Ok, the game goes like  this, I give you a setting, or rather the shell of a setting based on a single line; and then you throw at me the kind of things that come to mind based on your reading of that line; in other words, the kind of things you would want to see in such a setting if your character was to visit there.

So for the first, I have thought of a "fantasy Incan Empire", given that there are too-few fantasy settings based on historical cultures that were non-european, and the Incans tend to be even more ignored than the Aztecs.

So I'll go first. When I hear "Fantasy Incan Empire"; I imagine:

Huge stone cities gilded with gold  set on top of mountains
strange kite-like gliders used to fly over the nazca plains
wierd godlike creatures deep in the mountain, "teaching" the people

What do you imagine?

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPunditWhat do you imagine?

There's also an Inca-themed anime (Nazca).

QuoteThere's also an Inca-themed anime (Nazca).

There's also this very early Miyazaki series:  http://www.retrojunk.com/details_articles/130/

And there was a Japanese Rogue-like game for the SNES called "Shiren the Wanderer", that was largely Japanese in theme, but inexplicably co-opted the same myth about the Golden Condor and a Mysterious City of Gold, though in this case the condor was an actual mythical bird and not an airplane (seriously, WTF?).

Ok, so I hear "lost cities of gold" added into the mix.. and giant condors.

Cool. What else... demihumans?

RPGPundit

Depending on how you look at it, the Inca theme can be adapted to dwarves or elves. Can't really see other D&D races fitting.

Or, you could have a celestial-blooded nobility, ruling the empire in the name of their divine ancestors. What would Nazca be, in this case?

Machu Picchu, aww yeah.

Knotted-string data storage.

Divine chocolate.

Victory feasts of roast guinea pigs.

Ritual baby-head deformation (by wrapping with cloth, etc.)

Lake Titicaca.

Llama-based calvary.

Quote from: RogerLlama-based calvary.

Better: Condor-based air cavalry!

Pokemon crossover!  Machu Pikachu!  





...okay, I'm leaving now...

Quote from: RogerKnotted-string data storage.

:eek: Swank!

Quote from: VellorianPokemon crossover!  Machu Pikachu!  





...okay, I'm leaving now...

Door's that way.  Uh, "Meat Grinder" is just our nickname for "Outside", don't you mind it one bit.

Blood as a medium to comunicate with the divine.
Silver mines.
Reincarnation.

Oh yeah:

Altitude Sickness.

Some more:

• (Un)dead ancestors prominately displayed and paraded about. Treated as if still living. In the fantasy version they would be...sorta.
• Good communication and road system.
• Terrace farming.
• Lots of gold and silver.
• Large cities and temples.
• Strongpoints on the higher areas of mountains & other highlands.
• Ritual stone or bone knives.
• The Emperor owns everything.

One way to explain Tekumel is as a fantasy Incan Empire on another planet with some human sacrifice, assuming the players get what Incan entails (most of mine don't). They even have llamas. Esp. if the campaign is set during or after the recent civil war between the undead worshipping usurper (possibly also undead himself) and his siblings (similar to the Incan Empire just before the conquest).

Magical grain
Hidden cities in the mountains
cult of the sun
strange gods from above and below
vast irrigation projects
suspension bridges
warriors cults
Stone monoliths
Stone temples
hot are balloons
Blood sacrifices
trade empires
exotic possibly magical items traded from the forest people

Bill

Contact by aliens. (I want some Sci-fi with my Fantasy)