{{{Approved 2021-11-06}}}

For obvious reasons of pacing, ''Avatar: the Last Airbender'' does not provide in the show itself some kinds of setting information that are important for an RPG. Also, as the total amount of content in the series is limited, it leaves many details of the worldbuilding ambiguous or incomplete. Thus, it's necessary for the worldbuilding of this Avatar RPG to pick up where the canon leaves off in terms of designing the setting and fill in these details. Further, the campaign will depart from the show canon as necessary to accommodate its concept, in which the players' original characters will replace the canonical Team Avatar.

=== Differences with the Show ===

The Avatar universe depicted in the campaign is necessarily an AU to the canonical Avatar universe, since it has different main characters as the Avatar, bending teachers, etc.
Though the intent is for the campaign to follow the show otherwise, in the event of a conflict that makes it into the campaign, what was shown in the campaign obviously takes precedence. If readers see inconsistencies between the official Avatar media and this wiki, they are encouraged to bring them to the attention of the GM (or co-GM for scenario design) for consideration.

==== Canonical Characters ====

For the most part, canonical characters from the show still exist, but their circumstances and the precise unfolding of events differed in such that they did not join Team Avatar. As examples, Toph Beifong presumably remains in Gaoling, winning underground earthbending tournaments. Aang was probably a talented airbending prodigy who lived a century ago (although we suppose he might have ended up frozen for some other reason.) It is not expected that the party will encounter any canonical character replaced by a player character.

=== Use of Official ''Avatar'' Media ===

Except as noted in ''Differences with the Show'' above, the ''Avatar: the Last Airbender'' cartoon is canonical. We will draw from other official Avatar media (including ''Legend of Korra'') for setting information, but they are not necessarily canonical to the RPG in any particular respect if it is not mentioned on the wiki or shown in the campaign. Players are encouraged to consider incorporating details from other official Avatar media into their character designs if they are familiar with them, but the GM will decide if particular aspects of other official media are canonical or not on a case-by-case basis.

=== Historical Sources ===

Obviously, ''Avatar'' draws heavily on real world history and cultures, especially (but not exclusively) those of East Asia. We will continue to draw from these sources appropriately during necessary world-building where the show canon does not already provide suitable details.

=== Player Contributions ===

Players' worldbuilding ideas (e.g. for character cultures and backgrounds) are invited for incorporation into the overall setting design, and to achieve greater integration between the player characters and the setting.