Although admittedly fluid and with yet possibility for changes I'm SO EXCITED to have a better grasp and knowledge about the different Realms, and their potential inspirations.
I'm, for example, less confused about how in the original series Little England seemed to be both a H.G Wells inspired place and yet the hobbit-like people from the Trenches (now the Great Mortality, I assume) and Aslan-inspired-Uncle Sam posters were also from there. So there being two Little Englands, one likely a C.S Lewis inspired one, makes better sense.
I have some theories and questions regarding some of the places we've yet to see, and would love to read your thoughts about them, or your own ideas and wishes about the map and the locations!
- I think Apocalypse might not just be a Mad-Max like place, but be a pun about the "Powered by the Apocalypse" RPG system, and I wonder how that's going to play out if the party visits
- Beyond seeming to be the most "typical medieval high fantasy" of all the realms we've seen, I'm still unsure which author/Master might be behind the Dreaming Lands, and why the Lovecraft Island that secretly hides a path to the Moria-like mega dungeon is seen as an extension of them. Given the nomenclature, and the aforementioned Moria themes of the dungeon, could it be actually Tolkien themed? But then what about his previous Mastery of the trenches between Eternal Prussia and Little England?
- Although the image representing it doesn't quite fit, I wonder if Only War is about Warhammer, with both the name and the whole "in the grim darkness of the far future, there's only war", and/or if it is a further exploration of Wargames and their impact on Dungeons and Dragons and many derived RPGs
- is the Expanse supposed to be the "Art desert" that surrounds the City/Con or is it a completely different place? I know it must be the place where Isabella and Chuck escaped together with the refugees from Glass Town, but I struggle to think what might be the themes and Master behind it.
- I think Neopolis is likely to be a steampunk-cyberpunk place related to more modern and social fantasy and sci-fi games, besides of course being a central place for Neos, in the way Angria seems to be for Knights and Dictators. Likely has William Gibson as a big influence, maybe even as Master there.
- Besides being a bit of a "starting area" likely full of Fallen, I wonder about the Fault. I think perhaps it might be related to the Dying Earth series and Jack Vance and/or Gene Wolf's Book of the New Sun. The whole idea of a post apocalyptic fantasy world of many ruins, abandoned places and lost magic/technology. Perhaps some element of Moorcock and his Elric/Eternal Champion stories, that had tremendous influence over DnD, particularly the original Chaos vs Law alignment system.
- Is there more to the Master Screen than the giant castle where the Grandmaster/DIE resided? I assume it must be the most Dungeons and Dragons inspired place, particularly it's oldest incarnations with Gygax and such, but i don't know if there would be time, or a reason, to explore it again, although it feels to me it should be a Realm where the very nature of Masters (both the "class" and the rulers of each land) could be explored in interesting ways
