GURPS Fantasy , shared world, recruiting

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by combatmedic

Looks like it could be adapted, Threlgar. We might tweak the magic a wee bit to take into account the rules of the new setting. Some of the more obvious Earth-analogues would need to be changed a bit, and renamed [Canaan and Hellas, for example]. I really like the swords and sorcery feel, the Romanesque background, and the necromancer-priests.

I'd like to hear from the other contributors/potential contributors. What do you guys think about the shattered empire?

It seems like there's a general theme here. My submission had a war that broke a few kingdoms as well. Not a bad thing, really. Lots of conflict in which PCs can wander.

[Agramer]

Maybe to give even more Dark Fantasy feel(and Limited Mana) Thulandraa Thuul and his Order of the Ebon Skull,and others who use Demonic Pacts could be as Defilers from AD&D...

When you draw power from Demonic Pact you automatically suck life from your surroundings.Each point of power adds +1 to Area of effect.

That "effect" destroys grass,small bush,ants,very little animals only.

example: tree on lawn and Demonic Pact spell cast there(caster is standing below tree)..
effects:
1 point of energy: Hex caster is standing in :>grass shrivels,few leaves from tree turn yellow/brown also
10 point 10 area centred on caster...grass in center is turned into ash while further on perimeter is just shriveled and lifeles.Mouses,small lizards...etc die inside area of effect...IF spell was cast directly next to Tree..Tree loses all of its leaves that fall down on ground as if in autumn.

Larger Lifeforms just feel small "draining" fealt as stab of pain(-1 shock penalty at most,to avoid using effects for dmg purposes).

This ,coupled with Dark Pacts would make single dark wizards much stronger,but we would avoid any gathering of them in same spot casting big ritual spells due effects each would produce on other caster.

[combatmedic]

My own suggestion:


Unholy sacrificial rites that create a localized, brief 'mana surge'- by consuming human souls! This would seem to make the evil Thuul and his Ebon baddies the polar opposites of the good nercomancer-priests.

[Agramer]

Lets use Threlgars naming for now,it can later on easily be replaced by other names.

What Id really like is "Heroe cult",in sense of Iliad.Since were creating RPG,it would infuse more of "Heroic" feeling to the world.And it could be described through various titles: The First Sword,Champion of whatever,Foresworn,Protector of ...you can come up with better ones.

To avoid having whole world cluttered with such and gain cartoon impression:

Shattered Empire(Rome):
-Was actively discouraging Single Hero theme and went for loyalty,bravery of ordinary citizen/legionary..etc
-with their Senate and like and to avoid even bigger popular support of successful generals thay were actively stamping out such attitudes

Hellas:
-Numerous city states ,cradle of knowledge and art,that was eventually conquered by "Shattered Empire" did pursue such Hero worship,as did Hattusa and some others including Barbarian tribes where martial proves is always appreciated


When 2 Armys meet on field such cultures could see single combat duels before battle starts(with winner giving bonus to morale of his army),or multiple single combats(Would give PCs something fun and glorious to do).
While in case of Shattered Empires Army(Roman legions) such displays would be scorned and laughed upon.

[combatmedic]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

It seems like there's a general theme here. My submission had a war that broke a few kingdoms as well. Not a bad thing, really. Lots of conflict in which PCs can wander.

Yes, we had decided to go with a broken empire, wars, and barbarian migrations.

[combatmedic]

Originally Posted by Agramer

Lets use Threlgars naming for now,it can later on easily be replaced by other names.

What Id really like is "Heroe cult",in sense of Iliad.Since were creating RPG,it would infuse more of "Heroic" feeling to the world.And it could be described through various titles: The First Sword,Champion of whatever,Foresworn,Protector of ...you can come up with better ones.

To avoid having whole world cluttered with such and gain cartoon impression:

Shattered Empire(Rome):
-Was actively discouraging Single Hero theme and went for loyalty,bravery of ordinary citizen/legionary..etc
-with their Senate and like and to avoid even bigger popular support of successful generals thay were actively stamping out such attitudes

Hellas:
-Numerous city states ,cradle of knowledge and art,that was eventually conquered by "Shattered Empire" did pursue such Hero worship,as did Hattusa and some others including Barbarian tribes where martial proves is always appreciated


When 2 Armys meet on field such cultures could see single combat duels before battle starts(with winner giving bonus to morale of his army),or multiple single combats(Would give PCs something fun and glorious to do).
While in case of Shattered Empires Army(Roman legions) such displays would be scorned and laughed upon.

Right, we can worry about nomeclature at a later date. It's the ideas that matter now, not names.

I really love your hero-worship ideas, Agramar. Praying at the tomb of heroes!
Sacrifice a cockerel to some bygone warrior-king, for luck in battle. Hero-worshippers seem tailor-made to be 'adventuring clerics.'

[Agramer]

Ohh,Can we put Big bad Barbarians to West instead East.

Barbarians coming from East is so "old".

Actually we can leave Balthar Oneeye barbarians in east but put big steppes to west for future "invasions" of Mongol,Avar,Hun types.


We can put "Knights" to todays Georgia.

Premise:
Mountains to North and South ,between which Georgia is squeezed are extremely rich in metal,iron ores which are close to surface and very easy to mine.

So we would have advanced TL 4 metallurgy there and subsequently due low prices of ores and accessibility a lot of Plate armours and such.

With Georgia being on Black Sea and few rivers entering Black sea,they could have developed trade through/with Hellas and Hattusa....thus making them rich also.

With wealth and abundance of metal they would have a lot of Heavy infantry,Cavalry.Also individual nobles would be rich and we could have loosely connected feudal state there.

Also with Barbarians in North(Scythia) and Mountain tribes in south(Turkey,Armenia ... their Nobles would be brought up in martial surrounding with numerous skirmishes on borders and punitive expeditions.

Due to nature of their army(Heavyly armoured troops) when they enter mountains they would lose edge they have in lowlands.

We have Azerbajian to east of Georgia thats nested also between same mountain ranges but is on Kaspian sea. They could be rivals.

Further,due nature of geography around them,they wouldnt be forced to adapt mass organized armies(as Rome,Hellas,Hattusa did) and could pursue "chivalry option" to arrogant levels(After all 50 charging Knights can easily break undiciplined lousily armed barbarian rabble of 500).

Note:that regions history is very,very interesting and can be source for much inspiration ...

[tantric]

Interesting, hero worship is a big part of traditional bantu religion. These are balled Balubaale in Uganda and imandwa in Rwanda.

In addition to abazimu, there are also spirits of dead heroes called imandwa. Imwanda are very powerful and require special worship. The chief imandwa is Ryangombe. Ryangombe was attacked by an unnaturally large buffalo while hunting, and as a result died under a tree. Due to the size of the buffalo, people assumed that there was spiritual significance to the attack. As Ryangombe lay dying, he declared that all Tutsi, Hutu, and Twa, except the king, should worship him as the king of imandwa in a special ceremony called Kubandwa.

Another famous imandwa is Nyabingi. Nyabingi was an unmarried woman who was murdered and made immortal by Imana. She is a rebellious spirit worshiped primarily by Hutu in the north and northwestern areas of Rwanda and Uganda. Nyabingi is served by priests, as opposed to Imana who has not rites performed for Him, who act as intermediaries between her and her worshipers. The priest and priestesses receive sacrifices on behalf of Nyabingi.

Most of my references are on JSTOR and I can't link to them directly, but this bit from Myths and Legends of the Bantu is pretty complete:

Heroes and Demigods

Here's the page from my Bantu fantasy world:

Balubaale

[Agramer]

Originally Posted by combatmedic

I really love your hero-worship ideas, Agramar. Praying at the tomb of heroes!
Sacrifice a cockerel to some bygone warrior-king, for luck in battle. Hero-worshippers seem tailor-made to be 'adventuring clerics.'

Well,Heroe Worship theme will also give GMs one more tool to "control" higher powered PCs who decided they can do as they like.

First Sword of Hattuse ,could reasonably be expected to be built on 500+ cps with weapon skill in range of 25-35.The man is a legend.

150-250 CP PCs would/could see that guy at some reception maybe or as plot talkinghead but never as opponent.

Cocky 300+ cp PCs will behave if such figure is in neighbourhood.And lets not forget,Whole Kingdoms wealth bankrolling his equipment(If hes to weak..magic equipment/artefacts can easily remedy that without turning man into Super),further He has friends...

In intermediate level,there will be Lord Xy-s Weaponmaster with reputation,so if PCs want to push their luck..

Another aspect ,when you establish Hero worship setup, is believability of 300 Spartans stopping Persians in Thermopile (After all,it was 300 heroes and not mere soldiers) type legends,or famous "last stands" ...etc

Also,since Heroes types are rare it doesnt have to influence campaign in any measure if its on low CP budget PCs.

[Agramer]

Originally Posted by tantric

Interesting, hero worship is a big part of traditional bantu religion. These are balled Balubaale in Uganda and imandwa in Rwanda.

This is great :))

You could pack Alternate forms for "Heroes" who worship(and have favour) of such long dead Heroes/Spirits/Demigods

alternate Forms:
+ST/DX....
..."racial memory" or something
..spells ?
Some disadvantage subject was famous about ...etc

Shaka Zulu fighting knights is interesting scene :))