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A Byzantine game
Just a quick thought I came up with while doing some research.
Why aren't more FRPGs set in the Byzantine Empire? Think about it.. the Western Empire in ruins, alien cultures to the east, barbarians to the north, the Eastern Roman Empire saw itself as the last light of Christian Civilization in a dark world. Change some of the barbarian tribes to orcs and hobgoblins, add a little magic, and presto! Instant epic campaign setting. Especially if you add some things that were actually part of the legends of the day, like the last few Roman Emperors making pacts with demonic forces to save themselves.
Speaking of Rome, by the time the Vandals sacked it in 455 it was described as being nearly deserted, with scattered villages huddled in the ruins. Old-school Runquest players may remember a boxed set called The Big Rubble? The Old City of Pavis, destroyed long ago, now haunted by monsters and ghosts. New Pavis existed almost solely to outfit adventurers seeking to find the rumored treasures lost in the old city. Move that idea from Prax to the seven hills of Rome, and you have the biggest, baddest urban dungeon ever.
There's even a historically accurate excuse for all this! Justinian I made reconquering the Western Empire the focal point of his reign, and succeeded, for the most part. Set the campaign in the mid-6th century and have the characters be part of the massive armies moving west.
Why aren't more FRPGs set in the Byzantine Empire? Think about it.. the Western Empire in ruins, alien cultures to the east, barbarians to the north, the Eastern Roman Empire saw itself as the last light of Christian Civilization in a dark world. Change some of the barbarian tribes to orcs and hobgoblins, add a little magic, and presto! Instant epic campaign setting. Especially if you add some things that were actually part of the legends of the day, like the last few Roman Emperors making pacts with demonic forces to save themselves.
Speaking of Rome, by the time the Vandals sacked it in 455 it was described as being nearly deserted, with scattered villages huddled in the ruins. Old-school Runquest players may remember a boxed set called The Big Rubble? The Old City of Pavis, destroyed long ago, now haunted by monsters and ghosts. New Pavis existed almost solely to outfit adventurers seeking to find the rumored treasures lost in the old city. Move that idea from Prax to the seven hills of Rome, and you have the biggest, baddest urban dungeon ever.
There's even a historically accurate excuse for all this! Justinian I made reconquering the Western Empire the focal point of his reign, and succeeded, for the most part. Set the campaign in the mid-6th century and have the characters be part of the massive armies moving west.
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