Zeropoint Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 Hi, everyone. I'm thinking about starting up a campaign based in the 17th century Carribean, to include active voodoo magic (and possibly other magic from Central and South America). Unfortunately, I don't know a whole lot about this time and area, so the help of Herodom Assembled would be appreciated. I'll need information on pirates and their lifestyle, life in general at that time and in that area, and information on the various magics and mythologies of the vicinity. If you could point me to on-line resources, or give me any other kind of assistance, I would be most grateful. Zeropoint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkdguy Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery If you can get a copy oF GURPS Swashbucklers, it would be great. It's long out of print, unfortunately. Here's a link to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracy_in_the_Caribbean http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voodoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmadanNaBriona Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery Hi, everyone. I'm thinking about starting up a campaign based in the 17th century Carribean, to include active voodoo magic (and possibly other magic from Central and South America). Unfortunately, I don't know a whole lot about this time and area, so the help of Herodom Assembled would be appreciated. I'll need information on pirates and their lifestyle, life in general at that time and in that area, and information on the various magics and mythologies of the vicinity. If you could point me to on-line resources, or give me any other kind of assistance, I would be most grateful. Zeropoint Go get yourself a copy of On Stranger Tides, by Tim Powers, at your local bookstore and read it NOW. It's a damn fine read, is set in the EXACT setting you are looking for, and over the course of the book will give you a functional primer on period voudoun, how it'd interact with pirate culture, and a fair group of ideas about how it could work out in game terms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susano Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery Recommended reading/viewing: GURPS Swashbucklers Furry Pirates (If you ignore the furry aspects of the setting, the material on magic and life in the 17th C is a great resource.) Under The Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates -- David Cordingly A History Of Pirates: Blood and Thunder on the High Seas -- Nigel Cawthrone The Pyrates -- George MacDonald Fraser (pure comedy, but a great read!) Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl Edit: The Pirate Hunter : The True Story of Captain Kidd -- Richard Zacks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheQuestionMan Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery GURPS Voodoo: The Shadow War http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/Voodoo/ GURPS Swashbuckler http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/Swashbucklers/ GURPS Psionics http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/psionics/ Seventh Sea (aka Swashbuckling Aventures D20) http://www.swashbucklingadv.com/ Seventh Sea Setting - Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh_Sea_%28roleplaying_game%29 Bloode Island XPG (2002) by Deep7 http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showbook&bookid=2395 Furry Pirates (1999) by Atlas Games http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showbook&bookid=970 Pirates of Dark Water by Mindgames Inc. http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showbook&bookid=2321 Swashbuckling adventures by Alderac Entertainment Group http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showline&gamelineid=404 7th Sea by Alderac Entertainment Group http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showline&gamelineid=360 More Later QM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeropoint Posted February 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery Thanks, guys. Anyone who has more to contribute, feel free to do so. Oh, and you should read On Stranger Tides even if you're not planning on running a game like this. It's a great book, with a detailed and interesting setting, well-devoloped characters, humor, action, and a great plot. There's nothing not to like here. And the main character is a puppeteer--how cool is that? (not the Pierson's type) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Air Pirate Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery Also don't forget Pirates, from I.C.E. (now OOP), a pirates sourcebook for Hero System, third edition and Rolemaster. Lots of good stuff there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkdguy Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery 7th Sea is an interesting setting, although it takes place in a parallel world, not Earth. But it still has a lot of great ideas. Assuming your adventures take place in the "real" world, you may base your players in Port Royal, "the richest and wickedest city in the world." Of course, you can also use a fantasy version of it in another world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheQuestionMan Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery Swashbuckling Adventures http://www.swashbucklingadv.com/about.html Aldana Steel: 7th Sea http://www.tlucretius.net/7thSea/ Fiddler's Green 7th Sea Resources http://users.chariot.net.au/~amaranth/articles/7thSea.htm Uncommon Valor http://www.geocities.com/draeven57/valor.html Piracy in Fiction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Piracy_in_fiction Pirate Films http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Pirate_films Fictional Pirates http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Fictional_pirates A few more QM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Rose Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery Don't forget Mark's site. It was the first thing I thought of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSgt Baloo Posted January 19, 2007 Report Share Posted January 19, 2007 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery I would have expected there to be more resources for pirate campaigns. I'll share a few of my own, as I am a self-proclaimed expert on the subject. Don't believe me? I have poof! Just look at these pictures: Admiralty: Miniatures rules for the Age of Fighting Sail. Bilge Munky: Follow the path to piratey enlightenment. Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue: 1811 version -- still very useful in parsing piratese. Historical Money and Prices in the Carribean: A useful aid to the cost-conscious pyrate! Pyracy Pub Forums: A great place to ask piratey questions, especially if ye have a hankerin' for real, historical piracy (or the reenacting thereof). Tales of the Seven Seas Forums: If theatrical pyratin' be more to ye'r likin', then these scurvy dogs'll help yer find plans fer "Quaker (non-firing) cannons" or advise ye on how ter assemble yer pyratical garb without sinkin' yer wallet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCUBA Hero Posted January 20, 2007 Report Share Posted January 20, 2007 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery Also don't forget Pirates' date=' from I.C.E. (now OOP), a pirates sourcebook for Hero System, third edition and Rolemaster. Lots of good stuff there.[/quote']One available on ebay right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susano Posted January 20, 2007 Report Share Posted January 20, 2007 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery If you were running this in my area, I could give you a sack of period coins as props.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susano Posted January 20, 2007 Report Share Posted January 20, 2007 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery Also don't forget Pirates' date=' from I.C.E. (now OOP), a pirates sourcebook for Hero System, third edition and Rolemaster. Lots of good stuff there.[/quote'] Don't get it. IMO, it's not that good. GURPS Swashbucklers is far better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corven_Ren Posted January 21, 2007 Report Share Posted January 21, 2007 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery I know on the second disc of Pirates of the Carribean: Curse of the Black Pearl there is a lot of historical pirate stuff from a documentary done for either the Discovery or History channel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery There was an Australian game ages ago called Lace & Steel which was quite good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susano Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery There was an Australian game ages ago called Lace & Steel which was quite good. Wow... I recall seeing that years ago in a local game store. Art by... Donna Barr, IIRC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery Wow... I recall seeing that years ago in a local game store. Art by... Donna Barr' date=' IIRC.[/quote'] I believe the sword fighting was card based, I haven't yet managed to find a copy. But I haven't spent much effort on it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkdguy Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery Castle Falkenstein, while set in the Victorian Era, had a lot of swashbuckling elements in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hopcroft Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery I have a quick question: what will a sorcerer be doing on a pirate ship? Are there sorts of things aboard ship that are made easier by having a magician, even in a low-magic world? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susano Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery I have a quick question: what will a sorcerer be doing on a pirate ship? Are there sorts of things aboard ship that are made easier by having a magician' date=' even in a low-magic world?[/quote'] I created a sorcerer-turned-pirate (against his will), and here is the rational for what the pirates want him for: As ship's sorcerer, Jonathan's duties are quite simple: he to assist in finding prizes to be taken, identify unusual items taken from a prize, assist the ship's doctor, and assist the ship's navigator when normal navigation instruments are useless. During combat, he is to stay below, as the crew would rather not risk their magician in an open fight (and besides, the pirates all know Jonathan is pretty useless in combat). As Jonathan knows the pirates don't really need him around, and would probably kill him if he disobeyed their orders, he does what they say. Using his herbalist, alchemical and medical skills, Jonathan mixes up medicines for the pirate crew, doing his best to treat illnesses and injuries. He is also called upon to make gunpowder, directing the crewmen in the proper mixing of raw materials. As his spells have no direct combat use, Jonathan casts them only if the ship is lost, in bad weather, without wind, or hasn't seen a prize in any length of time. The crew has also learned that Jonathan's divination spells are highly useful in identifying rich prizes and unusual plunder, so he is often asked to scan a haul after it is brought on board. Notes on Spells: All of Jonathan's spells require him to draw a large circle on the floor, sit within that circle and recite certain Latin (or Gaelic) phrases. All his spells take a minute to cast, although Jonathan will often take even longer (thus getting an Extra Time bonus to his Skill Roll), if he is not being rushed. Circle of Astral Projection: This spell uses the rules for Astral Projection found in The Ultimate Mystic. Circle of Divination (Aura): This is a variant of the Aura Vision power seen in The Ultimate Mystic. Note that Jonathan can see auras at range with this power, and that all living and magical objects give off such an aura. Within the realm of the campaign setting (see Designer's Notes below), some magical auras can be seen for miles. Circle of Divination (Clairvoyance): In order for this spell to work, Jonathan needs to have someone he knows present at the scene. It also requires some sort of medium to view the scene in. Circle of Divination (Consultation): This spell allows Jonathan to ask questions and receive answers. The "prop" referred to can be dice, Tarot cards, a Ouija board or any similar fortune telling device. This spell has proven popular with the pirates, as they can ask if they will sight land or a ship within a certain period of time and receive a pretty accurate answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery Anything we do with technology today - could be easily duplicated with magic in a fantasy setting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSgt Baloo Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery Anything we do with technology today - could be easily duplicated with magic in a fantasy setting. Aquatic Carriage: The spellcaster summons aquatic animals which will then tow his boat. The size, number and type of creatures summoned are dependent upon the spellcster's ability. An Arch Wizard might be able to summon a team of whales able to tow a galleon into the teeth of a hurricane, whereas an apprentice would be lucky to summon a large(ish) turtle barely able to tow a small dinghy in calm seas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 Re: Swashbucklers & Sorcery BTW, there's a convention this weekend - I'll see if they have any old copies of Lace & Steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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