cultural differences

[thatoneguywho-]

a while back I made a post about culture. this is pretty much a continuation of that post. I'm basically asking about the kind of cultural differences that would occur between normal people without magic, people who live for thousands of years with magic, and ten nine other continents of people who can only communicate via magic

INFO: all ten continents have a holy empire that manages affairs

one has a pirating problem(AKA a gigantic pirate empire that is getting more and more powerful),

one has a falling holy empire that is about to be destroyed by the Suomiikani peoples,

one is largely barren and full of criminals,

one is, plain and simple, the place where the holy empires do their things,

one is the remnants of the greatest empire the world has ever known(holy empire does exist)

one is legit just tiny flying islands surrounded by fog,
and one is has magic.

all others are currently undecided.

based off those descriptions, what cultural differences, may occur? (please help)

 

[SamazonE]

Cultural difference is interesting. And so is tourism. You do not have one without the other. How warlike are they? Who is an ally? How many times have they had disagreements between nations? Those are questions I would ask myself.

A culture is varied between nations, but not within the self-same nation. They have a beginning. It is shrouded in tradition. It is different about those things considered sacred. A culture would change if harangued. That is a good framework to begin a story with.

I asked myself this question a while back, but I chose racism instead of religion, as the basis for culture. The story involved a hero making changes to the enemy country about a war against his nation. It involved public relations and crimes. The story drew conclusions and parallels to zionistic-anarchy.

 

[Orc Knight]

These sound more like nations then continents. But, I can throw noodles at the wall for you with them.

one has a pirating problem(AKA a gigantic pirate empire that is getting more and more powerful)

So, we talking tropical nation? Granted pirates aren't restricted to such waters, but we're just gravitating towards it because it's easier. Given they're also pirates, it's likely a fairly democratic society and with a lot of cultural food dishes based on seafood and possibly rice.

one has a falling holy empire that is about to be destroyed by the Suomiikani peoples

Even given their apparently inevitable destruction, if it's a large religious empire, a lot of the culture comes from the deities they worship. This makes it harder to answer. Because it could be a pious church, one that has that facade and is rotten to the core, a pantheon that needs to be sacrificed to, a hedonistic one, a war one. It's incredibly variable. And another part of culture is going to be dictated by the environment around them.

one is largely barren and full of criminals

Um, well, then have low level robber barons or crime families or factions mostly stuck warring with themselves. You may have to look at just turning it into clan or tribal style cultures if it's barren lands. Then it's not criminals, it's just peoples stuck in the harshest lands and dealing with it the best they can and trying to keep what resources they can.

one is the remnants of the greatest empire the world has ever known(holy empire does exist)

Then just model off of the HRE and see what you can get from there. I know you're a Roman Empire fan and you got a lot to work with there.

one is legit just tiny flying islands surrounded by fog

So, probably a raider nation. Depending on the size of the island(s), they may not have sufficient land to grow and herd.

and one is has magic.

Then likely a magocracy full of wizened wizards, sublime sorceresses, manic mages and at least one actual non magical magician who does slight of hand.


Not much, but it's something to build off of.

 

[CupofJoe]

Have a look at the works of David and Leigh Eddings [especially the Riven Codex].

They have fallen out of fashion over the years [for several reasons].

Their entire Belgariad world was a riff of different real-world cultures with a unifying mythos of Gods and magic.* There are takes on Vikings, Romans, French Chivalry, even an almost nod to the Hobbits with a farming nation. Within most nations there is difference and even division as cultures vary from place to place. Overall, it is a fairly cozy world.

The Rivan Codex is pretty much the notes taken along the way to describe and build each nation and culture.

* Okay just about everything they ever wrote is a take on some form of real-world history, from orders of armed monks being the sword of the church to desert cultures being roused by prophets and mystic.

 

[thatoneguywho-]

* Okay just about everything they ever wrote is a take on some form of real-world history, from orders of armed monks being the sword of the church to desert cultures being roused by prophets and mystic.

I read Jeff wheeler. I love this stuff bro

 

[thatoneguywho-]

These sound more like nations then continents. But, I can throw noodles at the wall for you with them.


So, we talking tropical nation? Granted pirates aren't restricted to such waters, but we're just gravitating towards it because it's easier. Given they're also pirates, it's likely a fairly democratic society and with a lot of cultural food dishes based on seafood and possibly rice.



Even given their apparently inevitable destruction, if it's a large religious empire, a lot of the culture comes from the deities they worship. This makes it harder to answer. Because it could be a pious church, one that has that facade and is rotten to the core, a pantheon that needs to be sacrificed to, a hedonistic one, a war one. It's incredibly variable. And another part of culture is going to be dictated by the environment around them.



Um, well, then have low level robber barons or crime families or factions mostly stuck warring with themselves. You may have to look at just turning it into clan or tribal style cultures if it's barren lands. Then it's not criminals, it's just peoples stuck in the harshest lands and dealing with it the best they can and trying to keep what resources they can.



Then just model off of the HRE and see what you can get from there. I know you're a Roman Empire fan and you got a lot to work with there.



So, probably a raider nation. Depending on the size of the island(s), they may not have sufficient land to grow and herd.



Then likely a magocracy full of wizened wizards, sublime sorceresses, manic mages and at least one actual non magical magician who does slight of hand.


Not much, but it's something to build off of.

they are all continents with multiple nations. the pirates have a sort of hierarchy, and is separated into three parts: northern, central, and southern pirate. the north has an entire region, the central is just a bunch of islands and ports, and the south is at war with the hegemon of the continent and winning (due to the fact that they are led by the main pirate ruler Josagbulih.


all holy empires worship the same divine. and the Suomiikani people are basically just the Norse lol. (ex. finland calls itself suomi)

its kinda where criminals run off to to stay out of trouble, so the may not be criminals thee, but they are to everyone else. thee are nations there, but only around the point of contact.

oh yeah its in chaos. (and howd ya know)

o, no not at all. they just a chill trade nation

SPOT ON YESSSS(except maybe the last part and the one nation part)

I should really start including more info...

 

[thatoneguywho-]

Cultural difference is interesting. And so is tourism. You do not have one without the other. How warlike are they? Who is an ally? How many times have they had disagreements between nations? Those are questions I would ask myself.

A culture is varied between nations, but not within the self-same nation. They have a beginning. It is shrouded in tradition. It is different about those things considered sacred. A culture would change if harangued. That is a good framework to begin a story with.

I asked myself this question a while back, but I chose racism instead of religion, as the basis for culture. The story involved a hero making changes to the enemy country about a war against his nation. It involved public relations and crimes. The story drew conclusions and parallels to zionistic-anarchy.

ah yes, basic human nature.

 

[pmmg]

I'm basically asking about the kind of cultural differences that would occur between normal people without magic, people who live for thousands of years with magic

I would imagine that over the years, the commonality of these would drift further and further apart, till eventually the concerns of the mortal types would seem trivial or disconnected from the concerns of the long lived types. With such long lives and the advantage of magic, the disparity between the two groups might show in many ways, from wealth acquisition, to political acumen, and possibly security needs. I would imagine the long lived types looking to separate from the short lived ones, and attitudes of superiority, or even looking at the mortal as having lives that dont matter much might develop. Where as the mortal types might grow in jealousy or fear over the power and abilities of the long lived types and look for ways to even the playing field--or, they might accept the greater wisdom of people so long lived and give them rulership... who knows really.

This is a big question you are asking. To be honest, if you need this much help in developing your cultures, you probably need to think a bit longer on the world you are creating. A nation of pirates, and one of criminals? Would the pirates be tolerated by their neighbors? I would think they would not last long. And one of criminals implies that other nations are dumping the criminals there...so they would likely have a culture similar to the ones who put them there. Who were they?

I dont understand them all being holy roman empires, what does that mean?

 

[thatoneguywho-]

I would imagine that over the years, the commonality of these would drift further and further apart, till eventually the concerns of the mortal types would seem trivial or disconnected from the concerns of the long lived types. With such long lives and the advantage of magic, the disparity between the two groups might show in many ways, from wealth acquisition, to political acumen, and possibly security needs. I would imagine the long lived types looking to separate from the short lived ones, and attitudes of superiority, or even looking at the mortal as having lives that dont matter much might develop. Where as the mortal types might grow in jealousy or fear over the power and abilities of the long lived types and look for ways to even the playing field--or, they might accept the greater wisdom of people so long lived and give them rulership... who knows really.

This is a big question you are asking. To be honest, if you need this much help in developing your cultures, you probably need to think a bit longer on the world you are creating. A nation of pirates, and one of criminals? Would the pirates be tolerated by their neighbors? I would think they would not last long. And one of criminals implies that other nations are dumping the criminals there...so they would likely have a culture similar to the ones who put them there. Who were they?

I dont understand them all being holy roman empires, what does that mean?

for about ten thousand years, the long living people have been embroiled in war soo...

yeah.

the pirates aren't tolerated. constant war.

and the thieves kinda escaped and headed to the continent in droves since the place had been abandoned for quite a while.

i never said anything about HRE. each continent has a holy empire to manage affairs. the empires have special privileges and 'holy' is kind of a title.


p.s: i believe that on my very first post here you(pmmg) talked about seeing me here before. how is that?

 

[SamazonE]

I dont understand them all being holy roman empires, what does that mean?

Those titles need caps, pmmg.

The fact that empires last so long gives you a clue. I don’t know whether this current world power will rule forever, but it is hard to place where the power lies, so maybe that concludes the idea of scum and villainy.

The idea of pirate isles, and criminal corporations, that ain’t so rare. The idea of an even playing ground, world peace, has been an idea for a long time. However, in the fantasy world, it has been an idea since the beginning.

I’m not going to turn this into a political rant, but sides have always helped to sustain my story, and violence has been the way to resolve it. I’m not saying I condone criminality or violence, but peace has my vote, I’m all ready to fight for peace.

 

[thatoneguywho-]

Those titles need caps, pmmg.

The fact that empires last so long gives you a clue. I don’t know whether this current world power will rule forever, but it is hard to place where the power lies, so maybe that concludes the idea of scum and villainy.

The idea of pirate isles, and criminal corporations, that ain’t so rare. The idea of an even playing ground, world peace, has been an idea for a long time. However, in the fantasy world, it has been an idea since the beginning.

I’m not going to turn this into a political rant, but sides have always helped to sustain my story, and violence has been the way to resolve it. I’m not saying I condone criminality or violence, but peace has my vote, I’m all ready to fight for peace.

ok, sooo... I am not planning for peace...

BUT! the violence will be an 'external' source.

 

[pmmg]

p.s: i believe that on my very first post here you(pmmg) talked about seeing me here before. how is that?

I see you joined in april, perhaps I saw the name then.


To be honest, I think this question is very broad and asking too much from the group. You are asking for help with cultures, but the information provided only sheds light on conflicts. Culture is different from that. If fact, given that they all have the same holy empire motiff, it would seem all the cultures are similar, save for the pirates, which are not a part of it, and the Suomiikani peoples, who may or may not be part of it.

Those titles need caps, pmmg.

I'll get right on it, samazone

 

[Saigonnus]

I feel that the key to deciding how the various peoples interact, is knowing the ins-and-outs of the various peoples themselves.

What do they value?
Religion? (People tend to deal more favorably with people of the same/similar religion)
Government? (Like above, with a "good/fair" sort of government.)
Trade? (Trade is fundamental, and could color how people treat a realm, especially if they NEED something they produce for their own livelihood)
History between the two cultures in question? (Have they fought wars or had other sorts of diplomatic trauma; which could color how you might see people of a certain place.)
How do they feel about magic-users as non-magic-users? Or vice versa.
Is there anything magic can do that cannot be done in a conventional way? (like magical healing vs. medicine)
Construction methods and materials? (Like with trade, if a place needs something like marble for construction, and there is only one realm with any significant deposits, then they will be viewed favorably by people in the needful realm)
Geography? (How close are they? What sort of geographic features separate them?)
Day-to-day life of people?

A realm mainly peopled by criminals wouldn't be trusted, and maybe for a good reason. Generally, criminals tends to take "the easy way" in regards to getting needful things. Stands to reason they would raid their neighbors instead of growing their own crops, or use slave labor, or captives for various things to produce stuff they don't want to bother with themselves, things they can trade for. I would wager none of the neighboring realms would look particularly favorable upon a place like this.

I would also think that such a place wouldn't last either. First; they'd have to have a government of some type, something that reeks of dictatorship, authoritarian, or Oligarchy (where the mob bosses are the high council). Second; it can't be made up of "only" criminals. They would have to have a population to support the criminal activity, even if they are under the thumb of the regime for generations. Third; they'd have to have some sort of army, military force to maintain the criminal enterprise, and keep the population in check. Fourth; if they antagonize the other realms through raiding, then it would be only a matter of time before some other realm decides to carve off pieces of their territory through force; especially if their "army" isn't formal, or as numerous.