Forgive me if I've gone a little nutty with this, but I am really getting into the idea. Anyway, the idea struck me, what about using the old D&D World of Greyhawk as a source for imaginations? It is heavily documented (example: link with, in many cases, place descriptions and maps already made:
Consider the above small section:
Ket: Armies much like the Ottoman Turks, though my view would be a little more aggressive and less socially advanced/decadent. Lots of regulars in Lopolla, with Bashi-Bazouks patrolling the borders. Considered the biggest threat to it's southern and eastern neighbors.
Veluna: Still a theocracy, though I'd experiment with the idea of a parliamentary theocracy, it would be much like Austria-Hungary.
Bissel, Gran March and Duchy of Ulek: These are modelled on the Balkan states, quarrelling with each other but frightened enough of Ket to make common cause. However, each of these realms has allied with or paid tribute to the Beygraf at different times, and would likely do so again if the threat or reward was great enough.
Furyondy: Modelled after France (which, supposedly, it was in Gygax' world). It is probably the most militarily powerful of the eastern nations (note that east and west reverse in the WoG; East is Europe, West is the land of the Turks and Tartars), it nonetheless has powerful neighbors/enemies itself, and can spare only a fraction of its strength to aid its ally, Veluna, against the Beygraf's hordes. There is Iuz (now a completely totalitarian state) on its northern border, where it keeps the majority of its troops.
However, the Furyondian Foreign Legion is often sent west when the kingdom's interests so require.
Celene: I see this as an Italian-like state, before unification. Cultured and considered one of the gems of th world for it's art and literature, its lands are nonetheless divided into petty, warring city-states, which a true leader has yet to arise to rule. Veluna and Furyondy tend to back this or that city-state in an effort to keep another power from arising in their backyards.
"19th Century" World of Greyhawk
It would not, technically, be the 19th Century, but probably the 10th Century CY (Common year), I'm guessing maybe 250 years after the Dwarven Resurgence (Dragon mag #277)
As to magic…
Many would want to keep this out of their imaginations, or at least tone it way down. Believe it or not, this should not be hard. After all, our own ancestors, some three hundred years back or so, still firmly believed in magic, though it is generally scoffed at today.
"What? Elves and dwarves? And that lunatic Iuz up north who thought he was a demigod? Sure, ignorant peasants used to believe in that stuff, but who does now? You feeling all right?"
Alternatively, you could have units of elven hussars, dwarven artillery and goblin azabs to your heart's content. The really fun compromise, however, might be to have magic fade into the backgroun a bit. Perhaps the monsters who didn't die off moved to some adjacent, shadowy, faery realm. Maybe the drow still have great powers, not so much as sorcerers and warriors but as war financiers…
Just an idea.
harvests scenario ideas from The Third World War.
very 'Castle Falkenstein' in more Imagi-Native …
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