Eberron Accents [Archive] - Wizards Community

Eberron Accents [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lanodantheon
05-16-07, 03:52 PM In running a D&D Game, every DM likes to personalize their world and fill it with NPC's that each sound distinctive. One way is to use accents and to give accents based on race and region for NPC's and PC's sometimes. Blizzard's World of Warcraft even takes it to a whole other level with their races. We all know the cliche British/Welsh Elves, Scottish Dwarves and American Humans. But, what about Eberron's acoustic atmosphere?

I wonder, what are the Khorvairian Accents? The Xendrik Accents? How do you make the regions sound distinctive if at all>
Not only that, what accents do you use for a serious game and which do you use for a more laid-back, Gygaxian Game? Take into account, Eberron is Pulp Noir.

In my Eberron game when the party went to Stormreach, the Dwarven Guards were German/German-Scottish in their sound. It was a prison for goodness sake. "Papers, please?"

More specifically, what are the accents for the major regions, the 5 Nations and the Dragonmarked Houses?
Nived
05-16-07, 04:09 PM Darth Syntax is going to have a field day with this, methinks.

Personally though, while I do try to give a personal 'voice' to NPCs, I stray away from stereotypical regional dialects and focus more on that particular NPCs mannerisms.

If I need say a gruff halfling from the plains, he speaks with a gravelly voice with short sentances. Not because "That's how halflings from the plains talk," but because "That's how HE talks".

Probably because I don't think I could keep regional accents consistant on the fly.

Other than the Aundairians sounding French.... they just do.
Kryptonian Scion
05-16-07, 05:39 PM In my group we've given a eastern European accent to the Karrnathi - generally a blend of the stereotypical Transylvanian or Romani accent, along with a somewhat soft Russian accent.

Oddly, the rest of the WORLD in our campaign has absolutely no accent. Kind of lame, really. I'll need to work on that.
Rechan
05-16-07, 05:47 PM Q'Barra, at least New Galifar, is a Louisiana accent.

Come on. Swampy jungle, big ol' gators, pirates and the like? It's pure NAWLINS. Throw a Voodoo shaman in there and you have it.
garner_adam
05-16-07, 06:42 PM I've been playing for a long time with this feel.

Breland: French
Aundarian: German
Karrnath: Russian
Thrane: Spanish
Cyre: English
Darguuni: Japanese/Oriental
Valenar: Middle Eastern

It's been working very well. My players immediately gather just from voice, name, and mannerisms where the NPC is probably from. I use a site called http://www.behindthename.com/ to help me with this endeavor.
Kinger
05-16-07, 06:44 PM I may be the only one to do this, but the Shadow Marches dialect is mixed prominently with Orcish, and the result is an oddly rhastafarian accent. "Mon" in Orcish translates to "Friend," and is generally used to refer to anyone you hold no nasty grudges against. "Hey mon, no problem" etc.

Shut up. I know Warcraft does that with trolls. I happen to like my rhastafarian half-orc Druid, Bison Run Thunderous, thank-you-very-much.

While I haven't associated accents with the Five Nations, yet, I have given some mannerisms. Karrnathi are typically curt, direct, and to-the-point. No need to mince words. Brelish, on the other hand, are out-of-their-way friendly, with a tendancy towards unintentional arrogance "Welcome to Breland, greatest nation in the world!" Gnomes? Zil gnomes just love to talk. A lot. About nothing in particular. It's a ploy to make others do the same, giving them more chance to hear something juicy.
PrincessMark
05-16-07, 07:38 PM Breland: American
Aundair: English
Karrnath: German/Transylvanian
Thrane: No Accent
Zilargo: Bad Italian Mobsters! XD
Cyre: Russian
Valenar: Middle Eastern.
Lhazaar Principilites: Jack Sparrow :rolleyes:

The accents in my Eberron came about due to the nature of my first campaign. Some of the BBEG's they faced were stylised on "Metal Gear Solid" badguys, and as such had their distinctive accents.

The others just sort of happened from the very tounge-in-cheek games I run.

The LoBster also sounded like Megatron (Transformers) and I made one of his minions sound like Starscream (Transformers) for a bit of a giggle. :D

As I said, very tounge-in-cheek games. :P
Phobos
05-18-07, 12:55 PM Everyone in my Eberron world has a poor William Wallace Scottish accent, even the warforged!

Cuz that's only accent I can do well.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lanodantheon 05-16-07, 03:52 PM	In running a D&D Game, every DM likes to personalize their world and fill it with NPC's that each sound distinctive. One way is to use accents and to give accents based on race and region for NPC's and PC's sometimes. Blizzard's World of Warcraft even takes it to a whole other level with their races. We all know the cliche British/Welsh Elves, Scottish Dwarves and American Humans. But, what about Eberron's acoustic atmosphere? I wonder, what are the Khorvairian Accents? The Xendrik Accents? How do you make the regions sound distinctive if at all> Not only that, what accents do you use for a serious game and which do you use for a more laid-back, Gygaxian Game? Take into account, Eberron is Pulp Noir. In my Eberron game when the party went to Stormreach, the Dwarven Guards were German/German-Scottish in their sound. It was a prison for goodness sake. "Papers, please?" More specifically, what are the accents for the major regions, the 5 Nations and the Dragonmarked Houses?
Nived 05-16-07, 04:09 PM	Darth Syntax is going to have a field day with this, methinks. Personally though, while I do try to give a personal 'voice' to NPCs, I stray away from stereotypical regional dialects and focus more on that particular NPCs mannerisms. If I need say a gruff halfling from the plains, he speaks with a gravelly voice with short sentances. Not because "That's how halflings from the plains talk," but because "That's how HE talks". Probably because I don't think I could keep regional accents consistant on the fly. Other than the Aundairians sounding French.... they just do.
Kryptonian Scion 05-16-07, 05:39 PM	In my group we've given a eastern European accent to the Karrnathi - generally a blend of the stereotypical Transylvanian or Romani accent, along with a somewhat soft Russian accent. Oddly, the rest of the WORLD in our campaign has absolutely no accent. Kind of lame, really. I'll need to work on that.
Rechan 05-16-07, 05:47 PM	Q'Barra, at least New Galifar, is a Louisiana accent. Come on. Swampy jungle, big ol' gators, pirates and the like? It's pure NAWLINS. Throw a Voodoo shaman in there and you have it.
garner_adam 05-16-07, 06:42 PM	I've been playing for a long time with this feel. Breland: French Aundarian: German Karrnath: Russian Thrane: Spanish Cyre: English Darguuni: Japanese/Oriental Valenar: Middle Eastern It's been working very well. My players immediately gather just from voice, name, and mannerisms where the NPC is probably from. I use a site called http://www.behindthename.com/ to help me with this endeavor.
Kinger 05-16-07, 06:44 PM	I may be the only one to do this, but the Shadow Marches dialect is mixed prominently with Orcish, and the result is an oddly rhastafarian accent. "Mon" in Orcish translates to "Friend," and is generally used to refer to anyone you hold no nasty grudges against. "Hey mon, no problem" etc. Shut up. I know Warcraft does that with trolls. I happen to like my rhastafarian half-orc Druid, Bison Run Thunderous, thank-you-very-much. While I haven't associated accents with the Five Nations, yet, I have given some mannerisms. Karrnathi are typically curt, direct, and to-the-point. No need to mince words. Brelish, on the other hand, are out-of-their-way friendly, with a tendancy towards unintentional arrogance "Welcome to Breland, greatest nation in the world!" Gnomes? Zil gnomes just love to talk. A lot. About nothing in particular. It's a ploy to make others do the same, giving them more chance to hear something juicy.
PrincessMark 05-16-07, 07:38 PM	Breland: American Aundair: English Karrnath: German/Transylvanian Thrane: No Accent Zilargo: Bad Italian Mobsters! XD Cyre: Russian Valenar: Middle Eastern. Lhazaar Principilites: Jack Sparrow :rolleyes: The accents in my Eberron came about due to the nature of my first campaign. Some of the BBEG's they faced were stylised on "Metal Gear Solid" badguys, and as such had their distinctive accents. The others just sort of happened from the very tounge-in-cheek games I run. The LoBster also sounded like Megatron (Transformers) and I made one of his minions sound like Starscream (Transformers) for a bit of a giggle. :D As I said, very tounge-in-cheek games. :P
Phobos 05-18-07, 12:55 PM	Everyone in my Eberron world has a poor William Wallace Scottish accent, even the warforged! Cuz that's only accent I can do well.