Races and Cultures in rules terms
by Greg WeatherupI think I've mentioned elsewhere that I have been working on a races file, I figured it was time to see about getting some feed back. My goal was to provide one set of rules for each of the systems that I am familiar with, RC/Gaz style OD&D, AD&D 2e, and 3/3.5e (I don't like 1e, and I don't know anything about 4e or other systems like GURPS but if someone else wants to do those portions I can incorporate them as well). My goal is to have a reference document for players in one any of my game's (and anyone else who wants to use it) to help in character creation, as well as just giving a general reference for myself. Some of these I know are controversial (i.e. the 3e elf stats) I invite and encourage discussion on them, but since it is for my usage primarily I'll ultimately go with what I want.
This was inspired by, amongst other things, the ethnography discussions, Gawain VIII's d20 project and the M3e project, Agathokles Mystara AD&D 2e Conversion in the Mystara Campaign Book, the Demographics discussions at the Italian board, and others that I am probably forgetting.
Here's what I got so far:
Table of Contents:
*Humans
*Demi-humans & major near-humans
**Dwarves
**Elves
**Gnomes
**Hin
**Lupin
**Rakasta
*Goblinoids and Giants
*"Wee Folk" (Fairy Races)
*Half-Races
*Others
**Land, Aerial, and Amphibious
**Aquatic
**Extraplanar
For each race entry I give a descriptive write up, generally from the Mystara net almanac or elsewhere, maybe an additional paragraph or two by me clarifying my take on them, and a one-line description and some statistics on how common the race is in different parts of Mystara (stats from the Italian Demographics project)
I then give a list breaking each race down into subraces and/or into ethno-cultural groups with a brief note on where their found or what distinguishes them, and I then give a write up of each in the following format:
Name: (Where found or examples)
Description
Descendency: a brief description from the ethnography project
Physical Description: Typical characteristics, i.e. relative size, hair/eye colours, typical build size, etc.
Stats: Any stats or rules changes for this subrace (not found in ethno-cultural group stat-blocks)
Languages: What languages they normally learn, both in terms of Automatically granted languages and common secondary choices
0e Common Characters: Types of classes and Class variants typical of this group under the RC and Gaz rule systems
2e Common Class(es) and Kits: Class choices that are culturally "the norm" for this group, along with notes on the prevalence of certain kits. (Kit info largely from GP's conversion)
3e Favoured Class(es): (Only where it differs from the standard rules)
3e Preferred class(es): Classes (Basic, NPC, and prestige) that are cultural norms for this group.
(Note in one of the above 3-4 sections I also would like to eventually include a few notes about common views towards magic or types {clerical/arcane/etc.} for the group in question, things like fearful of arcane, utilitarian or 'route to power' view of magic, or "view sorcery as unholy pacts with entropics", etc.)
Common Faiths: Typical faiths* and even discussion of frequently encountered churches and immortals amongst the faithful of the group in question
*= this is per my faith categories as I posted [here] [Edit: whoops, I guess I hadn't posted any of that here on the piazza]
It will probably help if I give an example, so here is the first entry I have under Human:
Antalians: (Heldann, Northern Reaches, Norwold, Wendar)
People of the Northern Reaches, Heldann, Norwold, Wendar, as well as the northern barbarians of Borea. Blond and red-headed northmen.
Descendency: from the Daharians (an Aharian or True Neathar people with some Valoin or Oltec mixed in) approximately 3 and a half millennia ago.
Physical Description: Usually Blond hair, sometimes Red or black.
Languages: Heldann/Heldannic (Automatic), Elvish, Alphatian, Thyatian, other local common.
0e Common Characters: Fighter, Godi (Cleric), occasional Rune Mage and Wise Woman.
2e Common Class(es) and Kits: Fighters, Priests, Bards. Northman (Fighters), Berserker (Fighters/Priests), Wilderness Warrior, Defender, & Skald (Bard) kits common, rare thieves are either Scouts or Swindlers. In Norwold and Borea the Barbarian kit becomes common.
3e Preferred class(es): Fighter (esp. berserker types), Scalds. Barbarians not uncommon amongst these people of Norwold and Borea, rarer but not unheard of in more civilised regions.
Common Faiths: Aasatru.
in this example the Common Faith entry could use expanding and I need a good, brief, summary of their approach and view towards magic.
Thank you. I guess I should post my working list:
Human ethno-cultural groups of Mystara:
Antalians - Blond and red-headed northmen. People of the Northern Reaches, Heldann, Norwold, Wendar etc.
Alasiyans - People of Ylaruam, also used for the Thothians
Alphatians, Cypri - "Common" Alphatians
Alphatians, True - "Pure" Alphatians
Atruaghin - Includes all tribes
Cynidicean - Natives of Cynidicea
Darokinians - People of Darokin. They are mixed, but should be considered one here.
Dom- Gypsy people related to the Traladarans.
Dunael - Natives of the Isle of Dawn (Redstone, Caerdwicca etc)
Emerondian - Emerond
Ethengari - People of Ethengar
Glantrians - diverse peoples of Glantri
Hattians - natives of Hattia and the ruling class of Heldann
Huleans - of Hule
Jennites - from the steppes of Jen and Esterhold
Karimari - people of Ulimwengu on the Serpent Peninsula
Laterans- Averoignese/Sylaire, Kaelics, and Fens of Glantri
Makai - Dark to brown-skinned people. should entry include nativised Ierendians? what about Albarendi (Albino's of Utter Island) & Honor Islanders
Minrothadders or 'Thadders- Natives of Minrothad
Nuari- Tanagoro descended people of the Pear Islands. Korotiku followers.
Ochaleans - People of Ochalea
Thothians - Natives of Thothia. See Alasiyans
Thratians - Natives of the Hinterlands
Thyatians - includes Kerendans, but not Hattians. These people have gone on to form the Thyatian Empire. Outside of their imperial holdings, they may also be found in Karameikos, Darokin, Glantri, and Ierendi in large numbers. Olive skinned, with brown hair and eyes, and of average height. They are solidly build, and many have prominent noses. They are a haughty people, and renowned the world over for their treachery.
Traladarans - Natives of Traladara. Boldavians.
Sindhi - People of Sind
Yannivey Islanders - Yannifey tribesmen (similar to Antalians) intermixed with Alphatians
Yavi- peoples of Yav, descended from the Tanagoro with some intermarrying with Sheyallia elves, on the Serpent Peninsula and Thanegia Island
Alasiyans: (Ylari & Thothians)
This group includes two distinct cultures, the Ylari - they are the principal ethnic stock of the Emirates of Ylaruam, and form minority groups in Thyatis and eastern Darokin, and the Thothians of the South-Eastern Isle of Dawn. Largely nomadic, they value the family and tribal unit above all, and have a deep reverence for the Immortals, with most Ylari following Al-Kalim. The commoners wear plain trousers and shirts with long robes and sandals; nobles dress more elegantly, wearing more expensive materials and often adding wide sashes, jewellery, and expensive boots.
Descendency: from the Aseni (an Ahonian [Neathar] people) around 1100 BC.
Physical Description: Ylari: Dusky skin, dark brown or black hair and eyes, 6' 1"(male), 5'8" (female), sharp features, slight build. Thothians: light brown complexion, brown or black hair, generally have brown eyes, tend to be short but many are powerfully built.
Languages: Ylari or Thothian (Automatic), Alphatian, Thyatian, Traladaran, dwarf.
0e Common Characters: Fighter, Faris (Defender of Al Kalim)
2e Common Class(es) and Kits: Ylari: Fighter, Cleric, Dervish, Thieves, Bard. Corsairs (Nithian Fighters), Defender (Fighter), Desert Nomad (Fighter), Myrmidon (Order of the Pike and Order of the Arrow members), Prayer Leader (all), War Priest (for Order of the Mace members), Dervish (Priest), Itinerant (Priest), Beggar (Thief), Vizier (Rogue, Wizard), Barber (Rogue), Academician (Wizard), Militant Wizard (for Order of the Spell members) kits and most all Thief kits
3e Preferred class(es): Cleric, Fighter
Common Faiths: Old Traldar- The Eternal Truth of Al-Kalim (Ylari), ? (Thothians).
This entry needs a few things:
first off do I have the Descendency correct as per the ethnography project?
2nd- the Language list is probably incorrect for Thothians (Dwarvish and Traladaran are probably not appropriate, is there anything that could replace them or just have Alphatian and Thyatian as common secondary choices for them?
3rd- The 0e/2e/3e write up is solely for the Ylari, what about the Thothians? for that matter are there any other 3e classes that would fit for either group (i.e. perhaps Warrior?)
Alphatians, Cypri: (Alphatia, Bellissaria, Isle of Dawn, Norwold, Alatian Islands, includes some Blackhill and Aalbanese of Glantri)
Derogatorily referred to as "Common" Alphatians these humans are the result of generations of interbreeding between the otherworldly "Pure" Alphatians and the Cypri civilisation. Outside of the Empire of Alphatia, they are found primarily in the islands of the Minrothad Guilds, the Emirates of Ylaruam, and the Principalities of Glantri (mainly in Blackhill). Men and women commonly wear a kihara- a full length robe with flowing sleeves. The ostentatiousness of the kihara varies in direct correlation to the wearer's social status.
Descendency: Mixture of the True Alphatians and Cypri Alphatians, and likely other human groups from Old Alphatia, all before Landfall.
Physical Description: Coppery to Golden skin, golden brown to dark brown or red hair, brown, gold, green, hazel, or amber almond eyes, 6' (male), 5'9 (female), delicate bones and facial features, lean build.
Languages: Alphatian (Automatic), Thyatian (Automatic outside of the empire, common within), elf (sylvan), draconic, auran.
0e Common Characters: Cleric, Magic-User.
2e Common Class(es) and Kits: Elementalist Wizard, Specialist Wizard, Wizard. Myrmidon (Army Fighter), Noble (Wizard/Priest), Academician (Wizard), Militant (Wizard), Swashbuckler (Wizard, Fighter), Loremaster (Bard), War Priest (in the Army), Pacifist Priest (Cleric of Alphatia or Koryis)
3e Preferred class(es): Wizard, Cleric. Aristocrat (Spellcasters or children of Spellcasters)
Common Faiths: various Alphatian beliefs.
Alphatian, True: (Alphatia, includes Flaem of Glantri)
Usually referred to as "Pure" Alphatians, they tend to be genetically predisposed towards being capable of strong magics.
Descendency: Alphatians who are either from old families that avoided intermixing with Cypri's, or those who inherited the recessive "pure" genes from "Common" parents.
Physical Description: "Pure" Alphatians: vary pale, nearly white or albino, skin tone with bluish tints, black or even bluish-black hair, black, blue, or even purple eyes, usually tall and slender. Flaems: dark, Coppery skin and reddish hair in pure Flaems, often diluted by intermixing with other Glantrians.
Languages: Alphatian (Automatic), Thyatian, Elf, Draconic, elemental languages.
0e Common Characters: Magic-User
2e Common Class(es) and Kits: Elementalist Wizard, Specialist Wizard, Wizard. Myrmidon (Army Fighter), Noble (Wizard/Priest), Militant (Wizard), Swashbuckler (Wizard, Fighter), Loremaster (Bard), War Priest (in the Army), Pacifist Priest (Cleric of Alphatia or Koryis)
3e Preferred class(es): Sorcerer. Aristocrat (Spellcasters or children of Spellcasters)
Common Faiths: various Alphatian beliefs, Arcane Mysticism.
What this entry needs:
Other than how we are currently above discussing (see above posts by Håvard and Cthulhudrew) the issue of where to place the Flaem (in the Common, True, or in their own entry) and the Honour Islanders, I think it is pretty close to done. maybe try to figure out some 2e Kit that is uniquely appropriate for Pure Alphatians.
Atruaghin (sometimes, though rarely, seen as "Atruaghi"): (Atruaghin Clans and immediate surrounds)
Descendants of the ancient Oltec people, these humans are almost entirely confined to the Atruaghin Plateau and surrounding lands. In their language they derive their name (literally "Children of Atruaghin") from an ancient hero who liberated them from orcish rule and who created the plateau which dominates their lands and protects them from the outside world. There are five main cultural groups (or clan's) divided into numerous tribes.
Descendency: mix of Azcan and Zumache (both Oltec peoples) around 3000 B.C. to 1400 B.C.
Physical Description: Average height, but of solid build with a reddish cast to their skin; hair is typically very dark brown to bluish-black, and eyes are brown to black; notable absence of facial hair.
Languages: a language specific to each Clan (of which each tribe has a unique dialect) (Automatic), Atruaghi (A sprachsbund and lingua franca common to all the tribes), Darokin, Sindhi, Sylvan. Each clan's language is as follows: Bear clans language is the most similar to Atruaghi; Elk, Tiger, and Turtle clans maintain older languages- Elk-Zumache, Tiger- Azcan, & Turtle- Oltec; Horse clan mostly make use of a sign language when amongst outsiders or while on the hunt though they do have a language, similar to Atruaghi, which they use amongst themselves. (rules wise, the Bear clan and spoken Horse clan languages can be treated as dialects of Atruaghi)
0e Common Characters: Fighter, Shaman
2e Common Class(es) and Kits: Fighter, Druid, Ranger, Shaman. Savage (Warriors), Scout (Thief, esp. Elk Clan), Wilderness Warrior (Warriors, esp. Rangers of Elk and Turtle clans), Trader (Bear Clan Bards), Beast Rider (Horse Clan Warriors riding horses), Shaman (Priest), Filcher (Thief), Savage or Wokan (Wizard), Totemic Druid (Balancers of Mahmatti), Jaguar Knight (Tiger Clan Fighters), Fetishist (Bear Clan Rogue), Hunter (Bear Clan Warriors), Pueblo Priest (Bear Clan Priest), Healer (Bear Clan Priest)
3e Preferred class(es): Fighter, Hallillan (Wilderness Rogue), Shaman, Warrior
Common Faiths: Oltec- They believe in shamanism, a mystic religious philosophy that associates the power of a specific totem animal to whole groups of people (clans and tribes) and to individual characters. They also worship Atruaghin as the Great Father of the Clans, and share a similar mysticism towards the Ancestors of the Five Clans, the heroes who protected and shaped the clans which now are considered the Children of Atruaghin. Tahkati, Hattani, Mahmatti, and Ahmanni are the divine founders of four of the five major clans (Horse, Bear, Elk, and Turtle respectively), all of them followers of Atruaghin's word and his most trusted allies and servants. Tiger clan however, follow Atzanteotl and Danel Tigerstripes.
I rather like this write up thus far, I'm just not sure If I got the Physical Description and descendency bit's right, and I hope it's not too wordy (especially the Faith entry seems a bit long). The main thing it needs is some feedback on my approach to the languages issue, what does anyone think? I tried the approach hinted at in Wilhelm & Agathokoles's A Timeline of the Oltec Man along with a sprachsbund like I remember someone (who was it?) had suggested.