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Designing an Arabian Nights-flavored area
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<blockquote data-quote="DrunkonDuty" data-source="post: 3741096" data-attributes="member: 54364"><p>For city names raid an atlas. Go for the less well known names like Isfahan. Samarkhand , although well known, is too evocative to be passed up.</p><p></p><p>Middle Eastern customs are big on hospitality. Anyone can expect hospitality for a limited time. The Ottomans (among others) maintained caravanserais where anyone could stay in reasonable comfort, for free, for up to 3 days. Rich people might offer nearly unlimited hospitality for famous visitors (basking in the glory of having such famous guests.) Fights between rivals both trying to impress the PC's with their sumptuous hospitality?</p><p></p><p>Speaking of customs come up with some areas where the Myrtaal customs differ markedly from those of the PC's. Gives some room for role-playing and chances for PC's to cause some unintentional offense.</p><p></p><p>At least one Lost City out in the Dune Sea. Populated by Janni, demons, ghouls (an Arabic word!!)</p><p></p><p>And of course not all deserts are equal. Sounds like Myrtaal is large enough for a variety of different desert types. These areas can be given names to reflect what they're like. My old Arabian Knights campaign had the Painted Desert, the White Desert, the Sea of Sand (note more borrowing from atlases.)</p><p></p><p>Don't forget that the original assassins, the Hashish-sheen were from the middle east. Lots of drugs + promises of paradise = fanatics loyal to the Old Man of the Mountain. This guy was the head of a secret order of assassins and the terror of Caliphs and Emirs.</p><p></p><p>Raid the old 1E modules: Pharoah(?), Oasis of the White Palm and Lost Tomb of Martek for ideas. (I1 to I3 IIRC). One good one was the Glass Desert: a huge area of sand that had been fused to glass in an ancient magical battle. Sailing ships on runners screeching across it.</p><p></p><p>Religion, a touchy subject admittedly, can provide options for role-playing as well.</p><p></p><p>Desert Raiders. Slavers who sell to the Yuan-ti perhaps.</p><p></p><p>Historically the cities of the middle east were much bigger and more cosmopolitan than the cities of Europe. The riches of the world passed back and forth through them. Thieves guilds could be truly powerful in such places.</p><p></p><p>Exotic luxuries, like spices, perfumes, silks, are much more common and much cheaper than the PC's would be used to. Shopping expedition? Not for every gaming group.</p><p></p><p>Everyone they fight has weapon finesse and a masterwork scimitar. (not that unlikely, Dasascus steel was world famous in its day.)</p><p></p><p>anyway, just a few ideas. Hope they help, inspire.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="DrunkonDuty, post: 3741096, member: 54364"] For city names raid an atlas. Go for the less well known names like Isfahan. Samarkhand , although well known, is too evocative to be passed up. Middle Eastern customs are big on hospitality. Anyone can expect hospitality for a limited time. The Ottomans (among others) maintained caravanserais where anyone could stay in reasonable comfort, for free, for up to 3 days. Rich people might offer nearly unlimited hospitality for famous visitors (basking in the glory of having such famous guests.) Fights between rivals both trying to impress the PC's with their sumptuous hospitality? Speaking of customs come up with some areas where the Myrtaal customs differ markedly from those of the PC's. Gives some room for role-playing and chances for PC's to cause some unintentional offense. At least one Lost City out in the Dune Sea. Populated by Janni, demons, ghouls (an Arabic word!!) And of course not all deserts are equal. Sounds like Myrtaal is large enough for a variety of different desert types. These areas can be given names to reflect what they're like. My old Arabian Knights campaign had the Painted Desert, the White Desert, the Sea of Sand (note more borrowing from atlases.) Don't forget that the original assassins, the Hashish-sheen were from the middle east. Lots of drugs + promises of paradise = fanatics loyal to the Old Man of the Mountain. This guy was the head of a secret order of assassins and the terror of Caliphs and Emirs. Raid the old 1E modules: Pharoah(?), Oasis of the White Palm and Lost Tomb of Martek for ideas. (I1 to I3 IIRC). One good one was the Glass Desert: a huge area of sand that had been fused to glass in an ancient magical battle. Sailing ships on runners screeching across it. Religion, a touchy subject admittedly, can provide options for role-playing as well. Desert Raiders. Slavers who sell to the Yuan-ti perhaps. Historically the cities of the middle east were much bigger and more cosmopolitan than the cities of Europe. The riches of the world passed back and forth through them. Thieves guilds could be truly powerful in such places. Exotic luxuries, like spices, perfumes, silks, are much more common and much cheaper than the PC's would be used to. Shopping expedition? Not for every gaming group. Everyone they fight has weapon finesse and a masterwork scimitar. (not that unlikely, Dasascus steel was world famous in its day.) anyway, just a few ideas. Hope they help, inspire. [/QUOTE]
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