The Create-a-Setting Thread: Dinopirates of Ninja Island!

[thullgrim]

The Empire Ranheim
Blown off course many centuries ago a group of viking type peoples (complete with gods to match) have established a fledgling empire of sorts. They call their home island Ranheim, and so far there are about 20 islands in their empire. They combine their cultural sailing skill with and aggressive nature. They feel the only way they can survive in the Thousand Teeth is to be aggressive in trade, aggressive in war. They are a trading power, using their islands to produce basic foodstuffs and some luxury items that other powers can not provide to their peoples. IN return they import metal and other goods they can't mine from their islands. Their merchant/explorers sail all over the Thousand Teeth looking for the next commodity to bring a coin. Their navy is constantly on patrol in their Dragon Ships (ships with prows shaped like dragons), swift vessels with no fear of any other ship in the Teeth.

The navy serves to protect trade for all the islands, the Imperial thinking is that trade that benefits one benefits all. The sailors and marines are highly trained and disciplined.

All nobility in the Empire is descended from the origina crews of the ships that lost their way. The Emporer in descended from the leader of their expedition.

Thullgrim

 

[der_kluge]

I was playing "Bad Dudes" the other day on my MAME (emulator) and in the opening sequence, it tells me that there is "rampant ninja crime" and it has spread to the White House, and that I needed to rescue president "Ronnie".

I LMAO at that. "rampant ninja crime" indeed.

 

[kenjib]

Halfings of Ninja Island

Halfings go wicked crazy in the jungle. Those little guys will bit you in the leg and run away. THey hav no feer. Halfings of Ninja Island will eat you before they say hello. They have sharp teeth almost as sharp as the katana. A halfling ninja makes a katana from his teeth and he can cut a pirate ship in hafl with one cut! They also half web feet and can swim faster than sharks. Sharks are the halflings enemies they like to fight alot. But pirates are also the other enemy of halflings because halflings alway cut the bboats in half with their teeth katanas. Halflings are wicked crazy little dudes.

 

[Spatzimaus]

Races: Human, Dinosaur, Robot, and Monkey
Classes: Pirate, Ninja, Caveman, Astronaut, and Popcorn (Base on the Rogue, Bard, Barbarian, Ranger, and Expert with heavy modifications).

The Pirate and Ninja were obvious, but after a recent episode of Angel included the Caveman vs. Astronaut argument, my friends and I began using that debate in our campaign. So they're pretty good fits for this concept. As for "Popcorn", that's from an older game where the characters had Godzilla-like fighting monsters, and the innocent civilians who ALWAYS seemed to get in the way were referred to as that. In this game, they'd be the random non-combat characters with lots of skill points, the Expendable Red-Shirts the heroes easily fight through, the damsel in distress the players see running from the monsters, and so on.

As there are no spellcasters at all, it's automatically "low magic" and "grim 'n gritty". While the thought of a Dinosaur Wizard has a certain appeal, it's just a bit much.

 

[Nifft]

In all seriousness...

The Hegemony: Feudalistic empire that rules over the mainland. Not much fun. Employs samurai and dark ninja, hates pirates and true ninja. Looks like mainland China -- big, two rivers. There are some cool states with non-lame nobility, but most are corrupt. Few important celestial ruins.

Northern Wastelands: Area north of the Hegemony, lots of desert and badlands, not so good for farming. Barbaric tribes court ancestor-spirits for survival in the harsh environment. No important celestial ruins.

Ninja Island: Looks like Japan. Full of dinosaurs, true ninja, and monks (who guard the sacred ruins of the Celestial Court, which ruled the Earth back in the golden age). There are many different monk and/or ninja clans, and little peace between them. Trade ships between the Hegemony and Ninja Island are regularly assaulted by pirates. The temples of the celestial court are full of arcane and archaic machinery, from golems to nimblewrights, so even if you get past the ninja you're going to have trouble exploring the rich ruins.

Spice Islands: Rich southern islands full of pricy spices. These are why people in the hegemony bother sending ships south, right past Pirate Island. The spice islands are full of peaceful experts who no one sane would kill, because then their popcorn would be spiceless... and the only remedy for spiceless popcorn is sepuku!

Pirate Island: Looks like Taiwan. Safe port for any ship with money. Regularly infiltrated by ninja spies and thieves.

Dino-Pirates of Ninja Island: The most elite raiders in the world, they ride Pteradactyls in daring arial assaults, carrying whole cows and/or wagons off. They are based on Ninja Island.

Available Classes by Region: -- I don't have OA, so feel free to replace Bard & Shaman with whatever's more appropriate for Knowlege & Natural spellcasters
Hegemony -- Samurai, Rogue, Fighter, Bard, Monk, Aristocrat
Northern Wastelands -- Barbarian, Ranger, Shaman
Ninja Island -- Monk, Ninja, Shaman, Ranger
Pirate Island -- Pirate, Rogue, Bard, Fighter
Spice Islands -- Rogue, Bard, Expert

-- N

 

[CrusaderX]

In all seriousness...

Seriousness doesn't belong in this thread.

The Jade Jungle Barbarian Women of Doom!

Deep in the Jade Jungle, a tribe of fierce women warriors stalk their prey - their prey being dinos, beasts, and men. Many a male adventurer has underestimated these fur bikini clad beauties, only to end up as helpless captives and slaves. And just what do the Barbarian Women of Doom do with their victims? No slave has yet escaped to tell that terrible tale...

 

[Dark Jezter]

Wow, I'd just like to say good job to everyone who has contributed to this thread. It's really taking off!

Perhaps this should become a real setting.

I was watching Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon the other day, and it's given me a good idea for a feat...

Martial Arts Flight
You are such an accomplished warrior that you can fly for brief periods of time.
Prerequisites: Base Attack Bonus +6, Jump 5 ranks
Benefit: You can fly as the spell for one round per character level. This ability can be used three times per day.

 

[Kaodi]

Secrets, Secrets, Everywhere!

Or better yet...

The Rumour (from Inconsequenti-AL):
The mightiest dinosaur in existance is said to inhabit a secret, mist shrouded island.

The Truth:
The mightiest dinosaur in existence *IS* the secret, mist shrounded island.

 

[capgun]

All I ask is that you remember the fundamentals.

Dinosaurs.

Pirates.

Ninjas.

Robots.

Monkeys.

How can you forget the ZOMBIES?!? Ya gotta have Zombies. They would be all the people killed by the ninjas, pirates, and dinosaurs!

 

[barsoomcore]

SLAVE QUEEN OF THE RUINED CITY

Region/Place names ought to always be super-kewl. No offense to Nifft -- whose ideas I think are PERFECT, just I want more obnoxious names. JADE JUNGLE is good.

MIND SPIDERS OF THE JADE JUNGLE

THE COLOSSUS OF THE ENDLESS WASTE

MIDNIGHT BEASTS FROM THE VALLEY OF ALL RESTLESS EVIL

I might have stolen that last one from the old Living Jungle game.

All DINOPIRATES adventures ought to have titles of that style: "(THING) FROM|OF|IN|BEYOND (PLACE NAME)". Cause it's kewl.

And agreed on the ZOMBIES.

Give me some time and I'll put up a homepage for this. We'll need somebody to help out with illustrations, definitely.

This ROCKS.