Greek, Roman, and my first campaign... HELP!

[Wanderlust]

Ok so, I'm about to run my first campaign. But, I'm in desperate need of help. I plan on the campaign starting in a kind of golden age based on Greek or Roman culture when at their respective heights. The problem is that I know very little about said cultures. I was hoping that some of you kind people might be able to help out there with some of the generics of daily life, but the real purpose of this post is that I'm currently interested in what the city layout would be like. Would there be some sort of village green? What about water supply? Irrigation? And, how exactly did irrigation work? What about defensive structures? Town walls were of the medieval era IIRC, so, were they merely dependant upon the Legions? And, what about the aristocracy? How would they defend their holdings and what would their holdings be like in a town?

And of course, if you have any other advice (or encouraging words) for a new DM (whether related to the above questions or not) it will be most assuredly welcome.



Wanderlust

 

[Old One]

Try These...

For General Roman History (including cultural items):

http://myron.sjsu.edu/ - Check links at the bottom of the page

http://www.roman-empire.net/

For Greek History:

http://www.museum.upenn.edu/Greek_World/Index.html - Lots of cultural stuff

http://www.fhw.gr/chronos/en/ - Cover Hellenic history from Stone Age to present

Hope those help...

~ Old One

 

[GILGAMESH]

Rent Caligula,........No just kidding. Old One your links are great!

 

[Benben]

Rent Caligula,........No just kidding.

In all seriousness I would highly recommend I Claudius for a look at the backstabbing lives of Roman nobility in the time of the Augustan ceasars.

You'll be able to rent it for cheap.

*WARNING* It's a 13 hour Masterpiece Theater production, so don't expect Gladiator level action or special effects.

 

[Maerdwyn]

I Claudius is great !

For a treatment of how to handle these cultures in D&D, try the 2e historical supplements The Glory of Rome and Age of Heroes

 

[Corey]

I Claudius is great !

For a treatment of how to handle these cultures in D&D, try the 2e historical supplements The Glory of Rome and Age of Heroes

The supplements can be downloaded for $5 a piece from:

http://store.yahoo.com/wizardsboutique/downloads-wotc-adnd2erusup.html

Also see:

http://www.livius.org/home.html

Corey

 

[Bragg Battleaxe]

You could always run a couple of modules first as a mini-campaign and THEN start your real deal. Unless you have some time, this sounds like it would take alot of planning to pull off the right way. I have run too many things I was excited about only to be disappointed because I really didn't prepare the way I should have. Are you going more for the Roman political theme or the Greek hero vs. terrible monsters theme? Seems to me these are very different.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

books

Why in the world would you run a campaign based on two cultures you know little about, thats one of the worst ideas I've ever heard?

Read "Caesar's Legion". Good book telling the story of Julius Caesar's rise to power and Legeion X.
It tells a good deal on the roman millitary from late republic to imperial time.

 

[mmadsen]

Re: books

Read "Caesar's Legion". Good book telling the story of Julius Caesar's rise to power and Legeion X. It tells a good deal on the roman millitary from late republic to imperial time.

And, of course, we've got an extended discussion of Caesar's Legion going on in another thread.