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Which would you rather run: desert or tundra adventures?

Started by Shipyard Locked, May 17, 2015, 07:14:54 PM

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Shipyard Locked

May 17, 2015, 07:14:54 PM
Desert or tundra - which environment would you rather run several adventures in and why?

Gaea Games

#1
May 17, 2015, 07:19:51 PM
It depends on the game and setting, really. With supernatural or fantastical elements, either one takes on a whole new context. They both offer survival scenarios that could be interesting, and both traditionally have unique folklore elements attached to them.

If I was going to pick one relevant to my interests (say one I'm going to use for my game), probably desert, because we have those relatively close by in Arizona and such. They offer interesting survival challenges. They're a little more relatable to the people I know because of our location, but for others, tundra may fill that role instead.
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Ronin

#2
May 17, 2015, 07:29:47 PM
I would like to run something like Ylaruam, or Al-Qadim. I think it would be exotic and different. But alas I dont think it would interest any of my players. Tundra I could totally get behind. A mish mash of Norse, Laplander, and Rus flavor all mixed together would be awesome.
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The Butcher

#3
May 17, 2015, 07:54:40 PM
Why choose?

To me it's usually less about wilderness terrain and more about human cultures.

Both environments have given rise to fascinating human populations. Vikings or Arabs? Inuit or Bedouins? Both. All. And let's throw in some Romans too while we're at it. :D

Spinachcat

#4
May 17, 2015, 07:59:01 PM
I have run both. My Norse myth / Rifts / Mechanoids RPG takes place in a sector of space filled with icy planets. It's Space Vikings vs. Death Robots!

Of course, desert RPGing like Dark Sun and Al-Qadim is great fun.

Shipyard Locked

#5
May 17, 2015, 08:06:38 PM
Quote from: The Butcher;832103Why choose?

Because it can be interesting and revealing when a hypothetical choice is forced.

cranebump

#6
May 17, 2015, 08:10:48 PM
Tundra. 'Cause I always seem to find a way to freeze characters somewhere in a campaign.:-)
"When devils will the blackest sins put on, they do suggest at first with heavenly shows..."

Aos

#7
May 17, 2015, 08:31:34 PM
I'm writing and illustrating a PA Ice Age thing for B/X right now, but I am going to do a desert thing next. So... Both?
You are posting in a troll thread.

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jeff37923

#8
May 17, 2015, 09:00:28 PM
Quote from: Shipyard Locked;832095Desert or tundra - which environment would you rather run several adventures in and why?

If you don't have to worry about the gravity, atmosphere, local magnetic field, or radiation then the environment just isn't hostile enough.
"Meh."

Bren

#9
May 17, 2015, 11:23:28 PM
Desert. I'm a sucker for Bedouins and the French Foreign Legion.
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Simlasa

#10
May 18, 2015, 12:40:50 AM
Tundra... because I live in a desert so tundra is the exotic 'other'.

S'mon

#11
May 18, 2015, 02:46:30 AM
I'm probably more comfortable with Tundra - I have limited real-life experience with deserts, just a road trip to New Mexico, whereas I feel I know cold weather well - I have plenty of experience with cold moorland, though not permafrost tundra.
I don't think I'm very good at making deserts seem real/interesting.

Generally my favourite terrains are seacoasts, hills and forests. Normally I run northern-European fantasy (Forgotten Realms Loudwater, Mystara Karameikos) but I'm enjoying my Wilderlands game set in a kind of Arcadian Greece with a subtropical climate.

nDervish

#12
May 18, 2015, 06:18:55 AM
Quote from: Gaea Games;832096If I was going to pick one relevant to my interests (say one I'm going to use for my game), probably desert, because we have those relatively close by in Arizona and such. They offer interesting survival challenges. They're a little more relatable to the people I know because of our location, but for others, tundra may fill that role instead.

Same choice, opposite reason.  I grew up with snow as far as the eye can see for months at a time, 40-below weather, etc.  It's annoying and presents challenges if you can't just step inside to warm up, but it's also familiar enough to be boring.

Ravenswing

#13
May 18, 2015, 05:46:16 PM
Tundra.  I'm a New Englander: I understand cold.  I can bring verisimilitude to a tundra adventure that I couldn't to a desert one.
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Christopher Brady

#14
May 18, 2015, 11:29:26 PM
I don't get why this is a choice.  They're both the same, both are barren lands, where life has a hard time getting a grip on.  They're both desserts, just at opposite temperature extremes.

Wait, this was a trick question wasn't it?
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