When one thinks of a fantasy roleplaying game the genre that comes to mind is the typical Middle Earth-like archetype (Orcs, halflings, elves etc). While this does appeal I’ve been thinking along other lines lately, perhaps even deviating from established D&D worlds altogether. The inevitable question what sort of campaign should I create?
I am quite fond of Asian (Chinese/Japanese) campaigns as they contain many if not all character class types and a host of unusual and really cool weapons, not to mention a rich mythology.
Another genre I was thinking about would be the classical era (Greece, Rome, Troy) campaign. Quite a few of the traditional monsters we are used to in D&D come from this mythology and many of the weapons. This sort of campaign, if I were to stay true to it, would probably be missing many of the base 3.5 classes including all of the spell casters, and the monk would be more the wrestler.
The Native American and African tribal cultures bare a thought or two. The monk, druid, and fighter classes could probably be maintained without much of a hassle though many of the weapons would be out. Tribal cultures are replete with deities and monsters as well as a variety of mundane creatures usually supersized.
An underwater or Atlantian genre also appeals. Marine humanoids, three dimensional movement, and the sea (at least in reality) contains some of the largest and nastiest creatures that have ever existed (sharks, giant squids, and the like).
Perhaps an epic level campaign of demigods, or even dragons would be in order. This would allow for a mixture of superhero like abilities and a taste of any genre imaginable though the list of pre-built monster challenges is quite limited. Minotaurs, orcs, kobalds and the like are hardly a challenge for a minor deity, but perhaps that’s where followers would come in. Given the number of skills, abilities, salient powers and more it would be rather difficult to maintain control.
Perhaps even Ancient Egyptian..?
What to do, what to do?
