classes in arabian-themed game

[Quickleaf]

I have a question...
What types of character classes/roles would you like to see in an arabian-theme role-playing game? 3 simple classes? Al-Qadim classes converted? Same classes as in fantasy d20 but with flavor changed? If you are familiar with arabian nights or other legends, what classes do you see as being tied to the mythos?

Also, what others ways would you want to be able to define your character?

Imagine you were designing your own set of rules around the theme, using d20 as your basis...

Look forward to seeing what you come up with!

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

Hmmm,
Very very important to have viable sailor and rider classes. Also, summoning based classes are a nice touch. Barbers, beggars, and artificers. Merchants. Various types of foriegners. I'd very much like to see a cypher for Byzantines or Arab Christians for instance. Mmmm, Mamelukes and slave warriors.
I didn't mind the kit based mechanic for Al-Quadim, particularly since it was mostly a full conversion of the classes involved. Oriental Adventures had a pretty good take on how to use the classes from the Core Book with new classes, though I think they tried to make too much viable.
I'd also like to see it try to base itself more on the historical and literary medieval middle-east rather than tieing itself too specifically to one culture. I actully think Al-Quadim did that pretty well, but making it explicit never hurts. It's such a huge and awesome fantasy geography that I don't know why you would limit yourself unnecessarily. Not too mention there would have to be a lot of DnDisms.
Civilized and enlightened animals are something I would like to see. They showed up once in Al-Quadim and left a big impression on me.
The need to develop a strong and unique mythological history for the setting could not be overemphasized. The divine and supernatural should not be split, save perhaps on a character level, and should be a very present part of the history. Though honestly I think that's something most DnD games should do.

One Thing Al-Quadim did not do well was having too vague an idea of the other. It compromised the cosmopolitan feel of the setting in a totally needless way to have kits like the generic Ajami foriegner and to bland barbarian mercenary wandering around.

 

[Knightfall]

This is an interesting question and one I've just recently started tackling for my homwbrewed version of Land of Fate. I've attached a word document that lists the many kits from Al-Qadim with what I consider appropriate classes and prestige classes (including sources) to use for an Arabian Adventurers campaign.

Cheers!

KF72