Red coats = Red Courts?
Hey that would be an idea Blaze...
Most likely Red Coat
Officers would be Red Court, with mundanes in the rank and file
- with "working their way up the Ladder" being promoted to vamp?
This would keep the lower-ranked officers in line, since replacement is
very easy.
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Might not need to be said, but I'm going to say this anyway - For those that are Running (GM-ing) these games - especially for Offline Gaming,
make sure that you have as much information about the Era that you are wanting to run, to give to your Players:
Remember the differences between the American
1980's and the
1990's? Even as little as ten years was a
huge difference.
Keep this in mind for going futher back. Sure, their might not be much historical differnece between the
1880's and the
1890's, or the
1780's and the
1790's, but those differences were there - and important to the people involved - non-the-less.
Language(s), word usage, Dress Codes, social behaviors, taboos, and expectations, etc. of each Country that the Players might go to.
Region even - like France being divided into several regions, with different dress codes, and such. (Saying that they are all alike is silly. Sure they all speak French, but that is like saying that a modern Texan and a New Yorker speak un-accented English , and still dress alike because they are Americans. Uh-huh, and you wanted that Texan's cowboy boot,
and the New Yorker's Construction Worker's boot [as one example] up your "Exit" {word/s exchanged} how far? They will go back to fighting each other in a 'friendly manner' once they get done with you....
LOL!!!
)
And the GM needs to
strictly enforce that those Characters that have never been exposed to these differences
cannot have any clue as to what to do.
An Example: "I'm an American Revolutionist Wizard that is in 1772 England, I have been discovered by the Red Court, and they have sent the Red Coats to find me. How the heck do I hide from the Red Coats, long enough to get what I need done, and then get to the Escape Gate? I'll worry about dealing with the Fey once I get there..."
- Answer: Find "rebels" in the Great Britain area: Scottish, Irish, Welsh, and
English malcontents, etc. to help you.
These "rebels" should be played by the other Players, with the DM playing the part of the
Red Court Lieutenant that is in charge of the Red Coats out to find that $@%! (Wizard) "American Spy"!!!
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Another thing that needs to be remembered by the GM, is traveling and speed. Travel by wagan , or even horse is rather slow; Remember, what takes us three
hours on the highway at 50 mph (150 miles !!), used to be almost a
week's travel by wagon, and at
least 2 days on horseback; even using something like the Pony Express took ten days to get a letter from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California - a 1,966 mile distance - and that was by changing horses about every 25 miles, and riders every 50 miles!
Fact: 1860's: The Pony Express averaged nine mph over 25 mile stages.
So, it still might take 18-20 hours of non-stop riding by the same person, assuming no delays between exchanging horses!!
Q - Prehaps The Pony Express is created soooner then the historical 1860 and lasting past 1861 by wealthy Wizards as a "mostly reliable" means to comminicate faster?
Obstical - It may not be possible to travel from one Region to another, even through the NeverNever in a single day, since the "connections" between these places have not been made in the Real World - yet.
Obstical - Crossing the Oceans by any means except in a boat may not even be possible - especially not through the NeverNever.
Or perhaps the "Ocean Fey" are very different from those on Land?
If you thought it was hard to talk to the Wolf "Spirit", how much more difficult would it be to speak to a Shark "Spirit", or a Jellyfish "Spirit"?
Shapeshifting into a bird can increase the distance traveled by a person in a day, but the Theriomorph must still eat, and rest.
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Here's my Idea: How about the Civil War Era?
Some research would still be needed - for example, the history on as many Native American Tribes during this time as possible.
Rememering that the Supernatural World is Hidden from Mundanes.
Everything hinges on the outcome of the Civil War, and nothing is simple.
Where the White Council is divided:
The Merlin decrees that Magic must be Hidden.
However, more supernatural preditors are becoming active, and many young American Wizards are defending their families and country.
(South supports Old World ways, and North seeks to break free of these "binding chains")
- and all the Vampire Courts are running around trying to infiltrate Humanity and take over; like Red Court being Rober Barons, or Assassins (PC); Black Court being Moffia, or Mercinaries (PC); and White Court being Plantation owners, or Spies (PC)?
- the Fey are at war with those "Native American" Spirits that exist between North and South, with the native American Peoples still running around, but this time they are actually
involved in the events of this War, instead of outside observers?
- what of the African Tribal Spirits of those enslaved? Remember that revenge might be sweet, but greater disasters can only be avoided by uniting with those that you hate. Mutual understanding and respect kills hate.
- and perhaps various Mortal-looking types have secretly sided with the mortal troops of both sides - North and South, perhaps to aid against the other supernatural baddies, or perhaps to take over for themselves: Dresden-verse Werewolves, Lycanthropes, Changlings, and Scions.
PCs can find themselves on either - or even both sides of what is
now the Mason-Dixon line;
as well as having to choose sides in other battles - like with the Spirits or the Fey?
How far do you trust that Black Court Merc - or that White Court Spy - do you make a deal with a Red Court Baron?
What are the Rewards for doing so? What are the consequences for not doing so?
And the end results of How the World will Be (Mundane and Supernatural) are dependent upon the outcome of this Moral War?
Another Questions is: The Railroad Race. Does this happen during the Civil War? If so:
Who is behind it, how important is it - and how must the PCs get involved?
Are there other things competing against the Railroads?
Like the above mentioned Pony Express?
Steam powered coaches?
or perhaps,
Dirigibles?
- The GM must know the answers to this all.
Prepaire as much as possible in advance, but be ready to adapt quickly to changes the PCs make.
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Some of these Ideas can also be used in other Eras...
Like, "flying ships" (
Dirigibles) in the early 1500, the height of the Pirate Age?
Q - How do you fire a cannon off a
Dirigibles and not cause it to explode?
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Comments in response welcome.
Ok. I shall now stop "
RPG Gezzer Rambling". Sorry.