Soucres for medieval Eastern Europe

[Afrodyte]

After watching Van Helsing, I've realized that the campaign idea I have in mind would best take place in an area with a distinctly Eastern European flavor. Can someone direct me to online or print resources on Eastern European language and culture during the Middle Ages? I'm most interested in things that talk about what daily life was like, the folklore, and all the other things that can inspire or help flesh out locales and adventure ideas? Are there any D20 settings that borrow heavily from Eastern Europe besides Ravenloft?

 

[msd]

After watching Van Helsing, I've realized that the campaign idea I have in mind would best take place in an area with a distinctly Eastern European flavor. Can someone direct me to online or print resources on Eastern European language and culture during the Middle Ages? I'm most interested in things that talk about what daily life was like, the folklore, and all the other things that can inspire or help flesh out locales and adventure ideas? Are there any D20 settings that borrow heavily from Eastern Europe besides Ravenloft?

I have my M.A. in Russian and Eastern European History...and with two dollars, I an get a cup of coffee and on the subway.

But, a great book that is pretty much revered in any academic setting that takes Russian and Eastern European studies seriously is The Icon and The Axe. It is more focused on Russia than the rest of Eastern Europe which might not be to your liking, but it is an interesting mix of political and cultural history.

I think it was first printed in 1970 and is still easily available, which should give you an idea of its reception in the academic world.

Let me know if I can answer any more questions.

-Matt (who lived in Moscow and St. Petersburg for nearly five years and never knew that there was a Moscow D&D club...who knew?)

 

[msd]

The Icon and The Axe

Sorry...by James Billington

 

[fusangite]

The Slavs, Marija Gimbutas, 1971
Slavic Civilization Through the Ages, Samuel Hazzard Cross, 1963
The Slavs: Their Early History and Civilization, Francis Dvornik, 1956

That's a good start on the ethnicity most important to your game, covering religion, geography, settlement patterns, etc. I'd also recommend the Byzantium series by the Duke of Norwich.

 

[fusangite]

I actually did set a game in Dalmatia in 813 AD and might have some campaign materials you could use depending on the location and date in which it is set. I did some work on weather magic and Slavic Vila magic.

 

[MythosaAkira]

Are there any D20 settings that borrow heavily from Eastern Europe besides Ravenloft?

Dragon #290 has three articles covering the "Red Sails" campaign, which is described as "D&D in the Dark Ages of Eastern Europe".

 

[tarchon]

Hmm... I don't quite get the connection between Van Helsing and Eastern European flavor.

 

[alsih2o]

Hmm... I don't quite get the connection between Van Helsing and Eastern European flavor.

They both have Romania in them.

 

[Turjan]

Just a question: How do Americans subdivide Europe geographically?

I just ask because where I come from, the term Eastern Europe is reserved for the area of the former Soviet Union. Romania belongs to South-East Europe, together with Bulgaria, Albania, all countries of former Yugoslavia (except Slovenia) and Greece. Transsylvania is sometimes even considered a part of Central Europe .

 

[msd]

Just a question: How do Americans subdivide Europe geographically?

I just ask because where I come from, the term Eastern Europe is reserved for the area of the former Soviet Union. Romania belongs to South-East Europe, together with Bulgaria, Albania, all countries of former Yugoslavia (except Slovenia) and Greece. Transsylvania is sometimes even considered a part of Central Europe .

I think most of us would use the term Eastern Europe to refer to the former Soviet Empire, but not just the former Soviet Union (hope I'm not mincing words with you here).

In other words, I think the avergae American includes in Eastern Europe Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovkia (and its descendents), Romania, etc., etc.