15 replies to this topic

[mr2131]

I've been designated to set up a brand new AD&D Campaign. I've chosen Al-Qadim within the Forgotten Realms as my setting. I'm going to be using the 2nd Ed rules because a) I'm familiar with them and, B) the materials I wanted to run the campaign were available for relatively little cost. Then again, one thing I've quickly discovered is that it is much better to have a paper copy of the source in hand than to have a pdf of the source on your computer when you're trying to run an adventure.

Happy Trails . . .

Mark

Edited by mr2131, 15 November 2004 - 08:12 PM.

[mr2131]

One interesting challenge in dealing with Al-Qadim is what to do with Akota and the empty section of the map. A couple of others have suggested using the "Scourge of the Slave Lords series there. It would require some pretty extensive reworking to adapt the Greyhawk Campaign module to the Al-Qadim setting, but it promises a strong addition to the materials that are already available.

Happy Trails . . .

Mark

[mr2131]

For the moment, I've strayed away from Akota. My Guinea Pig party started off in Tajar. So far they've run adventures from Cities of Bone, Golden Voyages, and Ruined Kingdoms. It's taken a good deal of practice to get back into the practice of running encounters again. The packages that I am pulling from have been excellent, and they also allow some freelance to fill in the finer parts of the story line.

Happy Trails . . .

Mark

[oralpain]

I've been thinking of starting an Al-qadim game myself. Will probbaly move the setting off of Toril however.

[talonsblade]

:w00t: truth to tell u can a campain setting from any realm and work it to what u need, from forgotten realms to greyhawk to darksun to dragonlance, u just need to look what you need in a campain, i should know my DM has tryed it on me becouse he got tired of me play it was his way of killing me off,

[mr2131]

I've been thinking of starting an Al-qadim game myself. Will probbaly move the setting off of Toril however.

It is certainly set up for that. I like the idea of setting it in a Forgotten realms setting, simply because that is what I'm familiar with. I also have a strong interest in the Muslim world, always have. The real sticking point for me has been maps. The only reliable source for maps of Zakhara are within the FR setting. I'm using the FR Atlas and printing off what I need, in some ways though, that isn't enough. No one seems to have a usable map of the West Coast of Zakhara. I'm describing it as Californiaesque, Central Valley and all, with a Mediterranean climate, and a forested region along the Southwestern edge, kinda like Australia.

talonsblade,

I'm an old style English/History teacher. Webspeak (no punctuation, no capitalization, creative spelling) still gets on my nerves. That comment aside. The only way that we were able to keep our campaign setting alive was to agree to rotate the burden of dm'ing. Using multiple locations and parties within the same campaign world. Following this strategy, we kept our original setting alive for about 10 years. Expecting one person to continue to create challenging and exciting adventures forever is unrealistic. Even the best DM's burn out. Frequently, friendships end before the adventure has reached it's end. The real challenge comes with designing fresh adventures for old established characters

Happy Trails . . .

Mark

[oralpain]

The way religion is setup in the Al-qadim setting actually seems more like the pre muslim middle east to me.

[mr2131]

The way religion is setup in the Al-qadim setting actually seems more like the pre muslim middle east to me.

Sort of. The concept of the Loregiver ties directly back to the Muslim world. They seem to be trying to capture both conceptions of the Middle East at the same time.
It still makes for an interesting setting.

Mark

[mr2131]

I've been able to work through the first couple of adventures in the Caravans package. (Free Dwonload over at Wizards of the Coast site) Not too heavy on the Hack-n-Slash but, Excellent role-playing adventures. At the moment, I'm mixing in Deck of Encounters leads and the adventures included in the Caravans package. The difficult bit comes with blending in the Arabian culture. Being a fan of the old Sinbad movies certainly helps. It may not be exactly accurate, but it's definitely entertaining.

Happy Trails . . .

Mark

[mr2131]

I've been able to work through the first couple of adventures in the Caravans package. (Free Dwonload over at Wizards of the Coast site) Not too heavy on the Hack-n-Slash but, Excellent role-playing adventures. At the moment, I'm mixing in Deck of Encounters leads and the adventures included in the Caravans package. The difficult bit comes with blending in the Arabian culture. Being a fan of the old Sinbad movies certainly helps. It may not be exactly accurate, but it's definitely entertaining.

Happy Trails . . .

Mark

Caravans has some uneven portions. The Spire of Kor provided some comic relief, but not much in the way of experience.

Mark

[mr2131]

I've taken a few days off to focus on rebuilding my BP-BGT-NEJ game. I love CBisson's mods, but the process of adding CTB to my game has been nightmarish. In any case, I've been gathering some photos from my old Aramco World magazines to flesh out my descriptions of the desert. Talking about the desert isn't nearly as effective as looking at it. A road trip down to Hebronville would work even better. The Caravans group seems to be progressing nicely. The group running Golden Voyages seems to be struggling. Stuck between the desert and the deep blue sea . . .

Happy Trails . . .

Mark

[mr2131]

Both parties have advanced since my last post. The Golden Voyages party has completed the first segment of the Voyages. They still have two excellent island adventures waiting for them. They returned to Gana with their Great Treasure, and will awarded the Great Warrior of the Pearl status when the new pearling season opens. In the meantime, the sultan has asked them to check out rumors surrounding an abandoned keep on the borders. This will lead them into the second and third adventures in the Cities of Bone series.

The second party is in the military camp adventure of the Caravans campaign. The sha'ir has asked them to meet him at the stone arch. I've also included an encounter with agents of the Slavelords as a lead on further adventures.

The only truly annoying bit so faqr has been resolving the spell effects and weapons differences between 2nd Edition AD&D, the Baldur's Gate series and, Icewind Dale II.

Happy Trails . . .

Mark

[oralpain]

The only truly annoying bit so faqr has been resolving the spell effects and weapons differences between 2nd Edition AD&D, the Baldur's Gate series and, Icewind Dale II.

Can you elaborate on that?

BTW, have you played or DMed "A Dozen and One Adventures"? If so, whats your take on it?

Edited by oralpain, 29 December 2004 - 10:12 AM.

[mr2131]

The only truly annoying bit so faqr has been resolving the spell effects and weapons differences between 2nd Edition AD&D, the Baldur's Gate series and, Icewind Dale II.

Can you elaborate on that?

BTW, have you played or DMed "A Dozen and One Adventures"? If so, whats your take on it?

The spell effects in the 2nd Edition Players Handbook, and Tome of Magic don't always align with the implementation of the spell in BGII or Icewind Dale. In some cases, the spell descriptions have been rewritten, in others the effect of the spell isn't what's indicated in the Player's Handbook.

I've DM'ed the first two of the adventures. They seem to be well written. The second adventure was easier to carry off than the first, but both required a strong, well equipped party, and intelligent choices by the PC's. Experienced D&D players will have an easier time than newbies. (duh!)

We have no fate but the fate we are given . . .

Mark

[mr2131]

The second City of Bone adventure went down very well. Challenging, thought provoking, and open ended enough to weave it into the campaign story that I am creating.

We have no fate but the fate we are given . . .

Mark

Edited by mr2131, 05 January 2005 - 07:51 PM.

[mr2131]

Haven't written for awhile. I was trying to play through my latest incarnation of BP-BGT-NEJ ad-infinitum. The weekly gaming sessions have gone very well. They have taken control of the ruined keep in the Cities of Bone setting and have contracted with the Emir of Gana to repair the keep. The next adventure that they have embarked on is also in the Gana area. From there, I have links to Huzuz, Aoka, and the start of the Corsairs package.

Mark