Hi folks!
I'm trying to come up with some obvious but overlooked hobby & interests that someone might enjoy. They should be limited to the Medieval, Renaissance time periods. Even fantasy interests are welcome.
Games like horse shoes or lawn bowling seem to be well known. But what are some other less well known interests that a farmer, baker or a church-warden might enjoy after their workday? Archery, chess and dancing would be fairly common example as well.
Chess and dancing would be more middle/upper class I suppose. Archery might be for everyone.
For bakers and farmers, perhaps dice games and fist fights, both with betting.
The guy who wrote Orbis Mundi 2 is around here sometimes. You could ask him or buy the book (it's freaking amazing for these kinds of details).
Draughts, better known to us as checkers, might also be an option.
Wrestling. It is pervasive in every culture in all times throughout history.
Cursory Google search for "ancient hobbies" and just looking at the descriptions without clicking every link reveals stuff like: Painting, Chess, Archery, Handicraft (I'm guessing stuff like knitting and cheap jewelry), Backgammon, Pottery, Hunting, Sports (like throwing balls and stuff), Chariot Races (I'm guessing horse racing and running as well), Swimming, Executions (fun times!), Gladiatorial Games (I'm guessing just watching them, but kids probably played with wooden swords and such), Snake Fighting (I'm guessing any type of animal fighting while placing bets), etc.
Quote from: rytrasmi on December 09, 2020, 01:04:22 PM
Chess and dancing would be more middle/upper class I suppose. Archery might be for everyone.
For bakers and farmers, perhaps dice games and fist fights, both with betting.
The guy who wrote Orbis Mundi 2 is around here sometimes. You could ask him or buy the book (it's freaking amazing for these kinds of details).
Whoa...I missed that one. After a quick look I am definitely going to pick it up.
Thanks rytrasmi
Wood Carving. Sure, there is a lot of wood carving that is part of work too, but that also means a lot of people with knives and considerable practice.
Early golf games (for them peasabts/townspeople) got banned because they were "disruptive" and caused Property damaged. basically people wackibg balls everywhere around town of of walls into people's produce.
kind of Calvin ball with the whole medieval village as the playground.
I remember hearing children played Kick The Dwarf, but I think that was from a movie! (5e Kick The Gnome, anyone?) ;D
But I looked and found a pretty interesting site: https://www.historygames.it/en/medieval-board-games/
I'm currently reading it. Pretty cool, eh?
Falconry, dog-fighting, cock-fighting, bear-baiting.
There are some great responses in this thread. Unfortunately I knew about most of them.
But some of you did teach me some new stuff and that was awesome.
I'd never heard of Draughts or some of the other board games I'd found while reading about it.
Was stunned that I'd somehow missed Orbis Mundi 2 and Phalanx Games Design, they have some amazing historical gaming products!
I'm really glad that I asked the question. You guys didn't disappoint.
Game of Graces, Game of Riddles/Couplets, Pageants, Tableaus, Puppets, often with educational religious themes.
I know you weren't looking just for stuff aristocrats did, but my RPGPundit Presents: Medieval-Authentic Aristocracy ( https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/272666/RPGPundit-Presents-74-MedievalAuthentic-Aristocracy (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/272666/RPGPundit-Presents-74-MedievalAuthentic-Aristocracy) ) includes a section on favorite pass-times of the upper classes.
Quote from: RPGPundit on December 15, 2020, 08:44:18 PM
I know you weren't looking just for stuff aristocrats did, but my RPGPundit Presents: Medieval-Authentic Aristocracy ( https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/272666/RPGPundit-Presents-74-MedievalAuthentic-Aristocracy (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/272666/RPGPundit-Presents-74-MedievalAuthentic-Aristocracy) ) includes a section on favorite pass-times of the upper classes.
Thanks. Although it's not what I have been searching for, it's still worth knowing about. And I'm sure other folks will also be interested.