Any long-running published setting is going to have a couple of warts - ones where parts of the audience are going to say: “What the hell were they thinking?”
The same is true for Golarion. For the most part, I love the setting, but there are a number of setting elements I find problematic. One of these is Andoran. The best way I can describe it is as:
“A fantasy counterpart culture of the post-Revolutionary War United States of America - as retconned through American propaganda.”
So while the real world American Revolutionary War was allegedly about “Freedom”, but at the same time reinforced the system of slavery and exploitation of the First Nations - something commonly glossed over in American history - Andoran simply leaves out these ugly aspects and says that Andoran’s revolution was really about fighting for Freedom and Democracy - which they now seek to export to the rest of the world.
I mean, I am not opposed to democracies in fantasy settings, or groups of people fighting slavery. But it’s the mixture of these elements with tropes of the nascent USA that really bothers me.
What are your thoughts on this?
It’s kind of ho-hum for a place in Golarion. You’re right, it’s based on American exceptionalism which is boring while the other inner sea countries can be boring but in exceptional and interesting ways. I like that it exists and that it can be contentious and unstable sometimes. Like Andorran mercenaries being a pain in the ass to work with because they think they’re the main character and get squeemish about certain crimes. Andorans make pretty good adversaries and instigators since most people might not even disagree with the image they project. But I probably wouldn’t seek out any literature or character options about Andoran.
Oh except for one teensy weensy tiny little thing
FUCK MOTHERING GEORGE WASHINGTON BIRD https://pathfinderwiki.com/wiki/Talmandor
BUCAW
Some of my random thoughts: I chuckled when I first learned about it and how unsupple it is. But I wouldn’t want to play a published module focused on it, expecting too many Murica fuck yeah brain worms.
The contrast with the french revolution coded Galt is boring. Our good revolution vs their bad revolution.
I’m not from the US but having Andoran on Golarion does lend itself for some American parody characters. Going at it from a wait a minute Andoran is just Cheliax in new clothing angle could be amusing.
Alkenstar already covers the fantasy wild west, leaving Andoran more bland.
I don’t expect a history simulator, but US revolution with an halo feels lackluster. The target audience for it might get some enjoyment out of it.
tldr; Andoran’s worst crime is being boring lol
