Help needed in creating roleplaying abilities for warrior class

**Vikingpower** · February 28, 2011, 07:28 AM

Hello there.

I am trying to creata a roleplaying abilities for a classes which are mostly influenced by historical facts and mythology. Its setting will have a magical element in it, where people can choose from warriors, rogues, and spellcasters.

I already know enough to create a class based upon western knights and other European periods, but I don't have a clue about the Middle-eastern cultures and the Nomad-based factions like the Mongols and East Russia. The Parthians, Saraceans, Mameluk Egypt, Seljuk turks, and Moors share a similar bond in regard to warfare, while the Parthians can be excluded from the religious culture of latter times.

Like if I would attempt to count up abilities based upon the Icelandic sagas in regard to the Vikings, then some could go berserk, some could shapechange into wolf or bear, some could erect magical runes, some could hope for Valhalla in the afterlife, and so forth.

So if you know of any noteworthy incidents and abilities based upon historical sources then I would appreciate the help.

**Dago Red** · February 28, 2011, 11:38 AM

I don't think you're going to get the help you want in a historical realism mod's forum. You might have better luck watching The Mummy. You're talking mostly cultural things there I think, less similar warefare styles. The vikings probably had similar warfare styles to the Celts -- both fought on foot with axes and spears, and various kinds of swords. But they have entirely different mythology.

Likewise, you wouldn't stick the Mameluks in with the Seljuk Turks either, in fact they are separated by time and distance much more vast. One stems from a slave warrior class made of captured Caucasians and others, which grew out of Egypt. The other is a nomadic ethnic group which came out of the Asian steppes and then settled around the Middle East after assimilating into a hundred different cultures there.

As for Saracens, I believe that is a made up Roman word and is not informative of any cultural group, but came to mean any peoples in Anatolia, then came to be a general term that medieval Europeans used for Muslims.

**Vikingpower** · February 28, 2011, 05:09 PM

Do you know of any heroic feats and abilities from some historical sources or heroic tales from the medieval period?

For even that I am going to do a roleplaying game (without any connection to the Total war engine) with its mythological features then I am still looking for some historical issues to belong to pure warrior-classes.

For an example about abilities from the Europa barbarorum mod, then I could use naked fanatic feat, woad paint and coal effects for frightening infantry away, barbarian charge that makes more damage upon first strikes, and so forth.

So the reason why I am posting this thread here is because you are supposed to be historical experts about this time period (sigh... I have posted precicely the same input at the Dominon of the sword mod forum)

**wudang_clown** · February 28, 2011, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by Vikingpower

So the reason why I am posting this thread here is because you are supposed to be historical experts about this time period (sigh... I have posted precicely the same input at the Dominon of the sword mod forum)

We are not supposed to be historical experts, as we are mostly only amateurs who are interested in certain historical issues.

Besides, what you are asking for is rather a literary history, not history. You are asking about info concerning legendary or mythological figures, which by definition are more literary than historical. I think that during the period we are interested in there weren't any new legends created, as legends are more creation of unlettered cultures, of oral tradition, I'd say, and medieval islamic culture were too lettered for that.

Anyway, let's wait, maybe someone knows an answer on your question. In the meantime, you could look for the Book of Dede Korkut - that's Turkic epic.

**Ansar Warrior** · February 28, 2011, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by Vikingpower

Do you know of any heroic feats and abilities from some historical sources or heroic tales from the medieval period?

For even that I am going to do a roleplaying game (without any connection to the Total war engine) with its mythological features then I am still looking for some historical issues to belong to pure warrior-classes.

For an example about abilities from the Europa barbarorum mod, then I could use naked fanatic feat, woad paint and coal effects for frightening infantry away, barbarian charge that makes more damage upon first strikes, and so forth.

So the reason why I am posting this thread here is because you are supposed to be historical experts about this time period (sigh... I have posted precicely the same input at the Dominon of the sword mod forum)

I can't go into to much detail as I've got work in the morning but check these guy's out some are fictional some factual.

Middle east - Baybars, Gilgamesh (mid east version of Hercules), Khalid Ibn Whalid, magical stuff or folklore .... urrhm Hashishin (medieval Assassins), weapons most favoured are the sword (Raza dance), spear, Faris knights, big on horses, mamluks (bad ass slave warriors trained from childhood).

I know what your after but it's like visiting an entire culture and finding what you can use so it's hard to answer unless they have very specific warrior groups with niche traits or folklore.

Turks - Jannisarries?

I'm giving up now.

**wudang_clown** · February 28, 2011, 12:53 PM

I think Vikingpower only asks for an information for some unnamed project of his... There are some old Turkic and Persian epics which could be a source of such info, but I haven't read them. Surely, all ethnicities have their heroes with supernatural powers.

**matmohair1** · March 01, 2011, 09:16 AM

The Shahnameh - "BOOK OF KINGS"

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**Vikingpower** · March 02, 2011, 11:32 AM

I thank you all for the suggestions and I am gonna search for these books.

**matmohair1** · March 02, 2011, 11:44 AM

if your looking for a warrior class befitting a fantasy setting you should try the Faris

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=403887

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

understanding Middle-Eastern heroic mythology of the medieval era

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**Vikingpower** · March 15, 2011, 04:41 PM

I have almost finished creating all the abilities for the slave warrior class

BUT

I need more info about some special magical abilities based on myth or spiritual abilities based on religion.

Do you have any special info about the bedouins at the zenith of Arab conquests and such?