Stealing Ideas: Rome

I’ve been re-watching season one of Rome while out to sea. It’s a phenomenal show (not for kids) depicting life in ancient Rome, following the stories of Gaius Julius Caesar, Marc Antony, many other notable historical figures, as well as the lives of a centurion and legionnaire. By the end of season one (spoilers!) Caesar is murdered and Rome is in chaos. What better location than Ancient Rome for an RPG.

The politics and intrigue of the Roman Republic is fascinating. You can read more about the politics here.

I don’t think I would ever run a game within Ancient Rome itself, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t ever play a fantasy game taking place in the Roman era of technology.

Blood sacrifice, the constant struggle between the nobility and the commoners, brutal, brutal surgeries, grime and filth, togas… It could make an incredible fantasy setting, preferably low magic, but perhaps fairly pervasive divine magic.

Adding in the addition of the Roman/Greek gods into the mix adds some interesting elements, as they are far more likely to be encountered than the gods in D&D, as they were thought to walk among the people.

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