Great White Games/Pinnacle Entertainment Group

Dylan S · Veteran Joined: 15 Oct 2009 Posts: 515

Hi everyone,
I've had the idea for some time to create a campaign focusing on northern Ontario and Quebec during the French and Indian War (that is, the North American theater of the Seven Years War). I'm not going to actually construct a military story - the players won't be working as soldiers - but I would like to use that time period as the backdrop. Think of fur trades, snowy forts, canoe trips, landed immigrants, First Nations settlements, trans-Atlantic voyages, and constant strife between hostile colonial countries and their supported companies.

So, I was wondering if anyone could recommend books, movies, paintings, maps, music, anything at all to get my players and myself familiar with the time period. Note that I'm not looking for Savage Worlds conversion advice (in fact, I suspect that there's no need for any conversion), but rather advice on getting into the history and the spirit of the setting. For instance, could someone recommend a novelist who deals with that period as deftly as Bernard Cornwell and Patrick O'Brian dealt with the Napoleonic wars?

I know there are some very well-read and historically-minded folks on this forum. Thanks in advance.

Edit: Please do feel free to offer any ideas for cool edges, hindrances, or gear that you think fit with the setting if you want to. I'm all ears!

newForumNewName · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:52 am Post subject:

The only thing close that comes to mind is Last of the Mohicans as far as movies.
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Connallmac · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 9:51 am Post subject:

I would also recommend Brotherhood of the Wolf, though it's set in France after the war the main character is a veteran of the Seven Years War in North America, as is his companion a Native American.

As to books I would look to James Fennimore Cooper, which you can download for free since he's long been in the public domain. You might also try Joseph Altsheler, who apparently wrote six book series that is set in the time period you're looking for. You can download the first book, The Hunters of the Hills, as well as the other books in the series for free here: http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50708

Inferno! · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 10:30 am Post subject:

You may find Colonial Gothic: New France useful. If has maps of cities and forts, digest information about the French colonies, history as well as native tribes of the area.
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Averjoe · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 9:21 pm Post subject:

I have no suggestions, but I wanted to say that you are a lucky man if you actually have players who want to play this. Every time I mention doing a historical game of any type my players eyes glaze over. #1drooling3

*sigh* Some days it sucks to be the GM.
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Dylan S · Veteran Joined: 15 Oct 2009 Posts: 515

Thanks for the advice, everyone.
Averjoe, I actually don't intend to ask them ahead of time. I'm planning to design a single-session (aiming for 3 to 4 hour) adventure within this setting, including characters, and then simply invite them over to play SW. If they enjoy the one-shot, I'll expand it into a campaign. If not, well, so much for that idea.

The Angle · Veteran Joined: 28 Feb 2007 Posts: 626 Location: Seattle

You could check out Tim Truman's "Simon Girty" comics.

In films, also check "Unconquered" and "Northwest Passage."

Plus, there are National Geographic and PBS documentaries on Lewis & Clark, which are later but still pertinent if you're interested in wilderness adventures.

All of these are on Netflix.

Steve
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Neal5x5 · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 4:36 pm Post subject:

Read the book Savage Wilderness by Harold Coyle. He broke from his modern military work to write this title set during the French & Indian War/7 Years War. I thought his descriptions of the French side were particularly worthwhile.
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RPGperik · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 5:11 pm Post subject:

Boldfist · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 8:24 am Post subject:

I have to second the recommendation for James Fenimore Cooper. The Leatherstocking Tales are very good. His hero, Natty Bumppo, is a Wild Card if ever there was one. He is known as Hawkeye in the Last of the Mohicans story/movie. He was also a member of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (if you are into comic books). Smile

I would also recommend the Patriot with Mel Gibson. It takes place during the Revolutionary War (15-20 years later than your time period) but the main character is a veteran of the French & Indian war. It's not very historically accurate but the movie is definitely action packed and visually appealing!
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Kodyax · Seasoned Joined: 29 Sep 2010 Posts: 492

If you can find it, the television series Hawkeye was set in the French and Indian War in America.

scourger · Seasoned Joined: 14 Aug 2005 Posts: 431

In addition to The Patriot and Colonial Gothic: French & Indian War for general flavor, I will recommend Northwest Passage by Kenneth Roberts. It is a great read and will let you know about conditions in the war.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Passage_%28novel%29

http://www.amazon.com/Northwest-Passage-Kenneth-Roberts/dp/0892725427

Other internet research on Robert's Rangers would be helpful, too; as well as biographies of George Washington from that early time in his military career.

VonDan · Legendary Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 3251

Since a spammer revived the thread

I would also say the first 2 or 3 of the leather stalking tales "The Dear Slayer" And "The Last of the Mohicans"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leatherstocking_Tales
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supercOntra · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 5:06 am Post subject:

Putraack · Novice Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 8

"The journals of Robert Rogers of the Rangers" would be primary source material. Anything else you can find on Rogers and the Rangers could work for you. That's mostly military stuff, of course, but that's the backstory to most of Cooper's works.

I think there was an old Henry Fonda movie called Drums along the Mohawk, but I can't remember if it was actually any good. There was a PC "RPG" with that same title years ago, that I found charming for some reason-- both my wife and I wasted a long pre-children winter playing that.

VonDan · Legendary Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 3251

Lord Karick · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 5:06 am Post subject:

Have you thought about Orson Scott Card's "Alvin Maker" series?, they seem to be set at approximately the same time, plus there's a whole alternate history arcane background for the grabbing.
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