Cultue, Traits, and Evolution
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:35 am
The one thing that has remained constant across the many iterations of the meta-plot is the culture of the many peoples of the diaspora. However, they have often found themselves pushed in different directions than they originally were situated in in the base BR setting. So, one idea I thought I might float would be considering revising some of the human cultural trait values between this game and the next one to reflect how cultures have grown and changed in the thousands of years we have covered in the meta-plot. It could be that we revise what gets the +1 and the -1, or we could add in a second pair of +1/-1 to reflect how the cultures have changed. Or, alternately, it could be that we reflect that idea by humans starting with one or two NWPs depending on their culture, since humans don't otherwise get racial traits like the non-human races. For example, if most of the Basarji wind up living in mountains, maybe mountaineering becomes a cultural trait for Basarji in the next game, or swimming for Brechts if they mostly live on islands.
Related to this idea, I thought that at least some non-human races (especially goblins) might also see a similar evolution, especially given their shorter lifespans. At the very least, I think we've seen at least a nod towards two distinct goblinoid cultures at different times - Skelk-like warrior goblins and the more cultured Rhyelian goblins. Perhaps some goblin communities could be evolving towards being hobgoblins or something like that?
Finally, when talking about ancient languages, we tend to focus on human languages. However, I think it would make sense to have at least a few non-human ancient languages. Draconic could possibly be seen as an ancient language by this time. But, I think some PC races could also have ancient languages, like goblin for sure and maybe gnollish if it has a written component. Elves might even have ancient languages by this time, like Seelie and Unseelie, and halflings could have Cellwair as an ancient language if it's not something widely spoken by halflings today.
Just tossing out a few ideas that came to me before I forget them.
Related to this idea, I thought that at least some non-human races (especially goblins) might also see a similar evolution, especially given their shorter lifespans. At the very least, I think we've seen at least a nod towards two distinct goblinoid cultures at different times - Skelk-like warrior goblins and the more cultured Rhyelian goblins. Perhaps some goblin communities could be evolving towards being hobgoblins or something like that?
Finally, when talking about ancient languages, we tend to focus on human languages. However, I think it would make sense to have at least a few non-human ancient languages. Draconic could possibly be seen as an ancient language by this time. But, I think some PC races could also have ancient languages, like goblin for sure and maybe gnollish if it has a written component. Elves might even have ancient languages by this time, like Seelie and Unseelie, and halflings could have Cellwair as an ancient language if it's not something widely spoken by halflings today.
Just tossing out a few ideas that came to me before I forget them.