| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| combatmedic |
Posted - 19 Aug 2012 : 08:34:49
Maztica-
Canon Maztica is a bit too close to RW history and geography for my conception of the Realms, but I do like the Mesoamerican vibe. Hishna and Pluma Magic are cool!
Here are some ideas I have about modifying Maztica to better fit my own version of FR. As with everything else, YMMV. I welcome comments, suggestions, questions, etc..
First thing’s first—turn a lot of the land north and south of Maztica proper into ocean. Maztica becomes an island continent with adjacent island chains. This has the effect of making the world map look a lot less like Earth. It also makes plenty of room for unexplored or unknown islands groups.
(Anchorome could be up there someplace in the farther northern waters. Am I correct in understanding that Greenwood described that part of his setting as a group of islands with a lot of dungeons?)
Azul and Pluma are Spanish words. Why are the ‘Indian’ Mazticans using Spanish words?
Possible explanation: the “Golden Legion” did not come from Amn, but form another world entirely. It arrived in Maztica centuries ago via a magic portal. Unfortunately for the explorers, the portal proved to be one-way. Unable to get reinforcements from home, and with hardly any women of their own, the newcomers were absorbed into the native population within a generation. They did manage to shake things up by unleashing plagues (purely by accident), looting several cities, and creating some short-lived petty kingdoms. Their influence still shows in some words (pluma, azul), as well as certain religious rituals and old artifacts.
There might be a lost city in the mountains (or maybe an island pirate base?) ruled by the descendants of the Golden Legion. Maybe I'll combine this idea with the 'City of Gold.'
Other stuff:
I’m a big fan of the Hutaakans, jackal-headed humanoids from Mystara/the Hollow World. With a few modifications, I think their homeland the Lost Valley might fit in well as a location in Maztica. I’d assume Bronze Age technology for them.
What do you guys think?
What have you done with Maztica, if anything? Run it straight by the book? Played around with it a little or a lot? |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| combatmedic |
Posted - 23 Aug 2012 : 01:48:46
Thanks for the feedback, guys.
Markus, Hutakaans in the Hordelands sounds cool. It reminds me of medieval stories of cynocephali living in Asia. I think the Horde would be cooler with some more John Mandeville along with the Marco Polo, if you catch my drift.
Not that I'm down on the Hordelands boxed set. It was nicely done. I like it on its own merits. The reason why I never really got into the Hordelands as part of the Realms is that it resembles medieval Central Asia much more closely than Faerun resembles medieval Europe (in addition to all the fantasy literature and real world legend and folklore stuff that others point out, I see a good dose of North America in Faerun—mainly in the Savage North).
YMMV.
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| Markustay |
Posted - 22 Aug 2012 : 22:03:13
I actually used the Hutaakans as a precursor to the Imaskari. Their civilization (Urgnarash?) once covered the Hordelands and the Shaar, until disaster struck. The devolved descendents are now known as gnolls.
Some Hutaakans, however, may have escaped and are living in the Æthervale (the "wood between the worlds").
Anyhow, thats how I used them in my Realms. I agree that a lot of the Mystara setting can be borrowed from to create a better Maztica in 5e. I'd also like to see something along the lines of the Kurast region of Diablo. They need to look at how well Xendrik (EB) was done to give them some ideas of what Maztica could have been.
At the same time, this means they need to re-assess Chult, since its a bit redundant with Maztica. Perhaps keep Chult as yuan-ti region, and use those minimally (if at all) in Maztica.
EDIT: And make all the art in Map Folio II sync-up to locales in Maztica - that was great product with nowhere to go. The art was superb, and fits Maztica to a 'T'. |
| Eilserus |
Posted - 19 Aug 2012 : 19:20:59
Go play Age of Conan the online video game, the trial for the starter area should be free and gives a good feel of what I think Maztica should be. That starter isle of Tortage, a pirate city. Lands full of fell magics, demon things, cannibals called Pict, a wierd island with a temple and creatures called Dark Ones. That's how I envision Maztica, a Robert Howard dark sorcery type world. I'd add in a jungles of Chult feel too with dark rain forests etc. Mix all that in with some of what we already know, whammo, new Maztica! I'm not a fan things being too close to the real world either, just doesn't capture a person's attention or imagination. |
| MalariaMoon |
Posted - 19 Aug 2012 : 15:21:14
Check out some of the work by Candlekeep sage Seethyr, who has done a lot with Maztica, although he seems to have dropped off the face of the Internet of late. |
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