Greek Myth inspired world - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Greek Myth inspired world

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
lizardmage
Jan 29, 2010 13:41:22 So, I have some down time right now as most of my group got sent out on a deployment, and want to start a new world.

I'd like to do classic greek world, with plenty of island hoping and a far amount of land to explore. Governments, geographic regions and attitudes of the various races will be easy but I am hung up on the Gods.

Using them isn't a problem, but it's more about the interpration of each race, and the Gods will be a very....heavy aspect in the world, so it boils down to choosing which would be represented by different races, or perhaps leaving them human, but when they appear to another race they appear as that race? Thoughts, or mayhaps someone has a world similar and is willing to share abit?

Thanks.
#2
Rhineglade_
Jan 29, 2010 16:26:46 There's always that old addage that we are created in God's image. I would imagine that humanoid races of D&D would likely feel the same thing. The god or goddess wouldn't change. Just the worshiper's interpretation of their god.

Just like the Romans used the same gods as the Greeks but they changed their names to reflect the Roman culture.

Some of the gods would likely be more attractive to specific races. Demeter or Pan would probably be good for elves. Hephestus would be good for dwarves and/or dragonborn. Artemis is also good for elves or even rangers. Aphrodite for bards. Hecate or Hades for tieflings. Etc.
#3
Ansbach
Jan 30, 2010 0:14:54 You could always reskin the races to make it more of a human campaign - Eladrin are Athenians, Dragonborn are Spartans, etc. Either literally reskin them to look more human, or have the Gods not distinguish or acknowledge race - only origin.
#4
strand0
Jan 30, 2010 0:59:34 I'm in college history right now and we just finished the Greeks. The different periods on the histroy are ... different.
The early period has not centralization. Greece is very rough and mountainous, where groups lived on (fortified) out-croppings. The Acropolus was once all of Athens.

The ancient period was Mycenean it had only four major cities, all in the Pelopenes.

Almost all we knew about this period was the writting on Homer. Historians now think that much of those writing were not as old as they had long been thought to be.

Big problem: Are Gods going to be around?
#5
Grimbus
Jan 30, 2010 4:09:48 The Greek Gods were fickle in the affairs of mortals. So, whilst a God may have an affinity for a particular race, they may also throw an almighty strop and fall out with the same race for not fasting or paying due homage. The chances are there is one god asking for Zeuss to smite someone and another God asking Zeuss not to smite them.

The Greek Gods would appear in whatever shape or form that suited them. Zeuss is famous for his abilities as a swan and the different Gods would appear in disguise amongst humans and other races. The Gods would appear in whatever form suited them - animals, elves, ogres, beggars of whatever race.

I think the Greek Gods generally would be more interested in personalities and groups rather than Races as a whole. The Sea God and Wind God (names escape me at the moment) would want sailors to pay homage to them, whilst the earth god would want the farmers to pay attention to him. As such each city would have temples to most of the gods, but the biggest one would be for the predominant God associated with the activities in the city.

It sounds a bit wishy washy, but it does save a huge amount of time. The Gods are there and they will intervene when it suits them, which means you do not have to construct the whole belief system for your campaign world, just create the events that wpould cause a god to intervene.

#6
lizardmage
Jan 30, 2010 7:50:38
You could always reskin the races to make it more of a human campaign - Eladrin are Athenians, Dragonborn are Spartans, etc. Either literally reskin them to look more human, or have the Gods not distinguish or acknowledge race - only origin.

I had considered this option but my players do enjoy the option of the other races, and I admit I like them also, so I chose to not go this route, but thank you for this suggestion.

I am really appreciating the responses and the help everyone is providing thank you very much.

Edited spelling and grammer.

Edit #2: Strand0, yeah they will be showing up here and there, and I'd like to stat them out in case a player get a God of War complex going on and decides to take someone on.
#7
lizardmage
Feb 22, 2010 18:07:20 *casts raise thread*

So, while I was content to let this thread die, I need some more help. Devas.

Typically I just reflavor them to a more fitting race in my homebrew worlds, but I cannot think of a good way to fit/work them in to the Greek setting. Every other race fits nicely, but these guys I swear Deva give me the most problems.

Anyway, I would actually just write them out as none of my current players have any desire to play the race as it is, but I am considering future players or just the off chance one says, "Meh, what the hell."

So reflavoring thoughts? Or is there a myth that the Deva fit into that I clearly missed.

Thanks again folks.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 lizardmage Jan 29, 2010 13:41:22	So, I have some down time right now as most of my group got sent out on a deployment, and want to start a new world. I'd like to do classic greek world, with plenty of island hoping and a far amount of land to explore. Governments, geographic regions and attitudes of the various races will be easy but I am hung up on the Gods. Using them isn't a problem, but it's more about the interpration of each race, and the Gods will be a very....heavy aspect in the world, so it boils down to choosing which would be represented by different races, or perhaps leaving them human, but when they appear to another race they appear as that race? Thoughts, or mayhaps someone has a world similar and is willing to share abit? Thanks.
#2 Rhineglade_ Jan 29, 2010 16:26:46	There's always that old addage that we are created in God's image. I would imagine that humanoid races of D&D would likely feel the same thing. The god or goddess wouldn't change. Just the worshiper's interpretation of their god. Just like the Romans used the same gods as the Greeks but they changed their names to reflect the Roman culture. Some of the gods would likely be more attractive to specific races. Demeter or Pan would probably be good for elves. Hephestus would be good for dwarves and/or dragonborn. Artemis is also good for elves or even rangers. Aphrodite for bards. Hecate or Hades for tieflings. Etc.
#3 Ansbach Jan 30, 2010 0:14:54	You could always reskin the races to make it more of a human campaign - Eladrin are Athenians, Dragonborn are Spartans, etc. Either literally reskin them to look more human, or have the Gods not distinguish or acknowledge race - only origin.
#4 strand0 Jan 30, 2010 0:59:34	I'm in college history right now and we just finished the Greeks. The different periods on the histroy are ... different. The early period has not centralization. Greece is very rough and mountainous, where groups lived on (fortified) out-croppings. The Acropolus was once all of Athens. The ancient period was Mycenean it had only four major cities, all in the Pelopenes. Almost all we knew about this period was the writting on Homer. Historians now think that much of those writing were not as old as they had long been thought to be. Big problem: Are Gods going to be around?
#5 Grimbus Jan 30, 2010 4:09:48	The Greek Gods were fickle in the affairs of mortals. So, whilst a God may have an affinity for a particular race, they may also throw an almighty strop and fall out with the same race for not fasting or paying due homage. The chances are there is one god asking for Zeuss to smite someone and another God asking Zeuss not to smite them. The Greek Gods would appear in whatever shape or form that suited them. Zeuss is famous for his abilities as a swan and the different Gods would appear in disguise amongst humans and other races. The Gods would appear in whatever form suited them - animals, elves, ogres, beggars of whatever race. I think the Greek Gods generally would be more interested in personalities and groups rather than Races as a whole. The Sea God and Wind God (names escape me at the moment) would want sailors to pay homage to them, whilst the earth god would want the farmers to pay attention to him. As such each city would have temples to most of the gods, but the biggest one would be for the predominant God associated with the activities in the city. It sounds a bit wishy washy, but it does save a huge amount of time. The Gods are there and they will intervene when it suits them, which means you do not have to construct the whole belief system for your campaign world, just create the events that wpould cause a god to intervene.
#6 lizardmage Jan 30, 2010 7:50:38	You could always reskin the races to make it more of a human campaign - Eladrin are Athenians, Dragonborn are Spartans, etc. Either literally reskin them to look more human, or have the Gods not distinguish or acknowledge race - only origin. I had considered this option but my players do enjoy the option of the other races, and I admit I like them also, so I chose to not go this route, but thank you for this suggestion. I am really appreciating the responses and the help everyone is providing thank you very much. Edited spelling and grammer. Edit #2: Strand0, yeah they will be showing up here and there, and I'd like to stat them out in case a player get a God of War complex going on and decides to take someone on.
#7 lizardmage Feb 22, 2010 18:07:20	casts raise thread So, while I was content to let this thread die, I need some more help. Devas. Typically I just reflavor them to a more fitting race in my homebrew worlds, but I cannot think of a good way to fit/work them in to the Greek setting. Every other race fits nicely, but these guys I swear Deva give me the most problems. Anyway, I would actually just write them out as none of my current players have any desire to play the race as it is, but I am considering future players or just the off chance one says, "Meh, what the hell." So reflavoring thoughts? Or is there a myth that the Deva fit into that I clearly missed. Thanks again folks.