Can D20CoC used for La Belle Epoch (Late 19th Century - Moulin Rogue, Tarzan, Savate,

[Tonguez]

Just spent time reading about the history of Savate (French Kick-boxing) and its relationship to the Moulin Rogue and the whole La belle époque, the "beautiful era" in Paris in the last decade of the 19th Century. (Apparently Savate combined the straight kicks of Can-Can with earlier naval kickfighting, english boxing and Canne fencing (developed when carrying rapier/swords was banned)

Anyway I'm also a fan of the Tarzan novels which are set in a similar timespan (and Tarzan Lord greystoke spends time in Bohemian Paris after his return to England)

Anyway I'm really intrigued by the whole La Belle Epoque era now and was wondering if anyone has ever played in this era (roughly 1880 - 1910)

My second question is Lovecrafts Cthulu novels were also written/set around this era so could d20CoC be modified and used to model the La Belle Epoque? What needs to be changed/expanded on

As other inspiration (in filling out the setting) we can call on Tarzan, the Movie Moulin Rogue, Sherlock Holmes, Lovecraft, Poe - especially Murders in Rue Morgue -anything else?

Anyone interested?

 

[mmadsen]

Anyway I'm really intrigued by the whole La Belle Epoque era now and was wondering if anyone has ever played in this era (roughly 1880 - 1910)

Americans and Brits tend to know this period as the "Victorian Era", since Queen Victoria reigned in England until 1901.

My second question is Lovecrafts Cthulu novels were also written/set around this era so could d20CoC be modified and used to model the La Belle Epoque? What needs to be changed/expanded on

The standard Cthulhu setting is 1920's New England, but one of the official campaign settings was Victorian London -- Cthulhu by Gaslight.

As other inspiration (in filling out the setting) we can call on Tarzan, the Movie Moulin Rogue, Sherlock Holmes, Lovecraft, Poe - especially Murders in Rue Morgue -anything else?

Castle Falkenstein. Dracula. I believe the Mask of the Red Death campaign setting for Ravenloft is almost exactly what you're looking for. Take a look at the Kargatane site.

You can also find tons of sites about the Victorian era in general. Sites on Victorian-era costumes, on belle epoque vintage posters, etc.

 

[RogueJK]

The problem that you will have with Cthulhu by Gaslight and Masque of the Red Death is that both are based around the supernatural and the fantastic. If you want to create a historical Victorian campaign, you'll have to remove most of that material, and both settings rely on heavily on it. Also, both Cthulhu and Masque are horror roleplaying games.

They might be good for some inspiration on basic setting and game mechanics, though.

 

[Sialia]

Oh PLEASE please write it. I don't care what system you use. It's perfect.

After I saw the movie Moulin Rouge, I stayed up all night thinking about it, and went to the library first thing the next day to get research for my doodle (see the link in my sig if you haven't been there yet). The more I read about Monmartre, the more I was sure there was a brilliant module based there. The atmosphere! The politics! The hallucinogens and wacky personalities! The devotion to Art! The passions of lives lived as near to the brink as possible . . .

Please please forge ahead no matter what. I wanna hear about it.

Oh, and get the book Explosive Acts, if you can find it.

Explosive Acts: Toulouse-Lautrec, Oscar Wilde, Felix Feneon, and the Art & Anarchy of the Fin de Siecle Some of the critiques of this book on Amazon claim that it's not a perfectly accurate history, book but with regards to mood and themes, it's an excellent browse.

Holy crud. What an earthquake we just had. 'Scuse me. Gotta go.

 

[mmadsen]

Apparently Savate combined the straight kicks of Can-Can with earlier naval kickfighting, english boxing and Canne fencing (developed when carrying rapier/swords was banned)

I'd never heard the Savate-Can-Can connection before. It sounds...questionable. The connection to English boxing is well established though. After a top Savate fighter lost to an English boxer, he went to another English boxer to learn the sweet science of pugilism, and he integrated what he learned with his kicking style.

 

[Tonguez]

(see the link in my sig if you haven't been there yet).

Hijacking my own thread but Sialia you are truely sick - and now I want to form a cult dedicated to worship you!.

The Moulin Cthullu pic mad me smile, the description of Motherhood and the Parasitic Bloodsuckers we can't help but love made me laugh (yes I am a Father with a baby of my own) but your retelling of the Hungry Little Tentacled Abomination was just such a classic I'm wondering how I can download them and read it to my son

As to the setting I don't think I know enough about the era to do it justice (and don't have the time or inclination to research - but will check out Explosive Acts (Toulouse-Lautrec is a very interesting fellow)

 

[Desdichado]

Depends on what you want from the Victorian epoch. If you want Tarzan, you certainly don't want CoC: you probably want to wait for d20 Supers!

 

[mmadsen]

Depends on what you want from the Victorian epoch. If you want Tarzan, you certainly don't want CoC: you probably want to wait for d20 Supers!

The upcoming Pulp Cthulhu line might be a great fit though, considering how Tarzan was one of the first great pulp stories.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

I'm currently playing in a D&D Victorian age campaign, playing a retired English Major. The world is definitely alternate-history; the elves rule Ireland, there are Kobolds in Edinburgh, and magical technology is the rule rather than "true" technology. The current year in the game is 1875.

We've fought Fagan-like mastermind thieves; we've been assaulted by the Thuggee in India and in Whitechapel; and we're currently working on transporting Cleopatra's needle from Egypt to London. It's been a blast. Amongst our characters are a Chinese Archer-Paladin, an elvish thief, a Druidic actress/courtesan, a Romanian cleric of the god of dreams, and a strict catholic nun who at one point was carting around the Spear of Destiny. Fun to be had by all. When I reach the end of my current Story Hour, I may try and do one of this game.

 

[Darkness]

Moved to d20 Systems Games.