roman campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

roman campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
omnidm
09-03-07, 08:45 PM Hello again. my oriental campaign is done (finally). And now I am trying to make a campaign set in the roman empire (history based campaigns are my thing).
though I am at a loss for ideas. does anyone have any thoughts, ideas or suggestions.
taradusis
09-03-07, 10:08 PM There was a 2ED greenbook "heros of Rome"thats for sale from RPGNOW.com.It had a lot of background notes on rome.You could also go to this thread899165 and look at someone elses thoughts on rome under augustus?I have a thread called Random Aquatic notes and on page seven post 196 or 198 I discuss a lizardfolk legion?771660.Personally I would highlight the persecution of minority religions and the grittiness of a city where the poor outnumber the middleclass and rich and the slaves outnumber them all.Some other things to cover would be chariot races and gladiatorial games.RANDOM THOUGHTS.
yellowdingo
09-04-07, 07:04 PM Time to dig out your Asterix Books...plenty of Roman Flavour.

A nice wooden Walled Fort with four hundred Legionaires and their Centurions. A thousand Barbarians hiding in the treeline...waiting.

EYES IN THE TREELINE

"Was there a reason we are north of the Rhine?"
"What? What do you mean we are north of the Rhine? Quickly, someone build a bridge..."
Decurion Alestro pointed at the yellow feral eyes in the tree line...
"This is gonna hurt...WEAPONS!"

BRIEFING: A new unit of Legionaires are out on patrol when they are cut off from their Fort by being on the wrong side of a river. They are soon set upon by Barbarians.
Rommel013
09-05-07, 04:15 AM The easiest way to run it is to have the players be inducted into the legion and just do some research on historic Roman battles. I'm working on doing some house rules that make it actually useful for fighting in a shield wall or phalanx which DnD really doesn't do a very good job of, even with some of the feats from CW and PHB II. I would do something along those lines in reinforce the need to fight as part of a group rather than as individuals for more of an organized military campaign.

Heroes of Battle also adds somethings such as Commander Auras that might prove useful.
Braids
09-05-07, 04:30 AM I think monte cook has a rome book.
GawainBS
09-05-07, 07:18 AM Inducting them in the Legion as Legionaires is actually not such a great idea. It was a very regimented life, so not much chance for "adventuring".
Start them out in Rome herself, and use some city-based adventures. Should work out great to start.
Also, wikipedia is your friend. The info there is actually quite correct, or at least correct enough for a D&D campaign.
If you're an affeccionado of Roman military, search for any book by Adrian Goldsworthy. You won't be disappointed.
GoriceXII
09-05-07, 01:11 PM Gawain--you make a good point but in fact the miniseries "Rome" gives good ideas on how to have adventures even when serving in the legions. BTW--a very good dramatization of the Pompey-Caesar civil war and of Roman society. Also "I, Claudius" is good too. I recommend renting or buying those.

The author Chelsea Quinn Yarbro has written two very good novels about vampires in the Roman era--one is set from the time of Emperor Nero to the time of Vespasian, while the other is set in Byzantium during the reign of Justinian. The vampirism is actually rather incidental to the sense of intrigues and profound contrasts in culture in two very different eras of Roman history.
GawainBS
09-05-07, 01:37 PM Thing about "Rome" is that it a) depicts a highly unusual situation and b) "the behind enemy lines" venture is based in the "Historia Augusti", which is, to say the least, a rather disputed source.
If you want to combine adventure and military, try situating the campaign in the early Imperial age, around the time of Traianus or Hadrianus. That way the players can be auxiliaries, the enlisted allied forces, of Rome. These were used for more skirmish like battles and for reconaissance. This offers the players the opportunity to still be distincly Roman soldiers, while having a wide range of "excuse" to get head over heels in an adventure.
This is, ofcourse, only if you care about historical relevance. Feel free to ask further advice, this is what I've been studying in university the past 5 years after all. :)
GoriceXII
09-05-07, 03:21 PM Sure, if you want absolute historical accuracy, go for it. I tend myself to believe that D&D is about unusual situations. There is a very good game based on GURPS that is called Rome that will probably serve for what Gawaine suggests.

I often use fictional sources for games and I enjoy doing it. However use whatever recommendations you best see fit.
Alexeduardo
09-06-07, 08:40 PM If you want a lot of classical dndlike stuff, you should go for the notsogreek early and vilent history of rome.

the city of rome is great during the empire's climax and the late rome makes a great combatfree enviroment.

Also, living in the empire's fringe in postexpansionist era can be pretty adventury.

WHAT THE HELL AM I TALKING ABOUT???? this is ******* dnd!!! what about the wizards???? you dont even need a map of italy to create mythology based adventures!!!!!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
omnidm 09-03-07, 08:45 PM	Hello again. my oriental campaign is done (finally). And now I am trying to make a campaign set in the roman empire (history based campaigns are my thing). though I am at a loss for ideas. does anyone have any thoughts, ideas or suggestions.
taradusis 09-03-07, 10:08 PM	There was a 2ED greenbook "heros of Rome"thats for sale from RPGNOW.com.It had a lot of background notes on rome.You could also go to this thread899165 and look at someone elses thoughts on rome under augustus?I have a thread called Random Aquatic notes and on page seven post 196 or 198 I discuss a lizardfolk legion?771660.Personally I would highlight the persecution of minority religions and the grittiness of a city where the poor outnumber the middleclass and rich and the slaves outnumber them all.Some other things to cover would be chariot races and gladiatorial games.RANDOM THOUGHTS.
yellowdingo 09-04-07, 07:04 PM	Time to dig out your Asterix Books...plenty of Roman Flavour. A nice wooden Walled Fort with four hundred Legionaires and their Centurions. A thousand Barbarians hiding in the treeline...waiting. EYES IN THE TREELINE "Was there a reason we are north of the Rhine?" "What? What do you mean we are north of the Rhine? Quickly, someone build a bridge..." Decurion Alestro pointed at the yellow feral eyes in the tree line... "This is gonna hurt...WEAPONS!" BRIEFING: A new unit of Legionaires are out on patrol when they are cut off from their Fort by being on the wrong side of a river. They are soon set upon by Barbarians.
Rommel013 09-05-07, 04:15 AM	The easiest way to run it is to have the players be inducted into the legion and just do some research on historic Roman battles. I'm working on doing some house rules that make it actually useful for fighting in a shield wall or phalanx which DnD really doesn't do a very good job of, even with some of the feats from CW and PHB II. I would do something along those lines in reinforce the need to fight as part of a group rather than as individuals for more of an organized military campaign. Heroes of Battle also adds somethings such as Commander Auras that might prove useful.
Braids 09-05-07, 04:30 AM	I think monte cook has a rome book.
GawainBS 09-05-07, 07:18 AM	Inducting them in the Legion as Legionaires is actually not such a great idea. It was a very regimented life, so not much chance for "adventuring". Start them out in Rome herself, and use some city-based adventures. Should work out great to start. Also, wikipedia is your friend. The info there is actually quite correct, or at least correct enough for a D&D campaign. If you're an affeccionado of Roman military, search for any book by Adrian Goldsworthy. You won't be disappointed.
GoriceXII 09-05-07, 01:11 PM	Gawain--you make a good point but in fact the miniseries "Rome" gives good ideas on how to have adventures even when serving in the legions. BTW--a very good dramatization of the Pompey-Caesar civil war and of Roman society. Also "I, Claudius" is good too. I recommend renting or buying those. The author Chelsea Quinn Yarbro has written two very good novels about vampires in the Roman era--one is set from the time of Emperor Nero to the time of Vespasian, while the other is set in Byzantium during the reign of Justinian. The vampirism is actually rather incidental to the sense of intrigues and profound contrasts in culture in two very different eras of Roman history.
GawainBS 09-05-07, 01:37 PM	Thing about "Rome" is that it a) depicts a highly unusual situation and b) "the behind enemy lines" venture is based in the "Historia Augusti", which is, to say the least, a rather disputed source. If you want to combine adventure and military, try situating the campaign in the early Imperial age, around the time of Traianus or Hadrianus. That way the players can be auxiliaries, the enlisted allied forces, of Rome. These were used for more skirmish like battles and for reconaissance. This offers the players the opportunity to still be distincly Roman soldiers, while having a wide range of "excuse" to get head over heels in an adventure. This is, ofcourse, only if you care about historical relevance. Feel free to ask further advice, this is what I've been studying in university the past 5 years after all. :)
GoriceXII 09-05-07, 03:21 PM	Sure, if you want absolute historical accuracy, go for it. I tend myself to believe that D&D is about unusual situations. There is a very good game based on GURPS that is called Rome that will probably serve for what Gawaine suggests. I often use fictional sources for games and I enjoy doing it. However use whatever recommendations you best see fit.
Alexeduardo 09-06-07, 08:40 PM	If you want a lot of classical dndlike stuff, you should go for the notsogreek early and vilent history of rome. the city of rome is great during the empire's climax and the late rome makes a great combatfree enviroment. Also, living in the empire's fringe in postexpansionist era can be pretty adventury. WHAT THE HELL AM I TALKING ABOUT???? this is ******* dnd!!! what about the wizards???? you dont even need a map of italy to create mythology based adventures!!!!!