[OD&D] Mythic Asian Fantasy in Two Easy Steps!

[jdrakeh]

I was thinking last night about alternatives to Standard-ish Western European Fantasy, and it struck me that OD&D (1974) is just a few degrees away from being a Mythic Asian Fantasy with a tiny bit of fluff repurposing. The thought process went kind of like this:

Hey! Spell-hurling warrior priests who kick ass in combat are a much closer analogue to Kung Fu monks than most clergymen to ever come out of Western Europe!

If I call priests "Monks" instead of "Clerics" and attribute their spells to meditation and focused Chi, rather than prayer, these guys are carbon copies of Kwai Chang Caine!

Magic-Users already scream Wushu Sorcerer, really. And Fighting Men need only equip the right weapons and armor to be soldiers or even wandering Ronin!

All that's really left to do is retool the weapons and armor lists to better suit an Asian setting!

So, I think I can essentially hack OD&D into something with Elemental Sorcerers, proud Samurai, and Kung Fu Monks in two easy steps. If you're familiar with the OD&D rules, are there any other slight modifications (not ground-up rewrites) that you can recommend in this vein? It seems like it might be a good way for me to burn up a weekend or two

[Edit: This hack assumes use of the three core booklets only, no Supplements.]
[Re-Edit: I was unaware that the term "Asiatic" was not politically correct, nor did I intend any offense by using it.]

 

[jdrakeh]

I'm bored, so I'm actually building a website for this. I hereby dub thee "White Box Hack"

 

[Mark Chance]

I was thinking last night about alternatives to Standard-ish Western European Fantasy, and it struck me that OD&D (1974) is just a few degrees away from being a Mythic Asian Fantasy with a tiny bit of fluff repurposing....

Interesting ideas. I've considered doing something similar with 3.5.

[Re-Edit: I was unaware that the term "Asiatic" was not politically correct, nor did I intend any offense by using it.]

Hmm. I wonder if the people at, say, Asiatic Medical Laboratories in Manila know about that?

 

[jdrakeh]

Hmm. I wonder if the people at, say, Asiatic Medical Laboratories in Manila know about that?

I think it's considered offensive when used casually, as I used it, much as "Oriental" is offensive to many people today. At any rate, I unintentionally upset somebody, so I did the next right thing and changed the post.

 

[Mark Chance]

I think it's considered offensive when used casually, as I used it, much as "Oriental" is offensive to many people today. At any rate, I unintentionally upset somebody, so I did the next right thing and changed the post.

There's nothing wrong with that!

So, you mentioned a website? Link?

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

...much as "Oriental" is offensive to many people today...

You're kidding? What's wrong with "oriental?"

 

[jdrakeh]

So, you mentioned a website? Link?

Oh, yes, I'm building it right now. . . when I finish it (probably tomorrow evening), I'll post it here:

Dragons of the East

[Edit: Link updated. Site now live, but under constuction.]

 

[jdrakeh]

You're kidding? What's wrong with "oriental?"

I'm sorry, but that discussion is not for these forums (no politics). If you'd like, you can always PM me over at Circvs, though and I'd be happy to provide you with links.

 

[Irda Ranger]

I think it's considered offensive when used casually, as I used it, much as "Oriental" is offensive to many people today. At any rate, I unintentionally upset somebody, so I did the next right thing and changed the post.

Bah. You can't cede interpretation of meaning to the readers, otherwise you will end up in a place where there are no words left to convey your meaning, for each of the reasonable choices has been ruled out by one listener or another.

It is the speaker's duty to use the best words possible, and to clarify his meaning if necessary, but it is also his right to use the word of his choice and the listener's duty understand them as they were meant. These are the only circumstances under which meaningful communication is possible.

And that's not political opinion, just a comment on how communication is possible and non-possible. I mean, how useful would these forums be if words like "fighter", "defender" or "initiative" were declared offensive by some parties and they demanded we cease using them? Things would go down hill quickly.


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If I call priests "Monks" instead of "Clerics" and attribute their spells to meditation and focused Chi, rather than prayer, these guys are carbon copies of Kwai Chang Caine!

What about Armor? Kwai Chang Caine doesn't have half-plate. Maybe allow him to add his Wis mod to AC, and then 2x Wis at 5, 10, etc.?

 

[jdrakeh]

What about Armor? Kwai Chang Caine doesn't have half-plate. Maybe allow him to add his Wis mod to AC, and then 2x Wis at 5, 10, etc.?

Good catch. I'm not sure if armorless monks in a fantasy setting are required, but if I decide that they are, your solution would be a good one. . . if character stats had mods in OD&D I guess I could always have them subtract (Stat-10)/2 from AC at Level 1 and step that up at subsequent levels.