I think the actual setting for Birthright I like more but it is the exotic flavor of the Al-Qadim that brings it up into a tie. This setting as I have said before appeals to me more than the Maztica setting for some reason, which for the record comes in after Ravenloft but before the Forgotten Realms. Sometime I will need to do a post breaking down the list with more details as to why they fall where they do.
Growing up I remember reading stories from the Arabian Nights collection somewhere and being fascinated with it. I am not sure if it was any more magical than the Greek and Roman myths or even the Norse myths but the setting and names were different than any I had read before. This fascination has always stuck with me.
Published: 1992
Pages: 160
From the back cover:
Magic carpets, ghoulish vixens, genies rising from the sand in a whirlwind of smoke and fire--such wonders, spun into tales by the fabled Scheherazade, enchanted a king for a thousand and one nights.
The AL-QADIM(TM) campaign will enchant role-players for a thousand and one more.
You are about to discover an exotic realm inspired by the tales of Sinbad, Ali Baba, and other classics from the Arabian Nights. The first in a series of products, this volume features everything DMs and players need to launch the AL-QADIM campaign:
- New rules for adventure, including desert survival, turning the hand of Fate, and averting the mysterious power of the evil eye
- New roles to play: bold desert raiders, swashbuckling corsairs, clandestine slayers, mystic clerics, wizards of fire, sorcerers who command the genies, and more--over 20 roles in all!
- New proficiencies, from camel-riding to haggling at the bazaar
- New spells and a unique realm of magic, featuring the provinces of flame, wind, sea, and sand
- An introduction to Zakhara, Land of Fate, a new setting for the AL-QADIM campaign
Your flying carpet awaits; step aboard and let the magical journey begin.
Spell:
Directed Fireball
Level: Fourth
Range: 9" + 1" Level
Duration: Instantaneous
Area of Effect: 3" Sphere
Components: V,S,M
Casting Time: 4 Segments
Saving Throw: Halves
This spell allows the magic user to create a fireball effect without the full area of effect affect. The spell will affect only targets in the area of effect and not the environment.
The spell is similar in effect to a clerical Flame Strike but it will affect every target in the area of effect. The caster has no ability to exclude a target in the sphere even if desired. The spell will do the same damage as a traditional Fireball spell.
The material component of this spell is the same as the third level Fireball spell. That being bat guano and sulfur but for this spell there will be a number of small balls as opposed to the single ball for the lower level spell.
Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the write ups last, were all written up or conceived of back in the 80's so the terminology may not appropriate for anything other than 1e and depending on how well I did back then it may be slightly off for that as well. If there is any duplication of spells that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :) Please feel free to comment on them but try not to be too hard on me. If anyone wishes to use these in anything they print please let me know in advance and all I ask is proper credit.
1 comment:
I have the same reaction to the Arabian Nights - when I think of exotic, that's what I think of.
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