This is for an upcoming Mage: the Awakening game set in the past. For the purposes of this thread, though, the WoD-oriented/supernatural stuff is mostly irrelevant, I want to focus on the period.

There's quite a few people who like their historical gaming on this site, which is why it seems a good place to raise the topic of this period. What I'm after are good sources (preferably web-based) on the period and any useful summaries to get people into it quickly. A number of my fellow players already have an interest and of course there's films like Last of the Mohicans and Brotherhood of the Wolf which are in the right ballpark.

Note the choice of 1750s, not 1770s is deliberate, we're trying to avoid having the mundane context being dominated by the Revolutionary War (which being non-Americans has no special resonance for us). Yes, some of the themes and issues are driven by this, but it's a generation before.

I'm guessing it might be around New England or Virginia, but that's just a guess. That's something still to be discussed, we might be in New France or something (though one player has already expressed an interest in being English).

This is a pretty good online historical source.

Now, I'd like to advocate piracy and smuggling, Virginia and Rhode Island both being notorious havens for these kind of extralegal activities during that time period.

Oh man, great timing! I just picked up my copy of Colonial Gothic 2nd Edition, which takes place in the 1770s, but has so much good stuff in it.

Well, you have the French & Indian War starting in 1754, and if you're in Virginia, a young George Washington is active as a colonial officer in the opening stages of the war.

Another item to consider is that most Americans at that time were at least fairly content under British rule. There's not much dissent, or any more than the faint stirrings of what was to come in terms of the Revolution (which really didn't start firing up until 1763 and later). Franklin does propose during this time that the colonies unite in some manner, but is pretty much blown off.

Ah, Franklin! Let's see...Ben Franklin is in in his mid-40s, and in 1754 was a delegate to the Albany Congress, which was working to intercede with England for favorable trade and military assistance. You only have him until about 1757, when he's shipped off as a diplomat to England.

There's very little population west of the Appalachians, of course, and it's French territory, anyway. You do have American/English settlers really starting to push back, which is one of the big things that leads to conflict on the frontier.

If you're dealing with Indians, just remember the British were allied with the Iroquois and Cherokee (for awhile), whereas the French's main allies were the Shawnee, some of the Delawares, Algonquin, Chippewa, and the formidable Shawnee.

Anyhow, that's just a few events/tidbits. I'll try to come up with more soon.

Quote from: Zachary The First;608786Oh man, great timing! I just picked up my copy of Colonial Gothic 2nd Edition, which takes place in the 1770s, but has so much good stuff in it.

(...)

I own the previous edition and most of the supplements. I know the OP is looking for online resources but the French & Indian War and New France books might be worth checking out for a 1750s game.

Quote from: HombreLoboDomesticado;608801I own the previous edition and most of the supplements. I know the OP is looking for online resources but the French & Indian War and New France books might be worth checking out for a 1750s game.

I was thinking the same thing. Much in both would still apply.

Others have pointed out that the French and Indian war was being fought at the time.  Since you specified that you and your group are not Americans, I wanted to point out that it is known as the Seven Years War in most of the rest of the world.  It's really possible to make the argument that it was the first 'World War'.  There was fighting on five continents, so pretty global in scope.  

Since the primary conflict in the Americas was between the French and English, it's very possible that you'll end up with some of the same themes if you set in that period.  

It's worth noting that the 'frontier' during this time was pretty clearly defined.  It wasn't until the 1770s that Boone opened up settlement beyond the Applachians.  The easiest way to get to the interior was along the Mississippi (all French territory).  

I don't really have any sources that I can point you to at the moment, but if you're looking to avoid any conflicts, you might want to look at the 1790s.  The Revolution is over, and people are really engaging with the frontier.  That'd be prior to the Louisiana Purchase...  I think historically it'd hit most of what you're looking for while maintaining historical accuracy.

Even though it is primarily set in the revolutionary war Colonial gothic has a lot of mateeial you could use. They have supps for specific colonies, a book on the french indian war and the core book has a lot of well researched info.

Quote from: jeff37923;608785This is a pretty good online historical source.

Now, I'd like to advocate piracy and smuggling, Virginia and Rhode Island both being notorious havens for these kind of extralegal activities during that time period.

It seems rather, um, pirate-centric. Though some of the other links have date-listings of various bits and pieces.

Quote from: Zachary The First;608786Oh man, great timing! I just picked up my copy of Colonial Gothic 2nd Edition, which takes place in the 1770s, but has so much good stuff in it.

Well, you have the French & Indian War starting in 1754, and if you're in Virginia, a young George Washington is active as a colonial officer in the opening stages of the war.

Another item to consider is that most Americans at that time were at least fairly content under British rule. There's not much dissent, or any more than the faint stirrings of what was to come in terms of the Revolution (which really didn't start firing up until 1763 and later). Franklin does propose during this time that the colonies unite in some manner, but is pretty much blown off.

Ah, Franklin! Let's see...Ben Franklin is in in his mid-40s, and in 1754 was a delegate to the Albany Congress, which was working to intercede with England for favorable trade and military assistance. You only have him until about 1757, when he's shipped off as a diplomat to England.

There's very little population west of the Appalachians, of course, and it's French territory, anyway. You do have American/English settlers really starting to push back, which is one of the big things that leads to conflict on the frontier.

If you're dealing with Indians, just remember the British were allied with the Iroquois and Cherokee (for awhile), whereas the French's main allies were the Shawnee, some of the Delawares, Algonquin, Chippewa, and the formidable Shawnee.

Anyhow, that's just a few events/tidbits. I'll try to come up with more soon.

Some good starting points, particularly the latter parts about the European alliances with natives.

I don't know how my group in general will want to approach the likes of Franklin and Washington, that's for discussion.

Quote from: HombreLoboDomesticado;608801I own the previous edition and most of the supplements. I know the OP is looking for online resources but the French & Indian War and New France books might be worth checking out for a 1750s game.

Hmmm, those two supplements do sound pretty ideal. How much is system-specific stuff (which will be irrelevant to us, given we're not playing Colonial Gothic) and how much is game-able historical info?

Quote from: deadDMwalking;608821Others have pointed out that the French and Indian war was being fought at the time.  Since you specified that you and your group are not Americans, I wanted to point out that it is known as the Seven Years War in most of the rest of the world.  It's really possible to make the argument that it was the first 'World War'.  There was fighting on five continents, so pretty global in scope.  

Since the primary conflict in the Americas was between the French and English, it's very possible that you'll end up with some of the same themes if you set in that period.  

It's worth noting that the 'frontier' during this time was pretty clearly defined.  It wasn't until the 1770s that Boone opened up settlement beyond the Applachians.  The easiest way to get to the interior was along the Mississippi (all French territory).  

I don't really have any sources that I can point you to at the moment, but if you're looking to avoid any conflicts, you might want to look at the 1790s.  The Revolution is over, and people are really engaging with the frontier.  That'd be prior to the Louisiana Purchase...  I think historically it'd hit most of what you're looking for while maintaining historical accuracy.

To be clear, we're not trying to avoid conflict, just avoiding making the Revolution the centrepiece of the backdrop.

Useful point about the relative fixed-ness of the frontier in those days.

Quote from: BedrockBrendan;608886Even though it is primarily set in the revolutionary war Colonial gothic has a lot of mateeial you could use. They have supps for specific colonies, a book on the french indian war and the core book has a lot of well researched info.

As above, how much mileage might we get out of the French & Indian War, and New France books?

Quote from: Kiero;608900As above, how much mileage might we get out of the French & Indian War, and New France books?

Colonial Gothic stuff tends to stand on its own in terms of giving backdrop and flavor. There is stuff there if you are using CG as your system, but you can easily bring it into any game. The major selling point of the line IMO is the setting material and how well researched/presented it is.

Here is a review of the French and Indian War that gives a bit more detail on the content:

http://roleplayerschronicle.com/?p=29320

Quote from: Zachary The First;608786If you're dealing with Indians, just remember the British were allied with the Iroquois and Cherokee (for awhile), whereas the French's main allies were the Shawnee, some of the Delawares, Algonquin, Chippewa, and the formidable Shawnee.

Didn't you mean to include the Huron in there?  The St Lawrence tribes too?

I suggest reading some Leatherstocking tales by James Fennimore Cooper and/or Northwest Passage by Kenneth Roberts.

Quote from: BillDowns;608911Didn't you mean to include the Huron in there?  The St Lawrence tribes too?

I suggest reading some Leatherstocking tales by James Fennimore Cooper and/or Northwest Passage by Kenneth Roberts.

Certainly it isn't an exhaustive list; yes, the Wyandot (Huron) would be in there as well!

Quote from: Kiero;608900(...)Hmmm, those two supplements do sound pretty ideal. How much is system-specific stuff (which will be irrelevant to us, given we're not playing Colonial Gothic) and how much is game-able historical info?

(...)As above, how much mileage might we get out of the French & Indian War, and New France books?

IIRC there's not much in those two books in terms of rules. Off the top of my head I think French & Indian War has rules for forts and group battles and New France has rules for dueling. Apart from those it's mostly historical setting info. Rogue Games' Richard is also a member of these forums so perhaps he might chime in for some more detail.

Precis Intermedia did a supplement to their Coyote Trail western game that deals with the colonial period. It's titled Colonial Record. RPGPundit did a review of it on this site. This does seem to contain a bit more system-related stuff, though.

Lots of people are probably eagerly awaiting the release of material for the Colonial Lovecraft Country campaign setting from Sixtystone Press.

For getting a handle on colonial cultures Albion's Seed is a big door stopper of a book but it's a really really good point by point cultural analysis of the four main colonial cultures in what became the USA. It's provides a mountain of information and a lot of statistics but the author does a good job of making it readable. For example in the chapter on New England naming practices the court case that resulted from Goodman Woodman knocking up a girl named Fly Fornication is used as an example.

Quote from: Zachary The First;608786Oh man, great timing! I just picked up my copy of Colonial Gothic 2nd Edition, which takes place in the 1770s, but has so much good stuff in it.

I was actually thinking of that RPG when I read the thread title.  I don't suppose you've played that yet?

Quote from: flyerfan1991;609923I was actually thinking of that RPG when I read the thread title.  I don't suppose you've played that yet?

I haven't run 2nd Edition, but I have played Colonial Gothic before. Since the 2nd edition is still the same rules as the first, with only minor tweaks, it's all still backwards compatible. Uses the Rogue Games 12° system. I rather enjoyed it, though the cleanup definitely makes it easier to follow and use, I'm imagining.