Stereotypical Warriors


Lost Omens Campaign Setting General Discussion

The Concordance RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32

So based on nationality/religion/race, what are you stereotypical examples?

For example, Ulfen warriors are probably lightly armored (no heavier than chain mail), probably doesn't use a shield, and uses all kinds of axes

Iobarian warriors wear chain mail and shirt, use bucklers, and carry swords, and/or spears

A Mwangi warriors wears light or no armor, any type of shield, and uses spears and javelins.

The Kellid warrior wears hide and leather, doesn't use a shield, and wields spears and large swords or large axes

A Qadirian warrior wears Light to chain armor, nearly always has a shield, and wields a scimitar.

Any others? Or disagreements?


I agree with the fact that Ulfen wear a form of mail, either a shirt or full suit. I disagree with no shield since they are based on Vikings who by all means used shields. The most common weapon would be the spear for the rank and file with swords being regulated to the elite. And use axes as well.


Earthbreaker seems to be the iconic Shoan-ti weapon.


And Klar, of course.


I'd imagine Taldan knights wearing full plate and carrying falcatas, while their squires carry short swords and wear chain or leather. A Varisian in combat might wear light or no armor and wield a bladed scarf or similar subtle weapon.

The Concordance RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32

Excellent suggestions!

BTW< the reason for these questions is my PCs are in Oppara, Taldor and want to visit the arena. So i did some research and found that many of the fights in the Roman Coliseum were "historical" demonstrating the "superiority" of the Romans over the foes they had conquered. Thus the need for a warrior that is instantly recognized as a culture or ethos.

Of course there will be performance combat as well. And fights with beasts. But man against man is always the "best"/most popular combats for the arena


catdragon wrote:

Excellent suggestions!

BTW< the reason for these questions is my PCs are in Oppara, Taldor and want to visit the arena. So i did some research and found that many of the fights in the Roman Coliseum were "historical" demonstrating the "superiority" of the Romans over the foes they had conquered. Thus the need for a warrior that is instantly recognized as a culture or ethos.

Of course there will be performance combat as well. And fights with beasts. But man against man is always the "best"/most popular combats for the arena

Since Taldor is partially based off of imperial Spain, there might also be entertainment like bull fights or the Running of the Bulls.

The Concordance RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32

Simeon wrote:

Since Taldor is partially based off of imperial Spain, there might also be entertainment like bull fights or the Running of the Bulls.

I see it based more off Imperial Rome. At least in my campaign. YMMV.


Zaskar24 wrote:
I agree with the fact that Ulfen wear a form of mail, either a shirt or full suit. I disagree with no shield since they are based on Vikings who by all means used shields. The most common weapon would be the spear for the rank and file with swords being regulated to the elite. And use axes as well.

Agree with this. Especially on the shields. The Viking Fighter archetype even specializes in shields actually. So both based on the historical inspiration and the in-game representation are shield users.


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Taldor feels like the middle (post-Justinian.. post-Heraclius, too) days of the Eastern Romans (they even have a Varangian Guard stand-in!) mashed up with more "typical" western European things like orders of knights and the like, and then Falcatas because reasons. The mishmash nature actually appeals to me, because it makes them feel like an actual Empire- bits and pieces of various cultures bubble to the surface.

Ulfen warriors should totally rock shields, mail shirts, and then hand weapons to taste, including a couple of throwing weapons.

Osiriani infantry soldiers- shield, spear, light or heavy mace for most, khopeshes for officers or elite units. Scale mail on heavy troops when the weather permits.

Kellid warriors: Anything Robert E. Howard ever had Conan use, with guys from the Realm of the Mammoth Lords favoring heavy weapons like greataxes or polearms. Armor is whatever they can get their hands on without slowing down to much- Hide predominates.


What about Andoran? Or Nidal?

The Concordance RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32

Thanael wrote:

What about Andoran? Or Nidal?

For Andoran, I opted for the "uncivilized" version, before or during the conquest of those lands by Taldor. So i used leather armor, spears, short bows, with heavy use of feathers as ornamentation. I also had the barbaric Andorans dye themselves primary colors (just because).

I was aiming, but probably not succeeding as i didn't research it, for barbaric Irish or Welsh warriors


catdragon wrote:
Thanael wrote:

What about Andoran? Or Nidal?

For Andoran, I opted for the "uncivilized" version, before or during the conquest of those lands by Taldor. So i used leather armor, spears, short bows, with heavy use of feathers as ornamentation. I also had the barbaric Andorans dye themselves primary colors (just because).

I was aiming, but probably not succeeding as i didn't research it, for barbaric Irish or Welsh warriors

The most common color for Celts was blue, and armor was never used in Celtic society. Feathers were also a bit of a rarity. The decision is ultimately up to you though.


Simeon wrote:
catdragon wrote:
Thanael wrote:

What about Andoran? Or Nidal?

For Andoran, I opted for the "uncivilized" version, before or during the conquest of those lands by Taldor. So i used leather armor, spears, short bows, with heavy use of feathers as ornamentation. I also had the barbaric Andorans dye themselves primary colors (just because).

I was aiming, but probably not succeeding as i didn't research it, for barbaric Irish or Welsh warriors

The most common color for Celts was blue, and armor was never used in Celtic society. Feathers were also a bit of a rarity. The decision is ultimately up to you though.

Because yeah, the Romans did not learn how to make mail after first encountering on Celtic warriors or anything. Or I should say richer ones. Rank and file no armor except for a shield and perhaps a helmet.


[url=http://myarmoury.com/feature_mail.html][/url] just to back up my last statement. Scroll down to the origins section of the page.


I'd imagine the stereotype of a Nidalese warrior is a Spiked Chain-wielding sadomasochist.

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I'd have Nidalese wear ancient scale armor, poleaxes, lances and lassos, reflecting their early days as horselords. Think Sarmatians. Maybe steeds decked in spiky bronze barding. Whips and chains too but only on the obvious Kuthites. Maybe include a Silent Enforcer. Those guys are pretty (in)famous. I'm also thinking about a cataphract commander wearing chain armor and a massive bow. Evil romans!

Andoren: Eagle Knights! Parade armor and armored coats. Gilded breastplates on the officers. Greatswords with eagle-like hilts, but also boarding axes/cutlasses and underwater crossbows for deck fighting. Lightly armored marines fighting alongside a Golden Legionnaire in gaudy plate mail. Everything being blue and gold!

Vudrani: Four-mirror armored heavies wielding longswords or a parasu (battleaxe), shortbows as ranged weapons. Then unarmored scrappers, each one with and urumi and madu. Chakrams worn as armbands! Pathfinder has a massive amount of South Asian and South East Asian weaponry - sibat, kerambit, gandasa, kukri etc - so making all kinds interesting combos would work.


Cheliax, my favorite nation: beyond the blend of slaves thrown into the arena, most competitors would probably be Hellknights or Hellknight wash-ups. Heavy armor, armor spikes. Depending on Order, two-handed weapons or mace and shield, or other varying one-handed weapons. Pentagram/devilish theme, with red and black motifs.

Sarkorian: usually tough hide, sometimes wild colors. Sharp claws and teeth, possibly multiple heads and/or limbs. Some magical ability, along with varying forms of attacks. Poison, breath weapons, disease, etc. Stay away!

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