Barbarians of Lemuria BRP

[badcat]

I am beginning a conversion as per the title because I think BRP and a Thongor inspired Lemuria setting would be perfect together. The setting seems like a natural for the system. I'm going to use SB1, mostly, but I would like to attract some players (I am going to try it at a local gamestore) so I would love to have some input from anyone here who knows BoL about what to include. For instance, should I include some 'regular' fantasy monsters that might fit in with the dinosaur and wierd creation monsters of the setting? I mean things like manticores and griffins, skeletons and chimera. What do you think would fit if so? Should I include things like fireball and lightning in the spells or leave it as almost all slow ritual type magic? I could see how the 'feel' could easily be ruined, and suggestions along those lines would certainly help.

I think I will make skyboats more common too, so as to have aerial battles a la Barsoom.

And what elements from the new BRP book do you think would be appropriate? I can see psionics being appropriate, like for the Morgaluth and Slorth.

Really, any advice or help would be most welcome. If I can come up with a good mixture of BRP and this setting it would help spread the word about BRP in general, too.

[AikiGhost]

Have you seen this?

Barbarians of Lemuria - 1KM1KT

Its really really good IMHO.

[badcat]

Yes, that is the game I am converting to SB1 rules. I would have thought it obvious from the post.

With 70 views and no suggestions, I guess it's 'never mind', anyway. That's all right.

[frogspawner]

With 70 views and no suggestions, I guess it's 'never mind', anyway. That's all right.

Well I didn't comment because I know nothing about the setting.

But I guess if it's the 'feel' of the setting that's drawn you to it, then yes you'd better not do anything to spoil it. Fireballs/Lightning Bolts and standard chimeric-type D&D monsters (although familiar to your probable player-base, right?) could ruin that pronto. Players joining your game may well be looking for something a bit different - so let 'em have it!

As for spreading the word about BRP - good idea, and good luck! If they like the game, tell 'em it's BRP (with houserules) - if they don't you can say it's Stormbringer.

[cjbowser]

I concur with Frogspawner. I thought it was a cool setting for a scenario or two, but had nothing substantive to add in terms of rules choices, so I stayed quiet.

I think you should go for the feel you're looking for. If fireballs are too over-the-top for what you're wanting to do, don't do it.

[badcat]

That's the kind of advice I'm looking for.

Magic is divided into 'magnitudes', with the most powerful magic being ritual with very expensive requirements, such as human sacrifice, 'the stars are right' and so on. That is third magnitude. In the game a first magnitude spell would be opening a locked door, second magnitude would be destroying the wall the door is set in, and third would be invoking an earth quake to destroy the building the door is in. I am mulling over how far to take it...throwing a fireball might be second magnitude, but it sounds and feels like, well, D&D. Use aikighosts' link and check it out, its an interesting and playable little game and works fine, but I like the SB1 BRP rules and have always wanted to do a Barbarians of Lemuria type setting with them. Thus my little project. If I get to run it sometimes thats just a bonus. There is a second edition available at drive thru with an expanded setting. Ten bucks, and worth it for those times you can't get your entire group together. Takes about five minutes to make a character, fast and easy to run. (I do think it would be more fun with a little more detailed system, though)

About the magic, maybe it would separate the BRP version from D&D enough to call fireball 'Orb of Destruction' and so on? I am still thinking about some iconic fantasy monsters that could be vat creations, like manticores, and definitely avoiding treasure hording dragons and goblins, and elves and dwarves. Gritty swords and sorcery is what I am after.

The nonhuman races, speaking of which, are a race of nomadic giants, a type of humanoid birdmen (Myrrhyn in Stormbringer/Elric), vat bred cyclops with an eye in the center of the chest, naga like creatures, beastmen, and vampiric magical humanoids. Monsters tend to be dinosaurs, large versions of cats, snakes, crocodiles, and vat creations. And man eating plants. The latter suggests a few D&D type monsters might be OK, like manticores. What else along those lines might work?

I have the Stormbringer style modifiers done for the human nationalities, next the nonhumans and critters.

[AikiGhost]

Yes, that is the game I am converting to SB1 rules. I would have thought it obvious from the post.

Sorry I thought you were talking about the book (which I haven't read).

[Harshax]

I am beginning a conversion as per the title because I think BRP and a Thongor inspired Lemuria setting would be perfect together. The setting seems like a natural for the system. I'm going to use SB1, mostly, but I would like to attract some players (I am going to try it at a local gamestore) so I would love to have some input from anyone here who knows BoL about what to include. For instance, should I include some 'regular' fantasy monsters that might fit in with the dinosaur and wierd creation monsters of the setting? I mean things like manticores and griffins, skeletons and chimera. What do you think would fit if so? Should I include things like fireball and lightning in the spells or leave it as almost all slow ritual type magic? I could see how the 'feel' could easily be ruined, and suggestions along those lines would certainly help.

I think I will make skyboats more common too, so as to have aerial battles a la Barsoom.

And what elements from the new BRP book do you think would be appropriate? I can see psionics being appropriate, like for the Morgaluth and Slorth.

Really, any advice or help would be most welcome. If I can come up with a good mixture of BRP and this setting it would help spread the word about BRP in general, too.

I have been looking over the setting, it's definitely worth the price.

Dinosaurs would fit the setting well, as well as active volcanoes, giant mosquitoes, semi-aquatic tentacly monsters, skeletons (fast harry hausen types), giant serpents, and ogres. I'd also throw in skybulls from Glorantha, as well as various insect-men (thri-keen, timinits, etc). You should have giant sentient queen ants directing swarms of her ant legions (regardless that this theory of ant society has been scientifically disproven).

And yes, this setting could use the equivalent of orcs/beastmen/goblins, but it could also use some T&T flavor, such as playable trolls, ogres, centaurs, etc.

Rule suggestions:
I'd look at the Far East Elric! Supplement, because the magic system would fit the setting very well.

You should give some thoughts to alternate armor/defense rules for handling bare chested barbarians, and chainmail bikini clad amazons.
[I don't remember if SB1 had the Defense attribute, but I would consider adding it, modified by Armor Check Penalty]

You'll also need (IMO) a wealth of plants, salves, potions and poisons on the same level as Rolemaster (It's packed with tons of flora descriptions).

[badcat]

Thanks for the ideas.

Monsters. Tentacly monsters? Please describe. Like mind flayers of D&D fame? There are already ogres...Ceruleans. Grooth are beastmen. Insect men is good, maybe like raknids from Talislanta. They can be foes of the Ceruleans on the plains, issuing from the chasm. Fast skeletons, big snakes and insects are on the list. I don't know about trolls and centaurs, they are a bit too high fantasy I think, as are fire breathing dragons. Creatures like manticores and chimerae could be the results of vat experiments.

I will definitely emphasize Poison and Plant Lore.

The armor is going to be like SB1, random, no defense but with parry/dodge being interchangeable within the round. Armor will be like, for example chainmail bikini 1D3-1, bracers bring it up one level to 1D4-1, boots to 1D6-1, helm to 1D8-1. Other armor working the same way with the heaviest being 1D12+2 and reducing DEX and movement 6 points. Essentially working as the BoL armor rules with values to suit SB1 BRP.

[Harshax]

Thanks for the ideas.

Monsters. Tentacly monsters? Please describe. Like mind flayers of D&D fame?

Short answer: Yes. Slightly longer answer: Hell Yes!

I think an underlying story element would be the introduction of a decaying and decadent race of ancient people that were highly advanced at one point. Something more along the Kuo Toa of D&D Fame. This also seemed to imply a Cthulhoid, but I've only ever seen it played out as one of savagery and tragedy.

Insect men is good, maybe like raknids from Talislanta. They can be foes of the Ceruleans on the plains, issuing from the chasm.

I like it.

Creatures like manticores and chimerae could be the results of vat experiments.

I like this too.

The armor is going to be like SB1, random, no defense but with parry/dodge being interchangeable within the round. Armor will be like, for example chainmail bikini 1D3-1, bracers bring it up one level to 1D4-1, boots to 1D6-1, helm to 1D8-1. Other armor working the same way with the heaviest being 1D12+2 and reducing DEX and movement 6 points. Essentially working as the BoL armor rules with values to suit SB1 BRP.

Great start!