Primitive campaign setting

[rounser]

Thanks for all the feed back but what prc's would you allow in such a game? Any comments are welcome.

Odds are that the 3E Jungle Book from the RPGA's Living Jungle campaign is exactly the sort of thing you're looking for. Prestige classes, weapons etc. for a primitive style campaign.

EDIT: I suggest doing a right-click "Save As" on the above pdf link. It's a big document to view in the browser.

 

[Voneth]

You could also get some stealable ideas from TSR's Jakandor: Island of War. The various tribes in the book have a fervent dislike for Wizard and Sorcerer magic.

 

[mmadsen]

Macuahuitl

I'm inclined to make a macuahuitl a special, almost magical, weapon -- perhaps a masterwork shortsword or bastard sword (depending on the length). A neolithic empire, like the Aztec's, might have armies of Jaguar Warriors armed with macuahuitl, but typical paleolithic tribesmen should wield stone axes and spears.

(Note: A macuahuitl should probably get +1 to damage, not to hit. It's a wooden club with razor-sharp obsidian flakes for a blade, not a Damascus-steel sword.)

 

[mmadsen]

Weapon types - Short clubs and long clubs (halberds)...

Long clubs are halberds? Whatever happened to quarterstaves and greatclubs?

 

[Mouseferatu]

How soon is the campaign starting? If it's not until next month, I strongly recommend you take a look at From Stone to Steel, upcoming from MonkeyGod Enterprises. (And no, before anyone accuses me of pimping my own stuff, that's not one of the books I worked on for them. ) It's got pretty much everything you could want on weapons and armor from an enormous variety of cultures and time periods, including several that could easily fit your working definition of primitive.

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

download the FREE 100 page NYAMBE .pdf from

http://www.nyambe.com/downloads.htm

includes over 13 pages of "low-tech" arms & armors

from Barbed spears to Wooden plate armor


This is sure to have some great ideas for your campaign.

This is the longest most detailed "preview" I have ever, and probably ever will see for a new d20 product. Hopefully someone will buy me the full Nyambe book for Christmas!

and WOW - Marius Delphus - I really want YOU around the next time I have a question. You da man!

 

[Marius Delphus]

Well, I wish I had something to add other than "thanks." But thanks! Happy to help.

EDIT: I do have something to add: Profession skills. Need a new list of Profession skills. And consider Dark Sun and Conan for other thematic ideas (specifically, the evil sorceror-king).

And I second the suggestion to check out the Nyambe download. Awesome stuff... more grist for the mill! (Thanks for pointing it out and linking!)

 

[Tonguez]

Long clubs are halberds? Whatever happened to quarterstaves and greatclubs?

Different set of long clubs

The Taiaha for instance whilst spear-like is not a spear.

The long shaft flares halfway along the length to form a edged blade and this blade is the main striking edge of the weapon.
The point is used for 'finishing moves' (ie a spearpoint to the throat/groin/eye)

It could be described as a staff but the edges and point are more correctly 'halberd' like

Staff are also used of course (pouwhenua) as are modified paddles (hoe)

 

[Omega Lord]

One interesting facet you might consider adding is psionics (come on now you can never have enough psionics ). They could be something along the lines of "mind shamans" or gurus. Psiwarriors could be the chosen champions of the tribe. I got a wicked idea for a primiative campaign- The soulknife. His mind is the best weapon he has. Ohhh i get tingley just thinking about it.

Pyrokeneticist- fire is an important but dangerous facet of primative life. I can imagine a tribe worshiping a "fire lord".

Also as far as armor, i would think that anytime a dragon is slain its scales would be used to create armor.

Just my 2 coppers.

 

[mmadsen]

The Taiaha for instance whilst spear-like is not a spear. The long shaft flares halfway along the length to form a edged blade and this blade is the main striking edge of the weapon. The point is used for 'finishing moves' (ie a spearpoint to the throat/groin/eye). It could be described as a staff but the edges and point are more correctly 'halberd' like.

So it's a slashing spear, right? I'd probably call it a shortspear, only usable as a slashing or piercing weapon. A halberd is such a big ol' axe; I can see why it gets 1d10 damage.