Svimohzia: Sell me/ Unsell me on it...

[Imaro]

Okay so I am interested in an African-esque setting for my 3e books and came across Svimohzia for Kingdoms of Kalamar. I already have Nyambe, but would like to know more about this book.

1. Can this be used as a standalone campaign setting or do I need to invest in the KoK line?

2. How does it compare to Nyambe? It's general feel? Would the two complement each other?

3. Any general information you want to give about Svimohzia will be appreciated.

I'm sure I'll think of some more questions, but I'l get to those later.

 

[Mean Eyed Cat]

I don't have Svimohzia, but there's a review of it <here>.

Oh, and there is a pdf preview <here>.

 

[Belbarid]

Svmiohzia isn't really an Africanesque setting. Yes, the Svmiohz people are black. The similarity, IMO, largely ends there.

However, a campaign set in Svmiohz wouldn't mean buying a lot of KoK books. The Campaign Setting and the Player's Handbook are all I really use. And mostly just the Player's Handbook.

 

[GeorgeFields]

Svimohzia isn't really an Africanesque setting. Yes, the Svimohz people are black. The similarity, IMO, largely ends there.

However, a campaign set in Svimohz wouldn't mean buying a lot of KoK books. The Campaign Setting and the Player's Handbook are all I really use. And mostly just the Player's Handbook.

I'm with Belbarid here. It's not really an African-type setting. I don't have it (yet), but I've heard nothing but good things about it. I'm currenty re-reading the Kalamar setting book, and I'm currently on the Svimohzia section. I will definitely be getting the book soon.

As Svimhozia is an island-continent, it should be fairly easy to drop it into almost any setting. The only adjusments that will need to be done concern foreign affairs and religion.

 

[NewJeffCT]

Okay so I am interested in an African-esque setting for my 3e books and came across Svimohzia for Kingdoms of Kalamar. I already have Nyambe, but would like to know more about this book.

1. Can this be used as a standalone campaign setting or do I need to invest in the KoK line?

2. How does it compare to Nyambe? It's general feel? Would the two complement each other?

3. Any general information you want to give about Svimohzia will be appreciated.

I'm sure I'll think of some more questions, but I'l get to those later.

It can definitely be used as a standalone setting - it's an island continent in Kalamar, so can pretty easily be plopped into most gaming worlds without a lot of effort. You do not need to invest in the KoK line in order to make use of it.

I do not have Nyambe, so I cannot compare.

The island of Svimozhia is dominated by 5 large kingdoms. Four are human kingdoms that used to make up a great empire that stretched across most of the island. The other kingdom is Ul-Karg, a nation of hobgoblins. When Ul-Karg invaded the human empire, it led to the farthest duchy in the human empire declaring its independence. While the remaining kingdoms managed to repel the invasion eventually (with the help of the dwarves), they were too weak to reclaim the lost duchy and other duchies gradually declared their independence to where they are today - 4 separate kingdoms, including one that has been wracked by civil war for 70 years where dozens of warlords vie for power. The other three human kingdoms are dominated by huge cosmopolitan cities and the first duchy that declared independence is a loosely aligned confederacy that is controlled by very wealthy merchants - the capital city (whose name escapes me) is a place where anything and everything is for sale, if the price is right.

There is a lot that *could* happen in Svimozhia - the hobgoblins could invade again, and would 4 separate kingdoms (including one wracked by civil war) be able to withstand the onslaught one at a time, or would they be able to set aside their differences to unite?

There are factions within each human kingdom that push for reunification, while others that want to maintain the status quo.

To the south of the civil war torn Zazahni is the massive Vohven Jungle, where all sorts of creatures, both vile & benign live. it's not a stretch that the lizard folk or others from the Jungle could unite and possibly overwhelm Zazahni as well.

 

[theemrys]

I don't have it in front of me, but also there's talk about the colonies from other lands which are there. That can add lots of roleplaying intrigue as well. IIRC there is also info on the gnolls who other races which roam the plains and jungles as well as some very interesting details on some of the "savages" (of all races).

Also there is a city which is "ruled" by a Gold Dragon... nothing like having a LG dictator which could be an interesting villian if you wanted...

 

[DM_Jeff]

It could be it's own continent in your camapign world, no other KoK books are really necessary.

Where Nyambe had plenty of crunch and rules, this book has very few and far between, more setting into than numbers.

-DM Jeff

 

[NewJeffCT]

I don't have it in front of me, but also there's talk about the colonies from other lands which are there. That can add lots of roleplaying intrigue as well. IIRC there is also info on the gnolls who other races which roam the plains and jungles as well as some very interesting details on some of the "savages" (of all races).

Also there is a city which is "ruled" by a Gold Dragon... nothing like having a LG dictator which could be an interesting villian if you wanted...

true - there are a few good colonies as well - one controlled by Mendarn & one by Eldor, I believe. and, the independent one (Bronish) that is run by the dragon.

 

[Mark Plemmons]

I don't have Svimohzia, but there's a review of it <here>.

Oh, and there is a pdf preview <here>.

Yeah, check out the PDF preview and see what you think. Or just ask me any questions you have (or post on the Kingdoms of Kalamar discussion forums).