Potentially offensive content at Port Nyanzaru

huijian

Not saying its outright offensive or anything but I'm not sure having these NPC's doing dua style worship in front of big stone idol is really appropriate.

usernamefatigue

This whole mod is an exercise in cultural appropriation. The gear and fashion is appalling.

cilginordek

As a big stone idol worshipper, I find your post offensive.

zebular

How is that not appropriate when it is appropriate for the culture of Chultan beliefs? Have you read Forgotten Realms source material on Chult and their Deities? What is inappropriate would be relating the fantasy world's lore to the real world and saying something is appalling for appearing similar to any religion on our world. Besides, many religions pay homage to their deity or deities by bending the knee and bowing flatly, both in Realms lore and the Real World. Are these also inappropriate?

What about Valindra? Isn't she inappropriate? (I don't think she is, for she is doing what an evil lich does, just saying.) She laid siege to Neverwinter and kills people en-masse but you find a single NPC appropriately worshipping a sect of neutral/good fictional deities, as depicted in Forgotten Realms lore, to be inappropriate? Strange.

lukejones77

Oh c'mon guys. There's actual, living in Chult that *should not be killed* - Sun Bears !!!

I aggroed 'em, then I ran from them, but they chased me all the way (far away) into a corner.

In the end, I had to..... (sniff).... nevermind.

Haven't been this upset since I got cornered by Owl Bears near the stronghold.

lukejones77

More seriously, I'm afraid I'm completely ignorant of what "hua style" means. It looked very generic to me, and I really suspect that any likeness to any real-world worship is co-incidental.

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greywynd

lukejones77 said:

Oh c'mon guys. There's actual, living in Chult that *should not be killed* - Sun Bears !!!

I aggroed 'em, then I ran from them, but they chased me all the way (far away) into a corner.

In the end, I had to..... (sniff).... nevermind.

Haven't been this upset since I got cornered by Owl Bears near the stronghold.

Lions and tigers and bears, oh, my...

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wickedduck22

It's a game stop bringing your political correct BS into it... we have enough HAMSTER to deal with already.

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wintersmoke

zebular said:

How is that not appropriate when it is appropriate for the culture of Chultan beliefs? Have you read Forgotten Realms source material on Chult and their Deities? What is inappropriate would be relating the fantasy world's lore to the real world and saying something is appalling for appearing similar to any religion on our world. Besides, many religions pay homage to their deity or deities by bending the knee and bowing flatly, both in Realms lore and the Real World. Are these also inappropriate?

What about Valindra? Isn't she inappropriate? (I don't think she is, for she is doing what an evil lich does, just saying.) She laid siege to Neverwinter and kills people en-masse but you find a single NPC appropriately worshipping a sect of neutral/good fictional deities, as depicted in Forgotten Realms lore, to be inappropriate? Strange.

Valindra is not inappropriate.... dat laff do the laugh is just annoying

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greywynd

deldrach said:

@huijian

I can agree with you on the perception taken from the photo but of course as you've read others attempt to justify fantasy and fantasy belief systems by using their personal translation of a fictional book series, which means we should conform and accept them, right?

@zebular

So are you an Anthropologist by trade? I mean you speak as if you've studied other cultures, just curious. I've read a bit myself regarding cultures and religious habits and though there are some that pay homage in the form you speak of, identifying them as "many" is a bit far fetched.

So we should just take any religious practices, say in the Forgotten Realms, and apply real world religions to them and any that practice in a way we don't agree with are "bad/evil"?

Zebular seems to be something of a scholar in the matter of all the D&D worlds.

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greywynd

Be a lot better if people would take the fantasy at face value and not try to inject reality into it.

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urabask

huijian said:

Not saying its outright offensive or anything but I'm not sure having these NPC's doing dua style worship in front of big stone idol is really appropriate.

Islam doesn't really have a monopoly on that pose : \

santralafax

I was hoping for nudity when I saw the word "offensive." Oh well.... squirrel!

time2011

you have got to be kidding me, this is what passes for offensive? if you don't like dont play the content or the game for that matter. don't go making a fuss over what npc does what, this thread should be deleted for this nonsense.

zebular

deldrach said:

@huijian

I can agree with you on the perception taken from the photo but of course as you've read others attempt to justify fantasy and fantasy belief systems by using their personal translation of a fictional book series, which means we should conform and accept them, right?

@zebular

So are you an Anthropologist by trade? I mean you speak as if you've studied other cultures, just curious. I've read a bit myself regarding cultures and religious habits and though there are some that pay homage in the form you speak of, identifying them as "many" is a bit far fetched.

I've studied many religions, cultures, and ways of life for most of my learned life, mainly focusing on ancient practices and beliefs, many of which predate the practice in question in the OP. I don't claim to be a scholar or authority on such knowledge though as I've never taken it as a profession or educational degree. The worship style depicted can be found in a number of other cultural and religious practices all across the world however. Even the practice of Yoga uses the position and movements to and from for a number of reasons.

I will claim scholarly knowledge of the Forgotten Realms though. For I have also studied and DM'd the Forgotten Realms since 1993 and have read nearly everything published by Ed Greenwood. I own almost all 2nd edition source material for the Forgotten Realms as well as a number of 3rd, 4th, and 5th edition products. The Pantheons of the Realms have always played a major role in my Campaign.

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zebular

deldrach said:

Interesting.

Not sure how your material items really have any realivance to the the OP however to each his own.

As I said, many beliefs use that position in the Realms for worship. To example a couple, that worship position has been depicted in numerous source books. Male followers of Lolth often take that position. As well, in Planescape, it can be found as a way to pay homage to Archdevils of the Planes. Not sure how I was not clear. To spell it out, the OP is relating a single Chultan practice to a single Real World practice. I pointed out that there are more than one practices that utilize that position in both The Realms and The Real World. My stated material items were to emphasise against your retort against my knowledge of such.

zebular said:

How is that not appropriate when it is appropriate for the culture of Chultan beliefs? Have you read Forgotten Realms source material on Chult and their Deities? What is inappropriate would be relating the fantasy world's lore to the real world and saying something is appalling for appearing similar to any religion on our world. Besides, many religions pay homage to their deity or deities by bending the knee and bowing flatly, both in Realms lore and the Real World. Are these also inappropriate?

What about Valindra? Isn't she inappropriate? (I don't think she is, for she is doing what an evil lich does, just saying.) She laid siege to Neverwinter and kills people en-masse but you find a single NPC appropriately worshipping a sect of neutral/good fictional deities, as depicted in Forgotten Realms lore, to be inappropriate? Strange.

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greywynd

Sadly, opinions don't have to be informed. And becoming informed they may find their opinions to be false beliefs. They can't have that.

armadeonx

I would have to wonder if the OP would be equally offended if the NPCs were praying in a more familiarly western form? Say, on their knees with their hands together.

Also following on from Zeb's point, here's something from ancient Egypt:

micky1p00

Prostration was common in all religions and in secular conduct (A 'slave' didn't go and high-five Caesar for example).

For example:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostration

(If someone want non-wiki source, feel free to lookup,)

There is no single religion or practice that can claim prostration as their own.

nisckis

armadeonx said:

I would have to wonder if the OP would be equally offended if the NPCs were praying in a more familiarly western form? Say, on their knees with their hands together.

Also following on from Zeb's point, here's something from ancient Egypt:

Praise the monkey booty

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niadan

I am offended by bondings nerf. Feels like I am being bent over in real life...just sayin.

niadan

Sorry if my "bent over" statement offended anyone.