CT in King Minas' Labyrinth

[san*klass]

Being highly inspired by the excellent "Mercator" supplement for CT, I have been toying with and seeking inspiration from it for the last few weeks.

Although it is a fantastic piece of work I have been wanting something a lot less civilised, and so been researching the Minoan culture of some 2,500 - 1,500 earlier than Mercator's Roman Empire setting.

The Minoans had a Bronze Age trading empire all across the eastern Mediterranean, from the Black Sea to Egypt. And a very different, matriarchal, more egalitarian society than much that followed. They centered their towns around massive, thick walled "palace" complexes that seemed to have ruler, religious, manufacture and trading aspects. Their religion seems to have a single (but multifaceted) goddess, who is very often pictured with snakes entwined around both arms. And they seemed to regularly place young men and women in a bull arena, unarmed, to acrobatically dance with and leap over the enraged animals (maybe the origin of the young people sacrificed to the Minotaur in that legend?). And so all-in-all, I think, quite an interesting culture to play CT in.

It doesn't hurt either that, due to the scholars inability to decipher their tongue and writings (Linear A), much is left open to debate, so giving me a wide opportunity to design it mostly as I like, but still be faithful to at least one learned opinion.

I have just started to lay pen to paper and begin to write my campaign setting and amended rules. And so it is early days. But, if anyone is interested I will be able to share my setting and rules at some point (when I finally finish !)

 

[rhialto]

I'd be interested in it.

 

[Jame]

This is a great idea. I've always enjoyed the Minoans.

 

[Timerover51]

Are you working off of the Time-Life books on them? Those are reasonably well-done. I have 4 books covering the Minoans. You also get to play around with the Greeks of the Trojan War period as well.

 

[san*klass]

Are you working off of the Time-Life books on them? Those are reasonably well-done. I have 4 books covering the Minoans. You also get to play around with the Greeks of the Trojan War period as well.

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement.

To answer timerover51 - I haven't got the Time-Life books (although probably wish that I did!) and so I am just working from the myriad (sometimes contradictory) on-line sources. I have loved Ancient Greek mythology and history from being about ten, and so have a little sense as to the general setting. But the Minoans are mostly new to me - although very inspiring.

I do intend to play near the end of the Minoan era and so do plan for my Players to knock heads with the growing Mycenaean Empire. That and the Thera Event plus a politics/rivals arc form my long term campaign story arc plans.

I only have careers worked out so far, but will publish here as I am able to.

 

[Timerover51]

As you are in the US, you should be able to get the books on interlibrary loan, especially as one of the does have a fair amount about the Thera event. I will have to get my copies out and send you the information to you so that you can get them. For game design purposes, they would be more than adequate. Based on when you are placing the game in history, there are a couple of other books you might want to check out as well. I will have to get them out and send you that info as well.

 

[mike wightman]

You also get to sort out the mystery of Atlantis...

 

[rhialto]

You also get to sort out the mystery of Atlantis...

I was about to suggest Poul Anderson's "The Dancer from Atlantis" for inspiration.

 

[mike wightman]

I was thinking of the BBC TV series from a couple of years ago - which sadly got the costumes of Minoan females completely wrong, but I suppose it was for family viewing.

I remember reading that there was some evidence that Minoan ships may have made it to the British isles to trade for tin ore and silver.

 

[san*klass]

As you are in the US, you should be able to get the books on interlibrary loan, especially as one of the does have a fair amount about the Thera event. I will have to get my copies out and send you the information to you so that you can get them. For game design purposes, they would be more than adequate. Based on when you are placing the game in history, there are a couple of other books you might want to check out as well. I will have to get them out and send you that info as well.

timerover51, I am actually ten miles outside Glasgow in Scotland, but just never got around to changing my profile details - oooppss! All done now though.

We too have an interlibrary service though, so any details (ISBN if possible, please) are greatly appreciated.

I am planning to play at the very end of the Minoan era, with the Thera Event and Mycenaean expansion as major ongoing matters. They will start as backdrops, growing steadily in importance as the campaign grows. So I guess I had better get a good Minoan Rumor table working !!

 

[san*klass]

I was thinking of the BBC TV series from a couple of years ago - which sadly got the costumes of Minoan females completely wrong, but I suppose it was for family viewing.

I remember reading that there was some evidence that Minoan ships may have made it to the British isles to trade for tin ore and silver.

mike wrightman, yeah I guess that open bodices displaying female chests might be a bit much for the pre-watershed BBC. Out of interest can you recall the program name, please. It might be worth looking up?

 

[mike wightman]

It was called Atlantis and it occupied the Saturday evening family viewing slot on the BBC a few years back. I quite enjoyed it and the way it wove in other Greek myths - many greek myths may be rooted in Minoan and Mycenaean actual events, with considerable embellishment of course.

 

[san*klass]

It was called Atlantis and it occupied the Saturday evening family viewing slot on the BBC a few years 6back. I quite enjoyed it and the way it wove in other Greek myths - many greek myths may be rooted in Minoan and Mycenaean actual events, with considerable embellishment of course.

Many thanks Mike - I will have to scan Netflix and BBC IPlayer etc to see if I can track it down.

Going back to the actual campaign. I have roughly written up some careers and intend to play test tomorrow (when I have a spare coupla hours free!). At the moment it is:

1) Warrior - As you would expect. but with a slightly maritime bent. These are a maritime mercantile people after all.
2) Navy - 'Nuff said.
3) Merchant/Trader - At present I am combining everyone who buys, sells and builds. So sailors, ship captains, jewellers and bronzesmiths. I might split out the craftsmen-sellers from the sailor-traders though, after my playtesting!
4) Priestesses - I am making lots of assumptions here (from my Google-fu research). Firstly there are some Minoan frescos showing what seem to be priestess on ships. Whether they are junior ones as a regular feature, or that ship has some sort of a mobile shrine on board with priestesses in tow I don't know. But whichever, Minoan priestesses do seem to be t(T)ravellers and so a possible career for this campaign. Secondly I am assuming that the Bull-leapers are acolyte priestesses (and Guardians - see below) who demonstrate their faith by leaping over bulls. Bull symbolism and leaping over/passing over does seem to be common in the Bronze Age Med. See Baal-Moloch as another bovine interpretation. And so an Acrobatic skill is associated. Also Religion skill (of course!) As a inspiration from the Goddess "making things happen" skill.
5) Guardians (of the priestesses) - As above accompanied a priestess in the Bull-leaping and now a body/honorguard for her (assuming both survived!). Warrior with Acrobatics (Dodge) and a little Religion and Admin skills etc. This is totally fictional and made up by me - inspired by the fact that both young men and women are associated with the Bull-Leaping
6) Others - Every society has it's rogues and crooks - these are they. I am considering a mechanic whereby if they fail a Survival role the they are captured, and as a punishment enslaved as rowers for the next four year term. Purely my idea again - but maybe a good one?

All thoughts welcome.

 

[rhialto]

The careers sound good: do you have tables with new Skills done for each? What does the "Religion" skill do?

 

[san*klass]

The careers sound good: do you have tables with new Skills done for each? What does the "Religion" skill do?

Yes, totally. I have worked out Skills and Career path tables for each Career. I will play test them tomorrow night before publishing anything.

In my mind Religion Skill is both a knowledge of the tenets, symbolism and structures of the Minoan Goddess Potenia faith. And (probably more useful in-game) an ability to use the teachings of the faith to persuade others and make things happen as you want them too !!

 

[Jame]

Yes, totally. I have worked out Skills and Career path tables for each Career. I will play test them tomorrow night before publishing anything.

In my mind Religion Skill is both a knowledge of the tenets, symbolism and structures of the Minoan Goddess Potenia faith. And (probably more useful in-game) an ability to use the teachings of the faith to persuade others and make things happen as you want them too !!

Count me very interested in this.
Do you plan to share your work with us?

 

[san*klass]

Count me very interested in this.
Do you plan to share your work with us?

Yes, Jame566449, totally, I will share it here. It is, however, early days and so it wont be ready for a good while yet.

In the meantime you can (if you haven't already done so) download and read the excellent Roman era Mercator supplement for Traveller. This is what inspired me to work on the Minoans, and can also be found on this CT forum page.

 

[Jame]

Yes, Jame566449, totally, I will share it here. It is, however, early days and so it wont be ready for a good while yet.

In the meantime you can (if you haven't already done so) download and read the excellent Roman era Mercator supplement for Traveller. This is what inspired me to work on the Minoans, and can also be found on this CT forum page.

Why yes. I am playing in flykiller's excellent Mercator game already. Thank you!
:devil:

 

[san*klass]

Having had some time to muse while on te train to work today, I have started to plot out my next rules sections.

Combat will be broadly similar to CT, with just rules for Bronze Age missile weapons and shield added to the melee weapons already in CT. Since I think that armour must have been quite an encumbrance in 40+Celsius heat, I want to build in some rules that reflect that and make No Armour a valid option. Historically some Minoans and Mycenaean's fought totally in the buff - so I need to reflect that choice.

Ships will be broadly similar to Mercator, but trending to the lower, smaller end of the spectrum. Maybe just the two sizes of Coastal Traders and Merchant Galleys, since that is all that Minoan frescos show us. I would also tend to follow Mercator as regards ship rules - but again far simpler. No shipboard artillery, no rams, maybe just hand held missiles and grappling hooks to prepare for boarding actions.

Trade is going to be very different though. In this era there were no coins and no organised trade. And so shipping at a base rate for others is probably out the window - unless they are desperate, or friends of yours. Passengers are possible - but less common.

Trade will then, mostly, be Speculative, but (without coinage) a little more complex. I can imagine two possibilities existing side by side. As follows;-

1) You have a cargo of bronze which you sell to the local bronzesmith, receiving bronze armour and weapons in return. Both sides will use merchant and bronzesmith skills (if they have them) to determine the "price" of each set of goods. And then haggle to get the best deal for themselves. You use the prices in Mercator as a basis, but modify on the % table. So an excellent spear (determined by bronzesmith skill) could be at 130% base price, while a poorly made one at 60%. Then the haggling (Merchant skill) follows after the base is established.
2) You have a cargo of bronze which you take to the local "palace" (these seem to be trade and craft centers as much rulership and religious ones). The administrators here will examine your cargo and set a price (base % roll which determines the market for bronze at that center today). If you sell then you receive "credit" for that price which you can then use to buy any other cargo that you can afford. Whether, today, tomorrow or next week is immaterial. Any credit left over remains at that center until you use it, or pays for supplies for your crew. The only drawback is that the center takes a cut of the selling price (5-10%??) for the service.

Anyway I am back to work, so more thoughts later.

 

[san*klass]

As promised, my first set of rules for Character creation.

I have enclosed a list of names, which are (assumed by some scholars to be) Minoan personal names (but could be place names - no one really knows!).I have taken the liberty of ending in an "e" for males and an "a" for females. By all means discard that if it seems silly to you. But I think it will work for me.

My other file is my character creation rules, with a few examples after. Since we don't know enough to uncover ranks, I have decided to replace Commission/Promotion with Reputation. And I have reduced the Mustering-out to one table, based on Reputation+1D. There don't seem to be enough varied options to require separate tables for each Career.

I hope anyone finds this useful and all productive criticisms gratefully received.

Next (at some point) are Combat rule additions and amendments, then ship types, Trading etc etc.

But for the moment "That's all folks"

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByzDj2hd_nHqWnY1YThCc2E5aG8/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByzDj2hd_nHqX21SQ0FoYUhwS3c/view?usp=sharing