So I've also been thinking of trying to work some mayan type games in to the campaign, specifically in the Tides of Dread adventure. I was thinking it would be funny if in order to secure the aid of the Olmans for the defence of Farshore the PCs were required to put together a courtball team and then play the Olmans. I probably wouldn't make the losers have their heads hacked off, which I hear they did in Mayan Courtball (or at least the head of the team captain). Has anyone else tried to work any mayan style sports into their game?
I was also thinking: how can I work in zombies? I thought that maybe there could be some interesting sports involving zombie masters competing by controlling teams of zombies. Maybe zombie dodge ball or something. I have a player that wants to run a zombie master, so I think it would be fun to introduce him by having his first task be to compete against a rival zombie master in a game of zombie dodgeball. What other zombie sports could there be? Any ideas?
Well theres alwyas Zombie pit fighting... like dog fights... Zombie vs. Zombie. easy enough.
Sports of the Olmec peoples?
"You could start by running to the Room of the Three Gargoyles. Push in the right tongue, and a door might lead you down a staircase into the Wall Climb. Here you must choose your next path. You could race up to the Observatory, spin the sundial, and pass into the Room of the Golden Idols. Once there, push down on their bases to release the doors. That may take you below or lead you into the Shrine of the Silver Monkey. Assemble the Statue there, and you may be headed for the Torch Room. If the elevator is up, you could jump in the elevator and descend into the Mine Shaft. Next, you could climb up the ladder or plow through the stone wall. Find the key, and it may unlock the Tombs of the Ancient Kings, allowing you to enter the Swamp. If you escape, you might have a chance to sit upon the Throne of the Pretender. If the correct door is unlocked, you could crawl through the Pit of Despair and, finally, make your way through the Cave of Sighs and back to the Temple Gates. The choices are yours and yours alone. Good luck."
So, is the giant talking stone head actually a sentient construct, or just an excellent use of Major Image?
Rent "Apocolypto" (sorry about the spelling). It will give you some great color. The latest issue of National Geographic also has an article on the rise and fall of the Mayas.
Having the PCs play courtball would be interesting. I just don't know how you'd do the rules for it.
There’s a reality tv series on over here (UK) at the moment where people from the west go stay with tribal cultures (brazil, Mongolia etc) and compete in the local tribes games/tourneys.
Perhaps you can download/watch it online somewhere and get lots of ideas? :)
Most of the events so far have been wrestling, fighting, stick fighting etc. Some of the initiation scenes have been very painful looking. One tribe had the contestants’ scrape their skin with a weird sharp comb thing until it bled then rubbed chilli peppers into it!
What other zombie sports could there be? Any ideas?
Zombie, the Gathering
Zombot Warscurling
World of Zombiecraft
Zombiopoly
American Zombieators
Chutes and Zombies
golf (with bigger holes)
The Game of (un)Life
Pok-e-Zomb
kickboxing
Wac-a-Zomb
skeet shooting (...pull!)
Kobolds at my Zombie