Lawrence of Arabica
First Post
It's not a perfect fit, but Slaine has a somewhat Celtic, early medieval feel to it.
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NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
Is there a D20 Dark Ages book available?
- Thread starter A2Z
- Start date
Desdichado
Hero
Cool. Don't forget the Byzantine Empire, too!
One cool resource, which with any luck you can find in a library, are the Osprey Military Press books. Sure, they're light on history, and focus more on the military and soldiers, but that's actually OK. There are some great pictures, especially in the books illustrated by Angus McBride, that you can use as well.
I'd recommend:
Not only do they give a pretty good overview, and generally have great art, but they also have great further reading lists.
Although that may be entirely more research than you're interested in...
One cool resource, which with any luck you can find in a library, are the Osprey Military Press books. Sure, they're light on history, and focus more on the military and soldiers, but that's actually OK. There are some great pictures, especially in the books illustrated by Angus McBride, that you can use as well.
I'd recommend:
- Saxon, Viking and Norman
- Byzantine Armies 886-118
- The Armies of Islam 7th-11th Century
- The Age of Charlamagne
- Hungary and the Fall of Eastern Europe 1000-1568
- The Age of Tamerlane
- Armies of the Muslim Conquest
- Byzantine Armies AD 1118-1461
- Armies of Medieval Russia 750-1250
- Medieval Russian Armies 1250-1500
- Medieval Scandinavian Armies 1100-1300
- The Vikings
- Viking Hersir
- Anglo-Saxon Thegn AD 449–1066
Not only do they give a pretty good overview, and generally have great art, but they also have great further reading lists.
Although that may be entirely more research than you're interested in...
Last edited:
Lars Porsenna
First Post
For any general overview of the Middle Ages I always reccommend Warren G Hollister's Medieval Europe: A Short History. Emminently readable -- and even entertaining at points -- its a great resource. Amazon has it listed for almost $50 for a pb (!!! I bought mine new for less than $30 around 5 years ago), but hunt around at the college used text websites (IIRC www.follett.com is one) or even at the college bookstore if you live near one. Beyond that I'll second the reccomendation for Ospreys. Although most of mine are from a later period, the medieval Ospreys -- especially the later ones -- are excellent. I would avoid Normans, Vikings, and Saxons] which is an older title and not so good anymore. Although as one poster mentioned above they are "history lite," I think that's unfair as they really explore topics that are either not in vogue or just not popular amongst professional historians. I personally found In Search of the Dark Ages interesting but again history lite; a more focused or professional book covers the same ground and more. Last but not least I would pick up a copy of History of the Franks which covers part of this period, and is very illuminating on post Roman politics, Germanic culture, and the relationship between the new German kingdoms and the old Roman civilization.
BTW, if you have other questions, drop me a line. I have a history degree, and although I concentrated in a later period (the 12th C Rennaisance and the Late MA), I might be able to help or dig around for more resources.
Damon.
BTW, if you have other questions, drop me a line. I have a history degree, and although I concentrated in a later period (the 12th C Rennaisance and the Late MA), I might be able to help or dig around for more resources.
Damon.
qstor
Adventurer
Any good resources for maps of England and Wales?
Getting to mechanics...what classes would everyone allow?
I started writing up a campaign based on the article in Dragon #257 and was thinking of leaving out the sorcerer and monk and introducing the Green Ronin witch class and the shaman from Complete Divine.
For races no gnomes, half orcs or halfings and using goblins, humans, dwarves, 1/2 trow (from Dragon #257) and elves.
Most of the fey and elves would be from the Plane of Faerie from the Manual of the Planes.
For magic I was going to lose fireball, lightning bolt, magic missle and some more of the higher more powerful spells like forcecage and prismatic spray.
Mike
Getting to mechanics...what classes would everyone allow?
I started writing up a campaign based on the article in Dragon #257 and was thinking of leaving out the sorcerer and monk and introducing the Green Ronin witch class and the shaman from Complete Divine.
For races no gnomes, half orcs or halfings and using goblins, humans, dwarves, 1/2 trow (from Dragon #257) and elves.
Most of the fey and elves would be from the Plane of Faerie from the Manual of the Planes.
For magic I was going to lose fireball, lightning bolt, magic missle and some more of the higher more powerful spells like forcecage and prismatic spray.
Mike
A2Z
Adventurer
Thanks to everyone who’s recommended some sources already.
Okay, I’ve been thinking about what I’d direction I’d like to take a Dark Ages campaign should I get the chance to run one. Keep in mind that I’m looking to run a fairly normal D&D game. I’m not looking to tweak the rules too much. I would include elves, dwarves and some other humanoids, although probably not as player characters right away. I’m also not going to restrict classes. If someone wanted to play a monk or a paladin I’d find some way to accommodate them.
I’d set the campaign in or shortly before the year 800CE during the height of the Carolingians rule. The initial campaign would be set along the southern coast of the Baltic Sea however. So I’m going to need more info on the Slavic tribes of that era as well as their neighbors, the Finns, Eurasians and Franks.
I realize there isn’t going to be one source for all the information I need so if anyone could recommend any good books with information on any of these cultures during the early middle-ages (Preferably with lots of maps);
Slavs and the peoples east of the Franks stretching from the Black Sea to the Baltic, Finns, Scandinavians and the lands north of the North Sea and Baltic, Franks and the Frankish Empire. While I’m at it I may as well throw in England and Great Britain.
Now for a run down of the campaign. The main antagonist is somewhat your typical evil D&D wizard seeking to take over the world. Merovius II true king of the Franks and heir to the Holy Roman Empire. Born Dagobert IV he is the son of the late King Theodoric IV and heir of the Merovingians. I haven’t yet figured out why he wouldn’t have inherited the throne after his father died, however I found a note that Theodoric was a puppet under Charles Martel so that works well with Merovius’ history. I figure he’ll have fled when the Carolingians came to power.
Eventually he ended up in the North (somewhere in modern Finland) and, long story short, ended up making a pact with your typical evil god of undeath. I’ve got ideas for this god and how he/she/it will tie into Christianity but I won’t go into it right now. So, after taking the name Merovius the new king set about, with the help of undead lieutenants, carving a kingdom in the north.
Just a note, Merovius actually believes he is the heir of Christ. I like the idea that the Merovingians are descended from Jesus and want to use that. This evil god he’s in league with is using Merovius’ beliefs to control him. I also want to incorporate Merovius’ search for three holy relics of the church. I read somewhere that the Merovingians were supposed to be the keepers of the Holy Grail, while Charlemagne was supposed to have the Lance that pierced Jesus on the cross. I’m going to assume that the Grail was lost and Merovius’ is seeking both the Grail and the Lance as well as a third artifact. What that third artifact is I’m not sure just yet and could use some ideas. A couple possibilities include the crown of thorns or the shroud of Turin (by another name during this era of course).
Now, I’m not entirely sure of how the characters will become involved. In order to threaten the Frankish Empire Merovius’ armies would have to pass through the PCs homelands. However I may also want to have the PCs recruited by one of the pagan gods. I’m thinking of using the Horned One, or his Slavic equivalent, in this capacity. The players should come in conflict with the undead lieutenants first as they search for the holy relics. Eventually though they should head north to threaten Merovius in his own lands.
Well, I’ll leave it there for now. Any ideas are welcome as I’m just brain storming right now.
Okay, I’ve been thinking about what I’d direction I’d like to take a Dark Ages campaign should I get the chance to run one. Keep in mind that I’m looking to run a fairly normal D&D game. I’m not looking to tweak the rules too much. I would include elves, dwarves and some other humanoids, although probably not as player characters right away. I’m also not going to restrict classes. If someone wanted to play a monk or a paladin I’d find some way to accommodate them.
I’d set the campaign in or shortly before the year 800CE during the height of the Carolingians rule. The initial campaign would be set along the southern coast of the Baltic Sea however. So I’m going to need more info on the Slavic tribes of that era as well as their neighbors, the Finns, Eurasians and Franks.
I realize there isn’t going to be one source for all the information I need so if anyone could recommend any good books with information on any of these cultures during the early middle-ages (Preferably with lots of maps);
Slavs and the peoples east of the Franks stretching from the Black Sea to the Baltic, Finns, Scandinavians and the lands north of the North Sea and Baltic, Franks and the Frankish Empire. While I’m at it I may as well throw in England and Great Britain.
Now for a run down of the campaign. The main antagonist is somewhat your typical evil D&D wizard seeking to take over the world. Merovius II true king of the Franks and heir to the Holy Roman Empire. Born Dagobert IV he is the son of the late King Theodoric IV and heir of the Merovingians. I haven’t yet figured out why he wouldn’t have inherited the throne after his father died, however I found a note that Theodoric was a puppet under Charles Martel so that works well with Merovius’ history. I figure he’ll have fled when the Carolingians came to power.
Eventually he ended up in the North (somewhere in modern Finland) and, long story short, ended up making a pact with your typical evil god of undeath. I’ve got ideas for this god and how he/she/it will tie into Christianity but I won’t go into it right now. So, after taking the name Merovius the new king set about, with the help of undead lieutenants, carving a kingdom in the north.
Just a note, Merovius actually believes he is the heir of Christ. I like the idea that the Merovingians are descended from Jesus and want to use that. This evil god he’s in league with is using Merovius’ beliefs to control him. I also want to incorporate Merovius’ search for three holy relics of the church. I read somewhere that the Merovingians were supposed to be the keepers of the Holy Grail, while Charlemagne was supposed to have the Lance that pierced Jesus on the cross. I’m going to assume that the Grail was lost and Merovius’ is seeking both the Grail and the Lance as well as a third artifact. What that third artifact is I’m not sure just yet and could use some ideas. A couple possibilities include the crown of thorns or the shroud of Turin (by another name during this era of course).
Now, I’m not entirely sure of how the characters will become involved. In order to threaten the Frankish Empire Merovius’ armies would have to pass through the PCs homelands. However I may also want to have the PCs recruited by one of the pagan gods. I’m thinking of using the Horned One, or his Slavic equivalent, in this capacity. The players should come in conflict with the undead lieutenants first as they search for the holy relics. Eventually though they should head north to threaten Merovius in his own lands.
Well, I’ll leave it there for now. Any ideas are welcome as I’m just brain storming right now.
MonsterMash
First Post
Pisces_CEO
First Post
Captif D'Yvoire Redux
Our dual system T&T / d20 gamebooks in the "CD" range (the Yvoire saga) are all set in the Tenth Century AD of a fantasy earth. The first one is now available on DriveThruRPG and we also have a free resources official support page for Earth-Yvoire here:
Link:
http://www.piscesallmedia.com/golden/yvcon.html
Our dual system T&T / d20 gamebooks in the "CD" range (the Yvoire saga) are all set in the Tenth Century AD of a fantasy earth. The first one is now available on DriveThruRPG and we also have a free resources official support page for Earth-Yvoire here:
Link:
http://www.piscesallmedia.com/golden/yvcon.html
A2Z
Adventurer
If you want maps the University of Texas website has loads of them for free. http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/MonsterMash said:
A2Z said:
The best gaming-style sourcebooks on culture/government/etc. I've seen would probably be all the Harn stuff. It's set on a fantasy world, but the designers tend to aim for an authentic AD1000ish atmosphere. If you can find it, the Ivinia regional sourcebook is a pretty nice implementation of a nordic culture on the tail end of the viking period. The Harn sourcebook itself describes a dark ages Britain-kinda place. None are rules-specific.
http://www.lythia.com/ is probably the best starting point for finding Harn resources on the web.
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