Every year, cultural representation in popular media gets a little better. One genre in fiction that has experienced an explosion in representation is fantasy. For decades, RPGs have often drawn inspiration from real-world cultures to build imaginative worlds, but all too frequently, these portrayals have been problematic, relying on stereotypes or oversimplified views of entire regions. Most fantasy focuses on European fantasy, and the creators of these works put little effort into actually treating other regions and cultures well.
However, in recent years, there has been a shift towards more respectful, nuanced representations, especially in fantasy. Fantasy and all of the fandoms that come out of it have an incredibly diverse following, and every year you will find more genders, races, and cultures being represented at your favorite nerdy conventions. Even if you are eternally online like me and see the worst kind of fantasy fans pushing back on representation, it’s easy to see the positive impact that inclusive fantasy has on people.
RPGs have been a little slower in some ways, but more progressive than others. RPG players are more diverse than ever, and many spaces are accepting of all races, genders, orientations, and disabilities. There are still many horror stories, every one horror story countered by tons of tables that are just having a good time. It’s up to the publishers to continue to propagate this diversity with their own rules, world, and lore, and that responsibility is especially heavy on the biggest publishers like Paizo (Pathfinder) and Wizards of the Coast (Dungeons & Dragons).
I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest Dungeons & Dragons fan, as I typically love storytelling in RPGs more than crunchy combat, but there is something about Pathfinder that leaves me enamored by it. If you can get over how crunchy it is, you’ll find an incredible alternative to Dungeons & Dragons, which many want since Wizards of the Coasts has been up to some unpopular shenanigans. This last year has solidified my love for this RPG due to Pathfinder’s Lost Omens books, which have been so dang good for diversity in RPGs. When reading Paizo’s books, you can feel the shift.
Two standout examples of this shift are Lost Omens: Mwangi Expanse and Lost Omens: Tian Xia World Guide, both of which set a new standard for how cultural representation can be approached in fantasy. These books move beyond exoticism, giving us rich, dynamic worlds rooted in real culture.
A Shared Approach
Fantasy RPGs have long been influenced by real-world cultures, but historically, this has often led to shallow or harmful depictions. In the past, African-inspired regions were portrayed as dark and mysterious filled with dangerous jungles and wild tribes. The European urge to colonize these lands and conquer them bleeds into fantasy. Meanwhile, Asian cultures were reduced to samurai, ninjas, and mysticism. This is still the case today in most Western media, where any East Asian warrior is a samurai or ninja with an intense honor code, and a pacified, gentle woman needing help from the Western man.
These simplified views were largely the result of minimal research and a lack of voices from the cultures being depicted, not to mention the intense fetishization of the people and culture. The tendency to homogenize entire regions into single archetypes reinforces these stereotypes and actively harms the people they were meant to represent. However, with The Mwangi Expanse and Tian Xia World Guide, Paizo has taken significant strides toward a more thoughtful and inclusive approach to worldbuilding.
Both The Mwangi Expanse and Tian Xia World Guide begin with a commitment to inclusive authorship. The Tian Xia guide was overwhelmingly written by people of Asian descent, while the Mwangi Expanse similarly involved creators with personal ties to many African cultures. This level of involvement from people within the cultures being represented creates an authenticity that hasn’t been achieved in massive RPGs before. The writers were able to draw from their own experiences and knowledge to provide nuance, moving away from the shallow depictions often seen in fantasy.
The main approach to both books is the idea of “Exciting, Not Exotic.” In the Mwangi Expanse, this means treating the region not as a wild, untamed land but as a place where people have lived and thrived for centuries. Similarly, Tian Xia acknowledges the vast diversity of Asia and avoids reducing it to a backdrop for adventure. In both cases, the settings are presented as dynamic, lived-in worlds with rich histories, complex societies, and their agency. They are not places for outsiders to simply explore and conquer; they are homes to people with their own stories and significance, and GMs and players need to respect that.
People, Culture, and Homes
Both the Mwangi Expanse and Tian Xia World Guide provide excellent examples of how to integrate respectful cultural representation into worldbuilding. In Tian Xia, the Imperial Dragons are a prime example. These dragons are not just monsters or forces of nature; they are political and cultural figures with their motivations and influence over the world. Dragons have a sense of agency and importance that goes beyond typical fantasy tropes.
The Mwangi Expanse book details multiple deities, each with their own philosophies, virtues, and societal roles. These religions don’t just shape the people who follow them, but they also shape settlements and civilizations, including how they interact with each other politically.
Geography also plays a significant role in both books. The regions of the Mwangi Expanse and Tian Xia are not just “exotic” lands; they are living, breathing places with their unique ecosystems, economies, and political dynamics. In both books, cities feel distinct and alive, and nations offer a deep understanding of cultural practices, governance, and interactions with the world around them.
Impact on Players and GMs
For players, these books offer an opportunity to create characters who are rooted in authentic, well-developed cultures. No longer are ancestries and regions simply caricatures of real-world places; they are rich with history and complexity. Players can explore characters that feel genuine, with motivations and beliefs shaped by their backgrounds rather than stereotypes. This in turn makes players more sensitive to cultures that aren’t their own. Books like Paizo’s aren’t just making a better game, they are making better people.
The same idea extends out to Game Masters. These books provide a wealth of material for building campaigns that are both immersive and respectful. The depth of lore in each guide allows GMs to craft stories that explore political intrigue, religious conflict, and the personal struggles of people within these regions. The result is more engaging gameplay experience that respects the cultures it draws from. Most of the cultures and religions in these books are rooted in reality, so GMs are getting small pieces of real-world cultures too, once again creating better individuals.
Collaboration and Research
One of the most important lessons from The Mwangi Expanse and Tian Xia World Guide is the value of inclusive collaboration. When creators from the cultures being represented are involved in the process, the result is a more authentic portrayal. Cultural elements are presented with care and accuracy, rather than as a collection of clichés.
Both guides emphasize the importance of thorough research and avoiding monolithic depictions. Africa and Asia are vast continents with incredible diversity, and both books go to great lengths to showcase that. Whether it’s the different heritages of elves in the Mwangi Expanse or the many nations and religions of Tian Xia, these regions are not reduced to single archetypes. Instead, they are portrayed as evolving, multifaceted societies with their histories, internal conflicts, and relationships with neighboring cultures.
While both The Mwangi Expanse and Tian Xia World Guide represent a major step forward, the aren’t perfect. No single book can represent every aspect of a culture. Both Mwangi Expanse and Tian Xia acknowledge the vast diversity of the regions they depict, but there will always be more stories to tell. There is still more work to be done, and it is Paizo’s and every other publisher’s responsibility to craft more books that focus on positive representation of the world’s cultures. The key is to remain open to feedback, hire writers within the communities, and continue improving with each new publication.
The Mwangi Expanse and Tian Xia World Guide have set new benchmarks for cultural representation in fantasy RPGs. The lessons learned from these guides are clear: cultural representation matters, and when done well, it enriches not only the game but the gaming community as a whole. As we look toward the future of RPG development, we can hope that these practices become the standard, leading to more inclusive worlds for all players to explore.
