when I talk about what I would do, it is based on an audience profile that would want it. And if I did a world that started with Loa who were meant to be Loa, most of the above wouldn’t exist. Probably. Because all of it is based in the core setting my examples are poor, meant to show a way to avoid certain risks that often come of such work. Mix well, as the package says.
No worries. My point isn't to be a real criticism of the issue at hand, only a demonstration of the how the pitfalls and the whole Luke 6:41-46 verse problem that a lot of this suffers from.
The whole voodoo thing is interesting in itself, and I remember 20 years ago, picking up a book in high school about the African religions associated with "witch doctors". It was truly a fascinating read, and though just as American as you, Africa is a HUGE and diverse continent, it's a weird sticking point for me, because a lot of people in the US of various racial backgrounds, still tend to think of Africa as a unified black nation still lost in time, when there's egypt, the ivory coast, south Africa... You have Morocco and Uganda, and they're vastly different from Chad. And then to compound that with the fact that these nations are in fact very 20th century and a lot of people in the world are looking to towards the continent for the next china.
It's.... interesting to say the least.
So, my paternal grandmother was Malian, my paternal grandfather was Lakota (Sioux).
That study I mentioned I just finished? For Sudan. I am not a "deepest, darkest Africa" sort, lol, and while I have never walked in the Sudan, I have walked in the Sahara, traded tales of the nommo, and learned the arts of one of my many heritages and what my role is.
Part of the reason that I put a shaman in was that one of my longest term players -- whom I have had as a player since my very first time DMing in 1979 -- asked me to do something akin to my role when I do visit "home". Since that word is in quotes because I have three sides to reconcile, it gets interesting with the whole finding a path.
I am most familiar, intimately, with Dogon traditions, and Yoruba (which is where about 70% of the non-christianized basis for Vodou comes from) and igbo are familiar. Hausa gets a bit dicey, but is ok. I really fail once you get to the more isolative cultural groups, but having at least a familiarity with Hausa and Yoruba gives me a good in among all of it (as well as the varietals of islam, of course, and the SB training always comes in handy, even if I am never going to be ordained, lol).
I know Africa well. I can no longer name all the nations, but I can usually do a run through on the top 15 cultures and their distinctions, lol.
I can say the same of South America, but only down to the pampas regions -- much of southern SA is out of my AoE. I have a deep knowledge of about 90 southern Pacific/Indian ocean populations because of my work in 'Nesian cultures. I am worse than most when it comes to everything north of malaysia, south of Nepal, east of India, and west of China, lol. So not uite all of SE Asia, but the bulk of it. Those I leave to some colleagues. I have a bit more than passable knowledge on crossroads nations, and I am familiar with the Steppe regions that flow into the Cradle regions. Weak on Slavic, strong on Danube. Pinay is out of my area.
In short, yeah, I've got the stuff to do it, but I am not foolish enough to think i am anything but an USian -- a term for Americans that is equal parts critical and declaratory.
And all of it (except my specific skill in predictive modeling) is directly a result of my playing D&D and being the person of complex background and nature that I am. More D&D since I used the creation of fictional worlds as my base motivation -- figuring out why people were so damn mean was secondary.
Funny enough, I have historically avoided using Egyptian anything. I have a strange aversion to all of it -- despite my original sponsor at the UN being a member of the Egyptian delegation, lol. I am not well versed in their current cultural state, and I never went pre-ptolemaic in my history beyond basic core timeline stuff. I will use Nubian, but not egyptian. Only just realized that now.
No worries, you're far more versed than i am, and it wasn't about attacking you personally. It's just that it's a common complaint that certain areas are monoliths, and we all have that habit to "reduce to familiarity". "Offensive" is also a tricky thing to gauge, and for the most part is a matter of intent and interpreted intent.
Egyptian is kind of old hat. Or at least it feels such as it's one that's been mined well. Along with greek and roman and Norse... Norse lately though codes, and I have a VERY strong aversion for what it codes for. Even with my blonde hair and blue eyes, I want nothing to do with that s***. I'm a brain in a meat suit, and my life and my friends and my family are filled with nothing but people whom wouldn't be included.
Religions are an area of study I personally enjoy, as is just general philosophy. Kirkegaard nut through and through. Same with Hume. And reading. Lots of reading... Maybe one day actually writing, but for now just inspiration for campaigns.
Since many changes have been reverted, and now a book is planned with hardly any improvements or changes, I don't care if it comes out or not. I don't think I'll buy it. Maybe I'll buy the DMG or MM if they're worth it, but PHB looks like it's going to be the one we already have with a few minor changes. Buying that means wanting to spend money foolishly, or for collecting purposes.
We better be able to RAW choose between the 2014 version or the 2024 version, even in AL
if I want to be the party support/healer as a sorcerer at level 1 I should have the option to be a divine soul sorcerer at level 1 and have access to healing spells and support spells
We better be able to RAW choose between the 2014 version or the 2024 version, even in AL
if I want to be the party support/healer as a sorcerer at level 1 I should have the option to be a divine soul sorcerer at level 1 and have access to healing spells and support spells
You can already do this. You can play 3.5 just as easily as you can play 5e. Other than that, magic initiate is a first level feat you can get any first level spell you want and use your slots for it and cast it once without a slot.
And folks are goin to pitch a fit when they find out they can’t use DDB for 5e, because they will change the entire site out to support 5.5e, and while I love a good argument, that is going to make me roll my eyes.
Fortunately, by then I will be swimming in my new campaign and won’t have nearly as much time to spend on the forums.
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Only a DM since 1980 (2000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA
I think the appropriate response to this new edition is, the more things change the more they stay the same.
At the end of the day, the only driver for decisions so far as Wizards of the Coast is concerned are about making money. They don't give a squirt about the player base, the game itself, "inclusivity" or any other claim they have ever made. They want your money, it's all that matters, its all they think about, its all that drives decisions, there is nothing else. Money... period. End of story.
Seems like a series of modest improvements, so while I'm not super enthused I think it will be fine and assuming we(my gaming group, we) stick with D&D we will use it.
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No worries, you're far more versed than i am, and it wasn't about attacking you personally. It's just that it's a common complaint that certain areas are monoliths, and we all have that habit to "reduce to familiarity". "Offensive" is also a tricky thing to gauge, and for the most part is a matter of intent and interpreted intent.
Egyptian is kind of old hat. Or at least it feels such as it's one that's been mined well. Along with greek and roman and Norse... Norse lately though codes, and I have a VERY strong aversion for what it codes for. Even with my blonde hair and blue eyes, I want nothing to do with that s***. I'm a brain in a meat suit, and my life and my friends and my family are filled with nothing but people whom wouldn't be included.
Religions are an area of study I personally enjoy, as is just general philosophy. Kirkegaard nut through and through. Same with Hume. And reading. Lots of reading... Maybe one day actually writing, but for now just inspiration for campaigns.
Since many changes have been reverted, and now a book is planned with hardly any improvements or changes, I don't care if it comes out or not.
I don't think I'll buy it. Maybe I'll buy the DMG or MM if they're worth it, but PHB looks like it's going to be the one we already have with a few minor changes. Buying that means wanting to spend money foolishly, or for collecting purposes.
i am just going to say
We better be able to RAW choose between the 2014 version or the 2024 version, even in AL
if I want to be the party support/healer as a sorcerer at level 1 I should have the option to be a divine soul sorcerer at level 1 and have access to healing spells and support spells
You can already do this. You can play 3.5 just as easily as you can play 5e. Other than that, magic initiate is a first level feat you can get any first level spell you want and use your slots for it and cast it once without a slot.
It is soooo going to end being called 5.5.
And folks are goin to pitch a fit when they find out they can’t use DDB for 5e, because they will change the entire site out to support 5.5e, and while I love a good argument, that is going to make me roll my eyes.
Fortunately, by then I will be swimming in my new campaign and won’t have nearly as much time to spend on the forums.
Only a DM since 1980 (2000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA
Wyrlde.com
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Not Talking About It / Dubbed The Oracle in the Cult of Mythology Nerds
I think the appropriate response to this new edition is, the more things change the more they stay the same.
At the end of the day, the only driver for decisions so far as Wizards of the Coast is concerned are about making money. They don't give a squirt about the player base, the game itself, "inclusivity" or any other claim they have ever made. They want your money, it's all that matters, its all they think about, its all that drives decisions, there is nothing else. Money... period. End of story.
Seems like a series of modest improvements, so while I'm not super enthused I think it will be fine and assuming we(my gaming group, we) stick with D&D we will use it.