Okay This Episode Of Code Switch Podcast On Race In Dungeons And Dragons (and Fantasy As A Genre More

okay this episode of code switch podcast on race in dungeons and dragons (and fantasy as a genre more broadly) is mostly all stuff i talk about here all the time but the specifics surrounding gary gygax the history of d&d/rpgs was new to me and really made it clear how it’s just like. oh you really don’t have to connect any dots you don’t have to extrapolate or read between the lines it’s just right there huh

also sidenote i know this is something i never shut up about but honestly the amount of harm jrr tolkien did to fantasy as a genre (and obviously, you know, real life people of color) by constructing the modern conception of orcs as, in his own words, “squat, broad, flat-nosed, sallow-skinned, with wide mouths and slant eyes: in fact degraded and repulsive versions of the (to Europeans) least lovely Mongol-types” … truly immeasurable. literally imagine what we could have if the foundations of this entire fucking genre hadn’t been built on white imperial fantasies about good and evil and wanting to be able to guilt-free dream up scenarios where they could massacre hordes of some inherently evil subhuman species to save the world

Playing as a sorcerer tav is great as a gale romancer, because of the very different perspective and approach to magic your character would have as an innate spellcaster.

You’re not necessarily better at magic, and unless you multiclass as wizard (lol why?) it’s unlikely that you’d have a better understanding of the mechanics of magic. Sorcerers cast magic innately, yeah? You don’t have to understand how muscles move to be able to move your body, but you can still train. Same kinda deal. Sorcerers can practice and learn to mold their magic in different ways. Wizards study magic, and learn a spell inside and out to be able to cast it.

It’s a different perspective, and one I think is so juicy to explore.

My tav Cordelia thinks Gale is very impressive. He understands magic in a way she doesn’t. He can cast all kinds of spells that she can’t.And on the flip side of that, Gale is fascinated by her innate grasp of magic. Fascinated by what it must feel like to feel connected to the weave constantly, it’s in your veins, a very tangible and real presence always.

They bond instantly over their love of magic

Their dynamic is very much: yes, I’m good at what I do, but what you do is also very impressive, tell me more, please

assorted fun lines from my screenshot folder

Conflicted

Turns out funny, handsome wizards with magical bombs in their chests always get the girls.

Please enjoy Gale and my Tav - Theo, with the idea of Mystras jealousy flaring as he moves on. CHOOSE THE HOT ELF GALE, LET MYSTRA GO I'm fine

Avvar lore resources

I might be a little bit invested in a certain part of Dragon Age lore...

Jaws of Hakkon DLC transcript - a transcript of all dialogue lines from JoH DLC, including variations dependent on the Inquisitor's race, previous choices, and quest order.

Avvar history reconstruction - a 7-part series delineating the history of the Avvar tribe

Avvar first names spreadsheet - a thorough list of Avvar first names that appear in canon sources, organized by their real-life origin if possible

Avvar name structure - a detailed analysis of how Avvar names are constructed, including first names, surnames, legend-marks, and clan names

Avvar symbolism - collages of visual symbols related to the Lady of the Skies, Hakkon Wintersbreath, Korth the Mountain-Father

Parallels between Korth and the Titans

Elven roots of the word "Avvar"

Random bits of Avvar lore