutely make it work.)
Also, this could very easily stray from "the culture of this kingdom values X" to "all Y are like this", which tends to strain credulity.
I'm going to be unhelpful, but the real answer is: whichever you want.
The races don't have a set culture. You can define them as you like. If you want to make the Orcs embody temperance, you can. (Even if you stick to the "orcs are violent and warlike" trope, you could absolutely make it work.)
Also, this could very easily stray from "the culture of this kingdom values X" to "all Y are like this", which tends to strain credulity.
I'd second this, and also caution against making the kingdoms too one-dimensional. The ideas of charity and kindness would exist in all seven lands, so what exactly makes one of them the Charity Kingdom and another the Kindness Kingdom? Temperance is maybe the only virtue I can see easily building an entire culture around, distinct from its neighbors.
I think, once you have that figured out, which species you want to drop in as the dominant one might be a little clearer to you, or even if you need one dominant group. You might decide, for instance, that the Kindness Kingdom makes more sense if it's split between two traditionally antagonistic species like dwarf and goblin, or that the Humility Kingdom should be just as much a patchwork of peoples as your Patience Kingdom
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Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
A sexless race like warforged seems to miss the point here. I suggest goliaths: as I recall, they don't pair for love or lust, though they experience both, but mate only to further the tribe. If that's not current lore for goliaths then I'm sure it is for some species or other, so go with that.
Temperance opposite of Gluttony
Elves are often characterized by a careful coexistence with nature that endeavors not to take too much.
Charity opposite of Greed
Halflings are known for their generous feasts and communal living.
Diligence opposite of Sloth
Dwarves are usually seen as the most industrious and stubborn species.
Kindness opposite of Envy
Struggling to understand this as separate from charity if I'm being honest. But let's say it's something to do with understanding and acceptance? I don't know that there's a species that particularly embodies this.
Patience opposite of Wrath
Once again, going with a biologically long-lived race seems to miss the point -- I might suggest kobolds, as they have historically had to endure quite a lot and have trouble fighting back due to their size. That they live relatively short lives accentuates the price they pay for patience. I don't think you'd normally imagine a calm, composed kobold, stoically surviving hardship and mistreatment, but that is basically what they do, living in sewers, serving under despotic dragons and so on.
I think it's better to have kingdoms built around the virtues/sins rather than to have races built around the virtues/sins. Racializing it adds an unneeded level of complexity, since the thing that sets the kingdoms apart-- how they behave and what they believe-- is already so different. Humans can be avaricious and giving, dwarves can be prideful and modest, lizardfolk can be wrathful and peaceful. Any sentient being can contain multitudes, so the thing that divides the kingdoms should be their philosophy rather than biology.
Also it's just easier as a DM to have people of any kind from anywhere. No need to tell the dragonborn player character that their grandmother in their backstory who lived in the Punctuality kingdom can't exist because everyone knows dragonborn are eloquent yadda yadda. That's the backstory you want? Cool that works! Less work for you.
I'm currently building a campaign based around the seven deadly sins and their opposites, the seven capital virtues. My players will be chasing the BBEG across several kingdoms based around the virtues, with one of his minions corrupting it with the corresponding sin. I'm having a little trouble thinking of what races to use for each kingdom. Patience I know will be a kingdom of mixed races for two reasons. The first being it's where the game will start so a mixed race kingdom makes it easier for my players to pick whatever races they want. The other reason being that it takes a lot of patience to get along with people different than yourself. Diligence is either going to be dwarves, centaurs, or both. Haven't made up my mind.
The other five though I'm drawing blanks. So what do you think fits each virtue best? Mixing races is acceptable, I'm just trying to streamline a little so it's easier for me to reflect the respective virtues. The sins are much easier for me to plan out, various monsters fit them well enough plus corruption is always easy.
For those who don't know the virtues:
Chastity, opposite of Lust
Temperance opposite of Gluttony
Charity opposite of Greed
Diligence opposite of Sloth
Kindness opposite of Envy
Patience opposite of Wrath
Humility opposite of Pride
I'd say humans - for everything - since they're human virtues. They'd be different for dwarves or elves.
But that's kinda unhelpful. Warforged are certainly chaste, tho =)
Maybe halflings are unusually kind?
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Consider a different lore.
The Eight Virtues of the Avatar are based on Love, Courage, and Truth.
Compassion <- Love
Honesty <- Truth
Valor <- Courage
Honor <- Courage, Truth
Justice <- Truth, Love
Sacrifice <- Love, Courage
Spirituality <- Love, Truth, Courage
Humility <-
The Eight Dungeons and:
Despise (contrasting Compassion)
Destard (contrasting Valor)
Deceit (contrasting Honesty)
Wrong (contrasting Justice)
Shame (contrasting Honor)
Covetous (contrasting Sacrifice)
Hythloth (contrasting Humility)
The Abyss (contrasting Spirituality)
In the time of the Guardian and the Shadowlords, the Virtues became extremist versions that mirrored their opposite in the name of the Virtue, the former version more insidious because people felt righteous than the latter when people knew they were being oppressed.
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider.
My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong.
I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲
“It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
Temperance: Lizardfolk, they are fairly big cold blooded creatures so I imagine they don't' have to eat very often.
Charity: Tabaxi, maybe?
Diligence: Dwarf.
Patience: Tortle
I'm going to be unhelpful, but the real answer is: whichever you want.
The races don't have a set culture. You can define them as you like. If you want to make the Orcs embody temperance, you can. (Even if you stick to the "orcs are violent and warlike" trope, you could absolutely make it work.)
Also, this could very easily stray from "the culture of this kingdom values X" to "all Y are like this", which tends to strain credulity.
It doesn't strain my credulity:
Chastity, opposite of Lust - Dragonborn
Temperance opposite of Gluttony - Elves
Charity opposite of Greed - Halflings
Diligence opposite of Sloth - Dwarves
Kindness opposite of Envy - Half elves
Patience opposite of Wrath - Gnomes
Humility opposite of Pride - Assimar/Tiefling
Thank you for your time and please have a very pleasant day.
I'd second this, and also caution against making the kingdoms too one-dimensional. The ideas of charity and kindness would exist in all seven lands, so what exactly makes one of them the Charity Kingdom and another the Kindness Kingdom? Temperance is maybe the only virtue I can see easily building an entire culture around, distinct from its neighbors.
I think, once you have that figured out, which species you want to drop in as the dominant one might be a little clearer to you, or even if you need one dominant group. You might decide, for instance, that the Kindness Kingdom makes more sense if it's split between two traditionally antagonistic species like dwarf and goblin, or that the Humility Kingdom should be just as much a patchwork of peoples as your Patience Kingdom
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
A sexless race like warforged seems to miss the point here. I suggest goliaths: as I recall, they don't pair for love or lust, though they experience both, but mate only to further the tribe. If that's not current lore for goliaths then I'm sure it is for some species or other, so go with that.
Elves are often characterized by a careful coexistence with nature that endeavors not to take too much.
Halflings are known for their generous feasts and communal living.
Dwarves are usually seen as the most industrious and stubborn species.
Struggling to understand this as separate from charity if I'm being honest. But let's say it's something to do with understanding and acceptance? I don't know that there's a species that particularly embodies this.
Once again, going with a biologically long-lived race seems to miss the point -- I might suggest kobolds, as they have historically had to endure quite a lot and have trouble fighting back due to their size. That they live relatively short lives accentuates the price they pay for patience. I don't think you'd normally imagine a calm, composed kobold, stoically surviving hardship and mistreatment, but that is basically what they do, living in sewers, serving under despotic dragons and so on.
That's a tough one. Idk.
I think it's better to have kingdoms built around the virtues/sins rather than to have races built around the virtues/sins. Racializing it adds an unneeded level of complexity, since the thing that sets the kingdoms apart-- how they behave and what they believe-- is already so different. Humans can be avaricious and giving, dwarves can be prideful and modest, lizardfolk can be wrathful and peaceful. Any sentient being can contain multitudes, so the thing that divides the kingdoms should be their philosophy rather than biology.
Also it's just easier as a DM to have people of any kind from anywhere. No need to tell the dragonborn player character that their grandmother in their backstory who lived in the Punctuality kingdom can't exist because everyone knows dragonborn are eloquent yadda yadda. That's the backstory you want? Cool that works! Less work for you.
If going solely based of their innate, generalized nature and not acquired upbringing / exceptions to the general rule..
Playable Races:
-Firbolgs
-Gnomes
-Halflings
-Tortles
Non-Playable
-Dryads
-Pegasus
-Silver Dragons
These are the races I'd say, would be against all the sins.
Enjoy your slop. I'll be enjoying good products elsewhere.