I posted a summary of what’s happening with Narosia over on the Narosia FB page for any who are interested.
Narosia has always had a focus on culture as part of the character background, and that hasn’t changed. However, the concept of race is gone in its entirety. The wonderful thing: I don’t miss it.
The other major change involves the history of Narosia. The colonizer/savior narrative is gone, and good riddance. The history is cleaner and stronger for it.
I have long been a fan of gender-neutral language. That is now found throughout. More than that however, I am incorporating this idea within the cultures and the cosmology. In a world defined by fluid magic, why would anything be sexist by default? Some of the gods are female, some male, but about half just aren’t. Why would they be? When culture assumes equality, why would your terms of authority necessarily incorporate gender identity. For example, a Grand Regent is the monarch of the Regency of Agthor. How is that not more fantastic than the King of the Kingdom of Agthor? I love it, and I hope fans of Narosia will too.
As I have been re-imagining this, it’s been refreshing and wonderful. Will I get it right? I certainly hope so, but I don’t assume I will. Before we go to publication I will have other eyes on it, professional and lay. I already have my daughters reviewing it and so far I haven’t gotten any “get it together, old man” glares (yet).
Social media warning: none of this is up for debate. If your reaction to this is anger or condescension: go be you somewhere else. I would love nothing more than to share with anyone how I got here and what this means for character development and all the other wonderful crunchy bits of RPGs. Any delicate snowflakes that melt in the radiance of a fantasy world celebrating diversity in all its fantastic color can kindly, but with absolutely no respect whatsoever, *ahem* show themselves out.
