Hi all,
My PCs are just finishing up a campaign and have asked for a Asian/Japanese setting campaign next. Looking at old 1e oriental adventure modules I didn’t like them much. I do like the premise of the Jade Regent - restoring a queen to her throne. However, since I want it to be set in fantasy Japan with Japanese classes I want to modify the AP to be all set in Minkai. Any advice on this? My thoughts:
Play book 1 almost as is except set it in Minkai with Minkai “bakemono” goblins.
Skip book 2 and 3 then play from 4 as normal.
(Will also be converting it to 5e as I go because I just want to make things even more challenging).
Thanks all.
Cool, thanks. Rereading it now its been a few years since I read it so may find its not suitable but recall thinking changing the story to be set in fantasy asia/japan wasn't too much work. The conversion would be more work. But my re-read may change my opinion.
It could work, and since you are converting anyway, that's not a big issue (and DMGuild does have nice OA stuff too).
I my case, I would probably have her still in exile/hiding in a different nation in Tian-Xia planning her coup. You might be able to salvage some stuff from later books as she makes her way from her place of hiding to Minkai.
Starting in Minkai from 1st level would have the PCs opposed by mid-level ninjas or high-level oni before 4th level. Andre Roy's suggestion is more feasible: start in a different Tian-Xien country and then travel over to Minkai.
The Brinewall Legacy is about goblins in Brinestump March and one yamabushi tengu oni (CR 5) and his minions in Brinewall Castle. It can be moved to almost any country with a seacoast.
Night of Frozen Shadows has a strong Ulfen (Viking) theme with an outpost of Tian-Xien ninjas. But switching out the Ulfens for another barbaric culture suitable for Tian Xia would work.
The Hungry Storm is about traveling over the north polar ice cap. Much of that module will have to be replaced. Part Three: A Darker Road, where the party switches to an underground path in northmost Tian Xia, could take place in any cold climate, such as ice-capped mountains.
Forest of Spirits starts in Hongal, a northern country in Tian Xia. No changes are needed in Forest of Spirits, Tide of Honor, or The Empty Throne.
In my own Jade Regent campaign, Amaya of Westcrown, the players interested in Tian-Xien culture started with characters from Tian Xia who were visiting Varisia and willing to escort Ameiko and her half-sister Amaya to Tian Xia.
Thanks Math.
Had the first session yesterday with 7 PCs entirely set in the "Lands of Dawn" (Minai/Fantasy Japan). PCs all had Asian themed or directly Oriental Adventure classes and races, details for those interested:
https://electric-rain.net/2019/04/15/the-divine-heir-and-the-jade-regent/
My retheme also forced me to change the story up. Here are the story beats:
The Emperor has been killed, and simultaneously, the last remaining heir, a 12-year-old boy named Lord Kuro Amatatsu of the Dragon Clan was killed by bakemono raiders (goblin) when he was visiting Hirata estate. Hirata estate was burned to the ground. The Jade Regent now sits on the throne.
The PCs were charged with his protection and failed in their duty. Instead of immiedielty committing seppuku, they tracked the goblins to Omikura Swamp (Birnewell Swamp) to reck vengeance before killing themselves - to restore the honour of their families.
They found the goblins straight away but what they found was that the goblins had been recently attacked by a contingent of dragon clan clad skeletal warriors. Undead in Asian mythology are not random they always have a reason to exist. Since Lord Kuro was also part of the dragon clan they got suspicious.
Using the map from the goblin chief they checked out the two ship crashes (soarcraft in my game as the swamp is inland) and from there headed to the cave. On the way a black dragon kami appeared and lead to the cave - but avoided encounters. Another hint that this was all related to Lord Kuro whos kamon is also a silver-black dragon.
They enter the cave, fight the dragon-clan skeletons and open the chest where they find the Amatatsu seal which has the normal visions but also tells them that Lord Kuro is alive and being held in Ashina Castle (Brinewell Castle) by an oni of some kind.
So instead of having to kill themselves they can go to Ashina and liberate their lord. From there the plan is to retrieve the Mortal Blade from the Golden Phoenix Tournament - the only weapon that can permanently kill an oni.
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It could totally work, as Mathmuse has suggested above.
The point of THE HUNGRY STORM is a difficult journey across a frozen land. That's actually pretty easy to model - the PCs have to cross some inhospitable mountain range in Minkai in the middle of winter.
Supplies run out, and there's wicked evil up there. Almost everything can be the same.
Much of the content of Hungry Storm isn't worth saving, especially if you're not already planning to include a caravan and fix the Caravan subsystems. Though some of it is quite good: Katiyana's tower, maybe Iqaliat...