I intentionally made the Bharata Kingdoms setting very human-centered.  The places of demi-humans are far away, in the margins and borders, and the implication is that this is the age of human heroes (there are still gods and monsters, but these are further away and less relevant than they were in the earlier periods), and that the central conflict of the setting is between humans.

So in your AoI games, do you plan to focus much on the human kingdoms and conflicts, on the cities and the intrigues and wars about to erupt; or are you going to put more emphasis on monsters and faraway fantastical places in the borderlands?

Are you planning to allow everyone who wants to to play the non-human races? Or would you rather restrict these in some way?

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPundit;637430I intentionally made the Bharata Kingdoms setting very human-centered.  The places of demi-humans are far away, in the margins and borders, and the implication is that this is the age of human heroes (there are still gods and monsters, but these are further away and less relevant than they were in the earlier periods), and that the central conflict of the setting is between humans.

So in your AoI games, do you plan to focus much on the human kingdoms and conflicts, on the cities and the intrigues and wars about to erupt; or are you going to put more emphasis on monsters and faraway fantastical places in the borderlands?

Are you planning to allow everyone who wants to to play the non-human races? Or would you rather restrict these in some way?

RPGPundit

The mythical elements of the setting interest me somewhat more than the directly human.  So, the aspects where humans interact with the mythical that is just to one side of everyday, stepping outside of the daily medieval border in that way.  I was thinking of a way that new characters could discover the closeness of Patala in a subtle way.  Does the map on page 103 represent any particular part of Patala?  I wasn't sure what it was referencing or whether it was simply meant as an example cavern complex.

Quote from: Kuroth;637533The mythical elements of the setting interest me somewhat more than the directly human.  So, the aspects where humans interact with the mythical that is just to one side of everyday, stepping outside of the daily medieval border in that way.  I was thinking of a way that new characters could discover the closeness of Patala in a subtle way.  Does the map on page 103 represent any particular part of Patala?  I wasn't sure what it was referencing or whether it was simply meant as an example cavern complex.

No, the map is just public domain art.

However, while most entries to the Patala Underworld are found in the mountains, an entry can be found theoretically anywhere, even in the middle of city, especially one of the really ancient ones (in the Gandara or Bahlika kingdoms, or in the older cities of Kosala).  

Likewise, there is something very significant about that idea of human beings stepping out of the civilized and into the wild, even if its just next door, and running into all kinds of fantastical things.

RPGPundit

I think that to AoI's benefit, you can do either: the "civilized" part of the setting in the central area of the map is a pot of rival city states, decadent principalities, upstart kingdoms and aggressive empires on the verge of boiling over into huge conflicts, and PCs can get involved in everything from intrigue to opportunism to all-out warfare.  On the other hand, take two steps into the periphery and you're in a magical wilderness of non-human dangers and discoveries.

RPGPundit

Certainly it is to its benefit.  There are a fair number of non-human incursions both malevolent and benign even in the most civilized cities, with a number of cities being built upon the ruins of ancient non-human sites.  There are also a number of non-human heavy players in a number of cities behind the throne.

Though the more civilized regions are interesting for a lot of reasons, I'm looking over setting up the first few adventures in the Kingdom of Vidarbha between the Vena and Varada rivers.  This frontier region, with its trail terminus and trade hub location at Kundinapuri, will be a great place for a set of new characters.  I want to use some historical background about the fall of Ravana for a little history, and I will place the start of the adventure around the festival of Holi to provide the characters a number of ways to conceptualize the people of the region outside of the day to day.  I will probably plan to have the first few adventures in Kundinapuri.  So, I’ll do up a little city set up to make a number of low level adventures pretty easy, which will help the players get a feel for the general setting.  So, these are some kernel ideas I had for a few adventures.

In a round about way, I’m saying that I don’t actually think Arrows of Indra is really that Human centered, when compared to other settings that are run under similar systems. The non-humans have played such a real role in the near history of the people, and it is obvious once one starts to consider campaigns.  Some of the playable non-humans will throw player expectations too, like the Rakshasas.  So, there are a lot of humans running human nations, but there are a lot of non-humans running pinnacle organizations of their unique type too, which is one of the great things about the setting.  So, it is easy to interject more or less non-human aspects as the referee prefers or the players seek.

Quote from: Kuroth;638080Though the more civilized regions are interesting for a lot of reasons, I'm looking over setting up the first few adventures in the Kingdom of Vidarbha between the Vena and Varada rivers.  This frontier region, with its trail terminus and trade hub location at Kundinapuri, will be a great place for a set of new characters.  I want to use some historical background about the fall of Ravana for a little history, and I will place the start of the adventure around the festival of Holi to provide the characters a number of ways to conceptualize the people of the region outside of the day to day.  I will probably plan to have the first few adventures in Kundinapuri.  So, I'll do up a little city set up to make a number of low level adventures pretty easy, which will help the players get a feel for the general setting.  So, these are some kernel ideas I had for a few adventures.

Sounds awesome! That certainly is a frontier area: the massive Dandaka jungle just south of it can be full of stuff, mainly the ruins of the mightiest Asura Kingdom that ever was.
I'll mention too that the Vidarbha kingdom has a very young, very prideful king; at the starting point of the campaign he's dedicating enormous amounts of resources to build his glorious new (utterly un-necessary) Capital, and in the process its creating all kinds of strife, theft, corruption, and opportunity in the kingdom. Its a place in the midst of upheaval.

There's also a story I left out due to considerations of space and time, regarding the construction of the new capital, which explains rather a lot about Rukmi as a person and monarch (basically, he sucked).

QuoteIn a round about way, I'm saying that I don't actually think Arrows of Indra is really that Human centered, when compared to other settings that are run under similar systems. The non-humans have played such a real role in the near history of the people, and it is obvious once one starts to consider campaigns.  Some of the playable non-humans will throw player expectations too, like the Rakshasas.  So, there are a lot of humans running human nations, but there are a lot of non-humans running pinnacle organizations of their unique type too, which is one of the great things about the setting.  So, it is easy to interject more or less non-human aspects as the referee prefers or the players seek.

Yes; the thing is that you could run a totally kingdoms-based campaign with tons of urban adventuring and political intrigue, but you could also run a much more fantastical campaign.

The thing about the non-humans is that there are a few (mainly Rakshasas) which are quite commonplace in the Heroic Age; while most of the others (Gandharvas, Yakshas, Nagas, Vanara) live in their own kingdoms hidden away from regular civilization. Rarely will one of those show up, you have to go looking for them.

EXCEPT, south of the Riksha hills where you plan to set your campaign; there its likely that as well as Rakshasas, Vanara would be relatively commonplace.

RPGPundit

Ya, the setting really does provide for a fair number of approaches alright, since the various regions have more or less contact with the mystical.

I was thinking of the ambitions of King Rukmi at Kundinapuri and his personal ambition to build Bhojakata as part of the reason that the area made a great choice, beside the frontier aspect for low level characters.  I can see the haughty king being more among the people than many rulers because of this ambition, though no less proud than any of the power hungry kings.  It will make it possible for adventurers to get the notice of the Crown, and further a stepping stone toward an intermediate level campaign later.

The small kingdom of Vidarbha is at the breakers of powerful forces barely contained to the South.  With the Varna monkey people fairly close and the Thugee sect presence in Northern Dandaka jungle competing with the Bhil tribes, the Asura remnants and Rakshasas kingdoms further South are somewhat contained.  There are definitely Rakshasas spies traveling through the kingdom to destinations disparate, as well as even Asura in disguise passing through the kingdom set upon devious stratagem in the larger world.  All the while, King Rukmi focuses upon the mundane interests of the Kingdom of Vidarbha, attempting to build a state respected by the states to the North.  In these ways, the politics of the North are in effect in this frontier kingdom, with its greater exposure to the mythical.  Adventurers climbing out of the Kingdom will be well prepared to deal with the exotic in the Northern Kingdoms, better than the natives of those realms, since the characters will have lived through exotic trials of the frontier mythical presence.  Likely, the characters will get a lead on some of the greater plans of the Rakshasas in their low level adventures around the Kingdom of Vidarbha that will lead them into the greater world, which will lead to confrontations with the Asura in their later levels.

Edit:  I got to say that Conley's maps are pretty great for the campaign development.  I like that the large continental map was included with separate region maps.  The regional maps work well as campaign maps.  In many setting, it is necessary to isolate and zoom a portion of the one large map provided to have a regional campaign map, either by hand (past) or with image software (today).

Quote from: Kuroth;638560Ya, the setting really does provide for a fair number of approaches alright, since the various regions have more or less contact with the mystical.

I was thinking of the ambitions of King Rukmi at Kundinapuri and his personal ambition to build Bhojakata as part of the reason that the area made a great choice, beside the frontier aspect for low level characters.  I can see the haughty king being more among the people than many rulers because of this ambition, though no less proud than any of the power hungry kings.  It will make it possible for adventurers to get the notice of the Crown, and further a stepping stone toward an intermediate level campaign later.

The small kingdom of Vidarbha is at the breakers of powerful forces barely contained to the South.  With the Varna monkey people fairly close and the Thugee sect presence in Northern Dandaka jungle competing with the Bhil tribes, the Asura remnants and Rakshasas kingdoms further South are somewhat contained.  There are definitely Rakshasas spies traveling through the kingdom to destinations disparate, as well as even Asura in disguise passing through the kingdom set upon devious stratagem in the larger world.  All the while, King Rukmi focuses upon the mundane interests of the Kingdom of Vidarbha, attempting to build a state respected by the states to the North.  In these ways, the politics of the North are in effect in this frontier kingdom, with its greater exposure to the mythical.  Adventurers climbing out of the Kingdom will be well prepared to deal with the exotic in the Northern Kingdoms, better than the natives of those realms, since the characters will have lived through exotic trials of the frontier mythical presence.  Likely, the characters will get a lead on some of the greater plans of the Rakshasas in their low level adventures around the Kingdom of Vidarbha that will lead them into the greater world, which will lead to confrontations with the Asura in their later levels.

This sounds like an absolutely fantastic basis for an AoI campaign.  Are you on the G+ group? You should do a post about it there!

Anyways, to give you an idea just how much of an ultimate loser Rukmi turned out to be, when the Mahabharata finally culminated in the apocalyptic battle of Kurukshetra, where just about everyone (I mean almost literally) went to fight (and die), where all the kingdoms were pulled in because of their allegiances or rivalries, Rukmi was left out, neither side wanted him.

Of course, that would theoretically mean that in a post-Kurukshetra world (if a campaign goes that long), Vidarbha would be in a really strong position; having not just had the vast majority of its male citizenry killed in the greatest battle in human history, unlike all of its neighbours.

QuoteEdit:  I got to say that Conley's maps are pretty great for the campaign development.  I like that the large continental map was included with separate region maps.  The regional maps work well as campaign maps.  In many setting, it is necessary to isolate and zoom a portion of the one large map provided to have a regional campaign map, either by hand (past) or with image software (today).

Yeah, we're really grateful Conley was on board with this! I adore those maps.

RPGPundit

King Rukmi really is a very weak and insignificant version of Emperor Nero.  I have to be careful not to simply supplant Prince Kadakithis from Sanctuary onto Rukmi.  I don't want to bleed the two together like that.  The characters are very similar, though.  Perhaps the coming war will change him to a better man, making it possible for him to see a grander destiny beyond his early petty mundane concerns.  As I write, some interaction with the divine may cause an epiphany in the later years of Rukmi's life. We'll see.

Perhaps the city's similarity to Sanctuary was one of the appeals.  If someone is having trouble setting up a city campaign in Arrows of Indra, you can suggest slightly modifying Thieves World's Sanctuary for Kundinapuri.  Sanctuary actually has sort of a medieval Dubai feel to it anyway.  

The standard world future of King Rukmi fits with his blindness to the threats that are clear and present for his Kingdom. It is truly an epic failure of an individual on the vanguard of vigilance.  I don't know if the players will be able to change that fate for the Kingdom and larger world.  It depends upon their interest and associated actions.

Thanks for the google invite.  I have chosen to limit my online role-play game chatting to this forum, but I may yet add google+.

Quote from: Kuroth;638796Thanks for the google invite.  I have chosen to limit my online role-play game chatting to this forum, but I may yet add google+.

In that case, would you mind if I posted your stuff there?

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPundit;638880In that case, would you mind if I posted your stuff there?

RPGPundit

I don't mind at all!  Always glad that Arrows of Indra is gaining an audience.  Be sure to talk about the magic system. It is a cool variance on the D&D norm.

Posted, thanks!