Which culture do YOU think most resembles the Spartans of 300? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Which culture do YOU think most resembles the Spartans of 300? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Frange
03-18-07, 06:44 PM If you've seen and/or read 300 which culture most resembles the Spartans in it? I have my opinion--the Rashemmi; but what is yours? The Uthgardt barbarians? Maybe the Hordelands peoples--do they have a title? I didn't read the Hordelands novels because they seemed poorly written.
So whom do you think resembles the Persians and Xerxes? I think the Calishites but I'm not too sure on that one.
And let's not get any flamers bashing the movie here; it rocks and that's the final say-so! Mindless and violent; you bet 'ya! "Tonight we dine in HELL!!!" :D
Karsus the Mad
03-18-07, 07:06 PM Chessenta, and more specifically the city of Akanax.
Then again, I've never seen or even heard of the movie.
Dark Wizard
03-18-07, 07:06 PM Chessenta in the Old Empires, particularly the city of Akanax.
AbyssKnight
03-18-07, 07:18 PM Agreed, Chessenta is loosely based on Greek culture, Akanax particularly.

I agree that Calimshan could make a good stand in for the Persians, or Unther (more the Mesopotamian precursor civilizations of the same region, but it could work).
Khaelieth
03-18-07, 09:45 PM I agree with those above, Akanax, Chessenta.

But 300, isn't that a sci-fi write up of the Spartans saving the idea of democracy at Thermopylae?
Dxzauvrinn
03-18-07, 10:29 PM I would make them all warblades from Tome of Battle. I think it's a good fit and explains their great fighting exploits.
Krash
03-18-07, 11:00 PM Hmm, as a society not any that I can think of. As a historical event ... well, I could have sworn the Netherese had something similar occur ... :schemes:

-- George Krashos
Lord Karsus
03-19-07, 12:22 AM Hmm, as a society not any that I can think of. As a historical event ... well, I could have sworn the Netherese had something similar occur ... :schemes:

-- George Krashos

-There was a rather strange and vague mention of an huge extraplanar army of invaders that the Netherese beat back in Finder's Bane...
Stigger
03-19-07, 12:40 AM Why am I suddenly feeling nervous...
Karsus the Mad
03-19-07, 12:57 AM I'm rather curious myself:embarrass
Paragon_of_Tyr
03-19-07, 01:33 AM I'm playing an Aasimar cleric of Lathander from Chessenta, and I have problems roleplaying him since I know next to nothing of Chessentan society. Which book is this featured?
BadCatMan
03-19-07, 02:06 AM The best source is the Old Empires sourcebook from long ago.

Or my own write-up for a Chessenta game:
http://www.rpol.net/display.cgi?gi=18453&gn=RoA+5:+Adventures&threadnum=48&date=1167712726
(with some of my own additions).
Perun
03-19-07, 02:07 AM I'm playing an Aasimar cleric of Lathander from Chessenta, and I have problems roleplaying him since I know next to nothing of Chessentan society. Which book is this featured?

Congratulations! I'm also playing an aasimar cleric of Lathander (well, kind of... he's following the heresy of the Risen Sun) from Chessenta :)

About the only book I know of that deals with Chessenta in any depth is Old Empires, an old AD&D 2e accessory. It also covers Mulhorand and Unther.

The FRCS has a blurb on Chessenta, and Races of Faerūn covers humans of chessenta (under Human, muman).

Regards.
Lord Karsus
03-19-07, 09:42 AM Why am I suddenly feeling nervous...

I'm rather curious myself:embarrass

-It's on Pgs. 197-198, if anyone has the book.
Draxxar
03-19-07, 06:22 PM And what about Lapaliia?

A State at a coast, formed of many city-states, each with its own patron, and they are all zealous warriors.
Sounds much like: "This is Sparta Lapaliiya!"

Since he saw the trailer, our Lapaliiyan Warrior fights always topless and his new battle cry is "Tonight we eat in the abyss"
Frange
03-19-07, 09:57 PM Wow, gr8 responses; I've played and DMed FR for over 15 years and never even heard of Lapaliiya. I have a hard time keeping my group out of the Savage Coast North; it's like their comfort zone, so to speak. I looked up Lapaliiya and it sounds very cool, not to mention hard to pronounce! Why does Greenwood have to string vowels together like that?
It's close to Calimshan which could be like the Persians with Syl-Pasha Ralen el Pesarkhal (another name that will wreak havok on DMs after a six-pack) playing the role of Xerxes.
We've got to get the Pasha some sort of powerful artifact that makes him think he's a god like old X, though. Any ideas?
Stigger
03-20-07, 01:12 AM He hardly needs an artifact to get his ego much bigger... just have him find the Living Gem thing from Schamedar/Manshanka (forget which offhand) and use that. As to the Lapal and Tashalans... not sure that's the impression I had of them, but whatever works for you. Serpent Kingdoms had quite a bit of fluff on them if you don't have it yet.
Khaelieth
03-20-07, 07:39 AM And what about Lapaliia?

A State at a coast, formed of many city-states, each with its own patron, and they are all zealous warriors.
Sounds much like: "This is Sparta Lapaliiya!"

Since he saw the trailer, our Lapaliiyan Warrior fights always topless and his new battle cry is "Tonight we eat in the abyss"

They worship CE gods?;) I should be something like "Tonight we eat in Warrior's Rest!" Though it does sound kinda daft.
Frange
03-21-07, 12:38 AM He hardly needs an artifact to get his ego much bigger... just have him find the Living Gem thing from Schamedar/Manshanka (forget which offhand) and use that. As to the Lapal and Tashalans... not sure that's the impression I had of them, but whatever works for you. Serpent Kingdoms had quite a bit of fluff on them if you don't have it yet.

True dat; a harem of women would stoke the ego of any man, though; right? :D I just think that there should be something to rouse a man who has risen to the ultimate position in his city and is fat and happy in his own intirigue Wonderland. I picture that something to be like Crenshinibon; stoking the fires and stirring his warmongering. Or someone like Dick Cheney or Grima Wormtongue. J/K...calm down people, I can hear it now..:rolleyes:

I think the description of the Lapaliiyans fits well except for the whole Shoon Lords thing, but that's ancient history. It doesn't need to apply to a war scenario or my games' plot. It's a good geographical match as well. I liked the Chessenta ideas too, but I don't see Calimshan marching nearly 1,000 miles to loot olive oil and cattle.
Thanks for the direct to Serpent Kingdoms; I'll check it out. And as for the Living Gem; isn't that in the old 2nd edition Magic Compendium? You know, the pleather-bound four book set they swindled me into buying when I was young and had money to burn? I still have them but it would require a serious archaelogical dig to find them. If anyone can find out before I cordon off my attic it would be much appreciated! :)
Stigger
03-21-07, 01:34 AM Got those books sitting on my shelf... along with the wizard's and priest's spell compendiums. Handy references really. But no, those weren't the sources I was thinking of, more from the Empires of the Shining Sea sourcebook from 2e.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Frange 03-18-07, 06:44 PM	If you've seen and/or read 300 which culture most resembles the Spartans in it? I have my opinion--the Rashemmi; but what is yours? The Uthgardt barbarians? Maybe the Hordelands peoples--do they have a title? I didn't read the Hordelands novels because they seemed poorly written. So whom do you think resembles the Persians and Xerxes? I think the Calishites but I'm not too sure on that one. And let's not get any flamers bashing the movie here; it rocks and that's the final say-so! Mindless and violent; you bet 'ya! "Tonight we dine in HELL!!!" :D
Karsus the Mad 03-18-07, 07:06 PM	Chessenta, and more specifically the city of Akanax. Then again, I've never seen or even heard of the movie.
Dark Wizard 03-18-07, 07:06 PM	Chessenta in the Old Empires, particularly the city of Akanax.
AbyssKnight 03-18-07, 07:18 PM	Agreed, Chessenta is loosely based on Greek culture, Akanax particularly. I agree that Calimshan could make a good stand in for the Persians, or Unther (more the Mesopotamian precursor civilizations of the same region, but it could work).
Khaelieth 03-18-07, 09:45 PM	I agree with those above, Akanax, Chessenta. But 300, isn't that a sci-fi write up of the Spartans saving the idea of democracy at Thermopylae?
Dxzauvrinn 03-18-07, 10:29 PM	I would make them all warblades from Tome of Battle. I think it's a good fit and explains their great fighting exploits.
Krash 03-18-07, 11:00 PM	Hmm, as a society not any that I can think of. As a historical event ... well, I could have sworn the Netherese had something similar occur ... :schemes: -- George Krashos
Lord Karsus 03-19-07, 12:22 AM	Hmm, as a society not any that I can think of. As a historical event ... well, I could have sworn the Netherese had something similar occur ... :schemes: -- George Krashos -There was a rather strange and vague mention of an huge extraplanar army of invaders that the Netherese beat back in Finder's Bane...
Stigger 03-19-07, 12:40 AM	Why am I suddenly feeling nervous...
Karsus the Mad 03-19-07, 12:57 AM	I'm rather curious myself:embarrass
Paragon_of_Tyr 03-19-07, 01:33 AM	I'm playing an Aasimar cleric of Lathander from Chessenta, and I have problems roleplaying him since I know next to nothing of Chessentan society. Which book is this featured?
BadCatMan 03-19-07, 02:06 AM	The best source is the Old Empires sourcebook from long ago. Or my own write-up for a Chessenta game: http://www.rpol.net/display.cgi?gi=18453&gn=RoA+5:+Adventures&threadnum=48&date=1167712726 (with some of my own additions).
Perun 03-19-07, 02:07 AM	I'm playing an Aasimar cleric of Lathander from Chessenta, and I have problems roleplaying him since I know next to nothing of Chessentan society. Which book is this featured? Congratulations! I'm also playing an aasimar cleric of Lathander (well, kind of... he's following the heresy of the Risen Sun) from Chessenta :) About the only book I know of that deals with Chessenta in any depth is Old Empires, an old AD&D 2e accessory. It also covers Mulhorand and Unther. The FRCS has a blurb on Chessenta, and Races of Faerūn covers humans of chessenta (under Human, muman). Regards.
Lord Karsus 03-19-07, 09:42 AM	Why am I suddenly feeling nervous... I'm rather curious myself:embarrass -It's on Pgs. 197-198, if anyone has the book.
Draxxar 03-19-07, 06:22 PM	And what about Lapaliia? A State at a coast, formed of many city-states, each with its own patron, and they are all zealous warriors. Sounds much like: "This is Sparta Lapaliiya!" Since he saw the trailer, our Lapaliiyan Warrior fights always topless and his new battle cry is "Tonight we eat in the abyss"
Frange 03-19-07, 09:57 PM	Wow, gr8 responses; I've played and DMed FR for over 15 years and never even heard of Lapaliiya. I have a hard time keeping my group out of the Savage Coast North; it's like their comfort zone, so to speak. I looked up Lapaliiya and it sounds very cool, not to mention hard to pronounce! Why does Greenwood have to string vowels together like that? It's close to Calimshan which could be like the Persians with Syl-Pasha Ralen el Pesarkhal (another name that will wreak havok on DMs after a six-pack) playing the role of Xerxes. We've got to get the Pasha some sort of powerful artifact that makes him think he's a god like old X, though. Any ideas?
Stigger 03-20-07, 01:12 AM	He hardly needs an artifact to get his ego much bigger... just have him find the Living Gem thing from Schamedar/Manshanka (forget which offhand) and use that. As to the Lapal and Tashalans... not sure that's the impression I had of them, but whatever works for you. Serpent Kingdoms had quite a bit of fluff on them if you don't have it yet.
Khaelieth 03-20-07, 07:39 AM	And what about Lapaliia? A State at a coast, formed of many city-states, each with its own patron, and they are all zealous warriors. Sounds much like: "This is Sparta Lapaliiya!" Since he saw the trailer, our Lapaliiyan Warrior fights always topless and his new battle cry is "Tonight we eat in the abyss" They worship CE gods?;) I should be something like "Tonight we eat in Warrior's Rest!" Though it does sound kinda daft.
Frange 03-21-07, 12:38 AM	He hardly needs an artifact to get his ego much bigger... just have him find the Living Gem thing from Schamedar/Manshanka (forget which offhand) and use that. As to the Lapal and Tashalans... not sure that's the impression I had of them, but whatever works for you. Serpent Kingdoms had quite a bit of fluff on them if you don't have it yet. True dat; a harem of women would stoke the ego of any man, though; right? :D I just think that there should be something to rouse a man who has risen to the ultimate position in his city and is fat and happy in his own intirigue Wonderland. I picture that something to be like Crenshinibon; stoking the fires and stirring his warmongering. Or someone like Dick Cheney or Grima Wormtongue. J/K...calm down people, I can hear it now..:rolleyes: I think the description of the Lapaliiyans fits well except for the whole Shoon Lords thing, but that's ancient history. It doesn't need to apply to a war scenario or my games' plot. It's a good geographical match as well. I liked the Chessenta ideas too, but I don't see Calimshan marching nearly 1,000 miles to loot olive oil and cattle. Thanks for the direct to Serpent Kingdoms; I'll check it out. And as for the Living Gem; isn't that in the old 2nd edition Magic Compendium? You know, the pleather-bound four book set they swindled me into buying when I was young and had money to burn? I still have them but it would require a serious archaelogical dig to find them. If anyone can find out before I cordon off my attic it would be much appreciated! :)
Stigger 03-21-07, 01:34 AM	Got those books sitting on my shelf... along with the wizard's and priest's spell compendiums. Handy references really. But no, those weren't the sources I was thinking of, more from the Empires of the Shining Sea sourcebook from 2e.