@Jimsolo: I plan on making a number of changes to the core as a whole. I am using what exists because there is a good bit that I do want to keep with canon (nova) vaasa.
HuManBing wrote:I think this is a potentially great idea, with a lot to recommend it. I would take it and run with it: change the cultures and the Core however you like, because it's your game and your gaming group - and you know your gaming group better than any the rest of us.
Thanks. I will use this thread for various ideas on different domains as I go through my revisions and changes.
HuManBing wrote:
From a purely geopolitical viewpoint, I like your idea because if you place Nova Vaasa (or just "Vaasa") as another significant pillar of power, then you make the Core even more multipolar. Falkovnia and Darkon are already a well-known bloody rivalry; now with Nova Vaasa as the birthplace of the Tergs, you have given Barovia a source of rivalry as well. Tensions make for good storytelling. Darkon could well funnel covert aid to them, if they wanted to make sure Vaasa could continue needling and distracting Barovia. Plenty of food for thought here!
That is my thinking, it also does not endear the Vaasans to the Borcans either since both Barovia and Borca were under assult by the tergs in the past. But with this tension creates conflict and drama. Vaasa canonically is one of the biggest domains in the core, and that hasn't changed a bit. So it being a major player in the core should be noted.
HuManBing wrote:
Is the Shadow Rift present in your campaign? Because if it is, then you have four big powers all vying for influence, separated by the Rift (or potentially making inroads to the Rift as a hazardous shortcut?).
The shadow rift exists as the shadow forest. It is the same general area but a giant creepy forest. Tall trees that peirce the sky and block out all light and strange feyish things live there. The Shadow forest is why everyone bordering the area tell their kids "don't go into the woods"
HuManBing wrote:
Specific to your darklord, it seems that Vaasa in your scenario is a loose confederation of squabbling tribes. Perhaps this might be thematically similar to the Mongolian Empire in collapse, after the demise of its leaders, with various generals and warlords seeking to fill the power vacuum. I once thought about writing up a darklord whose "theme of rulership" was his inability to retain control - sort of like an anti-ruler. His tragic aspect would be that he earnestly wants to rule well, but lacks some spark of true leadership that would make that possible. So instead he settles for being a second-rate leader. Maybe he's too ruthless; maybe he's not ruthless enough. Maybe he's idealistic but lacks the experience. Or maybe he just wants to do what's right, but lacks the cutthroat instincts to thrive in tribal politics. (I tried statting up Duke Gundar with this exact theme about two years ago - a search for the term "Spearflights" will show you the thread.)
They were once a confederation of tribes in the past. They were once the Great empire of the Tergs, and take pride in that. But the current Vaasa as a government is similar to canon. When the Terg empire fell into chaos thanks to Strahd it lead to a period of chaos. The 5 great tribes of Vaasa came into an arrangement after a century or two of chaos. Thus as is canon, the 5 great families.As time went on the tribes evolved into noble houses. The country itself evolving from its tribal past into a more feudal society. This cycle of families rotating power worked for a while, but as time went on more and more princes saw themselves as being able to be a permanent king.
The vaasan still though despite their government's evolution retain their love of the horse. It is the pride of their kingdom. In addition, there is a strong since of imperialism and the idea of building up a new terg empire. One greater then the one before.
Like canon, Othmar Bolshnik, has broken this cycle. He is a man who is changing Vaasa and he believes for the better. Vaasa has lagged behind in development and by looking at the realms of dementlieu, borca, Darkon and even falkovina. Othmar knows that Vaasa would need to do some catching up to do. So he is on a path of modernizing his kingdom. He is thus investing in things like a loyal royal army, roads, a pony express, and most of all a brand new navy.
This of course has made the other four families upset and unsure of what to do. Some of them think it is best to side with Othmar, others are planning on recuriting the minor families and rebelling against Othmar and re-establishing the rulership of the cycle or perhaps like with what happened with ceaser, just have another guy take it over.
I could make him the Darklord, but one of the things I like about Vaasa as canon. Is that there is an imperalistic ruler who is not a darklord thus poses a truer threat to the core.
HuManBing: what did you think of the religion ideas for the replacement religion? I am still trying to work that out as religion is still a very important thing to the vaasan people, I am just changing it from the church of the Lawgiver to something else.