Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Herr Doktor 12-17-03, 01:05 PM	Recently I've embarked on a mission of conversion involving Zakhara: The Land of Fate and its surrounding environs. I came across this website: http://arabianadventures.org/ Anyone interested in using the Arabian Adventures setting in D&D 3rd Edition and the new revised edition should check it out (though the 3.5 SRD and Netbook are not yet complete). I haven't had a chance to playtest any of the material on the website (I'm waiting for the 3.5 SRD version to be completed), but if anyone has any past experience with this material, why not give us your review? If you know of any other good sources for converted material for the areas of Zakhara, Kara-tur, or Maztica why not share that information here! Also, anything you've converted yourself, you should share that as well. Es salam alekum :D
TomCosta 12-17-03, 01:24 PM	Well, the latest issue of Dragon converts the shair to 3.5E.
Herr Doktor 12-17-03, 03:38 PM	Originally posted by TomCosta Well, the latest issue of Dragon converts the shair to 3.5E. Yes, I've heard. I'm very interested in getting a copy of that, and I should be flipping through one just as soon as it arrives (via player with subscription). Does anyone know if Dragon plans on making this a running series of articles? Or is this more of a one shot for this particular issue?
TomCosta 12-17-03, 04:43 PM	As someone who's been fortunate to write a few articles for Dragon, I can tell you they are generally reticent about publishing campaign specific stuff that is not easily generalizable. That said, Dragon does occasionally run a "Campaign Classics" article about one of the old campaign worlds, but they are infrequent and irregular. This recent issue of Dragon which all Campaign Classic articles is great IMHO, and if they get positive feedback (and I imagine they will), you'll probably see more articles or issues like it. If the feedback is positive enough, my guess is it could be an annual type of event, but certainly not more than that. (And of course, Dragon is more likely to run a core FR article both because FR is the most popular game world and still supported by WotC and because much of it is at least somewhat generalizable to most campaigns)
Masakado 12-17-03, 04:55 PM	Also check out: http://www.al-qadim.com/
Dargoth 12-17-03, 04:58 PM	Whats the name of the Faerian Kingdom that borders with Zakhara? (I seem to recall it starts with E) Anyway I wouldnt be suprised, when they finally do a regional supplement for that country that its some what effected by Zakhara ie in the same way that Thesk has been affected by oriental cultures from Kara Tur
Green Giant 12-17-03, 05:14 PM	Unless you have other sources of information, I don't remember any kingdom starting with an E bordering Zakhara except Estagund and that is too far away. The closest kingdom I recall from the Shining South sourcebook is Ulgarth. A realm of Torm worshippers.
Cernunnos 12-17-03, 11:16 PM	Technically its the Land of the Yak-men. It was detailed in a Dragon article. Go further North and you are in the Shining South.
Dargoth 12-18-03, 12:00 AM	Var the Goldern and Dambrath (by sea) are probably Zakharas nearest Faerian neighbours
TomCosta 12-18-03, 10:25 AM	In order, you have the Golden Lands of Estagund, Var the Golden and Dambrath, then Ulgarth (which isn't on the 3E map -- see FR16 The Shining South), then the Utter East of the Five Kingdoms (see below), then the mountainous domain of the yak-men. The land between Zakhara and Ulgarth is known as the Utter East of the Five Kingdoms, orignally detailed in a video game with no FR substance to speak of, then in the apocryphal Double Diamond series of books, and finally in one other book, the name of which escapes me. The Utter East is essentially an India-based setting that had long ago been invaded by a mix of Ffolk and Northmen from the Moonshaes, who in turn formed five kingdoms that warred with one another and meddled to much with fiends. You could always use the Oriental Adventures web enhancment of Mahasarpa as a beginning point and then add the western conquerers.
MiloBloom 12-18-03, 11:29 AM	If I'm not mistaken the other novel which deals with the Utter East is Faces of Deception. It also briefly mentions the fiend magic which each kingdom uses. I think they're called Bloodforges and they protect the kingdoms but magically alter the users.
TomCosta 12-18-03, 11:37 AM	That's the one. The main characters even got a stat write-up in Dragon a few years back. Thanks.
Green Giant 12-18-03, 08:37 PM	Funny you should be mentioning them since I'm about to post my 3e versions of them in the Realms NPC Characters thread as soon as I'm finished with the conversions. (I just came back from watching Return of the King :D ). They can be found in Dragon Annual #3. I seem to remember a map on the Internet showing some kingdoms in the general area just described. I wonder if they are one and the same.
Cernunnos 12-18-03, 11:43 PM	Have these Kingdoms ever gotten a canon write-up? Found a thread for a ways back on the Realms-L list (which you posted in Tom), and you said they hadn't (other than the novels). You should have done a quick and dirty Utter East WE with them ;) Or try to get something posted on the Realms site ;) I found a map from Candlekeep.com that has the 5 Kingdoms on it (no idea of the source of the map): http://www.candlekeep.com/downloads/uttereast.jpg
Cernunnos 12-18-03, 11:51 PM	The game was Blood & Magic by the way. Realtime strategy game, you use the Bloodforges and some kind of "Basal Golems" to transform creatures and fight your enemies.
Kuje31 12-18-03, 11:53 PM	Originally posted by Cernunnos I found a map from Candlekeep.com that has the 5 Kingdoms on it (no idea of the source of the map): Books 3 to 7 of the Double Diamond books. :)
Herr Doktor 12-19-03, 12:39 AM	The Sha'ir is rather strange... He needs a LOT of time to prepare spells, and then each spell her prepares he must cast within an hour or they're wasted. How can this sort of spellcasting actually be useful?
Masakado 12-19-03, 07:28 AM	Originally posted by Herr Doktor The Sha'ir is rather strange... He needs a LOT of time to prepare spells, and then each spell her prepares he must cast within an hour or they're wasted. How can this sort of spellcasting actually be useful? Not very, but anyone who can easily make friends with genies proves himself to be a very valuable commodity sooner or later. Especially in settings where genies are a dominant force. Don't look at the Sha'ir as "just another arcane spellcasting class" or you'll miss out on important stuff.
TomCosta 12-19-03, 09:25 AM	"Have these Kingdoms ever gotten a canon write-up? Found a thread for a ways back on the Realms-L list (which you posted in Tom), and you said they hadn't (other than the novels). You should have done a quick and dirty Utter East WE with them Or try to get something posted on the Realms site" No canon write-ups I'm aware of. Not sure what "WE" stands for, but given how old the novels are and the fact that the Utter East falls off the map, I doubt the FR team would have much interest in publishing anything on the Utter East -- even something free would require someone to edit pulling someone from something else they would rather work on. All that said, there really is very limited information on the region. You could completely ignore every source but the double diamond saga for background only (since the story has been deemed apocryphal), Faces of Deception, and the Dragon article. Then if you're industrious you could flush it out with bits from FR16, Al-Qadim stuff, Oriental Adventures and the web enhancement, and double check the video game for anything of interest (which I remember seeing once or twice, but never played) for additional background.
Cernunnos 12-19-03, 07:58 PM	Huh, I'll have to pick up those novels (even though I've read plenty of less-than-favorable reviews).
Ignatz 12-22-03, 01:31 PM	The Sha-ir question it is useful because if they don't cast it in that Hour it disapates with out losing the spell form you daily amount. So where as they aren't the unending font of low level protectives they were. they still retain a ton of utility. The limit on spells doesnt hurt to much and they still can get Arcane as well as a good choice of Divine Spells. Ignatz
Masakado 12-22-03, 02:22 PM	Originally posted by Ignatz The limit on spells doesnt hurt to much and they still can get Arcane as well as a good choice of Divine Spells. When Sha'ir cast divine spells they anger the genie. In 2ed, I think that there is some sort of a "three-strike" rule attached to a Sha'ir's use of divine magic as well. Sha'ir are still capable of using divine magic as they see fit, but they do so at their own peril.
Ignatz 12-22-03, 04:07 PM	Well getting the Divine spells with the aid of you Gen would draw the Evil Eye of Fate. Basicly daring the gods to Curse you if you got caught. Which is why the more often and higher level spells you tried for increased the chances of the Evil Eye falling on you. Ignatz