Mythras - Diadochi Warlords.pdf

(1144 KB) Pobierz
DIADOCHI
WARLORDS
Epic Roleplaying Amid the Ruins of Alexander's Empire
For Design Mechanism's MYTHRAS/RQ6 Roleplaying Game
ZOZER Game Designs
Text © Paul Elliott 2004
Contributions by Tom Syvertsen (Alexander the Great), Romeo Reyes (Ptolemy I & II),
Maximillian Cairduff and Kelley L. Ross (Antigonid History).
C Brann conversion to MYTHRAS/RQ6 plus other changes
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
PART I
ALEXANDER THE GREAT
THE SUCCESSOR KINGDOMS
DAILY LIFE
CALENDAR
PART II
CREATING CHARACTERS
GODS, PHILOSOPHERS & MAGIC
BUILDING A CAMPAIGN
APPENDIX - References
INTRODUCTION
"It is my belief that there was in those days no nation, no city, no individual beyond the reach of Alexander's name; never
in all the world was there another like him ..."
Arrian,
The Campaigns of Alexander
Centaur, dryad, griffin, gorgon - creatures like these litter the pages of most fantasy roleplaying games.
Creatures from Greek myth. Of course, there are plenty of other entries that would fit nicely into a
Greek campaign with a suitable name change: giants, passion spirits and so on. The great pull of
roleplaying the ancient Greeks, however, is not the 'fit' of many monsters or races, but the unique and
atmospheric society of the day. Nodding horse-hair crests, long-shadowed spears, many-columned
temples of marble, triremes surging across turquoise seas guided by painted eyes on the prow,
phalanxes of grim hoplites, nonconformist philosophers debating science under shady colonnades ...
classical Greece.
DIADOCHI WARLORDS [DW] is a historical fantasy setting for the MYTHRAS/RQ6 Roleplaying
Game. A gamesmaster need only have a copy of the MYTHRAS/RQ6 rules or the essentials version
to play. Player characters are tough and rootless mercenaries, or wandering fortune hunters seeking a
rich patron or perhaps rumour of a lost treasure hoard. The world they inhabit is dominated by huge
and powerful kingdoms, massive fragments of Alexander the Great's short-lived world-spanning
empire. His generals spawned a number of dynasties which now make interminable war on one
another. All wish to be the next 'Alexander' - and the hoplite armies pay for these fruitless ambitions in
blood ...
DW gives you a way to mix the vividly historical with the monsters and magic of Greek myth. We get
both halves of Greece - as long as you enjoy a little 'imaginative interpretation' at the expense of
rigorous historical accuracy. The aim of this booklet is firstly to map out the amendments and rules
additions needed to convey the Greek setting. Secondly it is to provide solid gaming 'hooks' taken
straight out of classical Greek history that can be used as a foundation for building scenarios and
campaigns. The hook I've chosen is the period of the Successor Wars, a violent and bitter struggle in
the mid-3rd century BC between the loyal generals of Alexander the Great (and their sons and
grandsons) for the remnants of that youthful hero-king's vast empire. It is Classical Greece writ large
across the known world, with every mercenary a hoplite, the common language Greek, the Olympian
deities worshipped from India to Italy and Greek city comforts (baths, agora, gymnasia, theatres etc.)
available in hundreds of cities newly established throughout conquered territories by Alexander himself.
This almost universal Greek culture stands in well for the accepted fantasy society that is a prevalent
and unwritten standard in many RPG's. In fact the Successor period is ripe for roleplaying in every way,
mirroring the standards and assumptions of fantasy games: a common language (in fact the universal
dialect of Greek in use at the time was called koine Greek, quite literally 'common'), numerous warring
kingdoms, an accepted universal culture understood by most civilized folk, a well-known pantheon of
gods, a well-known bestiary of monsters and supernatural beings and an international society that
tolerates and even promotes heavily armed and armoured adventurers travelling freely in search of
fortune and glory.
Why not leave the field open for GM's to pick any date in Greek history? Well, historically the Greeks
were constantly at war with each other. Long term rivalries, feuds, petty bickering, allegiances, leagues,
differing governmental systems and competing interests meant that the Greeks never enjoyed co-
operation. There was never a Greek nation in ancient times. There were very occasionally unifying
events such as the Persian invasions of 490 and 480 BC, but even these epic battles for Greek survival
were marred by infighting. To see just how deep the Greek rivalries could get take a look at the ultimate
Greek-on-Greek conflict: the Peloponnesian War (431 - 404 BC). A war that is filled with bone-
shuddering atrocities. The freedom to travel (which is cherished by many roleplaying groups) is
incredibly restricted in these war-torn circumstances. 270 gives us a lull in this constant war and
therefore a good place to start, it is before the massive Punic wars and during a time of the change of
styles of fighting with Greeks influencing Barbarians and vice-versa.
Disclaimer: MYTHRAS/RQ6 is a trademarked term belonging to Chaosium Inc. and no infringement
is intended. [DW] is an unofficial gaming supplement written by Paul Elliott and amended by Chris
Brann designed to be used using the MYTHRAS/RQ6 Roleplaying Game rules.
PART 1
ALEXANDER THE GREAT
On 20 July, 356 B.C., Olympias, the wife of King Philip the Second of Macedon, gave birth to a son
and named him Alexander. This boy eventually became known as Alexander the Great. This birth date
is still in question. Though 20 July seems to be the most widely accepted date, it may simply have been
chosen to align with other important dates in Alexander's life. It is also said that on the day of his birth,
the Temple of Artemis burned down, thus indicating it was a good omen for Alexander's future
greatness. Macedon at this time was a burgeoning power, considered 'barbarian' by the Greek cities, it
now glowered over them from the north. Greek colony cities and local Thracian tribes were falling to
Philip's new army every year. Soon the whole of Greece had fallen under Macedon's sway. Even the
Persian Empire sent envoys to parley with Philip. Often as a child Alexander would get discouraged
when the news came home that his father had conquered and taken another territory. This was because
he was worried that there would be nothing left for him to conquer in manhood. By the time he was
thirteen, he was quite mature. This can be partly credited to the fact that he was probably around his
father's army for a good portion of his childhood, most likely, he was running through the groups of
soldiers ever since he could walk. Alexander's maturity is demonstrated through a famous story. His
father had just bought a beautiful horse named Bucephalus, but, much to Philip's dismay, no one
around could ride it. He was about to get rid of it when Alexander decided to make a wager on whether
or not he could ride it. He bet thirteen talents, which was the price of the horse. This was a huge sum
of money for a thirteen year old to have. Alexander calmly approached the horse to find that the horse
was afraid of its own shadow. Facing it toward the sun to keep the shadow behind it, Alexander got on
Bucephalus and rode him. Alexander got to keep the horse and later rode the same horse all the way to
India. When the horse died there, Alexander founded a city and named it Bucephala after his beloved
horse. Alexander's parents wanted the best for their son, so they hired some of the finest tutors around
to give him a good education.
When Alexander was thirteen, he started learning from Aristotle. From him he learned the ways of the
Greeks which he incorporated into his life from that point on. He found interest in other countries,
philosophy, ethics, politics, plants, animals, and a wide range of other topics. Alexander also acquired a
love
for the works of Homer. Alexander read and learned the Iliad, taking Achilles as his role model. Once
he had learned enough from Aristotle, his parents thought it was time for him to move onto a different
teacher. Leonidas, who was most likely related to Olympia and possibly Alexander's uncle, was his next
tutor. Leonidas was a harsh teacher and did not last all that long because A lexander did not particularly
care for him. Alexander's final tutor was Lysimachus. From him he learned many cultural aspects of the
world around him. He found an appreciation for fine arts such as drama, poetry and music. Lysimachus
also taught Alexander how to play the lyre. By this time in Alexander's life, he was a well-rounded and
very intelligent teenager. Alexander rose to power rather quickly, and at an early age.
At sixteen, he was already given some important responsibilities. When his father, King Philip, left him
in charge while he was away for an extended period of time, one of their conquered cities revolted.
Alexander quickly took hold of the situation and marched troops to the area. Also by the age of sixteen
he had founded his first colony and named it Alexandropolis. Alexander's ultimate rise to power came
in June 336 when he was twenty years old. His father, King Philip was killed at the theatre. Many
speculate that Alexander may have played a role in his father's death, but most likely Alexander's
mother, Olympias, had more to do with it. With his father dead, Alexander became the king of
Macedon. He soon showed his power when the large city of Thebes revolted in 335. He stormed the
city with overwhelming force, taking 30,000 people as slaves. With Greece and the Aegean under
Macedonian rule, Alexander had only one direction in which to turn if he wanted to equal his father's
accomplishments. And he desperately wanted to outdo his father - Philip the Warlord. Alexander
would have to take on Persia, that vast empire (the largest in human history until the Roman) which
stretched from Libya to India.
In 334 BC he leads the Macedonian army into Asia Minor and the territories of the Persian Empire.
The western satrap of Persia meets Alexander in battle at the Granicus, and the Macedonian army is
victorious. The force moves onward, conquering as it goes. In 333 the battle of Issus is won by
Alexander against the forces of King Darius. The Macedonian general then leads his troops south to
take parts of the Persian Empire. He takes Phoenicia and the Egypt. It is in Egypt that Alexander takes
a column of soldiers out across the parched desert to the Siwa oasis where the oracle of Zeus-Ammon
proclaims the general the 'son of Zeus'. He is crowned pharaoh. The final great battle of the invasion of
Persia is fought at Gaugamela, near Babylon. The main Persian army is destroyed and Darius flees
eastward to the vast 'Further Satrapies'. Alexander takes Babylon in 331.
For the next four years the Macedonian army marches through the eastern satraps, defeating armies,
seizing the great Persian capitals, setting up Greek colony cities, installing new satraps (or reinstalling
the pervious ones, if loyal) and chasing down contenders to the Persian throne. This campaign through
mountains and deserts takes the army high up into the Hindu Kush, and eventually in the summer of
327 BC into the most eastern part of the empire - into India. In the next year his troops have fought
the Indian armies and conquered yet more territory - Alexander wants to continue to the edge of the
world (which he belies is close). His troops realise the world is bigger than Alexander and his dreams,
and mutiny. Grudgingly Alexander takes them back. Some of them at least. There are more savage
battles to win through India as the army heads south to the mouth of the Indus. And once there
Alexander spares his men nothing and drives them into the Gedrosian Desert, thousands die.
In 324 Alexander returns to Persepolis, Susa and Ecbatana, the great Persian capitals. He begins to try
to administer his vast conquests, but dies suddenly after a short illness at Babylon in 323. Alexander
had developed into quite an individual. He was a very generous man who demonstrated extreme loyalty
toward his friends, though at the same time he was very cautious and intelligent. Alexander also had an
unpredictable and wild side that could occasionally manifest in violent outbursts. His troops, however,
loved him. He was fearless, brave, versatile, ingenious and above all indomitable. Nothing could stop
Alexander. Nothing on earth. The Macedonian King loved drama, music, poetry, and wine. Alexander
also liked various exercises such as hunting, ball games and running. He was said to be an Olympic
quality runner, but declined to run unless he was matched up against other kings. His pride was so great
that it would not allow the possibility that someone might let him win. Though he generally liked to
play sports, he disliked athletic competitions. Alexander the Great respected women, and treated them
fairly. Aristotle's early teachings may have had something to do with Alexander's attitude toward
women. When taking young woman captive after raiding a city, he would protect them from his troops,
and treat them as if they were his daughters. Often, when addressing older queens, Alexander would
refer to them as 'mother', showing his respect to them as if being a part of his close family. One of
Alexander's finest acts was when he took his enemy Darius' mother and other family members when he
conquered Persia: thinking that Alexander was going to kill them, Darius was much relieved to find that
Alexander treated them royally and with respect as guests of his kingdom. Along the span of his
lifetime, Alexander the Great conquered many regions in a short period of time. He was a military
strategist par excellence and found a way to victory no matter the odds stacked up against him. Living
through all these battles was another great feat since Alexander always rode in the front line of his
army. In the battle against the Mallians, when an arrow pierced Alexander's lung, his troops thought
that their leader was killed. They were so enraged that they ran through the city killing all in a bloody
massacre. Alexander made it through with a splintered rib and a torn lung. This was not the only time
Alexander was struck by an arrow; while invading Samarkand, an arrow split his leg bone making it
impossible for him to ride back. The cavalry got the honour of carrying Alexander back home, but
soon the infantry became jealous of their privilege. Alexander decided to let each unit take turns sharing
the honour. Alexander also lived through various other serious, as well as minor, wounds and illnesses
along his conquests ranging from a bird dropping a stone on his head to getting a mild case of
hypothermia while crossing the mountains.
Along his many journeys, Alexander the Great founded many cities and colonies. Quite possibly the
most famous is the Alexandria at the mouth of the Nile. When Alexander reached Egypt, the Egyptians
viewed him as their deliverer from Persian rule, and crowned him as their Pharaoh. Egyptian
Alexandria, was established as a centre of commerce and learning. With all these new nations under
Alexander's rule, he needed to unite these nations together to keep things running smoothing. He
encouraged intermarriages, and set the example by marrying a second wife, Stateira, who was Persian.

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika:

Zgłoś jeśli naruszono regulamin