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<blockquote data-quote="Zardnaar" data-source="post: 7494406" data-attributes="member: 6716779"><p>D&D has traditionally been more about a medieval fair type Europe with the Orient bieng a far off place. Fantasy Africa while sometimes existing in the world is often somewhat neglected with African themed type adventures generally being used to explore ruins and the like.</p><p></p><p> IRL the colonial powers left a negative impression and legacy as the industrial revolution and 19th century imperialism divided up Africa among the European powers. A fantasy Africa does not have to follow this at all however due to the technological differences between Europe and Africa being a lot closer in the "ye olde medieval" D&Dism than the real life 19th century. The Europeans sailed around Africa with a few outposts, mostly to reach Asia. Islam spread around the Horn of Africa down to Zanzibar and in the west into what is now Mali and Nigeria. You also get to play various African nations in games such as Crusader Kings 2 and Europa Unversalis IV where you can do things like create a Jewish kingdom or invade Europe as Songhai (or Mali etc). It was games such as these where I learnt a bit more about the African nations and powers that existed.</p><p></p><p>Anyway here are some of my ideas.</p><p></p><p> Egypt. </p><p></p><p> Fantasy Egypt is well represented in the D&D worlds such as Forgotten Realms (Mulhorand), Mystara (Nithia), Greyhawk (Desert of Desolation) and even Darksun (Nibenay). In modern settings fantasy Egypt also exists in Midgard (Nuria Natal)and Golarion (Osirion)and the Egyptian Pantheon is also in the PHB. You have a wide variety of options here from the 30 dynasty's to pick your version of Egypt. You can go with a ruin filled land or Egypt can be at the height of its power. Its also not a bad pace to place beings like Kenku, Gnolls, Minotaurs, Tabaxi, Rakasata etc and such beings can have fluff different from the D&D norms and they can be blessed beings in these lands or outright replacements for the humans. </p><p></p><p>Kush</p><p>IRL Kush was the land south of Egypt and heavily influenced by them and a source of gold for Egypt. This influence went as far as pyramid building and worshipping the Egyptian gods along with ruling Egypt itself- the black Pharaohs. </p><p></p><p>Berber States</p><p></p><p> The Berber states were slave states in modern Morocco, Algeria and Tunis. D&D has old modules such as the Slave Lords and these guys would be decent idea for a fantasy replacement. </p><p> </p><p>Carthage</p><p></p><p> Carthage was a rich city founded by the Phoencians in modern day Tunis. It took the Romans 3 wars to destroy them (the last was more of a massacre). Carthage was fantastically rich and even if it has been destroyed if you have ever read the Sunbird by Wilbur Smith you can have a Neo Carthagian state founded by refugees exist somewhere. </p><p></p><p>Greek colonies</p><p> The ancient Greeks also colonized north Africa with Cyrene perhaps being the most famous. The Greek Pantheon is also in the PHB. </p><p></p><p>Mali</p><p> IRL Mali/Timbuktu was famous for its gold. One of its rulers went on pilgrimage to Mecca via Egypt and spent so much money he deflated the price of gold. </p><p></p><p>Songhai</p><p> To the east of Mali the Songhai kingdom rose and eventually conquered Mali itself before being destroyed by Morocco which had access to firearms. In Europa Universalis IV they are also known as the African Prussia as they are very militaristic so in a fantasy settling a war god, battlemages or elite troops are all viable. </p><p></p><p> Makuria</p><p> A later kingdom that arose in roughly the same area as ancient Kush. </p><p></p><p>Ethiopia. </p><p> Ethiopia was (and still is) a Coptic Christian country with Islamic neighbours. Additionally it was never colonised being the sole remaining African country although it was briefly over run by Mussolini's Italy. Ethiopia is a mountainous country with several volcanoes as it straddles the great rift. Some sort of national deity and perhaps Dwarves or a human/Dwarf kingdom worshipping said deity would be a fantasy equivalent. </p><p></p><p>Great Zimbabwe. </p><p> Not a huge amount is known but when discovered in the 19th century it was believed that the ruins were not of African origin (they are). In a fantasy setting the civilisation is either still around or the ruins are of an older perhaps non human origin. </p><p></p><p>Zanzibar/Kilwa</p><p></p><p> This area of Africa was a coastal and island based sultanate to export resources up to the Islamic world along with trade in the Indian ocean. A disputed find has Kilwa currency turn up as fare away as Australia. It became a melting pot of African and Persia-Arab culture. </p><p></p><p>Ajuraan</p><p> The Ajuran sultanate had hydraulic engineering in an area of Africa which is now Somalia and Ethiopia. The Ajruan Empire was the 1st African nation to send ambassadors as far as China along with trans Indian ocean trade with SEA.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Zardnaar, post: 7494406, member: 6716779"] D&D has traditionally been more about a medieval fair type Europe with the Orient bieng a far off place. Fantasy Africa while sometimes existing in the world is often somewhat neglected with African themed type adventures generally being used to explore ruins and the like. IRL the colonial powers left a negative impression and legacy as the industrial revolution and 19th century imperialism divided up Africa among the European powers. A fantasy Africa does not have to follow this at all however due to the technological differences between Europe and Africa being a lot closer in the "ye olde medieval" D&Dism than the real life 19th century. The Europeans sailed around Africa with a few outposts, mostly to reach Asia. Islam spread around the Horn of Africa down to Zanzibar and in the west into what is now Mali and Nigeria. You also get to play various African nations in games such as Crusader Kings 2 and Europa Unversalis IV where you can do things like create a Jewish kingdom or invade Europe as Songhai (or Mali etc). It was games such as these where I learnt a bit more about the African nations and powers that existed. Anyway here are some of my ideas. Egypt. Fantasy Egypt is well represented in the D&D worlds such as Forgotten Realms (Mulhorand), Mystara (Nithia), Greyhawk (Desert of Desolation) and even Darksun (Nibenay). In modern settings fantasy Egypt also exists in Midgard (Nuria Natal)and Golarion (Osirion)and the Egyptian Pantheon is also in the PHB. You have a wide variety of options here from the 30 dynasty's to pick your version of Egypt. You can go with a ruin filled land or Egypt can be at the height of its power. Its also not a bad pace to place beings like Kenku, Gnolls, Minotaurs, Tabaxi, Rakasata etc and such beings can have fluff different from the D&D norms and they can be blessed beings in these lands or outright replacements for the humans. Kush IRL Kush was the land south of Egypt and heavily influenced by them and a source of gold for Egypt. This influence went as far as pyramid building and worshipping the Egyptian gods along with ruling Egypt itself- the black Pharaohs. Berber States The Berber states were slave states in modern Morocco, Algeria and Tunis. D&D has old modules such as the Slave Lords and these guys would be decent idea for a fantasy replacement. Carthage Carthage was a rich city founded by the Phoencians in modern day Tunis. It took the Romans 3 wars to destroy them (the last was more of a massacre). Carthage was fantastically rich and even if it has been destroyed if you have ever read the Sunbird by Wilbur Smith you can have a Neo Carthagian state founded by refugees exist somewhere. Greek colonies The ancient Greeks also colonized north Africa with Cyrene perhaps being the most famous. The Greek Pantheon is also in the PHB. Mali IRL Mali/Timbuktu was famous for its gold. One of its rulers went on pilgrimage to Mecca via Egypt and spent so much money he deflated the price of gold. Songhai To the east of Mali the Songhai kingdom rose and eventually conquered Mali itself before being destroyed by Morocco which had access to firearms. In Europa Universalis IV they are also known as the African Prussia as they are very militaristic so in a fantasy settling a war god, battlemages or elite troops are all viable. Makuria A later kingdom that arose in roughly the same area as ancient Kush. Ethiopia. Ethiopia was (and still is) a Coptic Christian country with Islamic neighbours. Additionally it was never colonised being the sole remaining African country although it was briefly over run by Mussolini's Italy. Ethiopia is a mountainous country with several volcanoes as it straddles the great rift. Some sort of national deity and perhaps Dwarves or a human/Dwarf kingdom worshipping said deity would be a fantasy equivalent. Great Zimbabwe. Not a huge amount is known but when discovered in the 19th century it was believed that the ruins were not of African origin (they are). In a fantasy setting the civilisation is either still around or the ruins are of an older perhaps non human origin. Zanzibar/Kilwa This area of Africa was a coastal and island based sultanate to export resources up to the Islamic world along with trade in the Indian ocean. A disputed find has Kilwa currency turn up as fare away as Australia. It became a melting pot of African and Persia-Arab culture. Ajuraan The Ajuran sultanate had hydraulic engineering in an area of Africa which is now Somalia and Ethiopia. The Ajruan Empire was the 1st African nation to send ambassadors as far as China along with trans Indian ocean trade with SEA. [/QUOTE]
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