Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 LWhitehead Jan 09, 2009 18:03:13	Hi I was wondering if a D&D campain world that is inspired by late Middle Ages Hasburg Europe, due to the fact that imperial family control a large chunk of Europe. so the heartland is Germanic in feel and style, also the Emperor just died and there going to be a war of succession over the throne among his kin. Which will drag other kingdom into this war as well some are hoping to cut off a chunk for themselves, So what source books will I need?, LW
#2 LWhitehead Jan 16, 2009 15:22:32	Hello again I still need some help in hashing out this D&D world, which is better 4.0 or 3.5?, Also I need help from expereinced D&D players and DM's too hammer out this world that is caught up in strugdled for this Hasburg like throne, LW
#3 zahast Jan 16, 2009 15:49:29	I would look at the period at the height of habsburg power, you had equally as prolific dynasties (the bourbons, romanovs, osmans [ottoman dynasty]) keep in mind that most of the conflicts regarding succession were not actually fought primarily by internal forces, most of them were fought by foreign kings who sought to weaken rivals by supporting usurpers with troops and arms. That being said, no reason you couldn't switch it up. I wouldn't invest in any more sourcebooks per se, i would just use the germanic empire model as flavor text. Really research into the structure of the Holy Roman Empire and the how the Habsburgs got where they were. look into the George R.R Martin series, song of ice and fire...its a good jump-off point for this kind of idea as it shares the epic dynastic struggle plotline (one which is a favorite of mine)
#4 LWhitehead Jan 16, 2009 17:30:24	Well also this world has Magisters a type of Magic class, armed with there disstaffs there based on the old PC game Loom the Weavers and the Jedi from Stars Wars. They are an order of high mages armed with staffs. Also I'm working on a Elf race based on the Wolfriders of Elfquest, also I need to know about that 3.5 source book that held death being in vials and used there power or worshiped. LW
#5 Grimbus Jan 16, 2009 17:49:02	Sounds like a tasty theme for a D&D campaign. With different electors and different candidates vying for their votes to become Emporer, you have a hotbed for political intrigue and adventure hooks - wish I'd though of that. Of course you also have a horde approaching from the East meaning to do huge amount of damage. I hope the dwarves designed your gates! You also have religious wars too. Be sure to include the trade routes - I've walked along the"Aber route" in Poland - essentially these were roads built to move trade goods around the Empire - these allowed for the quick transportation of goods around the empire. They might make good adventure hooks for players who may be needed to investigate thefts/banditery and other skulduggery. Also certain towns were given the right to "warehouse goods" overnight. This meant that any merchant traveling through the town would have to stay overnight and keep his goods in the town's warehouses for a fee. These powers were granted by the emporer to few towns and made a lot of difference to the economic well being of a town - so local mayors might hire the party to steal goods from the other town's warehouses in order to gain the precious licence. I think you might need to decide how many electors you have in your kingdom and maybe flesh out some of the most influential ones. Also work out some of the rivals for the Imperial throne are to get the motivations of the powers that be. Sounds like a great setting - enjoy!
#6 LWhitehead Jan 16, 2009 19:07:46	Well currently there are Four contenters for the Harsburg like throne, however the Grandson of the dead Emperor has the strongest case to be crown, but for Five years he hasn't bin a full blooded Prince but as an Adventurer with stand group of D&D heroes He currently doesn't want to be Emperor and his companions don't know who he truely is. Like in 30 year war in our world most of fighting is done by Proxy, like by Mercs and small groups of regular soliders. Also there are Cannons in this setting I'm using Warhammer RPG as a example, LW
#7 echelon_house Jan 16, 2009 19:34:50	Oh, I've actually been working on something very similar to this. My setting is a bit more flexible, and can really be anywhere from about 1450-1600, late Medieval/Early Renaissance. Anyway, here's a map I drew up for it in Photoshop - feel free to use it if you like. Show
#8 yellowdingo Jan 17, 2009 22:10:25	If i remember rightly, the German Emperor declared Wallachia and the associated regions "open for Occupation to potential Lords and Barons" - Amongst their numbers the Likes of Vlad the Impaler's family line went looking to establish Estates. So there is a Landgrab campaign for "Name Level" adventurers (Level 9+) interested in fighting it out for control with other petty Barons -winner takes all.
#9 Rhineglade_ Jan 18, 2009 9:34:10	For those who may not know who the Hapsburgs are: Hapsburg is the name of a royal European family that is still in existance today. Members of the family held thrones in central Europe from 1273 until 1918 except for a few years. The name came from the family castle which was built in Aargau, Switzerland by the Bishop of Strasbourg in th 1000s. The name was Habichtsburg which means "Hawk's Castle." The Bishop's nephew, Werner I, was the first Count of Hapsberg. The first member of the family to become a ruler was Rudolf, who was elected Holy Roman Emperor in 1273. From 1438 until 1806 when Napolean abolished the Holy Roman Empire, more emperors were Hapsburgs. After 1806, the Hapsburgs were emperors of Austria and after 1867 kings of Hungary as well. The last Hapsburg to hold a throne was Charles I. The ruled the Austrio-Hungary Empire but gave up the title at the end of WWI. Archduke Otto, his son, tried unsuccessfully to regain the throne during WWII. The most famous Hapsburgs were: Maximilian I- Holy Roman Emperor from 1493-1519 known for extending the power of the Hapsburg family through wars and marriages. Charles V- was the grandson of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain as well as Emperor Maximilian I and Mary of Burgandy. Through them, Charles V ruled over more countries than any other European monarch. Francis II- the last Holy Roman Emperor who joined Russia and England in wars against Napoleon. Although he was defeated by Napoleon and lost his title of Holy Roman Emperor, he remained Emperor of Austria until his death in 1835. Francis Joseph-emperor of Austria-Hungary at the start of WWI. It was his nephew and heir, Archduke Francis Ferdinand who was assassinated in 1914 in Serbia that lead to the start of WWI. Although a very popular ruler, Francis Joseph lost the terrorities of Lombardy to France and much of the German influence to Prussia. He adapted many liberal policies after this including Hungarian equal rights. Maria Theresa- Holy Roman Empress, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia and Archduchess of Austra. Her father was the last Hapsburg male heir at the time and it was he who issued a decree called the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 which allowed women to the Imperial crown but she had to fight many wars to keep power including the Seven Years War. She was also the mother of the future Queen Marie-Antoinette, the last Queen of France who was beheaded during the French Revolution. NOTES: I would definitely recommended that you read up on Warhammer's "Empire" which is very close to the themes of Hapsburg Germany. Lots of cool and interesting ideas. You should also "Google" the Holy Roman Empire since that was a major factor within the Hapsburg Imperial dynasty. This will also stimulate other ideas as well. I use this a lot in my campaigns.
#10 LWhitehead Jan 24, 2009 17:27:54	Also I'm trying to get my hands on Iron Kingdoms RPG books as well, since in this world they started to burn Coal as main source of heat and fuel and it's poor relation Coke. I am currently reading Dragonlance as well now that's a good campain and fantasy world, Um timeframe of the War of Sucsession is 10 year now currently I needed a longer span of war to this campain setting, also like I stated before it's 30 year since the 100 year war with the Kath Empire, A fantasy version of the Kilrathi race from Wing Commander. Now this race hates magic and uses there knowhow like in making Canon's and armored plated Junks, LW
#11 LWhitehead Jan 30, 2009 17:22:42	Yes a campain world in the 1450-1660 timeframe, also I'm looking into Dragonmech as well. Now there are other nations in this world along with this Hasburg empire as well and I would still like some help. LW Also which system is better to create this world with?,