So, historical RPGs aren't as popular as Fantays or SciFi, to be sure, but I've got a soft spot for them. Here's a list of my ideal historical RPG settings to game in:
1) U.S. Civil War: An extremely underdone period, I've been intermittently working on a game set in the U.S. Civil War where the players are scouts, irregulars, spies, etc. during that time frame. A wonderful time, perfect for treachery, adventure, diplomacy, and the last vestiges of chivalry in a changing world.
2) 3 Kingdoms-era: The best of Chinese history, period.
3) Imperial Rome: Circa Hadrian, I should think, partially because there was no major historian during his reign, which gives you a little more flex room.
4) Republican Rome: The 1st or 2nd Punic War. Rock.
5) Napoleonic: Huge fan of everything from C.S. Forester to the Richard Sharpe novels. Loved GURPS Napoleon, and am currently devouring Flying Mice's In Harm's Way, a RPG of the Napoleonic naval era.
Those are just the ones off the top of my head. Yours?
Quote from: Zachary The FirstSo, historical RPGs aren't as popular as Fantays or SciFi, to be sure, but I've got a soft spot for them. Here's a list of my ideal historical RPG settings to game in:
Yeah, I'd like to see a lot more historical/ alternate history RPGs.
Quote1) U.S. Civil War: An extremely underdone period, I've been intermittently working on a game set in the U.S. Civil War where the players are scouts, irregulars, spies, etc. during that time frame. A wonderful time, perfect for treachery, adventure, diplomacy, and the last vestiges of chivalry in a changing world.
This is on the top of my list, I don't know of an RPG set in this time period. It would kick ass.
Quote5) Napoleonic: Huge fan of everything from C.S. Forester to the Richard Sharpe novels. Loved GURPS Napoleon, and am currently devouring Flying Mice's In Harm's Way, a RPG of the Napoleonic naval era.
This is another one I'd like to see.
I guess it could be folded into a Napoleonic RPG, but I wouldn't mind seeing a book for Latin America's independence wars.
Also, a game for the Age of Discoveries.
I like Age of Sail and Napoleonic the best, as far as historical periods. Followed at a distance by maybe a biblical era.
Note that I personally would be unable to treat any of these eras honestly. I'd have to have like.. demons and stuff added in, probably.
Well, you may want to check out In Harm's Way (http://flyingmice.com/ihw.html), then. I'm not finished reading it yet, but it seems like its gonna be a whole lotta fun. A couple of guys leading a landing party from the HMS Java to sneak attack the Dons' Carribean fort, or go toe-to-toe in ship combat with the godless, monarch-killing crapauds of the French Republic. Or me and a few of my Yankee compatriots sneaking about during the War of 1812, raiding British commerce when we can and trying not to get our butts handed to us by the dread frigate HMS Shannon.
I have to agree on the Napoleonic period. As you can see from my avatar, I love tall-ships. I'm familiar with Sharpe and Hornblower. Can you recommend other works for the period?
Rome is intriguing to me simply because it has tainted so much of our history. Well, and it's Rome! :)
Ancient Egypt has always fascinated me, though I'm far more interested in the politics than in the religions and so many people get it wrong and think that the general populace was involved in all the mummification stuff. There were striations of class that included religions (in other words, you only belonged to certain religious views if you were of certain classes). And religions were businesses, with high-priests being more akin to a CEO than a "minister."
And, of course, Atlantis!
But, my true love is sci-fi, sci-fantasy and sci-opera. :)
Quote from: VellorianI have to agree on the Napoleonic period. As you can see from my avatar, I love tall-ships. I'm familiar with Sharpe and Hornblower. Can you recommend other works for the period?
Check out
Mr. Midshipman Easy and the other naval novels by Captain Frederick Marryat. They were written a mere 15 years after the end of the Napoleonic War, if I recall correctly, and though a little dated, are still excellent. Here's the Project Gutenberg link (http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/6629) for
Mr. Midshipman Easy.
As far as an introduction to the entire period from more of an overall perspective, a cheap start is The Napoleonic Wars: The Rise and Fall of an Empire. (http://www.amazon.com/-Napoleonic-Wars-Rise-/dp/1841768316/sr=1-1/qid=1156956890/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-3211683-2123349?ie=UTF8&s=books)
If you're looking for something a little more in-depth (but much more expensive), there's
The Campaigns of Napoleon, but that's a little bit more military history-oriented, IIRC.
Waterloo: Day of Battle is also a fun read, if you can find it.
Here's my favorite eras:
1: Napoleonic, of course. I can pour over ship plans and talk smoothbore cannon all day. I have shelf loads of books on the period, historical to literature. That's why I wrote In Harm's Way - for love of the period.
2: South American Independence. A follow-up to the Napoleonic period, and I can use the same ruleset.
3: Thirty Years War. A long, brutal war - the first essentially modern conflict. Religious fervor, the Inquisition, heretics, national independence, politics, politics, politics! I use my Book of Jalan ruleset without the magic.
4: The late 17th Century to the American War of Independence, including the English Civil War and the French and Indian Wars in the New World. Cromwell, Richelieu and the Musketeers, Natty Bumpo, Washington, Benedict Arnold, Cornwallis and the Swamp Fox. I use IHW or Jalan, depending on whether it's earlier or later in the period.
5: Elizabethan and early Stuart England. Drake, the Armada, Shakespeare, pirates, early colonies, lots of joy here! I use Book of Jalan.
6: American Civil War and the Old West. 'Nuff said! I use either Sweet Chariot or Coyote Trail.
7: Meiji Japan. Rapid industrialization, the end of the samurai, the solidification of the state and the end of feudalism, the rise of the peasants and lower classes. I use Sweet Chariot or (just recently) Steampunk Musha
Crap. I could go on and on...
-mice
Quote from: VellorianI have to agree on the Napoleonic period. As you can see from my avatar, I love tall-ships. I'm familiar with Sharpe and Hornblower. Can you recommend other works for the period?
For fiction:
The
Aubrey-Maturin series by O'Brien - Naval fiction as great literature. Cross Hornblower with Jane Austen, whose brothers were both Post Captains in the Royal Navy.
The
Alan Lewrie series by Lambdin - Rolicking, satiric, funny, bawdy, and full of action. Cross Flashman with Hornblower.
As Zachary said,
Marryat. From the horse's mouth. He was a midshipman under Cochrane, and rose to be a Post Captain in the Navy. He was as popular a writer in his time as Dickens, invented the modern signal code still used by naval and merchant ships, invented the magazine serial story, and is almost forgotten today.
The
Nathaniel Drinkwater series by Woodman. A well written, well researched series with an appealing hero. The only naval fiction series I know of that ended properly.
For Fact:
History of the American Sailing Navy and the
Search for Speed Under Sail by Chappelle - If you love tall ships, you will glory in this book. More ship plans and elevations than you'd dream of, as Chappelle was the premier Naval historian of his time, and a superb draughtsman. Both books are intensively researched and fascinating.
Jack Aubrey Commands by Lavery - a wonderful overview of the Royal Navy during the period. Indespensable.
I have a three page bibliography at the end of In Harm's Way of books I used in the writing.
-mice
The Age of Colonialism - so much that could be done here on a variety of continents. The possibilities are nearly endless. East India company to the colonies of western Africa and the Spanish rape of the Americas. Quite a large time-frame to cover and loads of cultures to explore.
Crusader Europe/Holy Lands - Hot-bed really, but a nice area for development.
The Rise of the Ottomans - Jannisaries, Southern Europe and the near east...nice.
Aztec/Mayan civilisations - Lots of blood sacrifices, sun worship, pyramids and jungle goodness in a society that thinks its doomed.
That's enough to be getting on with anyhow. :)
hmm, here goes.
1) Imperial rome (Duh) set in the time of Trajan.
2) Republic era Rome during the rule of Sulla.
3) Spainish Civil War - Essentially Star Wars without Lightsabers and blasters.
4) Maya classical - Gods, enemy states, peasants and mytical astrology. Epic stuff.
5) Wari Fuedal state circa 400 BC. South American empire building at its best. A close second for this era would be the Moche who came along a little later but had really cool ritual combat and a trade empire.
6) I am partial to the Han dynasty but am definitely open to Three Kingdoms.
7) Babur, 15th century expansion of Islam through the Punjab and India. A very interesting period with just a touch of magic.
8) Pick a time in Egypt. Most of it is interesting but I would be interested in the Early Pharohs and during Roman rule.
9) Early Greece, circa 500-900 BC. Mix in some Mediteranean trade wars and we have a game.
10) Scandinavian expansion into Russia. Encounters with the natives and exchanges the early mongol tribes.
11) India during the period of man small states around 1200-1500 AD. This had so many different states, cultures and idologies that it would be very interesting to have all the intrigue.
I could go on but those are the big ones.
Bill
Nice list, Bill! All of these sound awesome. Really, the Spanish Civil War should have been on my list, along with the Japan-China War. I just got carried away and never even reached a pre-gunpowder era... :D
Actually, the Spanish Civil War was my direct inspiration for the sample setting in Aquavita. :P
-mice
Quote from: flyingmiceNice list, Bill! All of these sound awesome. Really, the Spanish Civil War should have been on my list, along with the Japan-China War. I just got carried away and never even reached a pre-gunpowder era... :D
Actually, the Spanish Civil War was my direct inspiration for the sample setting in Aquavita. :P
-mice
Hinterwelt does have House of Vega, a supplement for Shades of Earth. It's not straight history, but it is set during the Spanish civil war.
Quote from: flyingmiceNice list, Bill! All of these sound awesome. Really, the Spanish Civil War should have been on my list, along with the Japan-China War. I just got carried away and never even reached a pre-gunpowder era... :D
Actually, the Spanish Civil War was my direct inspiration for the sample setting in Aquavita. :P
-mice
You know, its interesting, here in Spain I really expected to see a lot more about the Spanish Civil War, but it seems largely swept under the rug, even accoutning for the Franco-era whitewashing. You think there'd be a backlash from all that, but not so much. :confused:
Add:
Mayan - I did a Neo-Mayan setting in Sweet Chariot, for sheer love.
Victorian India - awesome cultural conflict there!
Pre-WW2 Anywhere - Flying Boats and Dirigibles! What more need I say?
WW2 itself - Total coolness!
Age of Exploration - Columbus, Magellan, Cabeza de Vaca, Cortez, da Gama, Cabot, Verazanno, and the rest, al the way to Cook. Wonderful opportunity for adventure!
Saga America - A game based on Barry Fells' theories of pre-columbian European settlement of the Americas. Tres cool!
Back when I think of more!
-clash
I'd also like to see some alternate history settings. Right now my mind is too mushy to go into any further detail, though I suspect just mentioning this possibility will drive everyone's creative juices through the roof. :)
America of the 1920's and 1930's.
Also, swashbuckling/age of sail stuff.
Quote from: VellorianI'd also like to see some alternate history settings. Right now my mind is too mushy to go into any further detail, though I suspect just mentioning this possibility will drive everyone's creative juices through the roof. :)
Here's one that I have been toying with:
In 1799, Congress authorized 12 ships of the line to be built, all 74s. Timber, especially the costly and rare curved timbers of precious live oak, was gathered and laid up to cure, and Joahua Humphreys - designer of the 44 gun frigates Constitution, United States, and President - designed a plan for their construction. In reality, the ships were never built. Most of the timber was eventually stolen, and the balance used to construct the 3 74s launched in 1814.
What if the United States had these 12 74s in the water before the War of 1812?
Added: Come to think of it, every time I run a historical game, my players veer off into alt history. Players are good at that, it's what they do best.
-mice
Quote from: flyingmiceNice list, Bill! All of these sound awesome. Really, the Spanish Civil War should have been on my list, along with the Japan-China War. I just got carried away and never even reached a pre-gunpowder era... :D
Actually, the Spanish Civil War was my direct inspiration for the sample setting in Aquavita. :P
-mice
Yeah, Japanese invasion of China in the early 30s! Chinese warlords, the Emperors and some truly fascinating intrigue/adventure potential. There could be a lot of interesting adventures around the Japanese seizure of German assets in China. Alternatively, warlords racing across the countryside while a group of peasants fight for their village's life.
Most excellent.
Bill
Quote from: Zachary The FirstYou know, its interesting, here in Spain I really expected to see a lot more about the Spanish Civil War, but it seems largely swept under the rug, even accoutning for the Franco-era whitewashing. You think there'd be a backlash from all that, but not so much. :confused:
You know, I talked with Jesus and Javier along with some Spanish playtesters and they were all very much "Franco and the Civil War is a sensitive subject to both sides". I can appreciate that but to not talk about it seems...weird.
Bill
Well, not so much a particular period, but an entire region (or more accurately, route) - I'd like to see something detailing the Silk Road, at its height I suppose, with Romans and Chinese traders hearing rumors of each other across half the globe. Alternate reality could come into play here, big-time, as well.
Just something about trekking half way across the known world in search of pepper that gets me all tingly. ;)
Quote from: flyingmiceAdd:
Mayan - I did a Neo-Mayan setting in Sweet Chariot, for sheer love.
Are you planning to watch Apocalypto?
Quote from: WerekoalaWell, not so much a particular period, but an entire region (or more accurately, route) - I'd like to see something detailing the Silk Road, at its height I suppose, with Romans and Chinese traders hearing rumors of each other across half the globe. Alternate reality could come into play here, big-time, as well.
Just something about trekking half way across the known world in search of pepper that gets me all tingly. ;)
Have you seen
Silk Road by Expeditious Retreat Press? They did A Magical Medieval Society, which is a byword for accuracy. I haven't got
Silk Road myself, but this may be for you.
-mice
Quote from: HinterWeltYeah, Japanese invasion of China in the early 30s! Chinese warlords, the Emperors and some truly fascinating intrigue/adventure potential. There could be a lot of interesting adventures around the Japanese seizure of German assets in China. Alternatively, warlords racing across the countryside while a group of peasants fight for their village's life.
Most excellent.
Bill
Yes, Exactly! The puppet Emperor of Manchukuo! Opium dens and tongs in the cities! Corruption, deciet and betrayal everywhere! The Reds and the Koumintang fighting each other as often as they fight the Japanese! - God, there is so much RP potential there!
OH! The Whites vs Reds in Russia in the 1920s! There's a setting ripe for gaming!
-mice
Quote from: JongWKAre you planning to watch Apocalypto?
Umm, no - I don't often watch TV, so I haven't heard about it. What is it and where can I see it?
Thanks!
-mice
QuoteOH! The Whites vs Reds in Russia in the 1920s! There's a setting ripe for gaming!
Including an international invading force in the Krim area. But honestly the goings in this war were very nasty. Very nasty indeed, with no clearly "good" side, to do something about it.
My favorite pick:
Europa 1450ies: Save the Byzantine Bloodline in a world forever changing it's face. Muskets and Pikes, Knights and Cannons. Fall of Constantinople, Rise of the Ottomans, great gaming.
Lot of good suggestions here. I'd personally go for the era of the Diadochoi and successors, from the death of Alexander to the time of Pyrrhus or the 1st Punic War, rather than the height of the Roman Republic or Empire. It was a time of political fragmentation, which allows for a good deal of conflict and intrigue, but also cultural commonality (knowledge of Greek and, say, Aramaic will get you far), plus intellectual ferment with various competing schools of philosophy and cults.
Quote from: SettembriniIncluding an international invading force in the Krim area. But honestly the goings in this war were very nasty. Very nasty indeed, with no clearly "good" side, to do something about it.
Very nasty is a good way of saying it. That means lots of roleplaying opportunities. :D
-mice
QuoteVery nasty is a good way of saying it. That means lots of roleplaying opportunities. :D
At least for me this would be very stark, crass and "serious" roleplaying. I'd have difficulties doing swashbuckling adventure in this setting, but YMMV, of course.
Quote from: SettembriniAt least for me this would be very stark, crass and "serious" roleplaying. I'd have difficulties doing swashbuckling adventure in this setting, but YMMV, of course.
You say that like it's a bad thing! :D
I agree, but that kind of gaming can lead to really intense play. I wouldn't do it as a regular thing - I like swashing my buckle as much as the next guy - but it can be awesome for a short run.
-mice
Quote from: flyingmiceUmm, no - I don't often watch TV, so I haven't heard about it. What is it and where can I see it?
Thanks!
-mice
From RottenTomatoes.com (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/apocalypto/):
(http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/gallery/1159012/photo_01_hires.jpg)
QuoteFrom Academy Award® winning filmmaker Mel Gibson (“The Passion of the Christ,” “Braveheart”), comes APOCALYPTO: a heart stopping mythic action-adventure set against the turbulent end times of the once great Mayan civilization. When his idyllic existence is brutally disrupted by a violent invading force, a man is taken on a perilous journey to a world ruled by fear and oppression where a harrowing end awaits him. Through a twist of fate and spurred by the power of his love for his woman and his family he will make a desperate break to return home and to ultimately save his way of life. -- © Touchstone Pictures
Yeah, it's from Mel Gibson, so who knows...
EDIT: It opens on December 8th.
I've been contemplating putting my players into the situation faced by Horatio Hornblower in the book Lieutenant Hornblower. Each of them would play a Lieutenant on board the Renown with a crazed captain.
I'd like to see how long it would be before they would instigate mutiny.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure how well that would go over, so I've thought to change it around a bit to make them all Midshipmen (thus the ability to keep them all together in an attack, whereas Lts would each need to direct different activities and bringing them all along wouldn't make a lot of sense).
I don't really care for the idea of them playing multiple characters at different levels. It just isn't a dynamic that would work with my players. We tried that with Ars Magica and I received a myriad of complaints on the style (and, to tell the truth, I didn't enjoy it, either).
When we have played 7th Sea we had ship-based adventures often, with one of the players as Captain, one as a nobleman who owned the ship they were on, one as Doctor, one as Major of Marines and the other two as Lieutenants. It definitely wasn't historically accurate (but, then, it was 7th Sea!). ;)
One dynamic I must always keep in place with my players: certain players' characters cannot be placed "in command" of other players' characters or the competive streak in both threatens to override whatever game is taking place.
Quote from: JongWKFrom RottenTomatoes.com (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/apocalypto/):
(http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/gallery/1159012/photo_01_hires.jpg)
Yeah, it's from Mel Gibson, so who knows...
EDIT: It opens on December 8th.
Thanks, Jong! I'll be looking for it! :D
-mice
Quote from: VellorianI've been contemplating putting my players into the situation faced by Horatio Hornblower in the book Lieutenant Hornblower. Each of them would play a Lieutenant on board the Renown with a crazed captain.
I'd like to see how long it would be before they would instigate mutiny.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure how well that would go over, so I've thought to change it around a bit to make them all Midshipmen (thus the ability to keep them all together in an attack, whereas Lts would each need to direct different activities and bringing them all along wouldn't make a lot of sense).
That sounds like an awesome ides, Vellorean! Lieutenant Hornblower is my favorite book of the series, and it would be ultra cool to play on the Renown. I'd do it in a second.
Quote from: VellorianI don't really care for the idea of them playing multiple characters at different levels. It just isn't a dynamic that would work with my players. We tried that with Ars Magica and I received a myriad of complaints on the style (and, to tell the truth, I didn't enjoy it, either).
When we have played 7th Sea we had ship-based adventures often, with one of the players as Captain, one as a nobleman who owned the ship they were on, one as Doctor, one as Major of Marines and the other two as Lieutenants. It definitely wasn't historically accurate (but, then, it was 7th Sea!). ;)
One dynamic I must always keep in place with my players: certain players' characters cannot be placed "in command" of other players' characters or the competive streak in both threatens to override whatever game is taking place.
In Harm's Way contains several mechanics - including the competitive advancement in rank and the troupe play - which are layered over the basic system but not part of it. Stripping them out of the game can be accomplished by the GM saying "We're not using Troupe Play - so just make up one character, or Competitive Advancement - I'll deal with that as I see fit." There are several alternative playstyles given in the appendices which describe doing exactly this. I designed it that way on purpose. The mechanics aren't coercive, they're there to help the GM and players have fun.
-mice
French Revolution.
Scarlet Pimpernel FTW.
Not the B&W movies though.
Quote from: flyingmiceThat sounds like an awesome ides, Vellorean! Lieutenant Hornblower is my favorite book of the series, and it would be ultra cool to play on the Renown. I'd do it in a second.
I'll let you know how it turns out if I can convince my players to give it a try. :)
QuoteIn Harm's Way contains several mechanics - including the competitive advancement in rank and the troupe play - which are layered over the basic system but not part of it. Stripping them out of the game can be accomplished by the GM saying "We're not using Troupe Play - so just make up one character, or Competitive Advancement - I'll deal with that as I see fit." There are several alternative playstyles given in the appendices which describe doing exactly this. I designed it that way on purpose. The mechanics aren't coercive, they're there to help the GM and players have fun.
I'll admit, you've piqued my interest. Do you have a link where I can take a closer look?
Quote from: VellorianI'll let you know how it turns out if I can convince my players to give it a try. :)
Awesome! I'd love to hear how it goes! I may just spring this on my own players... :D
Quote from: VellorianI'll admit, you've piqued my interest. Do you have a link where I can take a closer look?
The In Harm's Way page (http://jalan.flyingmice.com/ihw.html) has some info on it. It's just a month old, so there is no review out yet. Hopefully there will be one soon.
-mice
Quote from: flyingmiceThe In Harm's Way page (http://jalan.flyingmice.com/ihw.html) has some info on it. It's just a month old, so there is no review out yet. Hopefully there will be one soon.
-mice
I'm working on it! :D
Late Republican Rome, a much underappreciated setting. Crassus, Pompey, Caesar, just full of great gaming.
Renaissance Italy, the most underappreciated setting out there IMO, bizarrely I don't think a single published game has ever focussed on this period.
Elizabethan England, c'mon, feel the ruffs! Jacobean also is good.
The 30 years war, though this is less exciting to me.
The Cold War, the 1960s and '70s but not focussing on how wacky it all was but rather the bleak and bloody actual history of the period. In Italy the 1970s were called the Anni di Piombo, the years of lead, because so many people were killed in terrorist shootings. This is a period in which the Italian government blew up its own people in mock terrorist bombings (pretty well documented, I'm not off on some conspiracy binge here, this isn't part of some "omfg the CIA were behind 911" nonsense or any of that crap). The 1970s in particular was a nasty bleak decade and I'd like to see a game dealing with that.
Much as I love the Avengers, I'd like a game for a change that was a bit more like the Professionals.
Richelieu's France - I cut my teeth on Dumas and haven't ever recovered.
I'll second early Renaissance italy - 1300 - 1600 or whenever the Medici were around.
Quote from: ReimdallRichelieu's France - I cut my teeth on Dumas and haven't ever recovered.
I'll second early Renaissance italy - 1300 - 1600 or whenever the Medici were around.
Not strictly Richelieu's France (far from it), but I downloaded the free pdf of the
1632 alt-history RPG some time ago, and I thought it was a bit of a mess. :(
The old FGU game Flashing Blades is brilliant for Richelieu's France. It's actually quite rules light, not like other FGU games, has great background stuff and great rules.
It's fairly clearly ripped off from En Garde with much greater roleplaying stuff built in, but very good for all that.
En Garde incidentally has a flourishing web presence, check out: http://www.engarde.co.uk/ and for active games http://www.engarde.co.uk/games.html#Top
Thanks! I'll check those out.
mmm... nice thread...
first of all i would really love a campaign based on the Meiji Era in Japan...
also an italian inspired campaing in the renaissance era... more especially a plot among the sea-states (Amalfi, Pisa, Genova and Venezia)
Quote from: Alukrdmmm... nice thread...
first of all i would really love a campaign based on the Meiji Era in Japan...
also an italian inspired campaing in the renaissance era... more especially a plot among the sea-states (Amalfi, Pisa, Genova and Venezia)
Ah! That would rock! :D
-mice
The collapse of ancient...
PERSIA.
Didn't see that one coming, didja?