Post by Lylyss on Jan 8, 2016 9:17:12 GMT
Welcome to the Historical Battles thread--or HB for short. This is the place for geeks of every degree to explore bygone eras, and rewrite them as we see fit. ;) Please don't hesitate to join. I daresay we're a friendly bunch, and most of us would be happy to explain the plot.
However, we have yet to decide upon our first subplot. :) I've written out a few options below.
Idea I - French Revolution
Unrest seethes in the streets of Paris. The commoners have begun to Dream a Dream where men are free and equal, but will our revolution end with Empty Chairs? Quickly, grab a musket! Don your powdered wig. When the beating of your heart matches the beating of the drums, strike a blow for liberty--plan a daring escape from the Bastille, or pursue fleeing aristocrats through Parisian sewers. Afterward we can rendezvous at a quaint cafe for crepes and experiment with Google Translate. Viva la France!
Character Possibilities -
Paupers, urchins, African slaves, rebels, corrupt soldiers, snobby aristocrats, sympathetic nobles, disillusioned officials. The period offers opportunity for character conflict beyond the usual battle scenes. We can experiment with class difference, corruption, race, different forms of government, and whether the end (liberty) outweighs the means (violence).
Weaponry -
Muskets, rifles, swords, pikes, bayonets, knives, cannons. Similar to what was used during the American Revolution.
Idea II - Old West
Covered wagons trundle through rippling plains of grass. Native Americans gallop after charging buffalo. Cowboys and cattle rustlers shoot-em-up in a gloomy saloon, only to be interrupted by the town's new sheriff. The Old West offers a dozen different subplots. We can take the Laura Ingalls route and stake a homestead, or forget the settlers altogether, and concentrate on raids between Indian tribes. Personally, I would like to play a fur trapper who is captured by the Sioux.
Character Possibilities -
Settlers, cowboys, cattle-rustlers, lawmen, sheriffs, hangmen, schoolteachers, Sioux, Pawnee, Blackfeet, Navajo, fur trappers, US soldiers. These characters will obviously butt heads. Perhaps soldiers set fire to the Indian camp, or cattle-rustlers massacre the cowboys.
Weaponry -
Firearms (http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/wild-west-guns.asp), bows and arrows, knives, bayonets, tomahawks, etc.
Idea III - Ancient Rome
This is the era of the Caesars. We can brawl in the gladiator arena, enlist in the legions, and race chariots in the Circus Maximus. Rome's rich history allows for diverse subplots. Our slaves can murder their masters, or a band of Zealot assassins could sneak into the Senate. Since the Romans didn't have an official "police force," I've been toying with the idea of street justice, or perhaps the ancient equivalent of a private eye.
Character Possibilities -
Senators, noble women, Christians, radical Zealots, centurions, legionaries, Praetorians guards, gladiators, assassins, slaves, beggars, urchins, pickpockets, pirates, Greeks, Celts, Jews, Spaniards. The pirates might kidnap the noblewoman. The assassins might recruit the slaves. Perhaps our Christian centurion has to choose between following orders or following his conscience.
Weaponry -
Swords (gladius), daggers (pugio), spears (pilum), breastplate (lorica segmentata), bows and arrows, siege towers.
EDIT
Idea IV - Prohibition (1920s Chicago)
The Volstead Act seemed like the best way to combat alcoholism, but as you might expect, drinkers turned to the black market for their booze. Organized crime experienced a sudden boom. Imagine packing heat in your violin case and cruising down the gusty streets of Chicago in a rolls royce. After the hit, drinks on me, fellas. We can dance the jitterbug 'til dawn, sip illegal martinis, or savor the jazz at our favorite speakeasy. But if you boys go squealing to the buttons... I'll have to point my bean-shooter at your bleezer, 'cause I'm not going to the Big House!
Character Possibilities -
Moonshiners, bootleggers, mob bosses, henchmen, crooked policemen, flappers, suffragettes, teetotalers, rebellious kids, double-agents, crusader cops. Plenty of internal conflict. Expect children to lash out at parents, policemen to accept bribes, mobsters to backstab each other. We can also debate the Volstead Act and experiment with class difference. Perhaps the daughter of a teetotaling suffragette gets involved in the mob, or a crusader cop discovers that all of his friends are taking bribes.
Weaponry -
Colt Police Positive .38 S&W, Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 ACP, Savage 1907 .32 ACP, Sawed-off Shotgun, Browning Automatic Rifle .30, Tommy Gun.
Feudal Japan
Blurb in the works...
Medieval Christendom
Blurb in the works...
Any other ideas? Gamey nominated Feudal Japan, and Liessa put forward 1920s Chicago. I'll add blurbs for them tomorrow morning. Let me know what you think, folks!
However, we have yet to decide upon our first subplot. :) I've written out a few options below.
Idea I - French Revolution
Unrest seethes in the streets of Paris. The commoners have begun to Dream a Dream where men are free and equal, but will our revolution end with Empty Chairs? Quickly, grab a musket! Don your powdered wig. When the beating of your heart matches the beating of the drums, strike a blow for liberty--plan a daring escape from the Bastille, or pursue fleeing aristocrats through Parisian sewers. Afterward we can rendezvous at a quaint cafe for crepes and experiment with Google Translate. Viva la France!
Character Possibilities -
Paupers, urchins, African slaves, rebels, corrupt soldiers, snobby aristocrats, sympathetic nobles, disillusioned officials. The period offers opportunity for character conflict beyond the usual battle scenes. We can experiment with class difference, corruption, race, different forms of government, and whether the end (liberty) outweighs the means (violence).
Weaponry -
Muskets, rifles, swords, pikes, bayonets, knives, cannons. Similar to what was used during the American Revolution.
Idea II - Old West
Covered wagons trundle through rippling plains of grass. Native Americans gallop after charging buffalo. Cowboys and cattle rustlers shoot-em-up in a gloomy saloon, only to be interrupted by the town's new sheriff. The Old West offers a dozen different subplots. We can take the Laura Ingalls route and stake a homestead, or forget the settlers altogether, and concentrate on raids between Indian tribes. Personally, I would like to play a fur trapper who is captured by the Sioux.
Character Possibilities -
Settlers, cowboys, cattle-rustlers, lawmen, sheriffs, hangmen, schoolteachers, Sioux, Pawnee, Blackfeet, Navajo, fur trappers, US soldiers. These characters will obviously butt heads. Perhaps soldiers set fire to the Indian camp, or cattle-rustlers massacre the cowboys.
Weaponry -
Firearms (http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/wild-west-guns.asp), bows and arrows, knives, bayonets, tomahawks, etc.
Idea III - Ancient Rome
This is the era of the Caesars. We can brawl in the gladiator arena, enlist in the legions, and race chariots in the Circus Maximus. Rome's rich history allows for diverse subplots. Our slaves can murder their masters, or a band of Zealot assassins could sneak into the Senate. Since the Romans didn't have an official "police force," I've been toying with the idea of street justice, or perhaps the ancient equivalent of a private eye.
Character Possibilities -
Senators, noble women, Christians, radical Zealots, centurions, legionaries, Praetorians guards, gladiators, assassins, slaves, beggars, urchins, pickpockets, pirates, Greeks, Celts, Jews, Spaniards. The pirates might kidnap the noblewoman. The assassins might recruit the slaves. Perhaps our Christian centurion has to choose between following orders or following his conscience.
Weaponry -
Swords (gladius), daggers (pugio), spears (pilum), breastplate (lorica segmentata), bows and arrows, siege towers.
EDIT
Idea IV - Prohibition (1920s Chicago)
The Volstead Act seemed like the best way to combat alcoholism, but as you might expect, drinkers turned to the black market for their booze. Organized crime experienced a sudden boom. Imagine packing heat in your violin case and cruising down the gusty streets of Chicago in a rolls royce. After the hit, drinks on me, fellas. We can dance the jitterbug 'til dawn, sip illegal martinis, or savor the jazz at our favorite speakeasy. But if you boys go squealing to the buttons... I'll have to point my bean-shooter at your bleezer, 'cause I'm not going to the Big House!
Character Possibilities -
Moonshiners, bootleggers, mob bosses, henchmen, crooked policemen, flappers, suffragettes, teetotalers, rebellious kids, double-agents, crusader cops. Plenty of internal conflict. Expect children to lash out at parents, policemen to accept bribes, mobsters to backstab each other. We can also debate the Volstead Act and experiment with class difference. Perhaps the daughter of a teetotaling suffragette gets involved in the mob, or a crusader cop discovers that all of his friends are taking bribes.
Weaponry -
Colt Police Positive .38 S&W, Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 ACP, Savage 1907 .32 ACP, Sawed-off Shotgun, Browning Automatic Rifle .30, Tommy Gun.
Feudal Japan
Blurb in the works...
Medieval Christendom
Blurb in the works...
Any other ideas? Gamey nominated Feudal Japan, and Liessa put forward 1920s Chicago. I'll add blurbs for them tomorrow morning. Let me know what you think, folks!