Historical Eras That Might Be Problematic RPG Settings

S. John Ross · September 03, 2006, 03:13:25 PM

Quote from: RPGPunditAnd here we have the reason why Germans make wierd board games about wierd subjects, and not, say, Axis and Allies.

Which, frankly, I think is better for all concerned.

My favorite is still the funny one about the art thieves. There's just something wholesome about a family game where mom, dad, and little sis can fight fiercely for posession of Johnny Weissmuller's loincloth.

And please, no subthreads about whether or not Johnny Weissmuller's loincloth counts as "art," because, man, just sniff it and you'll know.

[Art and collectibles ... AH imported it for a while. Good game.]

RPGPundit · September 03, 2006, 03:48:54 PM

Quote from: SettembriniWow Pundit, Germans are totally not into s/m. It's the english who are.

No, the English are into Sodomy, which is a whole other issue...

RPGPundit

Balbinus · September 03, 2006, 04:07:43 PM

Quote from: RPGPunditNo, the English are into Sodomy, which is a whole other issue...

RPGPundit

We are a civilised people who once managed to rule most of the planet, I assure you we are quite capable of both.

Settembrini · September 03, 2006, 04:08:56 PM

QuoteNo, the English are into Sodomy, which is a whole other issue...

That's what German urban legend attributes the greek with...

HinterWelt · September 03, 2006, 04:13:37 PM

Quote from: Zachary The FirstSo what other historical periods/eras might be tough to do well as an RPG setting?

Mid to southern Africa pre-Europe. This could just be me but I have the toughest time finding reliable research sources on those areas pre-European colonization. It makes it tough to come up with the details. Also, but to a lesser extent, the Americas. Maya, Incan and Aztec aren't so bad but you start getting into Amazon tribes, Moche, Wari, Teotehuatican (sp?) and nroth American tribes and it gets really tough. Don't get me wrong, lots of supposition but not a lot of solid fact.

That said, I think some of it would be fascinating as fictional work.

Bill

Spike · September 03, 2006, 09:27:13 PM

Quote from: HinterWeltMid to southern Africa pre-Europe. This could just be me but I have the toughest time finding reliable research sources on those areas pre-European colonization. It makes it tough to come up with the details. Also, but to a lesser extent, the Americas. Maya, Incan and Aztec aren't so bad but you start getting into Amazon tribes, Moche, Wari, Teotehuatican (sp?) and nroth American tribes and it gets really tough. Don't get me wrong, lots of supposition but not a lot of solid fact.

That said, I think some of it would be fascinating as fictional work.

Bill

Bit of a stretch, but technically Tecumel already handled the pre-america's as a fantasy setting, along with shades of India.

Just a thought.

JamesV · September 03, 2006, 11:05:08 PM

Quote from: SettembriniThat's what German urban legend attributes the greek with...

Come to think of you all you Europeans are huge into the freaky sex.
I'll just stick to fetishizing good old fashioned US violence!

*Loads Machinegun*

Lock and Load.

jhkim · September 04, 2006, 01:20:35 AM

Quote from: HinterWeltMid to southern Africa pre-Europe. This could just be me but I have the toughest time finding reliable research sources on those areas pre-European colonization. It makes it tough to come up with the details. Also, but to a lesser extent, the Americas. Maya, Incan and Aztec aren't so bad but you start getting into Amazon tribes, Moche, Wari, Teotehuatican (sp?) and nroth American tribes and it gets really tough.

Well, the same applies to just about any era with non-literate culture -- though technically they aren't "historical" but rather "pre-historical". The same applies to most of pre-Roman Europe, say, or going further back pre-Shang China.

Whether it's a problem is a matter of taste. Many gamers consider wide room for interpretation to be a positive trait rather than a fault.

I like to do justice to cultures. I ran a game in an alternate history's 1392 Northeatern America (around the Hudson river valley). I felt fine about it from reading various early contact narratives.

flyingmice · September 04, 2006, 07:31:53 AM

The Greek Dark Ages - the time between the fall of the Myceneans and the rise of the clssical Greeks.

-mice

HinterWelt · September 04, 2006, 10:12:15 AM

Quote from: jhkimWell, the same applies to just about any era with non-literate culture -- though technically they aren't "historical" but rather "pre-historical". The same applies to most of pre-Roman Europe, say, or going further back pre-Shang China.

Whether it's a problem is a matter of taste. Many gamers consider wide room for interpretation to be a positive trait rather than a fault.

I like to do justice to cultures. I ran a game in an alternate history's 1392 Northeatern America (around the Hudson river valley). I felt fine about it from reading various early contact narratives.

Oh certainly, I am not saying impossible just problematic. As Zach said, historical eras that would be problematic. To me, research resources are part of the problematic aspect. Go far enough back and you will have problems with reliable historical resources. As you said though, I imagine it is a matter of taste.

The corallary of this is the lack of archaelogical remains in places like the Amazon and Yucatan. Not that there is none but the environment is tough, along with thieves, on the sites. Again, if it does not matter to you than not an issue...however, then it is more fantasy than historical and the thread is about historical settings.

Bill