I have started recently to put some work into my homebrew world. I generally do this by preparing and then running a campaign based around the major races. It started about 11-12 years ago when I had to run AD&D for a gaming group and I ran a small campaign using some old highschool stuff me and a friend put together. I then decided to run a campaign set in the ancient history of the world and let the actions of the players help create various myths and legends for each race. First was an all Elf group (Elves being based vaguely on Monotheistic Egyptians), then came an Orc campaign (Jewish Roman Orcs with a campaign model based on DS9, the PC boss was called Boon Disco). Last game I ran was for the Dwarven game (Islamic Dwarves versus Crusading Elves).
My original idea for Halflings was for them to have technology far surpassing that of the other races but it gets "lost" down the years. So my first thought was for them to be invading aliens come down in spaceships with lasguns etc. Then I read 1421 by Gavin Menzies ( http://www.1421.tv/ ). So now my halflings will be chinese sailors setting out on a vast voyage of discovery on 300ft long Junks.
Where I am at the moment is thinking about classes and what would be viable in a chinese based campaign. Monks will be a given but what about paladins or bards? Druid is the one class that seems to be right out but the whole shapeshifting thing seems like it could work given some oriental myths. I am willing to allow some japanese into the mis but I want it mostly feel like china. Also does anyone know of any decent D20/OGL books that deal with gunpowder weapons i.e. feats, skills, classes?
Where I am at the moment is thinking about classes and what would be viable in a chinese based campaign. Monks will be a given but what about paladins or bards? Druid is the one class that seems to be right out but the whole shapeshifting thing seems like it could work given some oriental myths. I am willing to allow some japanese into the mis but I want it mostly feel like china. Also does anyone know of any decent D20/OGL books that deal with gunpowder weapons i.e. feats, skills, classes?
Jade and Steel: Role Playing in Mythic China by Avalanche Press is has some good information specific to China. It is a little light on crunch, but coantains some good ideas. The book assumes that only humans will be allowed, because it is historical, not fantasy. It is only about 50 pages, so it does not take long to go through. I would try to find a used copy if possible, because it might not be exactly what you are needing.
WM
Thank you for that suggestion, I will see if I can order a copy online somewhere. Keep 'em coming :)
WotC's Oriental Adventures has some useful stuff, but has a definite bias toward Japanese classes and materials. (Keep in mind there is actually quite a bit of overlap in terms of monsters, because the Japanese in the old days were influenced by Chinese bestiaries like the Shan Hai Jing). I'm amazed, though, that they left out a number of stock East Asian monsters like Kitsune/Fox Fairies.
Gavin Menzies' book is an interesting source for fantasy, but let's just say that scholarly opinion relegates it precisely to that category. He doesn't present any solid evidence for his wild claims about Zheng He discovering America. The info on Chinese sailing technology is generally accurate, but Louise Leviathes "When China Ruled the Seas" gives more details (she also, however exaggerates the evidence for China's maritime discoveries). Joseph Needham's "Science and Civilization in China" series is the best source on Chinese nautical (and other technology), but is a multivolume tome that most people probably don't want to slog through. There are abridged versions that are pretty short and sweet though.
Thanks Wise Meerkat for the sourcebook suggestion--since I'm interested in this topic as well, I may look around for a copy.
Meerkat--I couldn't find Jade and Steel listed on Avalanche's website, even under the listings of retired products. Besides e-bay is there another place to find it?
Edit--found it on Compleat Strategist website for $5
I am aware of the scientific limitations of Gavin Menzies book but I really enjoyed it and it definitely inspired me. Personally I would love for it to be historical fact and not just speculation, the idea of a huge fleet of massive ships exploring pretty much the whole world and then just forgetting about it sounds kinda cool.