DMing Orental Adventures

[Spike]

I am going to run a Orental Adventures campaign for several weeks, and i am wondering, what differences are there in this campaign setting than for example Forgotten Relms (asides from the lack of paladins). what elements would make it into a memorable short term campaign, i seriously need help with dis one, please help.


with distress
-Spike

 

[Black Omega]

Assuming you are using the default world of Rokugan, the biggest difference is likely that looting bodies is seriously frowned upon, and honor as a monolithic force is more important. As is being Lawful. It's more Lawful v. Chaotic than Good v. Evil.

Easiest thing would probably be rent a couple of Kurosawa movies for feel and ideas. Basically Rokugan is based on Japanese Samurai culture.

A traditional way of getting people from many different clans or backgrounds together is making them all Imperial Magistrates. Put them up against a cult of Bloodspeakers and you have room for some investigation, weird creatures, blood magic, and tough fights.

Really depends on what you want to do with the game, though.

 

[ForceUser]

And if you decide to not base it on medieval Japan, then you're going to need to do some research to get an understanding of the culture you want to portray. There is no other way of pulling off a non-Rokugan campaign unless you come from the culture yourself.

Japanese culture is cool but there are many other great ways you can take an OA game. Southeast Asia, ancient China and India all possess a wealth of lore and breathtaking mythology. You have to do research though.

 

[Black Omega]

Japanese culture is cool but there are many other great ways you can take an OA game. Southeast Asia, ancient China and India all possess a wealth of lore and breathtaking mythology. You have to do research though.

For a China game, wuxia probably would work well enough, especially if the players have seen some. For my Chinese martial arts game I watched All Men Are Brothers with the players, who already had seen other kung fu movies. The characters turned out pretty well, in a wild martial arts way. Cannon Fist! For lesser known places like Korea or Vietnam, it's tougher because you really do have to research and it's trickier getting the right feel.

 

[Samothdm]

Southeast Asia

If you do a Southeast Asia theme, just go to Wizards of the Coast's website and fine the web enhancement for Oriental Adventurers. It's a short 9-page PDF setting with different countires/cultures for a Southeast Asian-themed setting.

Green Ronin is also coming out with a Southeast Asian setting this summer. I think it's called Mindshadows.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

Yes, I highly highly recommend the Mahasarapa campaign setting off of the WoTC website.

There is more than enough information there to run a short campaign. The setting makes use of all of the rules in the OA book, and it is filled with a flavor that the players are unlikely to find in any other campaign.

I envy anyone who has the opportunity to really play with it.