The Forgotten Realms aesthetic [Archive] - Wizards Community

The Forgotten Realms aesthetic [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Selk
07-26-07, 04:09 PM Hello. Long time lurker, first time poster.

I've just recently gotten back into D&D, and I'm glad to see that my favorite setting is still chugging along with, apparently, a solid group of cantankerous proponents. Sweet.

As a regular GM, I'm obsessed with the using cultural aesthetics as a way to ornament a campaign. The unique architecture, clothing, customs and diet of a village/dale/kingdom are fascinating to me, and I want to share that fascination with my players. What made the Lord of the Rings such an immersive movie was the deft production design - the consistency of cultural elements, above and beyond the mishmash of most fantasy entertainment. Like Xena ::shudder::

I'd like to bring that same attention to my Forgotten Realms game, but the art design in the books leave me a little confused. It's a hodgepodge of Renaissance clothing, medieval city design, wacky-cool armor and goofy pop culture details ('tribal' tatoos and bikinis with pockets) without any real notion of what people look like from region to region. Basically, their culture seems to be expressed primarily in the dominant prestige class.

Do you guys have a strong mental image of what the populace looks like from region to region. Say, can you spot the difference between a Sembian and Cormyr(ian?) farmer? Or a noble lady from Amn or Calimshan? How do the temples of Lathander in Waterdeep differ from those in Thesk?

Stuff like that. Just curious how you go about it.
Smilin_Bandit
07-26-07, 04:40 PM The Volo's guides are very helpful in determining these things. For instance, Sembia and Cormyr being so close together, along with the Dales, are very similar in design and cultural thinking. Their clothing is similar to that of the rennaisance and the people are down to earth and ready with a helping hand with their neighbors, well some of their neighbors. Along with being so close together, they've also built up quite a few animosities towards one another. Rumor mongering is common with these folks and the nobles tend to be some of the most uppity self righteous SOB's in the realms.

Much of the culture along the sword coast and the north is completely different. The people there are more rugged and less likely to stand around gossiping. They are respectful of their neighbors as long as their neighbors show them the same curtesy, however their not about to sit idly by and let past transgressions go unanswered, and these folks have long memories. Their dress is much more risque along the coast and the north. In Waterdeep it's common to see noble women in some of the raciest fashion that can be seen throughout the realms. During the colder months they will bundle up heavily showing very little exposed skin, but during the summer, the slow striptease begins!

Lantan and Halruaa are very secretive and its people tend to be stand offish. They guard every bit of themselves as they can, just like any respectable spell slinger should.

The most different, in my opinion would be the people of Calimshan. They believe that the higher in status that they are within their society, the farther they should be seperated from those of lower station. In particular, in Calimport the city is filled with towering buildings, bridges and ramps and catwalks spiderwebbing between their neighboring buildings. The higher in status, the higher the resident will place themselves from the dirty muck of the ground level. This is a place for beggars and slaves and not a place for a respectable socialite.
It is also a common practice, that if one has a guest, that they are to be treated as royalty within that home during their stay. The head of the house is more likely to throw his own daughter to the wolves in an attempt to protect a guest than to dishonor his and his families name by shunning their guest.

Their dress is similar to that of that seen in old Sinbad movies and Aladin and his magical lamp. Robes and gowns, vests and leggings made from fine silks and shear billowing cloths are the dress of the day. Due to the heat these clothes can be somewhat risque as well, but in keeping cool they must also be made to protect the skin from the relentless sun.

I hope some of these help. In most of the sourcebooks it will describe the cultural habits and styles for the region the book covers.

~Smilin_Bandit~ :D
Faraer
07-26-07, 05:53 PM Hi, Selk.

The art and art direction in the latest books doesn't, as far as I can tell, attempt to maintain any detailed continuity of design. I would mostly ignore it. The most Realms-accurate art is probably that of Valerie Valusek and Ned Dameron from 10+ years ago. But recent written works -- sourcebooks, novels and short stories, web articles such as "Realmslore" (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/archfr/rl) and Ed Greenwood's staggering contributions (http://www.candlekeep.com/library/articles/sse/so_saith_ed.htm) posted to Candlekeep.com -- continue to add piecemeal to our picture of how the Realms looks.

I go about it by paying attention, taking notes, and making stuff up to fill in gaps.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Selk 07-26-07, 04:09 PM	Hello. Long time lurker, first time poster. I've just recently gotten back into D&D, and I'm glad to see that my favorite setting is still chugging along with, apparently, a solid group of cantankerous proponents. Sweet. As a regular GM, I'm obsessed with the using cultural aesthetics as a way to ornament a campaign. The unique architecture, clothing, customs and diet of a village/dale/kingdom are fascinating to me, and I want to share that fascination with my players. What made the Lord of the Rings such an immersive movie was the deft production design - the consistency of cultural elements, above and beyond the mishmash of most fantasy entertainment. Like Xena ::shudder:: I'd like to bring that same attention to my Forgotten Realms game, but the art design in the books leave me a little confused. It's a hodgepodge of Renaissance clothing, medieval city design, wacky-cool armor and goofy pop culture details ('tribal' tatoos and bikinis with pockets) without any real notion of what people look like from region to region. Basically, their culture seems to be expressed primarily in the dominant prestige class. Do you guys have a strong mental image of what the populace looks like from region to region. Say, can you spot the difference between a Sembian and Cormyr(ian?) farmer? Or a noble lady from Amn or Calimshan? How do the temples of Lathander in Waterdeep differ from those in Thesk? Stuff like that. Just curious how you go about it.
Smilin_Bandit 07-26-07, 04:40 PM	The Volo's guides are very helpful in determining these things. For instance, Sembia and Cormyr being so close together, along with the Dales, are very similar in design and cultural thinking. Their clothing is similar to that of the rennaisance and the people are down to earth and ready with a helping hand with their neighbors, well some of their neighbors. Along with being so close together, they've also built up quite a few animosities towards one another. Rumor mongering is common with these folks and the nobles tend to be some of the most uppity self righteous SOB's in the realms. Much of the culture along the sword coast and the north is completely different. The people there are more rugged and less likely to stand around gossiping. They are respectful of their neighbors as long as their neighbors show them the same curtesy, however their not about to sit idly by and let past transgressions go unanswered, and these folks have long memories. Their dress is much more risque along the coast and the north. In Waterdeep it's common to see noble women in some of the raciest fashion that can be seen throughout the realms. During the colder months they will bundle up heavily showing very little exposed skin, but during the summer, the slow striptease begins! Lantan and Halruaa are very secretive and its people tend to be stand offish. They guard every bit of themselves as they can, just like any respectable spell slinger should. The most different, in my opinion would be the people of Calimshan. They believe that the higher in status that they are within their society, the farther they should be seperated from those of lower station. In particular, in Calimport the city is filled with towering buildings, bridges and ramps and catwalks spiderwebbing between their neighboring buildings. The higher in status, the higher the resident will place themselves from the dirty muck of the ground level. This is a place for beggars and slaves and not a place for a respectable socialite. It is also a common practice, that if one has a guest, that they are to be treated as royalty within that home during their stay. The head of the house is more likely to throw his own daughter to the wolves in an attempt to protect a guest than to dishonor his and his families name by shunning their guest. Their dress is similar to that of that seen in old Sinbad movies and Aladin and his magical lamp. Robes and gowns, vests and leggings made from fine silks and shear billowing cloths are the dress of the day. Due to the heat these clothes can be somewhat risque as well, but in keeping cool they must also be made to protect the skin from the relentless sun. I hope some of these help. In most of the sourcebooks it will describe the cultural habits and styles for the region the book covers. ~Smilin_Bandit~ :D
Faraer 07-26-07, 05:53 PM	Hi, Selk. The art and art direction in the latest books doesn't, as far as I can tell, attempt to maintain any detailed continuity of design. I would mostly ignore it. The most Realms-accurate art is probably that of Valerie Valusek and Ned Dameron from 10+ years ago. But recent written works -- sourcebooks, novels and short stories, web articles such as "Realmslore" (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/archfr/rl) and Ed Greenwood's staggering contributions (http://www.candlekeep.com/library/articles/sse/so_saith_ed.htm) posted to Candlekeep.com -- continue to add piecemeal to our picture of how the Realms looks. I go about it by paying attention, taking notes, and making stuff up to fill in gaps.