Kingdoms of Kalamar and Mystara - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Kingdoms of Kalamar and Mystara

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
havard
May 18, 2004 9:15:52 Following up the thread about using D20 products with Mystara, I'd like to specifically discuss the Kingdoms of Kalamar setting and related products with Mystara. Although I have heard that not all Kalamar products hold the same quality, I really liked the Player's Guide to Kalamar, and that the races and especially classes presented there were quite useful in a Mystara campaign. I especially like the Shaman and Brigand core classes, which is something that could improve many Mystara campaigns.

I know Mystaros once posted something on this on the MML detailing which cultures in KoK correspond to which in Mystara. James, are you lurking these boards? If not, would anyone else like to help on this issue?

Havard
#2
havard
May 18, 2004 9:28:07 Replying to my own post here. The article I was thinking is ofcourse on the Vaults at:
http://dnd.starflung.com/kalamar.html

It details converting the Kalamar Quest series, rathar than the setting as I seemed to remember, but we can still make alot of use out of the article above.

If anyone has more experience with Kalamar I'd be very interested in hearing more on ideas for stuff to steal from that setting. I they only could publish a 3.5 version of their Core Books....

Havard
#3
zombiegleemax
May 18, 2004 17:34:27 I don't have much of my stuff with me (Kalamar wise), as it is all still in storage (I get out of corporate housing, move into my apartment, and get all my stuff moved in early next month, finally). But off the top of my head, here are some general comparisons to use when converting cultures. Recall that these are not exact, and can actually be adapted differently depending on the adventure in question. Even within the same adventure, two people of the same Kalamaran race might be adapted as peoples of different Mystaran cultures.

Brandobians: Usually either Traladaran, Thyatian, or Darokin, rarely Minrothadian, sometimes Hattian. There are three main branches, the Cosdolen, Eldoren, and Mendarn, vaguely similar in cultural style respectively to the first three Mystaran cultures, though they are mixed. I used Traladarans for the Mendarns who settled Bronish as it was most appropriate to the specific situation. Minrothadians should be used in place of Brandobians only for those who extensively trade at sea. Those who are heavily racist should be recast as Hattians.

Kalamarans: Almost uniformly Thyatian in style, as these are the imperial types of Kalamar. Some are like the racist Hattians, others like the pure Thyatians, and some even like the Kerendans (notably those of the Young Kingdoms).

Svimohzish: Nuari, Yavi, or some similar Tanagoro offshoot. Range from highly cultured to barbarians.

Fhokki: Antalians, through and through.

Reanaarese: Darokin and Minrothadian, mostly, as they are concerned extensively with trade. Daro when inland, Minrothadian when at sea or along the seashore.

Dejy: The Dejy are highly mixed. In the Young Kingdoms area they are like the Atruaghin, in the Desert Lands they are like Ylari, and in the Wild Lands they are like Ethengars.

There is no real equivalent of the Alphatians or Glantrians, as there is no kingdom that is solidly magical... arcane magic is fairly rare on Kalamar, as compared to other worlds. But individual villainous wizards might be recast in that mold, as is needed.

James
#4
zombiegleemax
May 18, 2004 17:41:45 One other quick note...

For those of you who have a copy of the Lost Tomb of Kruk-Ma-Kali, the best place to locate that would be either in the Dwarfgate Mountains, between Ethengar and Darokin, or in the Khurish Massif, west of Glantri. Possibly even in some of the broken lands found between Darokin and Sindh.

Kruk-Ma-Kali would be recast as a descendant of Wogar, who helped build the great beastmen kingdoms of the late second and early first millennium BC.

Another possibility would be to have him be one of the Orc Kings of the Five Shires during their dark ages, and thus his lost tomb would be in the Cruth or Black Peak Mountains.

Or, to go even further, he could be the Beastman King who fought Halav during the Beastman Wars of the Traldar, and thus his tomb could be in the Altan Tepes, near the Keep on the Borderlands.

Just some random thoughts...

James
#5
havard
May 19, 2004 6:55:09 Thanks for the racial conversion ideas James!
That saves me alot of work

So far I only have the Players Guide, but there are alot of goodies there easily ported into Mystara including the classes, races equipment and even nifty things like alphabets etc.

I'll probably pick up some more Kalamar books as I go. Another thing I liked from the KoK Players Guide was the tables listing which Gods corresponded to which in the official D&D pantheon and the same for famous wizards. I'll try and set up something similar for Mystara. For the Immortals I think we'd have to go pantheon by pantheon since there is no "Mystaran Pantheon" as such. IMC, the Churches of Thyatis, Karameikos and Darokin are pretty much the same though (with local variances) so that is the closest you'll get to a "Mystaran Pantheon"....

On Wizards I'm not so sure. It actually seems strange that the most famos spells should be invented by Wizards who are still around and alive today, but then, that is the way it is in Greyhawk....

Havard
#6
mark_plemmons
May 19, 2004 13:00:14 You might also get some ideas on the Kalamar forums at:

http://www.kenzerco.com/forums/ubbthreads.php

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 havard May 18, 2004 9:15:52	Following up the thread about using D20 products with Mystara, I'd like to specifically discuss the Kingdoms of Kalamar setting and related products with Mystara. Although I have heard that not all Kalamar products hold the same quality, I really liked the Player's Guide to Kalamar, and that the races and especially classes presented there were quite useful in a Mystara campaign. I especially like the Shaman and Brigand core classes, which is something that could improve many Mystara campaigns. I know Mystaros once posted something on this on the MML detailing which cultures in KoK correspond to which in Mystara. James, are you lurking these boards? If not, would anyone else like to help on this issue? Havard
#2 havard May 18, 2004 9:28:07	Replying to my own post here. The article I was thinking is ofcourse on the Vaults at: http://dnd.starflung.com/kalamar.html It details converting the Kalamar Quest series, rathar than the setting as I seemed to remember, but we can still make alot of use out of the article above. If anyone has more experience with Kalamar I'd be very interested in hearing more on ideas for stuff to steal from that setting. I they only could publish a 3.5 version of their Core Books.... Havard
#3 zombiegleemax May 18, 2004 17:34:27	I don't have much of my stuff with me (Kalamar wise), as it is all still in storage (I get out of corporate housing, move into my apartment, and get all my stuff moved in early next month, finally). But off the top of my head, here are some general comparisons to use when converting cultures. Recall that these are not exact, and can actually be adapted differently depending on the adventure in question. Even within the same adventure, two people of the same Kalamaran race might be adapted as peoples of different Mystaran cultures. Brandobians: Usually either Traladaran, Thyatian, or Darokin, rarely Minrothadian, sometimes Hattian. There are three main branches, the Cosdolen, Eldoren, and Mendarn, vaguely similar in cultural style respectively to the first three Mystaran cultures, though they are mixed. I used Traladarans for the Mendarns who settled Bronish as it was most appropriate to the specific situation. Minrothadians should be used in place of Brandobians only for those who extensively trade at sea. Those who are heavily racist should be recast as Hattians. Kalamarans: Almost uniformly Thyatian in style, as these are the imperial types of Kalamar. Some are like the racist Hattians, others like the pure Thyatians, and some even like the Kerendans (notably those of the Young Kingdoms). Svimohzish: Nuari, Yavi, or some similar Tanagoro offshoot. Range from highly cultured to barbarians. Fhokki: Antalians, through and through. Reanaarese: Darokin and Minrothadian, mostly, as they are concerned extensively with trade. Daro when inland, Minrothadian when at sea or along the seashore. Dejy: The Dejy are highly mixed. In the Young Kingdoms area they are like the Atruaghin, in the Desert Lands they are like Ylari, and in the Wild Lands they are like Ethengars. There is no real equivalent of the Alphatians or Glantrians, as there is no kingdom that is solidly magical... arcane magic is fairly rare on Kalamar, as compared to other worlds. But individual villainous wizards might be recast in that mold, as is needed. James
#4 zombiegleemax May 18, 2004 17:41:45	One other quick note... For those of you who have a copy of the Lost Tomb of Kruk-Ma-Kali, the best place to locate that would be either in the Dwarfgate Mountains, between Ethengar and Darokin, or in the Khurish Massif, west of Glantri. Possibly even in some of the broken lands found between Darokin and Sindh. Kruk-Ma-Kali would be recast as a descendant of Wogar, who helped build the great beastmen kingdoms of the late second and early first millennium BC. Another possibility would be to have him be one of the Orc Kings of the Five Shires during their dark ages, and thus his lost tomb would be in the Cruth or Black Peak Mountains. Or, to go even further, he could be the Beastman King who fought Halav during the Beastman Wars of the Traldar, and thus his tomb could be in the Altan Tepes, near the Keep on the Borderlands. Just some random thoughts... James
#5 havard May 19, 2004 6:55:09	Thanks for the racial conversion ideas James! That saves me alot of work So far I only have the Players Guide, but there are alot of goodies there easily ported into Mystara including the classes, races equipment and even nifty things like alphabets etc. I'll probably pick up some more Kalamar books as I go. Another thing I liked from the KoK Players Guide was the tables listing which Gods corresponded to which in the official D&D pantheon and the same for famous wizards. I'll try and set up something similar for Mystara. For the Immortals I think we'd have to go pantheon by pantheon since there is no "Mystaran Pantheon" as such. IMC, the Churches of Thyatis, Karameikos and Darokin are pretty much the same though (with local variances) so that is the closest you'll get to a "Mystaran Pantheon".... On Wizards I'm not so sure. It actually seems strange that the most famos spells should be invented by Wizards who are still around and alive today, but then, that is the way it is in Greyhawk.... Havard
#6 mark_plemmons May 19, 2004 13:00:14	You might also get some ideas on the Kalamar forums at: http://www.kenzerco.com/forums/ubbthreads.php