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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tonguez" data-source="post: 287512" data-attributes="member: 1125">Okay my campaign is set in Mythic Polynesia and although not quite as extensive as Shark World or Pinnacles of Azor'alq does have a lot of Underwater and Ship based adventuring - in otherwords we do have something of a model to follow by looking at the maritime cultures of the pacific.What is important to remember is that for maritime cultures the waves are a natural extension of the land and their ships (80ft doublehull vaka) are essential floating islands. It is also important to remember that the Surface of the sea does have its own geography made up of deep water swells, prevailing winds, wave deflection, reefs, sinks, doldrums and variations in salinity, temperature, water colour and average wave height in various areas which their navigators (Sea Ranger/Cleric) would know intimatelyWith this in mind it doesn't actually matter what each individual island is like (High volcanic, continental outcrop or low atol) in that all you need to know is how fertile the group of islands occupied by the Islanders are, what resources are available and how safe/easy it is to travel between them - for instance the people of Manahiki-Rakahanga (Cook Is) would travel between the two islands on a regular circuit harvesting one whilst the other regenerated - there use to be regular contact between Tahiti and Rarotonga (hence Tangiia a prince of Rarotonga was raised by the King of Tahiti) - however the valleys of Nuku Hiva were of limits to outsiders. Also luckily most of the High Islands in the pacific are quite fertile so feeding people wasn't too difficult)In Shark World the lives of Islanders might be more dangerous so populations are probably smaller (nothing like Giant Sharks and Sahuagin to enforce population controls!)WeaponsMaterials readily available include shell, shark teeth, bone, stone obsidian and jade, ironwood and any appropriate monster bits (giant ocotopus beak, tenacle and claw etcetc. You could use the stats straight from the core books (since everything is made of these same materials) and count ALL metal weapons as MasterworkAnother interesting type of armour is that of Kiribati which included woven armour and the barantauti (helmets made from inflated porcupine fish skin)* Woven armour (Thick hide?) is very effective against weapons made from sharks teeth etc as it entangles the teeth)CurrencyMost trade in the pacific was done through ritual gift exchange (a barter system) however certain items did exsist which were generally usable a currency. Shells (and shell necklaces) could be used, as could red feathers (natural occurance of the colour red is very rare in the Pacific and so red feathers were greatly treasured). Fine mats (woven and hemmed with red feathers)were often given as gifts and were essentially tradeable commodities. There are also the famous Yap stone money (stone rings whose ownership could was transferable). A fantasy would could use things like dragon scales or giant squid shell perhapsDamn you know for a Joke thread this has become a serious setting with heaps of potential (and yes I will be yoinking)</blockquote>

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