pruttm Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 I am looking for a published RPG setting that covers the Late Medieval Period from a more historical point of view vs. the fantastic point of view. I want to use this as the foundation of a Hero campaign world that I then add my view of the fantastic. Any suggestions for a good read? Any system, as its just for inspiration. Thanks, Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweeper Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG Other than suggesting a trip to your local library for books on the subject, I got nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG GURPS published a series of Middle Ages books, that are now available as PDFs. They covered medieval England and France, but I don't know how they were on the Late era or the mystical part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escafarc Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG Track down a copy of this: http://www.icewebring.com/ICE_Products/Product_Page.php?product_id=236 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG Isn't that more Early Modern than Late Medieval? ^^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hopcroft Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG There was a Mongoose Runequest book called Stupor Mundi that dealt with the "middle medieval" period, centered around the first three Crusades (the defining moments of European history at that time with ramifications that continue to this day). The word Stupor did not mean then what is does now; the title translates roughly as "Wonder of the World" which was a title used to refer to the German king and general Frederick Barbarossa who was one of the leaders of the First Crusade. The RPG Ars Magica covers a more fantastical version of the period where powerful mages operate fairly openly in scholarly "covenants" without being hunted down by the Church (which historically took a dim view of anything that even looked mystical, much less magical). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawnmower Boy Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG ....The word Stupor did not mean then what is does now; the title translates roughly as "Wonder of the World" which was a title used to refer to the German king and general Frederick Barbarossa.... Actually Friedrich II, grandson of Friedrich I Staufen, called Barbarossa. It's a common mistake about a fascinating period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG ... And didn't Barbarossa drown on his way to the Crusade? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawnmower Boy Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG Well, he was a leader (of the Third Crusade.) Until he drowned. Though I hear rumours that Hilary Clinton might have been involved in the drowning. Or was it Putin? It was so long ago.... The important point is that when I called for a "subaqueous solution to the Imperial succession problem," I was just suggesting that Frederick should take a bath before anointing his replacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yansuf Posted January 16, 2011 Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG If you can find a copy of first or second edition Chivalry & Sorcery, they had a lot of good info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NuSoardGraphite Posted January 23, 2011 Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG I will second Ars Magica books. While they cover a lot of specific material applicable only to Ars Magica games, much of the world information is very much fairly accurate European history at around the Early to mid Middle Ages (1100's etc). Some of their sourcebooks would provide excellent information for such a campaign, even if one did not wish to run an Ars Magica game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phookz Posted January 24, 2011 Report Share Posted January 24, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG Not a published setting, but good info to be found here: http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=XRPFREE1 (free) http://www222.pair.com/sjohn/fief.htm Free Ars Magica 4th edition http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=AG0204 Harn has to be mentioned: http://www.columbiagames.com/cgi-bin/query/cfg/allharnitems.cfg Edit: Just noticed you were looking for historical. The links above are not historical, but the second one looks very promising for source material that could easily fit into historical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlHazred Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG Oddly, there's an even better source albeit not from an RPG. Frances and Joseph Gies wrote a number of books on the subject of life in Medieval times, but three of them were wildly popular among Medievalists when I went to college: Life in a Medieval City (1969), Life in a Medieval Castle (1974) and Life in a Medieval Village (1990). All three were collected in one volume in 2005, Daily Life in Medieval Times. They're not too deep, and focus on ordinary life as opposed to famous people. They also span a decent chunk of the Medieval period. Google Books links: Life in a Medieval Village, Life in a Medieval City, Life in a Medieval Castle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markdoc Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG Also, I'm a bit surprised that no-one has mentioned Harn yet. It's set on an imaginary island somewhere, but Harnites tend to be a bit OCD about medieval technology and society. It's got a large (not to say cultish following on the web. cheers, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG Phookz mentioned Hârn upthread somewhere. Posted a link, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawnmower Boy Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG Also, I'm a bit surprised that no-one has mentioned Harn yet. It's set on an imaginary island somewhere, but Harnites tend to be a bit OCD about medieval technology and society. It's got a large (not to say cultish following on the web. cheers, Mark I'm sorry. Is there a reason that we can't call Harnism a cult? 'Cuz I'm calling it a cult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlHazred Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG I'm sorry. Is there a reason that we can't call Harnism a cult? 'Cuz I'm calling it a cult.As a "Hero Zombie" I think it would be unfair of me to comment on the "cultish" fanaticism of fans of other systems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinecone Posted January 27, 2011 Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG If you can find a copy of first or second edition Chivalry & Sorcery' date=' they had a lot of good info.[/quote'] I'd second that...seeing as I was going to say the same thing.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beast Posted January 27, 2011 Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG what about Pendragon from Chaosium Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlHazred Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG what about Pendragon from ChaosiumPendragon's not really a "Late Medieval" RPG. In fact, if realism's what you're after, I would stay away. It's extremely good at what it does: Arthurian romantic RPGing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCUBA Hero Posted February 2, 2011 Report Share Posted February 2, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG Yes, Harn is a good resource. Columbia Games also sells "Lionheart", set in 1190 England. Now it's not an RPG, but I think it would help with what you're looking to do. I'll also second AlHazred's recommendation of the Gies' books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted February 2, 2011 Report Share Posted February 2, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG Didn't SJ Games release a King Arthur book with three different takes? Iron Age, High Medieval and Fantasy, I think ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midas Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG I am looking for a published RPG setting that covers the Late Medieval Period from a more historical point of view vs. the fantastic point of view. I want to use this as the foundation of a Hero campaign world that I then add my view of the fantastic. Any suggestions for a good read? Any system, as its just for inspiration. Thanks, Pete What do you mean by late Medieval? I'm guessing post Crusades (I'd call that era "High Medieval" myself), and pre Tudor (which I'd put as about the start of the Renn period). So Pirate, Swashbuckler, or Conquistador sourcebooks would be too late for what you have in mind? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pruttm Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG What do you mean by late Medieval? I'm guessing post Crusades (I'd call that era "High Medieval" myself), and pre Tudor (which I'd put as about the start of the Renn period). For this thread I am looking for things that would be distinct to a fairly historical Medieval setting. Anything that details Italy during this period would be a bonus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hopcroft Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 Re: Historical Late Medieval Period RPG I just watched the first part of a PBS documentary from 2003 on the Medici, the banking family that in the 15th and 16th century became the dominant force of Florentine and Italian politics, the greatest art patrons in history, and even had one of their own elected to the pre-Reformation Papacy. A large part of the episode was given over to the daunting task of building a dome to top Florence's great cathedral -- the reach of the original architects had exceeded their grasp and it took an eccentric genius to figure out how to finally do the job and in the process revolutionize construction (he also codified perspective in painting and drawing). Florence on the cusp of the Renaissance would be a great place to set a campaign, in between the intrigue between Cosimo Di'Medici and his rivals and the dangerous quest for rediscovered ancient knowledge. In a fantasy setting these would include ancient, lost magics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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