| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| John Smith |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 01:50:40
Are there any cultures on Toril that are like the North American indian tribes?  |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| The Sage |
Posted - 26 Feb 2009 : 04:44:13
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Then again, as you have pointed out, they could be from Osse. 
Indeed. Perhaps the character of Gunggari [as well as his dizheri], from the Lady of Poison novel, could be interpreted as a reflection of Abber nomadic culture in the Realms.
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| Markustay |
Posted - 26 Feb 2009 : 03:57:55
True, their culture appeared to be an Amalgam of Amerind and Aussie Aboriginie, but visually they looked just like Amerinds.
A visual reference
Note: I didn't post the entire MM entry, because that would be against the ToC - I figure just the old B&W pic a tiny bit of text wouldn't hurt. 
The fact that they're called 'Abber' and that the come from a place of 'moving terrain' makes such an easy (and I'm sure purely coincidental) connection to Abeir. If WotC ever develops Ravenloft (and I'm sure they will - they did take back their license just before the 4e announcment), I can see them saying these guys came from Abeir, and it would be a kinda neat connection between old lore and new (and give Abeir a psuedo-canonical existance in 2e lore).
Then again, as you have pointed out, they could be from Osse. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 26 Feb 2009 : 00:51:52
Actually, as I recall, the Abber nomads are called such because they were initially based on the concept of the Native American peoples and the Australian Aboriginals. Some aspects of their Dreamwalking are very similar to the Aboriginal concept of the Dreamtime as well. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 26 Feb 2009 : 00:10:17
Also - I just remembered (came across, actually) another yesterday - the Abber Nomads. These were VERY Indian-like people living in Ravenloft.
Once again, maybe not exactly what you were looking for, buuuuut...
'Abber' Nomads? They came to Ravenloft from another world - one with strange moving terrain...... sound familiar?  |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 24 Feb 2009 : 00:48:44
Like a few of the others here I think the nomads of the Shaar come pretty close to what you're looking for. |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 23 Feb 2009 : 14:33:34
I found the Dragon article. It is The People in Dragon 205, May '94. There are a few notes on converting to D&D, some kits and a few magical items. It is a bit to generalizing to be of much use to you and the rules are 2ed. The only mention of possible Realmsian connections are the lands to the north of Maztica. Sorry. |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 23 Feb 2009 : 09:48:25
If you want a more or less Dakota, Cheyenne, Comanche etc. (fantasy)based version of native Americans in the Realms I would simply take the Atruaghin Clans and modify them into the area that fits best for your Campaign The Sharans or the Nars if more practical, would then be your best choices. |
| Thauramarth |
Posted - 23 Feb 2009 : 08:18:44
It's been a while since I paged through that tome, but the Nar, as depicted in FR9-Bloodstone Lands always struck me as being similar to the Plains tribes. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 23 Feb 2009 : 05:30:50
The Azupozi were pretty close to Amerinds like your picturing - they lived in southern Anchorme, along the border of Maztica.
I'm assuming your thinking of the generic 'Plains Indian' made famous by Hollywood. The tribes between Maztica proper and the Azupozi were more like the Pueblo-Indians, and one can assume more northern tribes that are forest dwellers (perhaps even the tribes of 'Wild Elves' alluded to in canon are those Forest Tribes).
The Shaarans are also Indian-like, unless you go by the misleading female pics in the SS tome - the Arkaiuns have the 'look' in those illustrations, but I have a feeling a few of them are mixed up (and the're not all that great to begin with, unless you think Halruaan women are 7' tall!) Either way, those would also be more like the traditional 'Plains Indians'. In a Fantasy World, Wood/Wild/Sylvan Elves take the place of tribes of forest-dwelling humans.
Aside from Mystarra (where those Atruaghin Clans come from), you have the Rovers of the Barrens, and the Tiger and Wolf Nomads of Greyhawk. That might not be what your looking for, but if you need a character-concept, you could always say he/she/they stumbled through a portal.
And the primitive Wood-Elves of Krynn were VERY American-Indian looking (with pointy ears). |
| Jamallo Kreen |
Posted - 23 Feb 2009 : 04:10:03
The people of Lopango are depicted as vaguely Amazonian humans (long hair, loincloths, thin reed arrows, etc), Michaca ("the City of Gold") and its surrounding communities are pueblos with a Hopi/Dine-type culture (including secret societies), and the natives of the far northeast are elves who look and act like hysterical European fantasies of Northeast Woodlands Indians -- elves with "Mohawks" -- need I say more?
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| Arion Elenim |
Posted - 23 Feb 2009 : 01:41:56
In that case, I reiterate that the 3.x barbarian seem like what happens when the guys from the Thirteenth Warrior and Dances with Wolves have babies. :)
And I always dug that 3.x gave the barbar so much honor and class...as a class. :D |
| John Smith |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 22:51:04
The type of "Indian" I was referring to was the type like those in the D&D gazeteer "The Atruaghin Clans." I enjoyed that region when I played regular D&D. The classic Indian Chieftain with his large, feathered head-dress/war bonnet. I suppose they would resemble the Cherokee, Huron, Seminole and Wyandot Indians of the USA. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 17:36:08
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
As others have said, that depends on what you mean by the term. Are we talking about hunter/gatherers, fishers, nomads, farmers, small family based groups, large nations etc.?
Right, and the term "North American Indians" covers every Native American culture from the Arctic (Alaska/Canada) down south into Central America. Needless to say, they weren't all the same. |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 16:36:18
quote:
Originally posted by Arion Elenim
I always felt the 3.x barbarian class in general borrowed heavily from the Native American tradition - animal totems, fetishes (as in feathers, etc), warpaint and the like. This differs greatly from the bearded, blonde-haired Germanic or Slavic type barbarian that 2nd edition leaned toward.
Well, the barbarians of 2ed were (outside of the kit in the early handbooks) found in the Complete Barbarians handbook and it contained rules for all kinds of "barbarians" from pure fantasy to earth based versions.
As others have said, that depends on what you mean by the term. Are we talking about hunter/gatherers, fishers, nomads, farmers, small family based groups, large nations etc.?
Culturally some of the forest elves, inhabitants of the Shaar and others share a few traits with some native American peoples. Maztica is to a degree based on South and Middle America, but the northern part of the continent was not detailed as far as I remember.
There was a Dragon article years ago that discussed the subject within the 2ed. There may have been some notes on the Realms there, but I cant remmember and I haven't got the article (or number of the particlar issue9 at hand at the moment. Sorry. |
| ranger_of_the_unicorn_run |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 16:00:44
The Ulutiuns are like Eskimos.
(Side note: your username is very appropriate for this topic.  ) |
| Rabiesbunny |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 03:25:19
The Shaaryan human from Dambrath, Halruaa, Lapaliiya and similar places is, according to the Shining South, appears to share many similarities. |
| Arion Elenim |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 03:17:31
I always felt the 3.x barbarian class in general borrowed heavily from the Native American tradition - animal totems, fetishes (as in feathers, etc), warpaint and the like. This differs greatly from the bearded, blonde-haired Germanic or Slavic type barbarian that 2nd edition leaned toward. |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 02:59:49
The Vil Adanrath in Frostfell, by Mark Sehestedt, have a very native American feel to me.
I have not read anything else about them though. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 02:12:04
quote:
Originally posted by John Smith
Are there any cultures on Toril that are like the North American indian tribes?
Which ones? |
| scererar |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 01:59:57
quote:
Originally posted by John Smith
Are there any cultures on Toril that are like the North American indian tribes?
Maztica was about the closest thing to Indian (Aztec/Mayan) culture in the realms that I am aware of. |
