Needless to say I like desert spots, hot, arid, and no need for that annoying platemail. Heat Stroke will kill you first long before the stroke of the sword. Anywho, I try to get the PC's into the region, on one pretext our another, usually their idea not mine, and I get the "fish out of water" beverly hillbillies' experience of the mostly EURO laden PC's trying to fit into a different culture. The more they do not know, the more they worry of death, and anticipate wonders they have only read about in books. It gives me a chance to throw out new concepts of monsters and such, but stay within the frame of the "rules we all live by".
Sometimes there is even a language barrier. Sometimes there are monkeys. Sometimes, but not often, but sometimes, there are dancing girls, harems, sultans, long wickedly curved swords, masked assasins, dark sorcery, and creatures from the very depths of hell.
I have some ideas to use hopefully once I get back on track and the group can sort out schedules, wives, etc. But I set the south up as City States, each a kingdom unto itself, surrounded by a sea of sand. Some magically calamity has caused the sands to act as the sea... some duel of wizards, or war between gods perhaps. Underneath this sand that swirls and blows, and has swells that cause rough travel for the dune runners that sail between ports, are the remnants of a lost era, its spires clawing through the sand, welcoming explorers brave enough for a quick search before they are lost again.
Lost races, buried treasure, dune runner pirates for some ship to ship action, spells adventure on any level. I am partial to the Jackalmen type of race akin to Egyptians, but nastier, I guess I am still a fan of the Wolfen from Paladium, and or, I use reptilian villians that are not bothered by the heat. They control lands near the center where the ground is stable, and worship eld gods, and are an enigma to the world of man. Rackham provides some imagery...
Sometimes there is even a language barrier. Sometimes there are monkeys. Sometimes, but not often, but sometimes, there are dancing girls, harems, sultans, long wickedly curved swords, masked assasins, dark sorcery, and creatures from the very depths of hell.
I have some ideas to use hopefully once I get back on track and the group can sort out schedules, wives, etc. But I set the south up as City States, each a kingdom unto itself, surrounded by a sea of sand. Some magically calamity has caused the sands to act as the sea... some duel of wizards, or war between gods perhaps. Underneath this sand that swirls and blows, and has swells that cause rough travel for the dune runners that sail between ports, are the remnants of a lost era, its spires clawing through the sand, welcoming explorers brave enough for a quick search before they are lost again.
Lost races, buried treasure, dune runner pirates for some ship to ship action, spells adventure on any level. I am partial to the Jackalmen type of race akin to Egyptians, but nastier, I guess I am still a fan of the Wolfen from Paladium, and or, I use reptilian villians that are not bothered by the heat. They control lands near the center where the ground is stable, and worship eld gods, and are an enigma to the world of man. Rackham provides some imagery...
Anywho... you get the idea. I like the change of venue, and it keeps players guessing even after years of playing, and allows me to set enviroments that they interact with, and help drive the plot.
I dig the Bazaars, where everything is for sale, the thieves, the loot, etc.
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