I came to Terry Pratchett’s work only relatively recently, but since I discovered his books for myself, I’ve become an avid fan.
The reasons why I had rejected his work was more to do with my perceptions of his fans than anything else. At several points in my life I’ve worked with Pratchett/Discworld fans … and some of them were so fanatical about his work that they made Potterheads (i.e. diehard fans of Harry Potter) look positively non-geeky! One even had a scale model of the Unseen University in his study.
It was not until I retired that I bought a couple of cheap audio CDs of some of Terry Pratchett’s books … and then I was hooked!
Some time ago I bought a copy of THE COMPLEAT DISCWORLD ATLAS, and spent many happy hours reading it.
At the time I gave some thought as to whether or not I could use the information in the atlas as the basis for some imagi-nations … but I rejected this idea as I thought that I would need to buy and paint loads of figures at a time when I needed to downsize rather than increase my collections … and then I saw the Angst-Lesspork 009-scale model railway.
It is set during the late Victorian/early Edwardian period … in other words, the Belle Époque, which is currently my favourite wargaming period!
I did revisit my decision not to create some imagi-nations based on the countries of the Discworld, but after some very serious deliberation, I decided – somewhat reluctantly – not to go down that route. However, the Angst-Lesspork model railway has given me some ideas for my own 009 model railway.
Please note that photographs featured above are © Bernard Pearson and Anst-Lesspork.
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The Angst-Lesspork railway is very nice - I like the great little vignettes to be seen on their website!
ReplyDeleteMaudlin Jack Tar,
DeleteI particularly liked the landing zone for witches - which was marked with a large ‘W’ in a circle - and the presence of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
All the best,
Bob
Interesting stuff, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen a few bits here and there for disc world. I have had a go at doing it with part of the forgotten realms of dungeons and dragons. Though it’s up to the point where the major players have there place and literally it’s who ever is brave enough to press the “red button”
ReplyDeleteDemitri Ioannou,
DeleteI should imagine that the the Discworld lends itself to all sorts of RPGs, although I’ve never tried it myself.
All the best,
Bob
I believe a fair few gamers have Discworld armies for Hordes of the Things. Fantasy, swordplay, humour and wargaming - a great combination ⚔️😎
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Geoff
Indeed, the Hordes of the Things rule set (originally a DBA spinoff) had a swathe of army lists for Discworld forces.
DeleteBob, the Pratchett books are great reads - well constructed with some superb observations of ‘how people tick’ subtly built in. The fantasy settings are often a thinly disguised cover for real world countries/types of country we’re all familiar with, so easy to envisage.
Personally, I love ‘em.
Elliesdad,
DeleteI can imagine that HOTT would be a great way to create and use a whole series of Discworld armies.
All the best,
Bob
Martin S.,
DeleteI think that it is the way that he uses the fantasy settings to make comments about modern life that appeals to me. Very clever … and very funny!
All the best,
Bob
Hola Bob
ReplyDeleteLas maquetas siempre me hacen volar la imaginación hacia juegos de escaramuza, con pocas figuras por lado y algo cercano a los RPG tácticos. Esa en concreto se ve preciosa.
El periodo Victoriano es muy bueno y divertido para wargames, aunque los siglos XVI y XVII son mis favoritos, como buen fanático de los Tercios Españoles.
Espero que tu salud vaya mejorando y que te sientas mejor.
Muchas gracias por este artículo Bob, muy interesante y ameno de leer.
MM
Hello Bob
DeleteModels always make my imagination fly towards skirmish games, with few figures per side and something close to tactical RPGs. That one in particular looks beautiful.
The Victorian period is very good and fun for wargames, although the 16th and 17th centuries are my favorites, as a good fan of the Spanish Tercios.
I hope your health improves and that you feel better.
Thank you very much for this article Bob, very interesting and enjoyable to read.
MM
MM,
This model is built to a very high standard and has lots of little details that make it stand out.
I’ve never played many RPGs but since I am still confined to bed (except when I am hoisted out of bed and put into a special orthopaedic chair) I really ought to consider doing so.
I covered the era of the Tercios in the Portable Pike and Shot Wargame book, but have only fought a few wargames set during that era, and they were all from the English Civil War.
All the best,
Bob
MM,
Este modelo está construido con un estándar muy alto y tiene muchos pequeños detalles que lo hacen destacar.
Nunca he jugado muchos juegos de rol, pero como todavía estoy confinado en la cama (excepto cuando me sacan de la cama y me colocan en una silla ortopédica especial), realmente debería considerar hacerlo.
Cubrí la era de los Tercios en el libro Portable Pike and Shot Wargame, pero solo he participado en unos pocos juegos de guerra ambientados durante esa época, y todos eran de la Guerra Civil Inglesa.
Mis mejores deseos,
Bob
That sculpture of UU is nuts. And amazing and utterly delightful!
ReplyDeleteI have been reading the Discworld series for quite a while now. Not sure when I first got into them. I think I picked up a couple of the books on vacation in the UK at some point, possibly in the 1980s. I love the atlases and other ancillary books and materials, too.
Fitz-Badger,
DeleteI understand that there were other buildings in the series, including one of the Seamstresses Guild which came with a warning about what it depicted!
I think that Terry Pratchett’s Discworld will - with time - continue to grow in importance, mainly because it contains so many thinly veiled comments about the modern world.
All the best,
Bob
I have a few of the miniature figures (DEATH, the Librarian, and one or two others). I recall seeing some blog or videos once where a hobbyist made his own versions of the Drum (Mended or Broken) and one of the witches' cottages.
DeleteAs you and others said, the Discworld books often offer commentary on the modern world, as well as fantasy tropes. In some cases, more of the former; in other cases more of the latter. The Tiffany Aching series feels to me like it is very rooted in local British folklore, while also having a lot of fun with the Wee Free Men.
Fitz-Badger,
DeleteTerry Pratchett's Discworld stories are full of real-life analogues, with sprites being the equivalent of electronics (e.g. digital camera and PDAs) and with the treatment of the goblins being very similar to the way African people were treated by 'sophisticated' Europeans.
All the best,
Bob
I love the Discworld novels, and have that Atlas. For me it's been more inspirational for my RPG games rather than my wargaming. Foof for thought.
ReplyDeleteMark Cordone,
DeleteWhy am I not surprised that you like the books as well?
I can see why it is a great setting for RPGs, although I’ve not tried it myself.
All the best,
Bob
Bob -
ReplyDeleteIt took me a while to 'get into' the Discworld novels, but when I lit on one that featured who was to become my favorite character, Sam Vimes - a favorite among a lot of favorites - I was hooked. The fourth book I started, the first to finish.
Probably the best of them for mine is 'Night Watch' - and that could quite easily be adapted into a very interesting campaign - an alternative version of the 1871 Paris Commune.
The War between Borogravia and Zlobenia ('Monstrous Regiment') offers something more in the 'battles between nations' line. Plenty of differences of viewpoint there, including a rather wayward river marking the border. That it changes course with every rainstorm both sides find irksome...
Finally, for the real fantasy fan, certain events in Lancre ought to offer great sport...
Whilst on the subject of Terry Pratchett, you might want to glance at 'The Carpet People'. That world offers huge scope for international bickerings. My guess at the scale of this world seemed to indicate that the carpet in my lounge is about the size of Australia. Of course, the terrain would be heavily 'wooded' depending upon the pile and the weave...
Cheers,
Ion
Bob -
DeleteI clean forgot the war between Ankh-Morepork and Klatch (capital: Al Khali)! How did that happen? Check out 'Jingo'. But you might want to read the earlier 'City Guards' novels first.
Cheers,
Ion
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteSam Vimes is my favourite character from the books ,,, and I even watched the BBC TV show called THE WATCH (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Watch_(TV_series))that featured his character but in a modern-ish version of Ankh-Morepork. The series got panned by a lot of Pratchettheads, but I rather liked it. Sam Vimes was played by Richard Dormer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dormer) who more recently played a policeman serving in the Police Service of Northern Ireland in an excellent BBC TV police procedural called BLUE LIGHTS (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Lights_(2023_TV_series)).
The Glorious Revolution of the Twenty-Fifth of May - which is such an important element of THE NIGHT WATCH would make an excellent tabletop game and/or RPG. (It's interesting that Terry Pratchett chose that date, which is the day on which Argentina celebrates the outbreak of its war of independence.) By the way, did you know that there is a video on YouTube that has the song 'All the little Angels rise up'.
As to the other wars of Discworld ... well, the one between Borogravia and Zlobenia has potential as the background to a rather quirky wargame campaign.
I really ought to read the most recent edition of THE CARPET PEOPLE, especially as it has its basis in the first novel he ever wrote.
Sorry for all the links,
All the best,
Bob
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteWasn't the war between Ankh-Morepork and Klatch over the ownership of the the transitory island of Leshp?
All the best,
Bob
So Al Khali was the Klatchians base?
Delete(sorry, I'll see myself out)
Fitz-Badger,
DeleteNo need to apologise as I suspect that was one of Terry Pratchett’s numerous pun jokes!
All the best,
Bob