Having recently picked up both the dragon empire primer and gazetteer, I'm in the mood to get writing a dragon empire game. Going through the races,classes, and archetypes right now, any suggestions on ones to include or disallow to help push the more oriental theme? Is anyone else in a DE game right now?
So far I'm allowing
Races: Kitsune, Nagaji, Samsarans, Tengus, Wayangs, and Tians(humans)
*Elves & Aasimars specail cases
I really want the standard races to stand out along with these new races. The fact we have five "unexplored" races adds so much wonder and then with adding rarity to the base races, I feel as though everything will stand out much more and be more individual.
Classes: All
I feel each of the classes has some application in this setting in some way or another. while rogue and ninja are alternative classes, rogues would be better for the stealthy thief or bandit vs the ninja's spy and assassin play style. the same for samurai vs cavalier, samurai being well samurai and cavalier possible being a captain or military leader.
My biggest concern at this point is archetypes. Any that show off the flavor more so then others? I'm thinking savage skald is out
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For races you could also allow Hobgoblin since they are prevalent in the area. But as you stated maybe only as a special case since you want to focus on the 6 main.
Classes, even archetypes, really are just based off of character concept in my opinion. No matter what the archetype is called if the concept fits the Asian/DE theme you are going for then go for it.
I am coming from experience from a game (actually two groups) set in an Asian Steampunk world that I created. The two games can be found here and here if you want to see examples of characters and some story stuff, you can even check out the website that I have created to showcase the world.
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Seconding what Sgmendez said: Any archetype can be re-skinned to fit a Dragon Empire campaign. If a player is dead-set on something, and you don't see a reason to disagree, then work with them to give the archetype the appropriate flavor. For example, a wizard (scroll master) could be a calligraphy priest, cleric (undead lord) could be a asian-style necromancer, and a fighter (lore warden) could be a temple guardian.
That said, I've also been trying to compile a list of archetypes that would fit as written into a Dragon Empire campaign. Here's what I've got so far:
Base Classes:
Samurai
Ninja
Bard Archetypes:
Animal Speaker
Archivist
Chelish Deva (easily re-skinned)
Court Bard
Detective
Geisha
Lotus Geisha
Sound Striker
Street Performer
Cleric Archetypes:
Separatist
Scroll Scholar
Theologian
Undead Lord
Druid Archetypes:
Bear Shaman
Boar Shaman
Serpent Shaman
Blight Druid
Reincarnated Druid
Storm Druid
World Walker
Fighter Archetypes:
Archer
Brawler
Dragoon
Mobile Fighter
Polearm Master
Tactician
Two-Handed Fighter and Two-Weapon Warrior
Unarmed Fighter
Unbreakable
Weapon Master
Monk Archetypes:
All of them?
Paladin Archetypes:
Oathbound (Oath of Loyalty, Oath of Vengeance)
Sacred Servant
Warrior of the Holy Light
Ranger Archetypes:
Beastmaster
Guide
Horse Lord
Nirmathi Irregular (easily re-skinned)
Spirit Ranger
Yokai Hunter
Rogue Archetypes:
Acrobat
Investigator
Rake
Scout
Scroll Scoundrel
Spy
Thug
Trapsmith
Sorcerer Bloodlines:
Aquatic
Celestial
Destined
Draconic
Elemental
Oni
Pestilence
Protean
Shadow
Stormborn
Undead
Verdant
Wizard Archetypes:
Scroll Scholar
Scrollmaster
If I get time later, I'll go back to this list and point out the why's for some of the less obvious archetypes. Gotta jet now.
Rather nice list you've got there. I agree everything can be re-skined and probably will do such. Was more looking for "advertising" suggestion, as I have to sell the setting a bit. Some of my players are rather nervous in a oriental setting, and I want to show them all the various options they have before them. G** D$*n that's a great list!!! I'm gonna add elemental wizards to the list though. Thanks All