Mythic Arabia/Persia for D&D 3.5?

[Apok]

Is it just me, or is there an amazing lack of good arabian-style material for D&D 3.5? I've seen books dealing with all sorts of cultures; Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Aztecs, Ainu, Han, Celt, and more pseudo-magical European stuff than you can shake a stick at.

Yet, for all this, there hasn't been anything that I've seen covering mythic arabia/persia since Al-Quadim (which was bloody fantastic). Am I missing something? Is there anything like this out now or on the horizon that I don't know about?

Any info would be much appreciated.

 

[Crothian]

Actually there is a lack of all the stuff you mentioned. Sure there are a few books here and there that cover it, but not enough by a long shot.

 

[Darkness]

A somewhat recent Dragon article had some 3.5 prestige classes for such a setting. They were pretty cool.

I don't have the issue handy right now, but a Google search indicates it was #321.

 

[trancejeremy]

Yeah, there's been a dearth of historical d20 sourcebooks.

You have some stuff from Avalance Press, including one mythic arabian/persian book, Endless Sands. Not bad, but not very good, either. Too short. (like most their books)

http://www.enworld.org/reviews.php?do=product&productid=118255

I know that I suggested something like this to mongoose on their boards (OGL Arabian Nights), and one of the mongoose staff writers seemed interested, but I dunno if they actually plan on doing it.

 

[Apok]

A somewhat recent Dragon article had some 3.5 prestige classes for such a setting. They were pretty cool.

I don't have the issue handy right now, but a Google search indicates it was #321.

Yes, the Barber, Corsair, Holy Slayer, and Mamluk. Very cool, thankyou for reminding me!

*sigh* I weep for the fact that Al-Quadim has yet to be licensed.

 

[Turjan]

Of course, there's always this website:

http://www.arabianadventures.org/

Just look for the pdf in the "Netbooks" section.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

There's also a considerably more realistic take: http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=1811&

 

[der_kluge]

I suspect WoTC would want far more for the AQ license (assuming they are willing to sell it at all), than most d20 publishers are willing to pay for.

Someone could always inquire, just for giggles. Maybe all the Al-Qadim fans could chip in and buy it, and then recoup some from the profits, sort of like stock.

 

[wingsandsword]

I suspect WoTC would want far more for the AQ license (assuming they are willing to sell it at all), than most d20 publishers are willing to pay for.

Someone could always inquire, just for giggles. Maybe all the Al-Qadim fans could chip in and buy it, and then recoup some from the profits, sort of like stock.

Actually, from what I understand, WotC is entertaining no new offers of licensing out settings, none at all. Probably because WotC wants to hold onto the IP themselves to have more of a mine to reach into when they run out of other things to publish, although I could only imagine they'd have to change the name:

Al-Qadim (the Ancient) sounds way too much like Al-Qaida (the Base) for middle America. I could only imagine some boy bringing home his shiny new Al-Qadim 3rd Edition Campaign Setting and hearing:

Son: "look what I got!"
Mom: "What! I let you get into this D&D thing because you insisted that it wasn't devil worship, but instead it's supporting them terrorists!"
*Mom takes book, burns it, and writes angry e-mails and organizes protests/boycotts*

 

[darkelfo]

Actually, from what I understand, WotC is entertaining no new offers of licensing out settings, none at all. Probably because WotC wants to hold onto the IP themselves to have more of a mine to reach into when they run out of other things to publish, although I could only imagine they'd have to change the name:

Al-Qadim (the Ancient) sounds way too much like Al-Qaida (the Base) for middle America. I could only imagine some boy bringing home his shiny new Al-Qadim 3rd Edition Campaign Setting and hearing:

Son: "look what I got!"
Mom: "What! I let you get into this D&D thing because you insisted that it wasn't devil worship, but instead it's supporting them terrorists!"
*Mom takes book, burns it, and writes angry e-mails and organizes protests/boycotts*

I agree. Its an unfortunate development. Al-Qadim preceeded Al-Qaida by many years, but in this knee-jerk enviroment, I doubt it would be well-recieved. WOTC would HAVE to rename it.

Al-Qadim was one of the most elegant and thoughtful products that TSR ever put out. Dragon Magazine #315 has a nice 3.3 Edition conversion for the Sha'ir class which is one of the most creative and orginal wizard/sorceror variants TSR/WOTC has put out.

Products like this that highlight middle-eastern culture, rather than focus on extreemism are very much needed.