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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nyeshet" data-source="post: 2825114" data-attributes="member: 18363">This is probably a silly question, but have we ever determined when D&D came about in this pre-Tolkien world? Some seem to be arguing just a year or two before tolkien published The Hobbit, while others seem to be arguing the turn of the century (~1900). 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 - all of these would result in differing styles of the game, I think. 1930: The Great Depression has recently begun. The gild has fallen off to reveal the lead beneath. Half a generation after the Great War, called by some 'The War to End All Wars' - the world is in the grips of a vast economic downswing. The wealthier manage to float through the worst of it, but that merely exaserbates the differences between the 'haves' and 'have nots'. How would this have effected the views of those constructing a D&D style game, I wonder? I would think that for the game to succeed at all it would have to be markedly inexpensive. When people wonder where their next meal will come from, they generally don't worry as much about buying a form of entertainment - even if it would distract them from their troubles for a while. 1920: The first world war had just ended. I can see a game re-enacting such a scenario in a fantasy setting, so the Bloodwar - or a similar war on the Prime, albeit far more brief - is well within what they might consider when constructing the setting. This is also a time when new theories are coming about in science, new discoveries are being made regarding ancient history, etc. Fanciful constructs based upon these are likely, perhaps. This was also known to some as the 'Gilded Age'. There seemed to be plenty to go around, but that was just on the surface. Also, Russia recently underwent a rather notable change (or would soon, I forget the exact year). The Prime of a game created at such a time may be one in which recent govenmental changes have occurred - or could occur. A place where wealth seems common and for the taking, but crime is more rampant. (The mafia, I think, was rather active at this time in various locales.) Indeed, the heroes could end up being crime fighters. It certainly seemed popular in many of the pulps and comics of the era. As I recall, even heroes living in / near jungles were often involved in crime fighting (The Phantom, for instance). 1910: The first World War has not yet begun. The idea of a war that could span a continent and spill out onto multiple others would likely not be seen in the game - thus perhaps no Blood War. Also, while flying machines exist, they are quite rare, and blimps, hot air balloons, etc are more commonly known - especially in Europe. Automobiles are rather new and have not yet predominantly replaced horses in most cities, although they are becoming more common with each passing year due to the use of the Assembly Line. I can see some game designers purposefully looking away from such, towards an earlier era without such gagets. 1900: The turn of the century. As I recall, the Napoleanic wars are long over and a sort of tense peace currently exists. New discoveries are being made in Egypt and elsewhere regarding ancient civilizations, so perhaps tomb / ruin crawling would replace dungeon crawling. Imagine an Indiana Jones movie without automobilies, planes, etc and you might have a good idea as to the feel of such a world. Note that some areas of the world are still unexplored - deep jungles in the conjo and the amazon, the central regions of most major deserts, some of the more mountainous regions or the forests of the more northern regions. As I recall - and I could easily be wrong - not even Antarctica has been overly explored. I forget exactly when the South pole was 'found'. The world still has its mysteries, and exploration could be a major part of any quest. Note that mechanized flying machines do not yet exist, although hot air balloons (and blimps?) do exist. Automobiles are rare - in many areas more of a novelty than something one might expect to be common in the future. Phones are becoming more common, but telegraphs remain common, and phones do not yet make calls across major distances (across oceans, across continents, etc). So, the year in which the game is conceived could have lasting impact on its nature. Different feels could exist - not just based upon common fantasy authors of the time, but also due to differing levels of technology and differing social situations. So, my question remains. When, exactly, are we arguing for the creation of the game?</blockquote>

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