Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Confusion567 04-16-08, 02:07 AM	I'm preparing a pirate campaign (yarrr) for my group, which I am setting in an archipelago of my own creation. I've decided to have two very large islands, one in the north and one in the south, with a bunch of smaller islands in the middle (plus one medium-sized one I'll get to later). So far, I'm thinking that the north and south should each be comprised mostly (with exceptions, of course) of one race each, with plenty of racial tension between them. The medium-sized island will also be home to a tribe of an entirely different race. So, which races would be most effective for the purpose? I don't particularly want level adjustments, because the players will be encouraged to use these races, and these particular players tend to dislike LA. +1 would probably work, but certainly not higher. Humans should probably be represented somewhere, and beyond that I'm thinking the 0 LA version of Drow in (I believe, though I am probably mistaken) Races of Faerun, edited so they can be more interesting alignments. Beyond THAT, I've got no idea. It needs to be a pair of contrasting races who could build a tension. Other ideas include Elves and Orcs, Humans and Warforged, Aasimar and Tieflings, and various races from Stormwrack, though I don't have the book with me and can't for the life of me think of any of their names.
Space_Dragon 04-16-08, 02:42 AM	Are you wanting these races to be primitive tribes, or colonists from far off empires?
Orchomenos 04-16-08, 09:49 AM	I think humans should be a third-party, perhaps as colonist and/or trader from far off empires. Their arrival should have broken an until now fragile statu quo between the two main concurrent races. This far off empire could have created commercial links with each of these concurrent races, with the result of creating some piraty opportunity. You could even have two or more far off empires, a bit like Spain, England and France in the 16th-17th centuries; you could have humans, with plane-touched representing different part of this "old world". You could also have more or less allied underground races, representing African slaves; in your campaign, they wouldn't necessary be slaves, but anywhere from cheap labor to specially adapted sea peoples. I could place the warforged, possibly made by some gnome engineerers, as cheap labor; and perhaps your medium island could be colonized by some rogue warforged... For one of your main island, I would suggest elves. This island would be a forested island, and elves would be able to trade exotic wood essences (mahogany, teak, see following link for fantasy essences, here (http://forums.gleemax.com/wotc_archive/index.php/t-435863)- use control+F and search "Dannalbob"), and perhaps spices. They would jealously guard their forest stock, partly because forest is sacred to them but also because they want to keep exclusivity. The second main island could be the southern island, too dry to have huge forests. You could have some semi-nomadic sheep and cattle herders. Perhaps halflings, or hobgoblins?
Confusion567 04-16-08, 04:20 PM	Space Dragon: Not necessarily either. Certainly not primitive tribes, but not necessarily colonies, either. Heck, they could even be the empire. Though the idea of being an offshoot of this far-off empire could work. Perhaps the players' goal is to wrest control of this archipelago from them? Hm. So my preliminary ideas now include elves; not high elves, they're too dull. More of a wild-elf race focused on strength rather than intelligence, living on the northern island. For the other race, I'm considering Darfellan, only without that Sahuagin hatred thing going on*. Humans will be colonists from a far-off empire who have now taken over the larger southern island, the Darfellan one. The players will have the options of helping the elves and darfellan take back the archipelago from the empire (and then possibly helping their chosen race wipe out the other), helping the empire claim it entirely, or helping neither side and turning a profit from the chaos, yarrr. *They may now have a hatred for the humans, but that's optional.
eoin_morgan 04-16-08, 08:09 PM	if you need some audio inspiration, the dragons landing inn podcast has a great section where they build a world in i think episode 90. i am also doing a pirate campeign, and if you dont own Stormwrack, go out and buy it. now.
elderdrake 04-17-08, 04:22 PM	Whenever I do a tropical-type island setting, I always like to through in lizardfolk characters. You always see lizards in tropical settings so lizardfolk would be a natural occurance. Human fisherfolk, pirates, slave traders and barbarians are also not unexpected. If you are going to gear this up for the 4th Edition, dragonborn would be a cool idea too I think. If you have access to any of the "Known World" materials of basic D&D, they had characters like tortles which could be interesting as well as the phanatons of the "Isle of Dread" OOP. If you are familiar at all with the old cartoon series "Pirates of Darkwater," I would definitely check out some of their fansites through google. There are probably a TON of ideas for you including storylines, etc.
taradusis 04-19-08, 11:41 PM	Have you considered increasing the number of islands to 50? This would allow Pcs to visit an island per month for roughly four years.