History is an inexhaustible well of deep mystery, action, comedy, and tragedy to inspire and feed even the most fantastical RPGs. Join game designers who specialize in historical gaming for tips on making it an easy and powerful resource.
PANELISTS
HIGHLIGHTS
Introductions, why we love history as an RPG setting, what we’ve done.
Wikipedia! At your private table, you don’t have to worry as much about fact-checking.
Getting the players on board. Build setting details into character options. Focus what the players need to learn on what their characters know. Identify what excites you about the setting and what excites the players.
Take advantage of the many blank spots and contradictions in history. Use known historical figures to inspire and as foils, keeping the focus on the player characters as the protagonists.
Google Earth! Street view inside castles and historical sites.
Using weird real-world details that you uncover to make the players’ experience surprising and fresh.
Sandford Insurance Maps! What was the structure made of? Water supplies? Roofing?
Tips for evoking a particular culture or setting. Pick and choose a handful of key evocative details. Flip expectations and stereotypes.
Tips for dealing with player culture shock. Use NPCs to show what the culture considers normal. Listen to your players. Communicate. Make yourself aware of things that may really bother them.
Use surprising details to subvert popular understanding of an era or location and surprise your players.
Don’t be afraid to break history!
THE RECORDING
This panel discussion was recorded live at ChupacabraCon 2019 in Round Rock, TX.
If you like Arc Dream Presents videos and podcasts, get a week’s early access at patreon.com/shaneivey.
This episode’s theme music is “Nyarlathotep” by the Darkest of the Hillside Thickets, courtesy Divine Industries. Copyright 2019. Visit http://www.thickets.net.
Music from https://filmmusic.io. “The Pyre” by Kevin MacLeod. License: CC BY.
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