Since I have the pleasure of the company of so many professional and amateur historians on this site, I wanted to bring up a topic I've been thinking about for a bit. We've already discussed elsewhere what eras of human history you'd like to see in RPG setting form, but what about those that would be hard to do, or difficult to give a good feel for?
I think, first and foremost, there's the Holocaust. Doing any sort of playable setting for this would run into a lot of problems. I seem to recall some Scandanavian person came up with some thematic game on it at some point, but I know nothing else about it.
Now this one is weird, but I always thought it might be fun to set a game during the Tulip Mania of Holland of the 17th century. Of course, it has grown in the popular retelling, but I think it would make a fantastic beer n' pretzels game, but how to go about it I have no idea?
So what other historical periods/eras might be tough to do well as an RPG setting?
Quote from: Zachary The FirstNow this one is weird, but I always thought it might be fun to set a game during the Tulip Mania of Holland of the 17th century. Of course, it has grown in the popular retelling, but I think it would make a fantastic beer n' pretzels game, but how to go about it I have no idea?
I'm unfortunately stumped at the moment, and I think I am because if you dig deep enough into any era, you are likely to find the types of conflicts fun adventures can be made out of.
I also want to say that Tulip Mania could make a great board or card game.
Quote from: JamesVI also want to say that Tulip Mania could make a great board or card game.
Seconded. :)
Second World War.
EDIT Crap, this post was off-topic. :( I didn't mean to say it would be tough to do pirates, but I was looking for input. Putting it into a new thread now.
Quote from: SettembriniSecond World War.
That's a bold statement!
I gotta head for work, so I won't be able to respond, but I'd love to see what doesn't work for you re: WWII.
The moral and political implications. Especially when playing germans, but playing allies is also strange thing for a german to do. So it's basically a catch-22.
Quote from: JamesVI'm unfortunately stumped at the moment, and I think I am because if you dig deep enough into any era, you are likely to find the types of conflicts fun adventures can be made out of.
Tulip Mania was a time of much turmoil. Turmoil is action. Action is adventure. Although it might not be iconic, basically it was a high stakes gambling.
A time when relatively huge wealth is changing hands is going to be rife with opportunities and intrigue. You'll have swindlers, and thieves, and other skulldugery along with social climbing new money. Ok, so they're bunch Dutch farmers and that doesn't strike much excitement into one's heart normally. :) But these are rich Dutch farmers gambling a lifetime's fortune or more.
Quote from: JamesVI also want to say that Tulip Mania could make a great board or card game.
Damn right! Settembrini, get off your ass and start talking to your fellow germans! You guys are the masters of making wierd board games about bizzare subjects; this time, you get to do that and
mock the dutch at the same time.
Congrats.
RPGPundit
Quote from: SettembriniThe moral and political implications. Especially when playing germans, but playing allies is also strange thing for a german to do. So it's basically a catch-22.
And 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.
RPGPundit
The subjects/themes for german games are oftentimes added afterwards, way after testing the mechanic to death.
That's just nuts. But what else could you expect from the Land where Marzipan is considered a tasty treat and everyone is secretly involved in filming wierd leather fetish videos?
:germany: :spank:
RPGPundit
Wow Pundit, Germans are totally not into s/m. It's the english who are. But you're right with the Marzipan.
I heard Edmontonians like stale beer, for whaterver masochistic reasons...
Quote from: SettembriniWow Pundit, Germans are totally not into s/m. It's the english who are. But you're right with the Marzipan.
I heard Edmontonians like stale beer, for whaterver masochistic reasons...
Indeed, why do you think WFRP is so popular here in Britain?
Quote from: BalbinusIndeed, why do you think WFRP is so popular here in Britain?
Oh, well played! :killingme:
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.]
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
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.
QuoteNo, the English are into Sodomy, which is a whole other issue...
That's what German urban legend attributes the greek with...
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
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.
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.
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.
The Greek Dark Ages - the time between the fall of the Myceneans and the rise of the clssical Greeks.
-mice
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