D&D 5E Should Planescape split Olympus and Arvandor into separate Layers of Aborea?

[Henadic Theologian]

Should Planescape split Olympus and Arvandor into separate Layers of Aborea?

 

[Veltharis ap Rylix]

They're essentially just two different divine realms, and if the top layer of Ysgard can contain Asgard, Vanaheim, Alfheim, and Jotunheim (very much a non-exhaustive list), I see no real reason why Arvandor and Olympus can't coexist as neighbors in the top layer of Arborea.

Infinite planes, et al.

 

[Parmandur]

I wouldn't expect a current WotC product to address real world deities like the Olympians.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

They're essentially just two different divine realms, and if the top layer of Ysgard can contain Asgard, Vanaheim, Alfheim, and Jotunheim (very much a non-exhaustive list), I see no real reason why Arvandor and Olympus can't coexist as neighbors in the top layer of Arborea.

Infinite planes, et al.

Asgard, Vanaheim, Alfheim, and Jotunheim are all apart of the same mythology, and 3 of which are allied together. Although maybe Alfheim should actually be set on Aboria with Arvandor.

I though Jotunheim was on one of the lower layers of Ysgard? Although honestly, maybe Jotunheim belongs in the Elemental Chaos or Limbo.

 

[Veltharis ap Rylix]

Asgard, Vanaheim, Alfheim, and Jotunheim are all apart of the same mythology, and 3 of which are allied together. Although maybe Alfheim should actually be set on Aboria with Arvandor.

I though Jotunheim was on one of the lower layers of Ysgard? Although honestly, maybe Jotunheim belongs in the Elemental Chaos or Limbo.

Same mythology, but the Aesir/Vanir had a devastating war with each other at one point (IRL lore that has been more or less completely lost, but is referenced in at least one story we do have), so while they're allied now, that wasn't always the case. A quick look at an FR wiki also pulls up a list of four or five other divine domains on the top layer of Ysgard that have little/nothing to do with Norse mythology, and I'm sure I could find more if I pulled out my copy of On Hallowed Ground.

And yes, Jotunheim is traditionally in the top layer of Ysgard. The other two layers are Muspelheim and Nidavellir/Svartalfheim, respectively. Niflheim (which contains Helheim) is in the Gray Waste, Midgard is implicitly the Material Plane (or at least a world within it), the Realm of the Norns is in the Outlands, and Yggdrasil the World Ash is a plane-spanning byway in its own right.

I don't think any god/pantheon gets an entire plane/layer all to themselves outside of the Abyss.

I wouldn't expect a current WotC product to address real world deities like the Olympians.

Both Surtur and Thrym, giant gods mentioned in Bigby's, originate in Norse mythology, and though not brought up recently, the Forgotten Realms god Tyr is canonically the same deity as the Tyr of Norse mythology. They've also mentioned Yggdrasil the World Ash/Tree (Norse mythology) a few times of late, up to and including creating a new barbarian subclass in the '24 playtest based on it. Similarly, the Realm of the Norns (likewise associated with Norse mythology), and both the River Ma'at and Thebestys (realms associated with the Egyptian god Thoth) are on the Outlands map we have for Planescape.

I wouldn't expect them to push real world mythology particularly hard, but I don't think they're shying away from it nearly as much as has been suggested. At most, they're just taking more care when/if they choose to touch on it.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Same mythology, but the Aesir/Vanir had a devastating war with each other at one point (IRL lore that has been more or less completely lost, but is referenced in at least one story we do have), so while they're allied now, that wasn't always the case. A quick look at an FR wiki also pulls up a list of four or five other divine domains on the top layer of Ysgard that have little/nothing to do with Norse mythology, and I'm sure I could find more if I pulled out my copy of On Hallowed Ground.

And yes, Jotunheim is traditionally in the top layer of Ysgard. The other two layers are Muspelheim and Nidavellir/Svartalfheim, respectively. Niflheim (which contains Helheim) is in the Gray Waste, Midgard is implicitly the Material Plane (or at least a world within it), the Realm of the Norns is in the Outlands, and Yggdrasil the World Ash is a plane-spanning byway in its own right.

I don't think any god/pantheon gets an entire plane/layer all to themselves outside of the Abyss.


Both Surtur and Thrym, giant gods mentioned in Bigby's, originate in Norse mythology, and though not brought up recently, the Forgotten Realms god Tyr is canonically the same deity as the Tyr of Norse mythology. They've also mentioned Yggdrasil the World Ash/Tree (Norse mythology) a few times of late, up to and including creating a new barbarian subclass in the '24 playtest based on it. Similarly, the Realm of the Norns (likewise associated with Norse mythology), and both the River Ma'at and Thebestys (realms associated with the Egyptian god Thoth) are on the Outlands map we have for Planescape.

I wouldn't expect them to push real world mythology particularly hard, but they don't think they're shying away from it nearly as much as has been suggested. At most, they're just taking more care when/if they choose to touch on it.

Not to mention that the 2014 core books mention the full names of the Planes, Which include mythological references, like to Olympus.

I'll add to your list of FR Gods from RL religion the entire Mulhorandi and Untherite Pantheons, references to multiple Greek Gods, a church of Olympus (with in Realmspace), Silvanus (Roman), Lovitar (Finnish), Tymora and Besheba's mom is Tyche (Roman), etc...,

And Thoth's Estate might be gone, because Thoth is currently living in Mulhorand with the rest of his Pantheon (or most of them), as established in the SCAG, just the part were his dead Souls go to rest is in the Outlands is still there.

 

[Parmandur]

Not to mention that the 2014 core books mention the full names of the Planes, Which include mythological references, like to Olympus.

I'll add to your list of FR Gods from RL religion the entire Mulhorandi and Untherite Pantheons, references to multiple Greek Gods, a church of Olympus (with in Realmspace), Silvanus (Roman), Lovitar (Finnish), Tymora and Besheba's mom is Tyche (Roman), etc...,

When the 2024 Core books drop, nothing in the 2014 Core books will be Canon.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

When the 2024 Core books drop, nothing in the 2014 Core books will be Canon.

The seems like a over simplification, like Necromancers, Enchanter, Conjurer, have not been replaced.

 

[Parmandur]

The seems like a over simplification, like Necromancers, Enchanter, Conjurer, have not been replaced.

Mechabical Subclass options aren't narrative Canon for fluff. But adjusting what counts as "Official D&D Canon," which is after all limited to the in-print books and no more, seems to be a major motivation for making a change at all as brand management. I would not wager that real world God lists will show up anywhere in the new Core books.

 

[Storyteller Hero]

I wouldn't expect a current WotC product to address real world deities like the Olympians.

Almost nobody worships the Olympians anymore, so they would probably get a free "culture pass" to do whatever. Tyr, Tymora, Beshaba, and Silvanus would otherwise have been removed from the Forgotten Realms setting.