1 - Warlord of Lemuria
- Great Old One
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Movie inspirations for Bol/Everywhen S&S
Anything Ray Harryhausen for the most part, especially the Sinbad movies.
Sadko (1952) [NOT the Roger Corman Sinbad version]
Finist, The Brave Falcon (1976)
Sampo (1959)
Prague Nights (1969)
The Pied Piper (1986)
Ilya Muromets (Ruslan and Ludmila) 1956
Jack the Giant Killer (1962)
Aladdin and His Magic Lamp (1967)
Old Khottabych (1956)
The Thief of Baghdad (1924 or 1940)
Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka (1961)
This is not an exhaustive list, yet each film is a gem with a lot of potential for plot hooks and adventure ideas. While few are BoL themed, all are fantasy with an element of creepiness that can easily be brought into your game and many can be found here and there for free to watch.
I am the one who writes for old school D&D, yet BoL and Everywhen are pretty cool too.
- Otto Harkaman
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Re: Movie inspirations for Bol/Everywhen S&S
Best Shaw Brothers Films for BoL Mythic Inspiration
Five Deadly Venoms (1978)
A mystery-laden martial arts tale featuring five warriors, each with a unique, animal-themed fighting style. Espionage, betrayal, and deadly duels—great for plotting campaigns around rival clans or hunting legendary masters.
Wikipedia
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)
A transformative journey of training and revenge. Ideal for character arcs involving mastering ancient martial secrets or infiltrating secretive temples.
Collider, Wikipedia
The One-Armed Swordsman (1967)
A classic anti-hero tale of vengeance and sacrifice—perfect for characters with physical limitations but strong resolve, turning disability into strength.
Screen Rant, MovieWeb
The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter (1984)
A harrowing revenge saga with iconic weapon-based combat. Great for crafting quests of familial loyalty, missing heirs, or martial redemption.
Collider
Legendary Weapons of China (1982)
Featuring extravagant weaponry and deadly techniques, this one’s built for forging powerful artifacts, legendary blades, or invoking duels of fate.
MovieWeb
Crippled Avengers (1978)
A story of vengeance, empowerment, and overcoming physical limitations—packed with cinematic flair that works beautifully for underdog campaign arcs.
Arrow Films
The Flying Guillotine (1975)
A lethal weapon-based thriller that’s dramatic, brutal, and instantly memorable—ideal for tension-filled assassination plots or dark imperial intrigue.
MovieWeb
1. Sword & Sorcery with Exotic Locales
These films feature mystical lands, ancient kingdoms, and magic — perfect for BoL's pulp fantasy tone.
- Bastard Swordsman (1983) – Weird martial arts meets sorcery; a hero learns the Spider Technique from a secret master.
- Holy Flame of the Martial World (1983) – Colorful, over-the-top magic duels, magical relics, and family revenge plots.
- Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983) (not Shaw Brothers, but close in style) – Demon lords, enchanted swords, and god-like mentors.
- The Magic Blade (1976) – Wandering swordsman confronts assassins, sorcerers, and bizarre duels.
2. Clan Warfare & Political Intrigue
Use for city-states, rival mercenary bands, or warring cults in BoL.
- Clan of the White Lotus (1980) – Political assassination, mystical martial arts, and vendetta-driven plots.
- The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978) – Training montages, martial philosophy, and gradual mastery of new abilities.
- Shaolin Intruders (1983) – Complex investigation into a monastery attack; martial trials as skill challenges.
3. Grim, Bloody Swordplay
Perfect for gritty, low-magic BoL campaigns with more brutal combat.
- The Boxer from Shantung (1972) – Rise-and-fall story of a street fighter; excellent for an urban underworld setting.
- Five Fingers of Death (1972) – Merciless rival schools, dangerous wandering masters, and revenge arcs.
- Avenging Eagle (1978) – Assassins turned wanderers, haunted by their past allegiances.
- Killer Clans (1976) – Intrigue-heavy with sudden betrayals and poetic duels.
4. Weird Fantasy & Mythic Questing
For campaigns heavy on strange magic and otherworldly villains.
- Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber (1978) – Magical artifacts, prophecies, and an epic quest across kingdoms.
- Bells of Death (1968) – Folk-hero revenge quest through dangerous countryside.
- Journey of the Doomed (1985) – Escort mission full of ambushes, treachery, and supernatural threats.
- Legendary Weapons of China (1982) – Eccentric martial masters with unique, almost “magical” weapons.
Last edited by Otto Harkaman (8/10/2025 3:30 am)
- Warlord of Lemuria
- Great Old One
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Re: Movie inspirations for Bol/Everywhen S&S
I have not seen everything on your list, yet the few that I have caught are gems.
I am the one who writes for old school D&D, yet BoL and Everywhen are pretty cool too.
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Thread Starter- Warlord of Lemuria
- Great Old One
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Re: Movie inspirations for Bol/Everywhen S&S
One of the movies I mentioned above, Ilya Muromets, is a Russian movie that has some great examples of fighting against rabble and how the bad guys can use rabble.
I am the one who writes for old school D&D, yet BoL and Everywhen are pretty cool too.
- •
Thread Starter- Otto Harkaman
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Re: Movie inspirations for Bol/Everywhen S&S
Italian peplum films (the sword-and-sandals epics from the late 1950s through the mid-1960s) are perfect for a Barbarians of Lemuria – Mythic Edition campaign. They’re full of demi-gods, musclebound heroes, sorcerers, treacherous queens, and lost kingdoms — basically exactly the kind of pulp fantasy energy BoL thrives on. Here’s a selection of standout peplum movies to mine for adventures:
1. Hercules (1958)
Hero: Steve Reeves as Hercules.
Inspiration: Mythic quests, divine meddling, political intrigue in ancient city-states.
BoL Hooks: Strength Feats, legendary beasts (Nemean Lion, Hydra), magical relics.
2. Hercules Unchained (1959)
Hero: Steve Reeves again.
Inspiration: Memory loss plot, rival kingdoms, femme fatales like Queen Omphale.
BoL Hooks: Amnesia as a plot device, magical mind-control, decadent evil courts.
3. The Giant of Marathon (1959)
Hero: Olympic athlete turned war hero.
Inspiration: Spartans meets naval warfare.
BoL Hooks: Siege warfare scenarios, ship-to-ship battles, secret betrayals.
4. The Trojan Horse (1961)
Hero: Steve Reeves as Aeneas.
Inspiration: Trojan War aftermath, cursed survivors, founding new kingdoms.
BoL Hooks: Epic migrations, cursed relics of Troy, vengeful gods.
5. Hercules in the Haunted World (1961) – Directed by Mario Bava
Hero: Reg Park as Hercules.
Inspiration: Journey into the underworld to rescue a princess.
BoL Hooks: Netherworld realms, undead guardians, necromantic sorcerers.
6. Goliath and the Vampires (1961)
Hero: Gordon Scott as Goliath.
Inspiration: Vampire-like overlord ruling a village.
BoL Hooks: Gothic horror in a sword-and-sandals setting, mind-controlled minions.
7. The Fury of Hercules (1962)
Hero: Brad Harris as Hercules.
Inspiration: Tyrant-toppling revolution.
BoL Hooks: Urban rebellion, gladiatorial combat, corrupt high priests.
8. Maciste in the Valley of the Kings (1960)
Hero: Maciste in ancient Egypt.
Inspiration: Curses, mummies, tomb exploration.
BoL Hooks: Pyramid dungeons, undead guardians, stolen god-statues.
9. Samson and the Seven Miracles of the World (1961)
Hero: Gordon Scott as Samson.
Inspiration: Set in ancient China with supernatural feats.
BoL Hooks: Cultural mash-up, magical martial arts, mystical artifacts.
10. Colossus of the Stone Age (1962)
Hero: Caveman epic.
Inspiration: Prehistoric warfare with fantasy elements.
BoL Hooks: Primitive magic, tribal politics, beast-ridden lands.
Last edited by Otto Harkaman (8/10/2025 3:32 am)
- Warlord of Lemuria
- Great Old One
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Re: Movie inspirations for Bol/Everywhen S&S
That is a comprehensive list. Most of those are on Tubi, although sometimes the hero's name changes. Those are mostly all fun movies too.
I am the one who writes for old school D&D, yet BoL and Everywhen are pretty cool too.
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Thread Starter- Otto Harkaman
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Re: Movie inspirations for Bol/Everywhen S&S
Was thinking what a BoL campaign during the time of the Diadochi might be and then I remembered Peplum movies. I think the AI starts making its own modifications to the rules? I had asked it about Andre Norton's Witch World awhile back in the thread I am using and it keeps wanting to sneak in corruption, that isn't part of the rules?
Oh now I understand your suggestion with rabble, slowly learning the rules. I just got caught up trying to understand the magic.
Last edited by Otto Harkaman (8/09/2025 7:12 pm)
- Warlord of Lemuria
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Re: Movie inspirations for Bol/Everywhen S&S
Yes, I tried to AI an outline of a magic system for a MUD I have enjoyed and it tried to sneak in things from other games so I gave up and I am just writing it out.
I am the one who writes for old school D&D, yet BoL and Everywhen are pretty cool too.
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Thread Starter- Gruntfuttock
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Re: Movie inspirations for Bol/Everywhen S&S
I agree that the peplum films are spot on, as is Harryhausen of course. I used some ideas from 'Hercules Unchained' in my 'Warlords of Atlantis' campaign, and Harryhausen pops up everywhere as inspiration. As does Caroline Munro!
As well as sword & sorcery films, many straight historical flicks have useful things to steal - evil plots, great ideas for ambushes, and unusual tactics. 'Centurion' is a great example of a survive behind enemy lines plot and can be lifted as a game session just as it is - it doesn't have to be about Roman soldiers in Northern Britain, and you can add magic if you want to. 'Beowulf and Grendel' is a different take on the old poem and has great visuals.
And both 'Romeo & Juliet' and 'The Magnificent Seven/Seven Samurai' have been stolen and reskinned for fantasy games so many times Will Shakespear and Akira Kurosawa should have taken out lawsuits!
Last edited by Gruntfuttock (8/10/2025 10:19 am)
My real name is Steve Hall
- Otto Harkaman
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Re: Movie inspirations for Bol/Everywhen S&S
Red Sonja