Quote from: JimBobOzI was actually going to write a sourcebook for d4-d4 on China in the warlord period... but the task was just too big, and the writer too ignorant...

Since when has that ever stopped a RPG writer? :haw:

In all seriousness, I once had a correspondence with S. John Ross concerning the writing GURPS: Russia and similar projects.  Prior to beginning the project, he was no expert on Russian culture, history, or politics, but he took his job seriously, did his research professionally, and put out a solid product.  Professional authors do this sort of thing all the time, admittedly with varying degrees of success.

!i!

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaProfessional authors do this sort of thing all the time, admittedly with varying degrees of success.

I'd rather have a professional author with no prior knowledge, than a Russian Lit college major fumbling his way around to create Prestige Classes from "Crime and Punishment"...

The fact is that China is a culture which is alien to me. Any particular European culture, there's a common background to the countries. There's all this shared understanding and ideas and archetypes which you don't even realise are there - until you go look at a completely different one. It's like how English is easier for Germans to learn than for Koreans to learn - one has common roots, the others don't.

That's not to say that people can't do it, obviously they can because they do. My girlfriend recently took a Japanese exam (ikyu), and afterwards saw the tabulated results - not only is she an Aussie doing it, but there were people from across Europe, Russia, China, India, Kazakhstan, Uruguay, Pakistan, Kenya, everywhere. I'm sure the same is true for every combination of languages you care to think of. So all across the world there are people learning very different languages and cultures, and doing it at a very high standard.

But that takes brains I don't really have.

Also, as I said, the thing with China is that it's just so big. Writing about "China" as though it's just one country and culture is like writing about "Europe" as though it is - both are slowly becoming so now, but there's a lot of history where there were there were hundreds of different cultures and languages.

I think probably the best thing you can do in writing or roleplaying in a big setting like this is to keep it focused on a relatively small spot - like Shanghai And that's what Caudex has begun doing, it seems. And really that was the other thing that stopped me - I'm not going to write a piece when there are so many other people who could do it much, much better than me. I'll focus on stuff I know I can do well, and others can do the same.

This is a tangent to the original thread, for which I apologise, I just meant to say in passing that this is a great setting which I wish I knew more about. As I've said before, I need David R to come and GM me

Wow, I didn't think that many people would be interested in it!
I'm open to requests if there's anything in particular people would like to see.

Quote from: CaudexWow, I didn't think that many people would be interested in it!
I'm open to requests if there's anything in particular people would like to see.

Real life Personalities

Customs/Culture

Urban Legends

Law Enforcement/Gangs

Interesting landmarks

Maps

Photographs

....hey you asked

Regards,
David R

Shops would be good. The way things are sold, and what's sold, are very characteristic of each culture. Just look at the great suburban shopping malls of the US and Australia, or the bustling markets of Thailand, or the small specialty shops of France and Italy... So telling us about the shops helps really give us a feel for the culture of the place and time.

Plus, every gamer likes equipment lists

Very interesting

http://www.haruth.com/house_of_rachel.htm

Regards,
David R

Quote from: David RReal life Personalities

Customs/Culture

Urban Legends

All good ideas, I'm working on that.

QuoteLaw Enforcement/Gangs

I've got an article on the cops, but I need to tidy it up a bit first.
As for gangs, apart from the Green Gang, the Red Gang were basically much the same but smaller and less competent (Shanghai wasn't their main stomping ground anyway). Due to being less famous, there's not as much written about them, but I'll see what I can find.

One of my books (hopefully one I have with me) had a good description of various street gangs and their activities (e.g. gangs who would "help" you push your cart over a bridge whether you wanted them to or not, and then demand payment for it). I'll see if I can find that again.

QuoteMaps

Photographs

I've added a fairly decent map of the International Settlement, and some photos I took a couple of years ago. I've got a really good map of the whole city that I'll put up soon, along with period photos.

Just to let you know guys, I've moved to a wiki-type thing which makes it easier to organise stuff, and added a bunch of pieces which I think should cover what you've mentioned, at least partially.

As ever, of course, there is more to come. It definitely needs more pictures, for a start.

Incidentally, if anyone can think of a more eye-catching and descriptive title for "Out in the streets", which talks about common roadside shops, restaurants and so on, I'd be very grateful.

Quote from: CaudexJust to let you know guys, I've moved to a wiki-type thing which makes it easier to organise stuff, and added a bunch of pieces which I think should cover what you've mentioned, at least partially.

As ever, of course, there is more to come. It definitely needs more pictures, for a start.

Incidentally, if anyone can think of a more eye-catching and descriptive title for "Out in the streets", which talks about common roadside shops, restaurants and so on, I'd be very grateful.

WOW!  Great site, Caudex!  As a pulp GM and gamer I salute you!  

As for the section on shops and restaurants how about "Out on the Town", although that might imply bars, cabarets, clubs, etc?  Maybe just "The City Streets"?


TGA

Quote from: CaudexJust to let you know guys, I've moved to a wiki-type thing which makes it easier to organise stuff, and added a bunch of pieces which I think should cover what you've mentioned, at least partially.

Oooooh!  Happy happy!  :keke:   I think I need to find an excuse (and time slot) to run a game there ASAP!