[Mildly OT] Three Kingdoms D20

[Andrew D. Gable]

I apologize in advance, 'cause if you're not familiar with the book, some of these names will look Greek to you (well, Chinese, LOL). But even if you're not, still browse: you may have some input that'll be useful.

I've been reading this book for a while now (interest was sparked by Dynasty Warriors 4). Anyway, I've been thinking of doing it up in D20, and maybe even publishing it. It's something I think could be really neat if done well. Since it would be an Open game, it would have to have all new classes or use the ones from the PHB, and also could include little content exclusively the invention of the games, such as names (Sun Shang Xiang is back to being merely Lady Sun, and Zhen Ji is back to merely Lady/Empress Zhen), and also altering people's apparent classes - there would be few women of martial classes, despite the games.

Bonus is: this could easily double as or incorporate a D20 mass-combat wargame, something that's lacking.

So, for classes, I'm thinking (new classes are asterisked):

Barbarian (Nanman, Qiang, and Wuhuan natives)
*Dancer (for Diaochan types)
Druid (a good fit for the wu/shaman pretty closely)
Fighter (most everybody)
Siu-Yan (Green Ronin's witch class, but a bit more maledictive)
Wu (Green Ronin's shaman class)
*Wu-Jen (none showed up in Three Kingdoms, but I need an arcanist)

I'm also thinking about an Oath of Brotherhood feat (for things like the Peach Garden Brotherhood and the Five Tiger Generals) but haven't worked out any rules. I've decided that most characters starting around the Yellow Turban Rebellion (start of the novel) will be level 3, and have one or two levels in an NPC class, mostly aristocrat, expert, and commoner (as they were members of the militia the Emperor raised from among the common folk). BTW, I'll likely set it that there are two eras of play: Yellow Turban Rebellion and Height of the Three Kingdoms.

Also, for those knowledgable in Chinese history, would the core cleric class or something akin to OA's sohei be more appropriate for Taoist/Buddhist priests? I'm thinking maybe core cleric, to give 'em more of a fighting edge. Maybe at most, limit their weapon selections like the druid.

Any thoughts?

Edit: Posting here 'cause general discussion on ancient Chinese history is welcome.

 

[garyh]

Check out this page:

http://www.romancingcathay.com/newsite/products.html

...most of the way down. That may be what you're looking for. I also recall that there was a grassroots fan site for a R3K d20 game, but I can't find it.

 

[Emiricol]

Bonus is: this could easily double as or incorporate a D20 mass-combat wargame, something that's lacking.[/i]

There's already several - check out Cry Havoc from Malhavoc Press for a detailed one, or the Quintissential Fighter for a simple mass combat system.

The rest of your idea is pretty interesting.

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

Emiricol: There are? Whoops. Well, it'll have one in it, LOL.

Garyh: Yea, I knew about them. But they're using D20 Modern, and I think plain old DnD would work better.