D&D General Mystara Musings [Discussion]

[cbwjm]

I do love mystara, it was probably the first dnd setting I even knew about via the brief overview in the rules cyclopedia, but it would be years before I read more about it.

Bruce Heard's articles where they flew about exploring areas of the world were fun and introduced more lore.

I like that there are two large clashing empires, both keeping each other in check, one being a warrior culture the other a wizard culture.

Glantri is a favourite nation, made up of so many different cultures, including spanish elves opposing the more standard elves, scottish and french principalities, later on they let in a kobold.

Also love the concept of the hollow world, cultures saved by the immortals which are preserved as they were at the time of being shifted to the hollow world.

 

[David Howery]

never used the Mystara setting itself, but I looted it for ideas for other campaigns. Mystara always struck me as rather odd, with the randomized 'based on real Earth cultures' just tossed here and there....

 

[Tonguez]

never used the Mystara setting itself, but I looted it for ideas for other campaigns. Mystara always struck me as rather odd, with the randomized 'based on real Earth cultures' just tossed here and there....

so when you get down to it, how does that differ from the Forgotten Realms?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

so when you get down to it, how does that differ from the Forgotten Realms?

Market penetration.

 

[David Howery]

so when you get down to it, how does that differ from the Forgotten Realms?

the Realms did a bit of that (native Alaskan culture in the middle of it all?), but in general, all the medievalish Europe type places were on one coast, all the far eastern places were on the other, the Mongolish culture in the middle, Native Americans across a big ocean, Middle Easternish places far away, etc. Mystara has a Mongolish culture right in the middle of several Norseish places on one side, and dwarves, orcs, and the Glantri mages on the other. And a big Native American place down there by Darokin (a Venice merchant place), and a Bedouin place right below the Norse ones, etc. It's not a bad world, and some very good modules were set in it, but the 'kitchen sink' aspect of it really shows.;..

 

[The Glen]

The one thing the fans of the setting really like is the real world equivalents. Mystara goes all in. And they target ones that don't get a lot of love in most settings. Thyatis is equal parts byzantines, holy Roman empire and ancient Rome. We've got Belgian gnomes. It does make it easy to explain the setting to new players, and it makes for some rather interesting party mixes.

 

[Byrd]

... Thyatis is equal parts byzantines, holy Roman empire and ancient Rome. ...

With a lovely serving of Storm Troopers Soldiers on the side.

ETA: Which reminds me I need to copy the campaign treachery levels into my Sigil notes...

 

[The Glen]

For some reason dressed like Hittites. Until later art decided they needed to be prussians

 

[Byrd]

For some reason dressed like Hittites. Until later art decided they needed to be prussians

Part[hian] shot Oblique reference to Rome vs. Parthia?

 

[The Glen]

From what I understand a miscommunication between the artist and the writer