Romanesque world setting?

[KnowTheToe]

I am wondering if there is a campaign setting established that sets up a romanesque world? By this I mean advanced architecture, literature, philosophy, a strong ruling empire. Rome is one of the staple foundations used for D&D and I can't think of a setting focusing on it. Please, tell me I am overlooking something and tell me where to find it?

 

[RSKennan]

Even though it never took off, Morningstar had a Rome-inspired Empire as its focus.

 

[DMH]

Morningstar (Goodman) is probably what you are looking for. Hunt:Rise of Evil by Mystic Eye has a Rome like empire but that has less description than Morningstar.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

There is a BUNCH of this kind of thing over at Hinterwelt Enterprises.

http://roma.hinterwelt.com/

Incidentally, I had a bit of an email exchange with Bill of Hinterwelt. Nice guy.

 

[Nisarg]

If what you're looking for is just roman-themed nations in RPG settings, don't overlook the Empire of Thyatis in the original D&D known world setting, Mystara.

Dawn of the Emperors is the box set that details Thyatis, and its arch-nemesis Alphatia.

Also in the Mystara Hollow World setting, there's the Milenian Empire, which is really more greek than roman, but has that same classical empire feel. That setting also has the Nithians, who are blatantly Egyptian.

On the other hand, if you're looking for a setting that has a single "world-wide" (or continent-wide) empire that captures the "sole power" feel of Rome when it was at its peak, I don't think I can help you with that.
I think that would make for a very interesting setting; sadly, I haven't been able to see Morningstar.. is it like that?

Nisarg

 

[Nellisir]

"Imperial Rome", part of Green Ronin's Mythic Vistas line, is coming out in a few months.


Cheers
Nell.

 

[Faraer]

Glorantha and Tékumel -- by a wide margin the greatest secondary worlds created in RPG contexts -- both have 'advanced architecture, literature, philosophy, a strong ruling empire'.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

The Coryani empire in the Arcanis setting is rather Romanesque (to put it mildly). It's no longer continent-wide, but it is certainly got the kind of Roman feeling you seem to be looking for.

 

[fusangite]

Damn! I was hoping this thread would be about worlds from the era that Romanesque architecture was produced, Late Antiquity (310-600). Now that seems like an incredibly cool period, the transition from the Roman Empire to the Medieval period, and a time when the world was viewed as being suffused with magic.

Has anyone run a game or come across a supplement that tries for the feel of this time?

 

[DMH]

On the other hand, if you're looking for a setting that has a single "world-wide" (or continent-wide) empire that captures the "sole power" feel of Rome when it was at its peak, I don't think I can help you with that.
I think that would make for a very interesting setting; sadly, I haven't been able to see Morningstar.. is it like that?

It is a power, but the dragon nation could probably wipe the floor with it. Brendir has the longest write up of the 9 nations and does have a very strong Roman feel to it. It even has a small colony on a nearby continent.