Post originally by Kester Pelagius at 2004-07-02 11:57:13
Converted from Phorums BB System

>>That's a completely different objection. But I'll bite: Sure, D&D assumes (most) player-characters are literate. It also assumes they live in a pseudo-Medieval culture with dwarves, elves and halflings. Obviously changes are needed if you want to game in Mycenean Greece, and illiteracy is perfectly compatible with "Heroic" play.<<

Not saying illiteracy isn't compatible, but it definitely needs to be addressed in more than just blanket statement blurbs. If you are going to mention levels of literacy at all then, IMO, you need to examine the social dynamics of the culture. If only so a GM can better understand how to set up said culture.

As it stands several erroneous conclusions could be drawn based upon such in-game blurbs. After all if everyone in Heroic Greece is stated to be illiterate, then how do Wizards gain spells?

On the surface it would be easy to say that Wizards are literate, but to me it would hav provided more depth if a modified magic system had been provided. Perhaps one that noted that, due to this illiteracy, Wizards have to learn spells not by writ but from another Wizard, by word of mouth, and commit them to memory. Thus, rather than a spellbook, a Memory skill/ATT should probably take center stage.

For that matter, if the majority of the peoples inhabiting Heroic Greece are illiterate, then by definition that means there are a select few who are not. Are the literate members of some elite class? Are they, perhaps, the Priests and Rulers?

On the surface such statements just seem like a bit of throw away fluff, until you realize these statements are supposed to be addressing an entire campaign world. As such they need to be explained. Give us the why's and whatfore's and, before you know it, you will have fleshed out the campaigh world and created a vibrant setting that is easy to lose oneself in.

IMO, YMMV