| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| The Cardinal |
Posted - 17 Nov 2003 : 17:31:22
Ok Maztica I can guess at, Kura-tur I have respectable knowledge in, But What in the name of the Faithless is Zakhara??? |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Bookwyrm |
Posted - 22 Nov 2003 : 05:46:45
On the other hand, though it's copying heavily from real history, it does lend something . . . three dimensional, if you would, to the entire planet. When making a fantasy world, one of the dangers is making things too uniform over too large an area.
I think the real reason for prejudgment is that it is so obviously a copy from real-world history. However, this doesn't fall under the same shadow of my (in)famous dislike that books like the Maztica Trilogy languish under. My objection is when they copy real-history events. The Maztica books were just too obvious in that respect. I didn't care about it being an Aztec-ripoff, not really. It's just that if I want to read about Cortez, I'll read a politically-correct history book.  |
| Faraer |
Posted - 20 Nov 2003 : 16:57:13
Yes, Al-Qadim was originally planned as a two-year line then extended to a third, as explained here by Steven Schend. We have no reason to be sceptical of this.
http://oracle.wizards.com/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind0006E&L=realms-l&P=R1411
I think the Al-Qadim products are well done, but I don't think the Realms benefits from the addition of Zakhara (a Hollywood-Arabia in addition to its own more subtly Arab-influenced region), or Zakhara benefits from being attached to the Realms. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 20 Nov 2003 : 08:03:21
You could be right Fibura, I'll have to check on that.
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| kahonen |
Posted - 19 Nov 2003 : 13:08:36
quote:
Originally posted by Fibura Gauntlet
On-topic, the al-Qadim setting always struck me as wonderfully romantic and it's a pity that nothing more was done with it.
A great pity indeed. One of many excellent settings that were binned. |
| Fibura Gauntlet |
Posted - 19 Nov 2003 : 12:04:53
quote:
It's discontinued status started what seemed to be a recurring trend with each and every campaign setting that I enjoyed...Al-Qadim, Planescape, and then finally Dragonlance.
*shakes an angry fist at the Sage* And all this time I thought it was my fault  Not that I ever played any of them, just loved from afar 
On-topic, the al-Qadim setting always struck me as wonderfully romantic and it's a pity that nothing more was done with it.quote:
I was very disappointed the day I learned that the setting was to be cancelled.
I seem to recall the official line being that TSR had always planned for a fixed number of products from the very start *rolls eyes* Didn't Dragon make a point of reviewing the whole setting in one go? |
| The Sage |
Posted - 18 Nov 2003 : 13:53:25
It truly was a magnificent setting. In fact I still use the old Complete Sha'ir's Handbook from time to time. It had a lot of good ideas and background material that should not go to waste.
I was very disappointed the day I learned that the setting was to be cancelled. When I first learned of the news, I went straight out to my local gaming store and purchased all the materials that I did not have (the Monstrous Compendium, and several of the adventures).
It's discontinued status started what seemed to be a recurring trend with each and every campaign setting that I enjoyed...Al-Qadim, Planescape, and then finally Dragonlance.
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| kahonen |
Posted - 18 Nov 2003 : 13:09:50
quote:
Originally posted by Sage of Perth
Ah...Zakhara, truly one of my most favorite of the expansions to the general FR set. Sadly, it was discontinued in the official sense a number of years ago. But for me, and a small group of devotees it was redefined and greatly expanded upon during most of the autumn/winter period of 1998 into our Legends of the Sands campaign setting.
Well met Sage and may I complement you on your excellent taste.
I don't think I've ever met anyone else that would even give Al-Qadim time of day let alone admit it's their favourite FR exansion.
I agree with you 100%. My group have at one time or another played almost everything available and thoroughly enjoyed it. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 18 Nov 2003 : 07:40:22
Ah...Zakhara, truly one of my most favorite of the expansions to the general FR set. Sadly, it was discontinued in the official sense a number of years ago. But for me, and a small group of devotees it was redefined and greatly expanded upon during most of the autumn/winter period of 1998 into our Legends of the Sands campaign setting.
We used most of the original material of the Al-Qadim setting as a basis and then developed a number of rich and varied campaigns, adventures and a few 'printed' notebooks worth of background material. It was really the only setting that we played in during most of 1999. We reluctantly halted the campaign once the new version of D&D was officially announced, promising to return to it later. Unfortunately one player moved, and another lost interest. From there on in, it became very difficult to support the campaign with only two players, and most of the other gamers in my area weren't interested in the original Al-Qadim setting, so I collected all the materials together, and placed them on one of my many heavily occupied gaming material shelves...it stills sits there to this day collecting dust, waiting for the day that it will shine again...
Cardinal, I have one of those famous (or is it infamous???) "What is ....." threads that show up on most of the campaign setting forums from time to time. It is about the Al-Qadim setting. I'll send it to you as it has a lot of juicy little tidbits of information that you might find interesting.
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| Lord Rad |
Posted - 17 Nov 2003 : 20:00:52
The Al-Qadim campaign setting to be precise, it had a life of around 4-5 years I think. |
| Zimeros |
Posted - 17 Nov 2003 : 19:59:50
Imagine a comparation with the real world, if Faerum would be Europe, Kara-tur would be East Asia, Maztica would be Central America, Zakhara would be Arabia.
Do you understand? |
| Ghost |
Posted - 17 Nov 2003 : 18:57:04
Force-fed, or gobbled up? |
| Mumadar Ibn Huzal |
Posted - 17 Nov 2003 : 18:36:43
If you want to know where it is?
- below the Chultan peninsula, south of Luiren, there is another continent which has a predominant middle-eastern (1001-night) style of environment. (Think Ali-baba and the 40 Bandits, Sinbad etc)
- Zakahara is in one way sort of disconnected from the Realms in that there are no deities - only Fate.
- it was another campaign setting which has been force-fed to the Realms-setting, just like Kara-tur |
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