Resources for D&D in non-medieval European cultures

[dead]

I want to make my Greyhawk campaign a "global" campaign rather than just focusing on the "Known World", ie. the Flanaess (which is pretty much medieval Europe).

So . . . I wanted to put together a list of resources for playing D&D in non-medieval European settings.

I'd like to know which products you've bought and which you *swear* by. You see, there's a lot of crap out there, and a lot of D&D/d20 books in non-European settings, but I want to refine down the search and pick the *best* ones only. This means I'm keen to know which ones have been tried and tested by you and get the thumbs up.

At the moment, the only book in this area I own is WotC's "Oriental Adventures". Is this the best "Oriental" D&D book out there? Or, has it been trumped by a third party publisher?

Anyway, I also need source material (only the *best* remember) for the following cultures:

Africa
Aztec
China
Japan
India
Arabia
Egypt

I would much appreciate it if you could help me out. Thankyou.

 

[00Machado]

I wouldn't say I'm the authority, but here are my suggestions.

Africa
Nyambe, from Atlas Games
http://www.atlas-games.com/nyambe/index.html

Aztec
No idea, except for Dragon magazine issue 315, which updated one of the Mazteca character types for 3.5. Jaguar warrior, or something like that.

China and Japan
OA, which you've already got, plus the updates in (I think) Dragon 318

India
Can't recommend it for sure, but I'd look at Mind Shadows from Green Ronin.
http://greenronin.com/cgi-bin/product.cgi?prodid=1402

Arabia
A couple of dragon articles that update some of the Al Qadim stuff. Don't remember the exact issues off hand though.

Egypt
New Mythic Vistas seeting on the roadmap from Green Ronin
http://greenronin.com/cgi-bin/product.cgi?prodid=1407

Outside of d20, I'd check out the GURPS historical setting books. They have one for each of the above except India and Africa.

end recommendations

 

[Ron]

Africa - Atlas Games' Nyambe is pretty good.

Aztec - As far as I can remember, TSR's Matzica for AD&D 2nd edition is pretty close and freely available in WotC's download page.

China - OA is kind of weak regarding China. Before 3rd edition, TSR released a free game called Dragon Fist. It is suposed to be republished in the near future by Green Ronin. Additionally, Avalanche released a interesting sourcebook called Jade and Steel.

Japan - If you want historical roleplaying, your only option is Gold Rush Games' Sengoku. It uses Fuzion, but includes conversion notes for several systems, including D&D.

India - You can get Green Ronin's Mindshadows or perhaps WotC free download for Marasharpa, which extends the Indian inspired chapter at OA.

Arabia - Look for TSR's Al Quadin for AD&D 2nd edition.

Egypt - Green Ronin is going to publish a book about it. Additionally, you can use Necromancer Games' Necropolis, which is a superadventure and a sourcebook to an Egyptian like culture, or Mongoose's OGL Ancients, which also includes an Egyptian chapter.

 

[Sado]

Avalanche Press has a number of real-world historical setting modules.

Aztecs

Egypt

Arabia

China

There not exhaustive, only about 64 pages each, with about half of that devoted to the setting and the other half an adventure, and I haven't done more than skim through them in the store (although I did own another, The Greenland Saga, which was pretty good), but they are only $5-6 each.

 

[Tonguez]

Avalanche Press has a number of real-world historical setting modules.

Aztecs

Egypt

Arabia

China

There not exhaustive, only about 64 pages each, with about half of that devoted to the setting and the other half an adventure, and I haven't done more than skim through them in the store (although I did own another, The Greenland Saga, which was pretty good), but they are only $5-6 each.

Wow! I love how they managed to depict chainmail bikini's from around the world!