* * * Wizards Community Thread * * * -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Thread : Maztica Started at 05-18-05 11:10 AM by JuanNavarro Visit at http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=431978 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 1] Author : JuanNavarro Date : 05-18-05 11:10 AM Thread Title : Maztica Yes, that right, I said it, Maztica! I wondered if anyone played. I never got to use the box set fully, but did implemnet various bits here and there. I dug some parts but on my own re-wrote alot of it to fit my campaign and my knowledge of the culture. I might have something like thrown into Eberron to mix with the Talenta plains a bit and of Xen'drik. So what do you guys think? -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 2] Author : diaglo Date : 05-18-05 02:05 PM i bought it. i read it. i even still have it. but never used it in actual play also they have some as free downloads in the archive section of the WotC site. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 3] Author : Hiryu Date : 05-19-05 03:07 AM Have it, sometimes mention it in my FR games, will never use it until I have the time to rewrite it from scratch. As a mexican, I even felt a little insulted at the lack of knowledge behind the set's design and the blatant lack of some important prehispanic myths and legends. Looks to me like the brainchild of a guy who doesn't know nearly enough about aztec, mayan, toltec, olmec and native american history and mythology to stop saying "Montezuma". (it's Moctezuma, BTW) The "animal knights" (jaguar, snake, eagle, etc.) are either bland and lacking in flavor or missing altogether, and the "nahual" (shapechanging shaman) is a very important part of the myths but nowhere to be found. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 4] Author : Dzauku Date : 06-19-05 09:13 PM Hmmmm.... SOrry I missed this one.... I am interested in learning a bit on Pre Columbian Meso American culture and mythology. I am working on a campaign / drama setting that I would like to include a VERY heavy meso American cultural theme.... Well actually I imagine it as a mix of Meso American, Polynesian ( Hawaiian, Maori, etc.. ), and Egyptian. I have done a lot of reading on the Aztec, Toltec, Olmec, Incan, and Mayan cultures. Though this reading is pretty limited to the broad strokes of the availible literature. ANyway I just do not want to insult anyone, or get the whole thing " wrong ". Any help you guys might be willing to offer would be greatly appreciated. I am mostly interested in the mysticism of the Meso Americans. Like this Nahual mentioned above, in all that I read they were never once mentioned. The most mention of the mysticism of the Meso Americans was the name dropping of Quetzalcoatl, and Tezcatlipoca. Which was really about all they mention of them either. Well that and human sacrifice, and the Jaguar Knights. Anyway I saw this topic and figured you guys seemed like the guys to ask. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 5] Author : Treymordin Date : 06-28-05 06:44 PM I have never played it either but living in New Mexico, it would be a fun thing to play! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 6] Author : Hiryu Date : 06-29-05 06:35 AM Well, the Nahual (from the Aztec word Nahualli) is a popular figure in Mexican folklore. To sumarize, they were supposed to be evil witch priests who had the ability to shapechange at will. For some reason they were also supposed to be vulnerable to obsidian weapons. In AD&D terms, I would probably make them as a chaotic version of a druid who is a LOT more concerned with being left alone than tending for nature and balance. I would also increase their shapechanging skills, reduce their priest spells and probably grant them minor access to wizard spells (Enchantment/Charm, Necromancy) and shamanic spirit powers, as well as giving them minor Move Silently and Hide in Shadows abilities. Most likely I would also reduce their HD and Thac0, since the mythos seems to imply they were not very good fighters while in human form. From the missing mythological parts of Maztica I can also remember off the top of my head the Chaneques and Aluxes. The Chaneque (from Chanequet or Ocha-Neke, sources seem to vary) were small creatures that, depending on the mith, were either bad or good. The good ones were somewhat similar to gnomes: small, beautiful creatures who tended to the rivers and jungles of their home, cutting the dry branches off the trees and nursing wounded animals, and are related to order and harmony. In AD&D terms, I would most definitely make them a "new world" cousin of halflings with a more elven-like culture. (or probably a cross-breed with gnomes, since they are not underground creatures) The evil chaneques, however, were the "keepers of dangerous places", usualy pulling tricks to make people get lost, and allegedly with the bodies of children and the faces of old men... so you could say they are somewhat like goblins in appearance and imps in behavior. They were supposed to also be able to scare people so bad, that they could take away one of the victim's souls, called Tonalli. (the old nahuas believed people had more than one soul, and the Tonalli soul was the most vital one). The evil chaneques -are- believed to live underground. In AD&D terms, I would make them an even more chaotic cousin of standard goblins with either a -very- minor aura of fear or the innate ability to cast Fear once per day. Also, I would probably give the good ones the "chanequet" name while giving the evil ones the "ocha-neke" one. The Aluxes (al-USH-eh), from the mayan Mythology are small, semi-evil creatures who wander through the woods and come into the houses of peasants at night for the sole purpouses of mischief, and can make people feel feeverish and sick to their stomach just by waving their hands over them. If their 'hosts' are nice and give them food and offerings, however, they will defend their benefactors from any and all trespassers and anemies, as well as making sure nothing bad happens to their crops or business. Some mythos claim the peasants themselves looked forward to having an alux for this very reason and sometimes even went as far and bringing them back to life so they could have a protector. In more modern times, due to (non-star wars related) pop culture reasons I won't go into right now, aluxes are seen as eewoks (almost vervatim, including appearance) with a protector or caretaker outlook towards their neighbors... in exchange for the same courtesy, of course. In AD&D terms... well, to be honest, I would pretty much port eewoks into game terms and probably give them a slightly less tribal society favoring neutral and lawful alignments, as well as a few innate protective abilities. Maybe Bless, Shield, Barkskin or something like that 1/Day. You might want to take a trip down http://pantheon.org/ It is not as complete as one could wish, specially on their americas section, but it is a great place to start. Hope this post was helpful. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 7] Author : Treymordin Date : 07-01-05 02:46 PM Great site, Thorougly researched. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Downloaded from Wizards Community (http://forums.gleemax.com) at 05-10-08 08:16 AM.