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Mythic Babylon
In the year 1765 BC, King Zimri-Lim of Mari emerged from a planning session with his aides and summoned his personal scribe. As he paced the courtyard in his palace in the city of Tuttul, he dictated a letter to the scribe, who used the cut end of a reed to press the message into a warm clay tablet. That letter, which was to be sent within the hour by speedy messenger, said:
"To my wife, Šibtu, thus says Zimri-Lim: Ask the oracles in Mari questions about Hammurabi of Babylon. Will this man ever die? Does he speak with honesty? Will he bring war? Will he besiege my cities in Suhum while I campaign up north in Apum? Question the oracles, and when you have done so, do it again, and write to me with the answers."
Some days later, the Queen of Mari replied:
"I have asked the questions about Babylon; here is what I've learned. The Man of Babylon is sowing many seeds against this kingdom, but they will not bear fruit. Instead, you will overpower him and capture him. Then you'll see what the God will do to him. His days will soon be at an end. This you should know."
Reassured, King Zimri-Lim organised his troops for departure to the district of Apum. He planned to give battle to the adventurer Atamrum, puppet of the Elamites, who was besieging his allies in the north.
What is Mythic Babylon?
Mythic Babylon is a role-playing supplement for the Mythras game system. It provides everything you need to take your Mythras game back to the 18th century BC and enter a world of cut-throat diplomacy, Machiavellian politics, and ecstatic prophets. Within these covers you'll find information on the society, culture, religion, trade, laws, and beliefs of Old Babylon and the surrounding lands. The setting is presented as a sand-box with a wide-ranging gazetteer of places to explore, each loaded with plot hooks. For those who like to play against the backdrop of history, we provide a timeline of past and near future events. A bestiary and a chapter for game masters rounds out the end of the book.
This book contains everything you need to create adventures in the lands of Sumer, Akkad, and Subartu from the low lying Eden to the Cedar Mountains and even into the Underworld. Follow in the steps of kings like Gilgameš, Kubaba, or Hammurabi in this mythological and historical setting that was nearly 4000 years in the making.
Where is Mythic Babylon?
Mythic Babylon is set in what will later be called Mesopotamia by the Greeks, which means 'The Land Between the Rivers', referring to the Tigris and Euphrates. At the time our book is set, there is no one name for the whole region. Instead, the southern plain is called Sumer and the central plain is called Akkad. Together, these will one day be called Babylonia after the city of Babylon. The northern plain is called Subartu, but will one day come to be called Assyria after the city of Aššur.
This book focuses on Sumer, Akkad, and Subartu. Peripheral regions such as ancient Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Bahrain are given a more cursory treatment.
"To my wife, Šibtu, thus says Zimri-Lim: Ask the oracles in Mari questions about Hammurabi of Babylon. Will this man ever die? Does he speak with honesty? Will he bring war? Will he besiege my cities in Suhum while I campaign up north in Apum? Question the oracles, and when you have done so, do it again, and write to me with the answers."
Some days later, the Queen of Mari replied:
"I have asked the questions about Babylon; here is what I've learned. The Man of Babylon is sowing many seeds against this kingdom, but they will not bear fruit. Instead, you will overpower him and capture him. Then you'll see what the God will do to him. His days will soon be at an end. This you should know."
Reassured, King Zimri-Lim organised his troops for departure to the district of Apum. He planned to give battle to the adventurer Atamrum, puppet of the Elamites, who was besieging his allies in the north.
What is Mythic Babylon?
Mythic Babylon is a role-playing supplement for the Mythras game system. It provides everything you need to take your Mythras game back to the 18th century BC and enter a world of cut-throat diplomacy, Machiavellian politics, and ecstatic prophets. Within these covers you'll find information on the society, culture, religion, trade, laws, and beliefs of Old Babylon and the surrounding lands. The setting is presented as a sand-box with a wide-ranging gazetteer of places to explore, each loaded with plot hooks. For those who like to play against the backdrop of history, we provide a timeline of past and near future events. A bestiary and a chapter for game masters rounds out the end of the book.
This book contains everything you need to create adventures in the lands of Sumer, Akkad, and Subartu from the low lying Eden to the Cedar Mountains and even into the Underworld. Follow in the steps of kings like Gilgameš, Kubaba, or Hammurabi in this mythological and historical setting that was nearly 4000 years in the making.
Where is Mythic Babylon?
Mythic Babylon is set in what will later be called Mesopotamia by the Greeks, which means 'The Land Between the Rivers', referring to the Tigris and Euphrates. At the time our book is set, there is no one name for the whole region. Instead, the southern plain is called Sumer and the central plain is called Akkad. Together, these will one day be called Babylonia after the city of Babylon. The northern plain is called Subartu, but will one day come to be called Assyria after the city of Aššur.
This book focuses on Sumer, Akkad, and Subartu. Peripheral regions such as ancient Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Bahrain are given a more cursory treatment.
- GenresRole Playing Games
322 pages, Hardcover
Published June 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 24, 2025
This was one heavy rpg sourcebook. As with a lot of other historical sourcebooks for rpgs, like the other Mythras mythic books, previous editions of Runequest mythic books and Ars Magica books, it feels more like a university book than something for a game. Which is both a good and a bad thing.
The greatest thing about the book is how well it gives an overview of the area - the geography, the myths, the people, culture and so on. It's a great primer for the place, and loads of neat places and ideas for what to do here. It's a lot of dry text however, so it's best served for someone already interested in running a game in Babylon/Mesopotamia than it being good at selling the setting to new people. (Unless history buffs). And this was what I wanted the book for, so I am really happy about that.
What it does not do too well is the "game" part here. There's some monster stat blocks (but the beast and monster info is way more interesting than the crunch) and some character generation adjustments. And a VERY small section on making your character Babylonian. Not much help avoiding the "modern d&d" character trap here. I might be a bit negative as nothing seems broken or anything, but it doesn't live up to the quality of the rest of the book.
Think the layout and general presentation is neat, the art/art direction feels relevant and text has some breathing space. It's obviously not a glossy book with a massive art budget like the big RPG hitters, but they did very well with the means I am assuming they had.
Overall a great book. Get it for the setting info, don't get it for the crunch. :)
The greatest thing about the book is how well it gives an overview of the area - the geography, the myths, the people, culture and so on. It's a great primer for the place, and loads of neat places and ideas for what to do here. It's a lot of dry text however, so it's best served for someone already interested in running a game in Babylon/Mesopotamia than it being good at selling the setting to new people. (Unless history buffs). And this was what I wanted the book for, so I am really happy about that.
What it does not do too well is the "game" part here. There's some monster stat blocks (but the beast and monster info is way more interesting than the crunch) and some character generation adjustments. And a VERY small section on making your character Babylonian. Not much help avoiding the "modern d&d" character trap here. I might be a bit negative as nothing seems broken or anything, but it doesn't live up to the quality of the rest of the book.
Think the layout and general presentation is neat, the art/art direction feels relevant and text has some breathing space. It's obviously not a glossy book with a massive art budget like the big RPG hitters, but they did very well with the means I am assuming they had.
Overall a great book. Get it for the setting info, don't get it for the crunch. :)
Displaying 1 of 1 review