Emperor Valerian
First Post
Ok... both of those rock beyond belief 
Romance of the Three Kingdoms/Ancient China D&D? (my players KEEP OUT)
- Thread starter Emperor Valerian
- Start date
Hey guys... I don't know if you are aware, but Avalanche Press did a book on the 3 Kingdoms era called Jade and Steel.
The cover is a little cheesecake, but the contents are solid.
It covers the background and and a sample adventure.
It's an older book (for 3.0) but the contents are most useful for establishing the feel of the game and the campaign than the 'crunch' anyway.
I played a few games using it and it was good.
the ENWorld shop still shows it for sale.
Jade and Steel at the RPG Shop
The cover is a little cheesecake, but the contents are solid.
It covers the background and and a sample adventure.
It's an older book (for 3.0) but the contents are most useful for establishing the feel of the game and the campaign than the 'crunch' anyway.
I played a few games using it and it was good.
the ENWorld shop still shows it for sale.
Jade and Steel at the RPG Shop
cignus_pfaccari
First Post
Emperor Valerian said:
The DM took the Force points from Star Wars, and retitled them Bloodline Points...so, if you have the bloodline of the chief sky god of the pantheon, being appropriately heroic would get you one.
Their effectiveness varied based on the strength of the bloodline and your level; also, the Dark Side progression was stronger at lower levels but weaker at high levels. My character's minor Anduiras bloodline had him adding 5d6 to appropriate d20 rolls.
Sith weapons, from The Dark Side Sourcebook, add the Force points to damage. In addition, the energy stayed in there for a few rounds, so you could keep whacking people pretty hard, *if* you had the sith weapon (which had to be made out of a specially-forged mithral).
Brad
Ashanderai
Explorer
Emperor Valerian
First Post
Thanks... I'll take a look at both of them. Our first session isn't till next saturday, so there's some time to throw in stuff
Here is the shortened version of what I have so far for this homebrew:
Ak Konylu - Known as the 'Empire of a Thousand Cities,' and the 'Celestial Empire,' the whole of Ak Konylu, put together encompasses the largest and by far most powerful nation in the world.
However, Ak Konylu is currently in a state of confusion. The Son of Heaven that sat on the Jade Throne many years ago divided his realm into 16 provinces, setting a governor above each. As time has gone on, the Sons of Heaven have become weaker and more debased, allowing the power of the provincial governors to grow.
Now, the young boy Sun Wudi, only ten years old, sits on the Jade Throne. The Empress Dowager, Tsi-Chen, heads the Regency Council ruling in the young Emperor's name. Surrounding her are members of her factions, the court eunuchs, her family (the governors of the province of Bei), and the councillors following the teachings of Master Kongzhuo (the Daoist faction).
The court eunuchs vie among each other for power, and assassinations and intrigues are not all that uncommon. The councillors are strict and intolerant of any other form of thought that may pervade the Empire... most notably the teachings from the 'Empire Across the Mountains,' (Byzantium/Medieval Europe) and the more alarming teachings from a monk south of Ak Konylu's borders, one Asoka ('Buddhist faction').
The Empress' family as well tolerates no dissent. The Liang clan of Bei are renowned for their powers in Dao, and have no qualms using their wizardry to advance their claims. Rumors persist that dark magic abounds in the Empress' Quarters of the Forbidden Palace, though none can know for sure.
Surrounding Ak Konylu are a myriad of places and climates. To the north stretches the massive dessert of Shu, home to the Caliphs of Sand and the cities of the Slave Coast. To the norther, beyond these, is also the Princedom of Ryazan, renowned for its fur traders, and the dreaded horsemen of the Kara Kitai steppe (the 'Mongols')
To the west of Ak Konylu stretches the Silver Sea, for thousands of leagues until one comes into contact with the distant Kubalia islands. To the direct east of Ak Konylu lies one of her client kingdoms, the 'Empire' of Taisho. The Taishoyans are renowned warriors, their fights emphasizing speed and quickness. Their 'Emperor' bows to the Jade Throne, and a Shogun rules their land in reality.
Beyond Taisho to the east lies the massive Balarac Mountains, called the 'roof of the world.' Beyond their snowy heights lies the distant Holy Santoric Empire, the only realm to come close to Ak Konylu in size and power. Recently, missionaries from this far realm have begun arriving in Ak Konylu, attempting to spread their false religions (Pelor, Hieroneous, etc.). Few in Ak Konylu pay heed to these interlopers.
To the south lie three more of Ak Konylu's client kingdoms. Khmen is a small but well organized kingdom nestled against the Southron Mountains, centered around a Priest King in their capital of Ankyang. Next to them lies the poor, improvished mountain realm of Annas, a nation where its peoples have only just begun to found villages.
Finally, on the double delta of the great Yang-to and Tsi-deng Rivers lies the small realm of Chosun-Do. Its cities are as splendorous as those in Ak Konylu, its people industrious and inventive. Many of its citizens are gnomes, and their ingenious designs, ranging from armor clad sailing ships to primitive gliders keep this small realm safe.
The players will start in the north, in a region simply titled the 'Western Marches,' a military district that runs along the western part of Ak Konylu's northern border. Villages here are sparse and few between, and the local governor, General Lu Zicheng, cares little for their trouble; his charge is to supervise construction of the Desert Wall, as well as keeping Sand Raiders and Kara Kitai from raiding inside the borders of the Celestial Empire.
They start in the small village of Red Lotus, a town which has requested help from the governor in getting rid of a twisted bird-like beast that sweeps over their town by night, stealing children. The governor has declined to help, and now the townspeople are desperate for assistance...
EDIT - another important thing (that may or may not come into play depending on how sessions go)
While the majority of Ak Konylu's citizens are human, elven (the further south one goes), tabaxi (the closer to the Shu Desert one gets, or gnomish (Chosun-Do), the Imperial Family, as well as almost all of the governors and upper nobility are hengeyokai. Some of the hengeyokai races, such as the hengeyokai panthers, badgers and foxes, have interbred enough that their blood now flows in many commoners veins.
However, the ruling elite intermarries, to keep their blood pure. Thus the Empire is ruled by a race of hengeyokai tigers. I haven't decided yet if perhaps some racial animosity might come into play over the course of the campaign to help facilitate the collapse of the dynasty, and thus the need for national heros (a la Dynasty Warriors and Romance of the Three Kingdoms).
Here is the shortened version of what I have so far for this homebrew:
Ak Konylu - Known as the 'Empire of a Thousand Cities,' and the 'Celestial Empire,' the whole of Ak Konylu, put together encompasses the largest and by far most powerful nation in the world.
However, Ak Konylu is currently in a state of confusion. The Son of Heaven that sat on the Jade Throne many years ago divided his realm into 16 provinces, setting a governor above each. As time has gone on, the Sons of Heaven have become weaker and more debased, allowing the power of the provincial governors to grow.
Now, the young boy Sun Wudi, only ten years old, sits on the Jade Throne. The Empress Dowager, Tsi-Chen, heads the Regency Council ruling in the young Emperor's name. Surrounding her are members of her factions, the court eunuchs, her family (the governors of the province of Bei), and the councillors following the teachings of Master Kongzhuo (the Daoist faction).
The court eunuchs vie among each other for power, and assassinations and intrigues are not all that uncommon. The councillors are strict and intolerant of any other form of thought that may pervade the Empire... most notably the teachings from the 'Empire Across the Mountains,' (Byzantium/Medieval Europe) and the more alarming teachings from a monk south of Ak Konylu's borders, one Asoka ('Buddhist faction').
The Empress' family as well tolerates no dissent. The Liang clan of Bei are renowned for their powers in Dao, and have no qualms using their wizardry to advance their claims. Rumors persist that dark magic abounds in the Empress' Quarters of the Forbidden Palace, though none can know for sure.
Surrounding Ak Konylu are a myriad of places and climates. To the north stretches the massive dessert of Shu, home to the Caliphs of Sand and the cities of the Slave Coast. To the norther, beyond these, is also the Princedom of Ryazan, renowned for its fur traders, and the dreaded horsemen of the Kara Kitai steppe (the 'Mongols')
To the west of Ak Konylu stretches the Silver Sea, for thousands of leagues until one comes into contact with the distant Kubalia islands. To the direct east of Ak Konylu lies one of her client kingdoms, the 'Empire' of Taisho. The Taishoyans are renowned warriors, their fights emphasizing speed and quickness. Their 'Emperor' bows to the Jade Throne, and a Shogun rules their land in reality.
Beyond Taisho to the east lies the massive Balarac Mountains, called the 'roof of the world.' Beyond their snowy heights lies the distant Holy Santoric Empire, the only realm to come close to Ak Konylu in size and power. Recently, missionaries from this far realm have begun arriving in Ak Konylu, attempting to spread their false religions (Pelor, Hieroneous, etc.). Few in Ak Konylu pay heed to these interlopers.
To the south lie three more of Ak Konylu's client kingdoms. Khmen is a small but well organized kingdom nestled against the Southron Mountains, centered around a Priest King in their capital of Ankyang. Next to them lies the poor, improvished mountain realm of Annas, a nation where its peoples have only just begun to found villages.
Finally, on the double delta of the great Yang-to and Tsi-deng Rivers lies the small realm of Chosun-Do. Its cities are as splendorous as those in Ak Konylu, its people industrious and inventive. Many of its citizens are gnomes, and their ingenious designs, ranging from armor clad sailing ships to primitive gliders keep this small realm safe.
The players will start in the north, in a region simply titled the 'Western Marches,' a military district that runs along the western part of Ak Konylu's northern border. Villages here are sparse and few between, and the local governor, General Lu Zicheng, cares little for their trouble; his charge is to supervise construction of the Desert Wall, as well as keeping Sand Raiders and Kara Kitai from raiding inside the borders of the Celestial Empire.
They start in the small village of Red Lotus, a town which has requested help from the governor in getting rid of a twisted bird-like beast that sweeps over their town by night, stealing children. The governor has declined to help, and now the townspeople are desperate for assistance...
EDIT - another important thing (that may or may not come into play depending on how sessions go)
While the majority of Ak Konylu's citizens are human, elven (the further south one goes), tabaxi (the closer to the Shu Desert one gets, or gnomish (Chosun-Do), the Imperial Family, as well as almost all of the governors and upper nobility are hengeyokai. Some of the hengeyokai races, such as the hengeyokai panthers, badgers and foxes, have interbred enough that their blood now flows in many commoners veins.
However, the ruling elite intermarries, to keep their blood pure. Thus the Empire is ruled by a race of hengeyokai tigers. I haven't decided yet if perhaps some racial animosity might come into play over the course of the campaign to help facilitate the collapse of the dynasty, and thus the need for national heros (a la Dynasty Warriors and Romance of the Three Kingdoms).
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