Guild Wars 2

I really want to create a gypsy necromancer. Thematically, I think the Norn fit this style the most due to their nomadic nature and the various hairstlyes. However, the Norn look to be Scandinavian in nature, with little variation in race and culture among Tyria. All the naming conventions I’ve seen sound extremely Nordic. How lore-friendly is it to create a Norn that is styled off of a different race/culture?

1) eeeeeh I would read up a bit on the term g*psy and how the Romani people view it (the word itself has usage as a racial slur, not a commonly known thing but I would avoid it if you’re not Romani yourself)
2. Norn draw a bit from Scandinavian cultures, true, but to call them Scandinavian is inaccurate (as I’ve seen some players that are actually from Scandinavian countries attest.) Norn are norn. For lore-friendliness I would stick to ingame cultures, not real-world. As far as naming conventions go, the norn have been in contact with other cultures for centuries so it wouldn’t be unthinkable for other naming conventions to slip in, especially if they/their family have lived in such areas (Lion’s Arch is a big one that’s come to mind but there are a few norn in Kryta/DR)

What you’re looking for(I think) would fit more with the aesthetic of an Elonian human, unfortunately Norn aren’t in Elona.

xase, yes, ty. g*psy is a slur in the vein of n***er. as far as the intent of the post, just make a nomad Norn, eh, nbd.

Norn are Norn. they are fantasy being that change a will into animal form…humans usually don’t do that, so don’t see the Norn being bound to a specific culture on the real world.
I’ve seen awesome Norn with dark skin and they didn’t look out of place at all. Norn are also inspired by the North American Natives so I think it fits them just as well to have a dark skin and hair as having pale skin ad hair.
The Norn have a nomadic culture, so if it is this nomadic lifestyle than you’re at the right adress but no Norn will ever be a"Roma" or “Mongolian” or “Sami”.
GW2 is a fantasy game there are no Italians, Sinti, Americans or Swedes or any other real world nationality or ethnicity in this game… All playable races are in some way Tyrians belonging to different species.

There isn’t even necessarily a strict code of behavior or culture in each race. I remember a Norn healer (NPC in Hoelbrak) who has chosen a path VERY different than most, but it’s her skill, it’s her passion, and she does it anyway. An alternative too could be a shamanistic nomad. Shamans are in many RL cultures and inspiration could be pulled from many areas that overlap, then molded into the fantasy world Norn live in. Seems like a fun project without getting into racialized negative stereotypes.

Mikah.4510:

There isn’t even necessarily a strict code of behavior or culture in each race.

Not in the strictest sense, but we can assume things like murder, kitten and theft are generally looked down on. In the case of Charr insubordination and going AWOL are probably pretty big no-nos. Norn are more individualistic, so I think they’d more have social and not legal consequences to things such as cowardice (you know in the case of Charr running away from battle will probably cost you your head while the Norn would probably just endlessly tease a cowardly Norn).

Mikah.4510:

There isn’t even necessarily a strict code of behavior or culture in each race. I remember a Norn healer (NPC in Hoelbrak) who has chosen a path VERY different than most, but it’s her skill, it’s her passion, and she does it anyway.

I can’t see that as being even remotely out of character for a Norn. They are all about having a calling…

“So, Horreg Herb-grinder, tell me of your legend. ((snicker))”

“I slay disease. I undo poison. I defeat suffering and deny death. My greatest battles have spanned weeks-unending and I have never waivered in that struggle. My rivers are your blood and my battlefield is your very flesh. I have held the lives of thousands in my hands and every tale they have lived to tell is another voice lifted to sing of the lasting honor of my legend! Now tell me of your deeds, hunter…”

I would like to see a Polynesian inspired Norn maybe, instead of animal spirit they would worship the sea creatures spirit like sharks, turtle, Dolphins :P etc. also wears polynesian tattoos,

one thing i love about gw1 is cultures variation of humans, I wish the other races have that aswell.

The norn worship all the animal spirits, and from what we can tell there’s an animal spirit for every species. The bear, wolf, raven, and snow leopard are just the most influential. If you had a norn who lives by the sea in the north there’s no reason they wouldn’t worship Shark, Dolphin, or Whale.

Nike.2631:

I can’t see that as being even remotely out of character for a Norn. They are all about having a calling…

This is an interaction with an NPC in Hoelbrak who says other norn deride her for her calling as a healer, not just something I pulled out of the air.

Nike.2631:

“So, Horreg Herb-grinder, tell me of your legend. ((snicker))”

“I slay disease. I undo poison. I defeat suffering and deny death. My greatest battles have spanned weeks-unending and I have never waivered in that struggle. My rivers are your blood and my battlefield is your very flesh. I have held the lives of thousands in my hands and every tale they have lived to tell is another voice lifted to sing of the lasting honor of my legend! Now tell me of your deeds, hunter…”

ngl tho, this made me happy

My point about a code of behavior only meant that there isn’t “one way to play a Norn,” nomadic or otherwise.