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Old 11-13-2018, 07:29 AM   #1
Greg 1
 
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Your GM announces that she will be running a historical game and that all PCs should be proficient in fencing.

Where and when do you hope the game is set?
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Old 11-13-2018, 07:43 AM   #2
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Default Re: Fencing Game Preferences

I hope we'll be playing at a royal court, probably that of France. If I'm being honest, which court we associate with and the exact time frame is secondary to my hopes that we'll be involved in the greater affairs of the kingdom. I hope our plots will involve foreign dignitaries, High nobles, and scandals of national (rather than petty) importance.
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Old 11-13-2018, 09:10 AM   #3
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Default Re: Fencing Game Preferences

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Originally Posted by Greg 1 View Post
Your GM announces that she will be running a historical game and that all PCs should be proficient in fencing.

Where and when do you hope the game is set?
The Warring States, I think.
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Old 11-13-2018, 09:19 AM   #4
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Default Re: Fencing Game Preferences

My first thought is The Three Musketeers - so, early 17th century Paris.

My next thought is "Ah, but what about piracy?" - so, late 17th/early 18th century Caribbean.

But that second thought is a distant second - if the GM says "The setting will be historical, and everyone should learn fencing", then I would instantly assume we're heading for Musketeer territory. I think perhaps I'd prefer to head for Pirate territory, but I'd assume we're heading for Musketeer territory. If that helps.
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Old 11-13-2018, 10:23 AM   #5
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Default Re: Fencing Game Preferences

When I ran a fencing campaign, it was set ca. 1710, when the transition to the smallsword was well under way. That gives you the smallsword, which I find "a more elegant weapon for a civilized age," and it also is the time when salons and courtly manners were at a peak—and on the other hand, there are lots of entertaining scandals.
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Old 11-13-2018, 10:40 AM   #6
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Default Re: Fencing Game Preferences

I'm from Texas, so I naturally assumed late 19th century and we would be ranchers trying to keep the cattle drivers from cutting across our land.



What?
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Old 11-13-2018, 10:48 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by whswhs View Post
When I ran a fencing campaign, it was set ca. 1710, when the transition to the smallsword was well under way. That gives you the smallsword, which I find "a more elegant weapon for a civilized age," and it also is the time when salons and courtly manners were at a peak—and on the other hand, there are lots of entertaining scandals.
However, 1710 is also a period when you have lots of reliable flintlocks and ahve had for 80 years or more. If you went 100 years earlier you'd ahve aperiod where Louis XIII had one flintlock pistol (though he did have about 4 dozen wheellocks).

You could go almost 100 years earlier than that when even wheellocks are fabulous new inventions but the Spaniards have their espada roperas ("dress sword" from which derives "rapier") and the Italians have their spada di leto or side swords.

The 1570s (or a litlte earlier) might be a fair compromise. You might encounter the first "Miguelet" lock (early flintlock) but the Italian rapier is well developed. You might encounter Benevenuto Cellini

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benvenuto_Cellini

......too as he keeps bouncing in and out of trouble. Lots of stuff to do and Italy would be a more novel setting.
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Old 11-13-2018, 12:32 PM   #8
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Default Re: Fencing Game Preferences

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Originally Posted by Fred Brackin View Post
However, 1710 is also a period when you have lots of reliable flintlocks and ahve had for 80 years or more.
This is an issue very much on my mind. The later the game is set, the more weapons and fencing styles there are, but the less melee weapons matter.
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Old 11-13-2018, 12:43 PM   #9
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I'm from Texas, so I naturally assumed late 19th century and we would be ranchers trying to keep the cattle drivers from cutting across our land.
You might be able to combine the two by putting the game time and place near the Midland Revolt (though enclosure conflicts were about sheep farming, not cattle).
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Old 11-13-2018, 01:58 PM   #10
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Default Re: Fencing Game Preferences

I'm tempted by renaissance Italy, Musketeer France, and the Zorro fantasy version of the US southwest, Texas, and Mexico..
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