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Greek Fantasy Roleplpay

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
gnomemaster
Jan 18, 2009 19:35:09 So I've been thinking about Greek Mythology and how fun it would be to run a game back in the Bronze Age. Does anyone have any thoughts on the matter? What would you like to see?
#2
pigknight
Jan 18, 2009 19:45:07 I read Geek Fantasy.

I was all like "Code: Furry Trek Wars Note porn?"
#3
studpuffin
Jan 18, 2009 19:47:03 City state political systems! Wars should be like modern outdoor sports, in the summer and every summer! :D
#4
gnomemaster
Jan 18, 2009 19:47:29 Nice work. No, I'm talking Greek. Greek as in Gyros, Wine, Olives, Nemean Lions, Myrmidons, Zeus, Islands, Crete, Minotaurs and more.

I want to do a translation of Greek Fantasy, but nothing that is an exact translation, catch what I'm saying? Mainly because I don't want to be restrained by what has already been done in the realm of Greek Mythology.
#5
yellowdingo
Jan 18, 2009 19:48:29 WE ARE SPARTA!

Well almost. We have left our Villages disgusted at the degenerate behaviour of our fellow Greeks...was that the King molesting a sheep and a Goat at last night's Orgy? Vermin: Not a real warrior amongst them...right I'm Off! Im Staring my own Country. Its called going to be called Sparta (after me: Tufus Spartu - Hero and sole survivor of the Vegetable farmer Riots of '36).
#6
pigknight
Jan 18, 2009 19:48:50 So are your minotaurs made the old fashioned way?

Also, if it's not human it's dangerous!
#7
gnomemaster
Jan 18, 2009 19:50:36 My minotaurs are unholy spawn of the Monster Goddess. Along with a lot of other monsters. Plus I want to add a twist to the half-god hero, of having a cruel tyrant who is super-strong like Herakles but is taking over the world.
#8
studpuffin
Jan 18, 2009 19:53:35 What prevents his "daddy or mommy" from coming and spanking him for not sharing?
#9
minja_dup
Jan 18, 2009 19:58:23 Sure, sounds like fun. Adopt the pantheon, then...

I think you would need to develop a more detailed system for weapon failure, such as breaking. That is of course if you want to go with the bronze stuff, which I think is important. That also means adjusting the technology and the armor a little bit.

Are you going to go with the warm Greek climate as well? Because that will really help flavor a lot of your tactics and your war technology.
#10
studpuffin
Jan 18, 2009 20:02:13 I'm not sure about 4e, but in older editions of D&D there was a change in the way armor worked. Bronze proved to be quite flexible, uping the max dex by +1. It wasn't as strong as steel, however, and so it suffered a -1 penalty to Armor bonus.

Spears, shortswords, breastplates, heavy shields; they'd all be common weaponry as well.
#11
yellowdingo
Jan 18, 2009 20:18:31
My minotaurs are unholy spawn of the Monster Goddess. Along with a lot of other monsters. Plus I want to add a twist to the half-god hero, of having a cruel tyrant who is super-strong like Herakles but is taking over the world.

Tufus Spartu: I knew it. I knew they were up to something in that royal house...I never got invited to those parties.
#12
gnomemaster
Jan 18, 2009 20:20:24 The weather will definately be mediterranean and warm. Otherwise it would be hard to make Grapes to make the Wine!

Bronze weapons is something I have been thinking about, I once read in a book that Their spears were made of bronze, therefore after a long days battle they would start to bend after some use. So they'd have to bend it back.

However, this is a magical Greek world, and so what I'm doing is all magical Items come from the Forge god, he just spends all his time 24/7 making magic items, then chucking them into the mortal realm to see what happens. (like Dexter in Dexter's Lab)

So I'm thinking of including steel and mithril but making it a pretty rare.
#13
studpuffin
Jan 18, 2009 20:25:05 They used steel tips on more eloquent weapons. Steel doesn't do well in a place like Greece, it tends to corrode fairly quickly. I think specifically they used iron.

You've reminded me that they often used two ended spears. One end had a regular spear head, the other end had a spike for setting against a charge, or to be used as a weapon when the shaft broke.

Mithirl should probably be reserved for Jason and the Argonauts level stuff. Perhaps a Mithril Fleece instead?
#14
gnomemaster
Jan 18, 2009 20:35:33 Hmmmmm... True on the Mithril part that it will be reserved for more magical items. My goal for metals is that your average Hoplite is wielding bronze, meanwhile the heroes will more than likely have weapons crafted by the God of the Forge Parmodius.

My goal for Parmodius is that he is cursed by the king of the gods for an age old betrayal. He is chained to his forge, he never sleeps, and rarely eats, instead spending all his time crafting and hammering. He creates the most beautiful pieces of arcane might. He creates magic items as well as plain items, each one touched by the might of god. As soon as the weapon or staff or other item is made, he holds it up, and marvels at his handycraft, only to have it snatched from his hands by an Eagle. He then picks up another bar of iron, or bronze, or gold, or mithril and begins working again.
#15
studpuffin
Jan 18, 2009 20:45:04 Most hoplites probably would only wear a hardened linen cuirass (me thinks that its the equivalent of studded leather), now that I think of it.
#16
gnomemaster
Jan 18, 2009 20:49:14 Something I was thinking about is...Monsters!
Pegasus, Hippocampus, Centaur, Minotaur, Hydra, Manticore, Nemean Lion (From Herakles' 12 trials), Colossus (like from Rhodes), Chimera, Medusa, Harpy, Sea Serpent, Dryad, Satyr, Lampades (Nymphs from the Underworld), Hecatonchires (100 hands and 50 heads), Nereid (sea nymphs) and more! What's great is so many DnD monsters come from Greek Mythology. But eventually I will start coming up with new monsters. I might even include some of the especially weird ones like Kampe, a Dragon killed by Zeus who look like a woman with snake legs (which is weird since they don't have legs) and a scorpion tail.
#17
gnomemaster
Jan 18, 2009 20:55:14 This is what leads me into a hard brick wall. I can either be very historically accurate but less fantastical or more fantastical and less historically accurate. I've decided that I am going to walk the middle ground. There are a lot of great books by Osprey that I have all about Ancient Greek Warfare, and this campaign will include a war, but I hope to include something more standard Dungeons and Dragons mixed with the epic quest.

In fact, I want to include prophecies from Oracles that involve the players becoming legendary heroes!
#18
studpuffin
Jan 18, 2009 21:02:12 Well, most Greek Myths are filled with tragedy. You'd probably want to include a large sum of that to get that genuine feel.

Really, this setting seems entirely visual to me. Does the rest of your group share your passion for the Ancient Greek Era. You might have to school them some.

I ran a Pre-Punic Wars Roman-esque campaign at one point. Most players didn't even know what things looked like until I started using pictures during the session.
#19
gnomemaster
Jan 18, 2009 21:23:52 My entire group is made up of Greek Geeks, so that's not a worry.

And like i said earlier, don't espect me to call this Greece! The Roleplaying Game!

The name is Rhodos, which is a fictional grouping of islands and city-states. Any thoughts on what kinds of city states? Naturally we will see a version of the War-Like Spartans. But I was curious of mixing it up a bit. For now I am picturing 12 city states each one favored by a different god.

It's also important the role the Gods played in creating the world. Each monster was crafted by an individual god or goddess and blessed with qualities he or she finds most important. However, the humans were a joint effort with qualities blessed by all the gods.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 gnomemaster Jan 18, 2009 19:35:09	So I've been thinking about Greek Mythology and how fun it would be to run a game back in the Bronze Age. Does anyone have any thoughts on the matter? What would you like to see?
#2 pigknight Jan 18, 2009 19:45:07	I read Geek Fantasy. I was all like "Code: Furry Trek Wars Note porn?"
#3 studpuffin Jan 18, 2009 19:47:03	City state political systems! Wars should be like modern outdoor sports, in the summer and every summer! :D
#4 gnomemaster Jan 18, 2009 19:47:29	Nice work. No, I'm talking Greek. Greek as in Gyros, Wine, Olives, Nemean Lions, Myrmidons, Zeus, Islands, Crete, Minotaurs and more. I want to do a translation of Greek Fantasy, but nothing that is an exact translation, catch what I'm saying? Mainly because I don't want to be restrained by what has already been done in the realm of Greek Mythology.
#5 yellowdingo Jan 18, 2009 19:48:29	WE ARE SPARTA! Well almost. We have left our Villages disgusted at the degenerate behaviour of our fellow Greeks...was that the King molesting a sheep and a Goat at last night's Orgy? Vermin: Not a real warrior amongst them...right I'm Off! Im Staring my own Country. Its called going to be called Sparta (after me: Tufus Spartu - Hero and sole survivor of the Vegetable farmer Riots of '36).
#6 pigknight Jan 18, 2009 19:48:50	So are your minotaurs made the old fashioned way? Also, if it's not human it's dangerous!
#7 gnomemaster Jan 18, 2009 19:50:36	My minotaurs are unholy spawn of the Monster Goddess. Along with a lot of other monsters. Plus I want to add a twist to the half-god hero, of having a cruel tyrant who is super-strong like Herakles but is taking over the world.
#8 studpuffin Jan 18, 2009 19:53:35	What prevents his "daddy or mommy" from coming and spanking him for not sharing?
#9 minja_dup Jan 18, 2009 19:58:23	Sure, sounds like fun. Adopt the pantheon, then... I think you would need to develop a more detailed system for weapon failure, such as breaking. That is of course if you want to go with the bronze stuff, which I think is important. That also means adjusting the technology and the armor a little bit. Are you going to go with the warm Greek climate as well? Because that will really help flavor a lot of your tactics and your war technology.
#10 studpuffin Jan 18, 2009 20:02:13	I'm not sure about 4e, but in older editions of D&D there was a change in the way armor worked. Bronze proved to be quite flexible, uping the max dex by +1. It wasn't as strong as steel, however, and so it suffered a -1 penalty to Armor bonus. Spears, shortswords, breastplates, heavy shields; they'd all be common weaponry as well.
#11 yellowdingo Jan 18, 2009 20:18:31	My minotaurs are unholy spawn of the Monster Goddess. Along with a lot of other monsters. Plus I want to add a twist to the half-god hero, of having a cruel tyrant who is super-strong like Herakles but is taking over the world. Tufus Spartu: I knew it. I knew they were up to something in that royal house...I never got invited to those parties.
#12 gnomemaster Jan 18, 2009 20:20:24	The weather will definately be mediterranean and warm. Otherwise it would be hard to make Grapes to make the Wine! Bronze weapons is something I have been thinking about, I once read in a book that Their spears were made of bronze, therefore after a long days battle they would start to bend after some use. So they'd have to bend it back. However, this is a magical Greek world, and so what I'm doing is all magical Items come from the Forge god, he just spends all his time 24/7 making magic items, then chucking them into the mortal realm to see what happens. (like Dexter in Dexter's Lab) So I'm thinking of including steel and mithril but making it a pretty rare.
#13 studpuffin Jan 18, 2009 20:25:05	They used steel tips on more eloquent weapons. Steel doesn't do well in a place like Greece, it tends to corrode fairly quickly. I think specifically they used iron. You've reminded me that they often used two ended spears. One end had a regular spear head, the other end had a spike for setting against a charge, or to be used as a weapon when the shaft broke. Mithirl should probably be reserved for Jason and the Argonauts level stuff. Perhaps a Mithril Fleece instead?
#14 gnomemaster Jan 18, 2009 20:35:33	Hmmmmm... True on the Mithril part that it will be reserved for more magical items. My goal for metals is that your average Hoplite is wielding bronze, meanwhile the heroes will more than likely have weapons crafted by the God of the Forge Parmodius. My goal for Parmodius is that he is cursed by the king of the gods for an age old betrayal. He is chained to his forge, he never sleeps, and rarely eats, instead spending all his time crafting and hammering. He creates the most beautiful pieces of arcane might. He creates magic items as well as plain items, each one touched by the might of god. As soon as the weapon or staff or other item is made, he holds it up, and marvels at his handycraft, only to have it snatched from his hands by an Eagle. He then picks up another bar of iron, or bronze, or gold, or mithril and begins working again.
#15 studpuffin Jan 18, 2009 20:45:04	Most hoplites probably would only wear a hardened linen cuirass (me thinks that its the equivalent of studded leather), now that I think of it.
#16 gnomemaster Jan 18, 2009 20:49:14	Something I was thinking about is...Monsters! Pegasus, Hippocampus, Centaur, Minotaur, Hydra, Manticore, Nemean Lion (From Herakles' 12 trials), Colossus (like from Rhodes), Chimera, Medusa, Harpy, Sea Serpent, Dryad, Satyr, Lampades (Nymphs from the Underworld), Hecatonchires (100 hands and 50 heads), Nereid (sea nymphs) and more! What's great is so many DnD monsters come from Greek Mythology. But eventually I will start coming up with new monsters. I might even include some of the especially weird ones like Kampe, a Dragon killed by Zeus who look like a woman with snake legs (which is weird since they don't have legs) and a scorpion tail.
#17 gnomemaster Jan 18, 2009 20:55:14	This is what leads me into a hard brick wall. I can either be very historically accurate but less fantastical or more fantastical and less historically accurate. I've decided that I am going to walk the middle ground. There are a lot of great books by Osprey that I have all about Ancient Greek Warfare, and this campaign will include a war, but I hope to include something more standard Dungeons and Dragons mixed with the epic quest. In fact, I want to include prophecies from Oracles that involve the players becoming legendary heroes!
#18 studpuffin Jan 18, 2009 21:02:12	Well, most Greek Myths are filled with tragedy. You'd probably want to include a large sum of that to get that genuine feel. Really, this setting seems entirely visual to me. Does the rest of your group share your passion for the Ancient Greek Era. You might have to school them some. I ran a Pre-Punic Wars Roman-esque campaign at one point. Most players didn't even know what things looked like until I started using pictures during the session.
#19 gnomemaster Jan 18, 2009 21:23:52	My entire group is made up of Greek Geeks, so that's not a worry. And like i said earlier, don't espect me to call this Greece! The Roleplaying Game! The name is Rhodos, which is a fictional grouping of islands and city-states. Any thoughts on what kinds of city states? Naturally we will see a version of the War-Like Spartans. But I was curious of mixing it up a bit. For now I am picturing 12 city states each one favored by a different god. It's also important the role the Gods played in creating the world. Each monster was crafted by an individual god or goddess and blessed with qualities he or she finds most important. However, the humans were a joint effort with qualities blessed by all the gods.