While not technically a fantasy book, it has some great elements from the fantastic to the mundane that could be scraped for gaming needs. Outside of that, I'm really enjoying the book.
Here's a shortlist of interesting tidbits with gaming potential:
- His take on the Catholic-Protestant problems in Europe at the time. I can't think of any gaming examples (other than an evil church vs. a good church) where religious strife is used with this level of detail. Who has?
- Blackpowder and swords - If you enjoyed The Three Musketeers, this story takes place one generation after Twenty Years After. This and the Gonji series have me stoked for some blackpowder action. Lots of details on guns in action (and inaction of said unreliable guns).
- Royalty/Nobles - I have read much history of the time period (late 1600s to early 1700s) but not much fiction. His take on the nobility of Europe is exquisite and oh so minable for gaming needs.
- Syphilis - I didn't realize it was so rampant, but what a great representation of the debilitating effects. Diseases are poorly handled as story elements in gaming, I think (especially d20).
- Vagabonds - I'm working on a prestige class right now. More useful than fighters and more swashbuckling than rogues. Good fun.
- Markets/Exchanges - Few realize how advanced the Dutch markets were at that time. He stretches it a bit, but some great material here that isn't the typical "bazaar encounter."
There's a lot of details about day-to-day life that just blow me away in this book. So far, I'm very pleased.
Here's a shortlist of interesting tidbits with gaming potential:
- His take on the Catholic-Protestant problems in Europe at the time. I can't think of any gaming examples (other than an evil church vs. a good church) where religious strife is used with this level of detail. Who has?
- Blackpowder and swords - If you enjoyed The Three Musketeers, this story takes place one generation after Twenty Years After. This and the Gonji series have me stoked for some blackpowder action. Lots of details on guns in action (and inaction of said unreliable guns).
- Royalty/Nobles - I have read much history of the time period (late 1600s to early 1700s) but not much fiction. His take on the nobility of Europe is exquisite and oh so minable for gaming needs.
- Syphilis - I didn't realize it was so rampant, but what a great representation of the debilitating effects. Diseases are poorly handled as story elements in gaming, I think (especially d20).
- Vagabonds - I'm working on a prestige class right now. More useful than fighters and more swashbuckling than rogues. Good fun.
- Markets/Exchanges - Few realize how advanced the Dutch markets were at that time. He stretches it a bit, but some great material here that isn't the typical "bazaar encounter."
There's a lot of details about day-to-day life that just blow me away in this book. So far, I'm very pleased.
