Western Elements 2019Game idea for module: (Edited 04/21/06, 04/02/2009, 04/10/2015) (Spell Check 2012, not sure of any other changes or corrections this or like documents. Mike Adams 1998 abrigon@gmail.com/abrigon66@gmail.com)(need to review on others that maybe newer and completer but they are not here?)https://sites.google.com/site/abrigon/gaming/elements-of-a-western-2016Print out the other Elements of a Western and see what pops up?) (Thank you Steve, Mars, David and others for ideas and corrections)(some duplications and its mostly what I have been working on, maybe redo it from the start for consistency).INDEX: Characters:- Main Characters- Minor Characters- Supporting Characters- Fill in.Character Generic:Places/Locations:Groups:Plot Ideas: Other Elements: (such as foreign, or outside the US, or science fiction or like, that fit the Western Ideal/Mold but are far from Western US/Canada or Northern Mexico). Disputes:Plots:CHARACTERS: Sheriff/Marshal Cattle Police Rustlers (Cattle or Sheep or ?)Main ones but need not be. Priest/Preacher Cowboys Bandits Little Boy/Girl Soldiers/Federals Mexican Army Federal Agent Indian Agent Scout - white or Indian, or maybe even black. Indians (helpful of they are known aggressive types, but not always, depends on the plot, never know they might be the victims.)Bartender Bar Maid Whores/Entertainers/Madame Drunk(s) Preacher Lord/Don/Owner of the local ranch Undertaker Hangman School Teacher Snake Oil Salesman (or some other travelling sales person) Conmen (see snake oil, but not always the same)Carpet Bagger (more for southern style)Bankers (can be a character or just a plot device, or? ) Prospectors/MinersBlacksmith Gambler Gunslinger Peasants/Peon Slaves - Former or even depending on time and place, current. Slaves are not always black, some Asian and Irish slaves/in dentured servants, as well as some Indians (From India) was used in late western times. Chinese/Blacks/Irish slaves or semi-slaves (Indentured). Many southerners used black slaves from their plantations/stock to mine California gold from their lands there. Confederates (former/bandits or refugees?) POWs and who/what else?Engineers (Train normally, but possible others, like the oil or water or projects type) Doctor/Dentist/Snake Oil Salesmen - Quack or for real Adventurer/Big Game Hunter Judge Post MasterGunsmith Carpetbagger (southern style or ?) Foreign dignitary (not often) President or member of current or past administration) Member of Congress, but not often Secret Agent (See James West for some ideas, but not always) CHARACTERS: Post Master/Clerk Stagecoach Driver/Guard/Clerk Sheriff/Prison Guard/Deputy/Marshal Bounty Hunter Madame/Whore/Bartender/Kid Bank Manager/Clerk/Guard General Store Owner/Manager/Clerk/Worker Miner/Prospector/Assayer Cattlemen Police/Sheriff Newspaper Owner/Press person Mortician/Grave Digger Executioner/Hangman Priest/Pastor Mine Owner/Manager Doctor/Nurse (more like helper or wife?) Doctor might also do Vet work? Blacksmith/Copper Smith.Gunsmith. Bandits - Mexican Former Union/Confederate/French/Mexican Army. Guards/Soldiers Former or current Militia?GENERIC CHARACTERS Hero Villain Often a big land owner or trying to be. Main Secondary Villain, often the head of the local ranch or like, the face of the Villain. Side Kick - Victim(s) Snitch Love Interest (Even if not romantically involved) Horse Dog or other animal non-riding Madame Deputies/ Posse Vigilantes Bounty HuntersBuffalo hunters Barber/ bathhouse Telegraph operator Piano Player (or other instrument?) Farmer Cattle rancher Sheep Herder/Ranch Cavalrymen Madame School Teacher Pony Express ClerkPony Express RiderWells Fargo Stage Railroad Spanish Mission - monks and maybe nuns Suttler (general store) Mule Skinner Chinese railroad workers Chinese Doctor/Pharmacy/Apothecary. Chinese MinersEarly Union Organizer Cooper Wainwright (making wagons and like) Assayer (Got to remember what some of the professions was doing)OTHER ELEMENTS: Foreign elements such as: Mexico/Spanish - Poncho Vila - Emperor Maximillian - Texas/Chihuahua Rebellion French Canadian - What is now NW US was once US/British Territory (Oregon/Washington/Idaho and ..) As well as foreign trade. California was a nation for a short time.. Also Russia claimed what is now Alaska, British Columbia, Washington/Oregon/California coast to San Francisco and Hawaii.. Hawaii was a monarchy and more.>From David (world create?)Leader / Planner / LawmakerDiplomat / TranslatorCounsellor / Peacemaker / Priest / PhilosopherArcheologist / Scientist / Scholar / DesignerBerserker / Loner / Wild CardSidekick / Comic ReliefCon Man / CharismaticCHARACTERS:- GENERIC Hero Villain Often a big land owner or trying to be. Main Secondary Villain, often the head of the local ranch or like, the face of the Villain. Side Kick - Victim(s) Snitch Love Interest (Even if not romantically involved) Horse Dog or other animal non-riding Madame Deputies/ Posse Vigilantes Bounty Hunters Buffalo hunters Barber/ bathhouse Telegraph operator Piano Player Farmer Cattle rancher Sheep Herder/Ranch Cavalrymen Madame School Teacher Pony Express Wells Fargo Stage Railroad Spanish Mission monks and maybe nuns Suttler (general store) Mule Skinner Chinese railroad workers Chinese Doctor/Pharmacy/Apothecary. Early Union Organizer Cooper Wainwright (making wagons and like) Assayer (got to remember what some of the professions was doing) LAW ENFORCEMENT: Sheriff/Marshal Cattle Police Deputy RangerMountieLEGAL:JudgeLawyerCity ClerkBUSINESS:Suttler StoreStage CoachBarMotel/HotelWhore HouseENEMIES: (depends on point of view): (From Adds) From David (world create?) Leader / Planner / Lawmaker Diplomat / Translator Counselor / Peacemaker / Priest / Philosopher Archaeologist / Scientist / Scholar / Designer Berserker / Loner / Wild Card Sidekick / Comic Relief Con Man / CharismaticPLACES: Hotel/Bar Whore House Ranch - Sheep/Cattle Farm Bank Jail Train Stop/Station Store (General/Settler) Houses Court House Feed Store/Livery Stable/Blacksmith/Corral Hacienda/Ranch (And buildings for it) Church Gallows Undertakers Office Doctors Office Post Office Fort Apothecary Opium Den (sometimes the same as the Apothecary, some time separate) often run by a Chinese doctor. Corral Brothel Assayers office Land claims office Wainwrights or Cooper place/shop (one does wagons the other does wheels or is it pots/pans and like?) GROUPS: - Cattlemen - Sheep Herders - Farmer - Former Slaves - Settlers - Settlers Mormons - Wives Club - Grange/Farmers Groups - Crime Group Hatfield/McCoy/etc.: Any group that might have a natural grudge against the other, often due to a land or like issues that went to far. Racial/Religious/Romance and more (Romeo and Juliet). Deputies Soldiers Tribes Cattlemen Sheep HerdersFarmers Miners Chinese: Chinese or other Asian group (most often seen in the western US). Chinese and like can add Eastern elements, such as the early Tong/Triads and more. But also how they were treated.. Mexicans (Spanish and Non-Spanish). Revolutionaries (Poncho and Friends and more). Much of the troubles of the 1840s to 1920 were over Northern Mexican issues, and land acquisition from Mexico). Cartels being the modern form of this?Groups, ex-Confeds, like Klan or like type people, or you mean like the James/Younger/Dalton gangs, who had Mosby or Quantrill backgrounds.. True, need not be ex-confederates, can be real ones, such as they mission in like 1863 to go to California. But they did not get there to cut off the gold mines.. Or as said before they got lost or just trying to escape from justice. Mormons or other religious group, most often Christian in nature. Like Black settlers, off to find a land where slavery is not around, or something like that. Monastery or like things? PLOT IDEAS: Gun slinger Cattlemen vs. Sheep Herders Sheep Herders vs. Farmers Farmers vs. Cattlemen Farmers vs. Sheep Herders or Cattlemen Miners vs. someone? Claim jumpers or ? Murder or self defense Locked up wrongly locked up/imprisoned. Defense, sheriff arrests someone and he can not do much until judge or marshal is in town or army is. Runaway slave Burning down the local Chinese doctors house (why many Chinese doctors houses/work place was strong and nearly bullet proof).Conflict: Well, Hatfields and McCoy, can also means two groups that do not like each other, to include farmers vs. cattle headers, or sheep herders vs. cattle and so on. Indian tribes vs another tribe, and any allies brought into the conflict.Looking for more ideas and such, some westerns are more 1900s, but could be westerns, sort of.PLOT LINES: Abused wife on the run Cowardly Sheriff Escaped Slave(s) Freed Slaves (group or) Mexican Laborers Escaped Indians Peons Soldiers Damsel in Distress Kidnapping Rustled Cattle Sheep Herders Water Rights Westerns can include South America? Wandering Monk(s) Pilgrims How far back is a Western? Spanish conquest? Pre-Spanish (some basic background from pre-Columbian. CLASSIC PLOT LINES: Corrupt Judge or like? Such as federal agent, Indian agent, sheriff and more. Hum, maybe a list of known clash types as well as scenarios for classic westerns? Cattle/Sheep Rustlers Herders vs. the Animals (not common, but more than people think) Sheriff vs. someone, sometimes a good thing, sometimes not, like a corrupt sheriff in the pocket of the cattlemen, and the son of the local sheep herder who is in love with the chief cattlemens daughter or something else, but he faces hanging cause of a murder or self defense or .. Like the classic Sheriff besieged in his jail until the Army gets there? Railroad vs. ... Cattlemen or .. Sheep or Indians or .... Will review and make changes.. How many movies that were not a western, but might as well has been one? Star Wars for instance? Movies that come to mind for ideas? Mike From Steve ------From David I Think: The 7 Standard Western Plots Shane - retired gunslinger defends the little guy The Magnificent 7 - Team is hired to defend entire town. . Silverado - team must get rid of evil sheriff and his cronies. . Save the widow's farm from Simon LaGrie who is foreclosing on the Mortgage . Zorro (late period swashbuckling adventures) Defense of the Settler from Indians or Bandits, or on the trail from starvation or like Train robbers or like Check out the cowboy channel on cable or satellite. Just look at the Schedule menu, the plots are summarized. Claim jumpers on gold prospectors, Jail breaks or preventing jail Breaks, Bank robbers, MOVIES/TV SHOWS/BOOKS: Magnificent Seven Gun Smoke Jeremiah Johnson Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo. (1966) C'era una volta il West (1968) The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) The Wind (1928) High Noon (1952) Per qualche dollaro in più (1965) No Country for Old Men (2007) Unforgiven (1992) The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) The Gold Rush (1925)Kung Fu TV 1980s.. WESTERN FILM LINKS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_(genre) http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Genres/Western/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Western_films Western Films List -- The Magnificent Seven, was a remake of an Akira Kurosawa film about Samurai.So was Fistful of Dollars with Clint Eastwood.A Chinese movie, called Warriors of Heaven and Earth definitely has elementsof the Western, not least some huge sweeping scenery, albeit with an Asianflair. 'The convoy MUST get through' although carrying Buddhist relicsinstead of supplies or settlers.Richard Rossow rebelpoetinarms at gmail.comMon Nov 30 06:43:08 AKST 2009"Yes, spagetti westerns are almost clique but yes, wild how one culturesbooks can be converted to anothers? Fistful, did not know.. I know the oneabout several samurai who go underground so they can come up later andslaughter the enemy and murdered/forced seppeku of their now dead master."That's 47 Ronin I think, also an Akira Kurosawa film I believe.The Celts have a LOOOOONG tradition of cattle thieving. The 'Tain boCulainn' (not sure of spelling) is supposed to be the 'Irish Iliad' and itall starts with stealing a prize bull. Good read!Something in the time of the Romans could fit here. Savage Germanics orCelts taking the place of 'Indians' and a Roman land-owner.For a very grim Western (and John Wayne character) check out 'TheSojourners'.I would also recommend 'True Grit' for a Western a bit off the beaten path,as it features a young girl heroine (as well as John Wayne)Speaking of Akira Kurosawa....anyone interested in a 'Japanese Night' ? Ihaven't done one in a while. Maybe in January. I can make some tempura andmiso soup and we can watch an Akira Kurosawa flick. I own Seven Samurai and Ran.rebelpoetinarms at gmail.comDISPUTES: (many from Steve)There were always disputes between farmers and ranchers. Often Ranchers would buy up huge tracts of land and then fence it off, usually tying up water supplies and roads that farmers disparately needed. Sometimes it was vice-versa where farmers would fence off a lot of small properties and not allow ranchers to let their cattle/sheep/whichever to graze. Grange/Farmers Groups Commonly, farmers were in struggle with buyers. These companies, back when there were no regulations, would try to low ball them every time and would go so far as to use hired guns or sabotage to get their way. Farmers would try to fight back with their Co-op groups (kind of like a farmer's union) but these were often busted up with hired guns. Alternately, buyer companies would try to pose as legit commodities brokers and start co-ops with farmers - and then screw them afterwards (very low). Crime Group: Usually ex-confederates who didn't get over losing the war, or just didn't adjust to life after the civil war. Confederacy did move out to the western US, but failed. Hatfield/McCoy/etc. I personally wouldn't focus on something like that. That is more of a southern thing - although if you want to combine it with one of the above themes, it might make interesting twist. Soldiers/Tribes Enraged natives who are hell bent on protecting their way of life because the white man keeps reneging on their treaties - and the soldiers who are caught up in the mess. Many times, ranchers and prospectors would encroach on native lands despite ironclad treaties; these groups would form lobby-groups in Washington who in turn would make laws which allowed these groups to ignore the treaties. Also, the effort to put telegraph lines and railways tracks across the country. Almost always they didn't ask first. How would you like it if it built a swimming pool half on your backyard - and then built a fence around it so you couldn't use it? These are merely some ideas off the top of my head. I watched many a western as a young lad...so often these plot ideas can be political back drops to a scenario. Of course you could still mix in the typically bank robbers, glory seekers, street duels (gunfights), barroom brawls, etc etc. Until civilization moved in in the 1880's-90s, the west was fairly lawless - except in big cities or large towns (Dodge City for instance). But out in the boonies, it was pretty pure anarchy. SteveFrom David (world create?) Leader / Planner / Lawmaker Diplomat / Translator Counselor / Peacemaker / Priest / Philosopher Archeologist / Scientist / Scholar / Designer Berserker / Loner / Wild Card Sidekick / Comic Relief Con Man / CharismaticCLASSIC PLOT LINES: Hum, maybe a list of known clash types as well as scenarios for classic westerns? Corrupt Judge or like? Such as federal agent, Indian agent, sheriff and more. Cattle/Sheep Rustlers Herders vs the Animals (not common, but more than people think). Sheriff vs someone, sometimes a good thing, sometimes not, like a corrupt sheriff in the pocket of the cattlemen, and the son of the local sheep herder who is in love with the chief cattlemen daughter or something else, but he faces hanging cause of a murder or self defense or .. Like the classic Sheriff besieges in his jail until the Army gets there? Railroad vs ... Cattlemen or .. Sheep or Indians or .... Will review and make changes..DISPUTES: There was always disputes between farmers and ranchers. Often Ranchers would buy up huge tracts of land and then fence it off, usually tying up water supplies ans roads that farmers disparately needed. Sometimes it was vice-versa where farmers would fence off alot of small properties and not allow ranchers to let their cattle/sheep/whichever to graze. Grange/Farmers Groups Commonly, farmers were in struggle with buyers. These companies, back when there were no regulations, would try to low ball them every time and would go so far as to use hired guns or sabotage to get their way. Farmers would try to fight back with their Co-op groups (kinda like a farmer's union) but these were often busted up with hired guns. Alternately, buyer companies would try to pose as legit commodities brokers and start co-ops with farmers - and then screw them afterwards (very low). Railroad vs anyone with land that they wanted. Crime Group: Usually ex-confederates who didn't get over losing the war, or just didn't adjust to life after the civil war. Confederacy did move out to the western US, but failed. Hattfield/McCoy/etc I personally wouldn't focus on something like that. That is more of a southern thing - although if you want to combine it with one of the above themes, it might make interesting twist. Soldiers/Tribes: Enraged natives who are hell bent on protecting their way of life because the white man keeps reneging on their treaties - and the soldiers who are caught up in the mess. Many times, ranchers and prospectors would encroach on native lands despite ironclad treaties, these groups would form lobby-groups in Washington who in turn would make laws which allowed these groups to ignore the treaties. Also, the effort to put telegraph lines and railways tracks across the country. Almost always they didn't ask first. How would you like it if it built a swimming pool half on your backyard - and then built a fence around it so you couldn't use it? These are merely some ideas off the top of my head. I watched many a western as a young lad...so often these plot ideas can be political back drops to a scenario. Of course you could still mix in the typically bank robbers, glory seekers, street duels (gunfights), barroom brawls, etc etc. Until civilization moved in in the 1880's-90s, the west was fairly lawless - except in big cities or large towns (Dodge City for instance). But out in the boonies, it was pretty pure anarchy. SteveFrom David I Think:The 7 Standard Western Plots Shane - retired gunslinger defends the little guy The Magnificent 7 - Team is hired to defend entire town. . Silverado - team must get rid of evil sherif and his cronies. . Save the Widder's farm from Simon LaGrie who is foreclosing on the mortgage . Zorro (late period swashbuckling adventures) Defense of the Settler from Indians or Bandits, or on the trail from starvation or like Train robbers or like Check out the cowboy channel on cable or satellite. Just look at the schedule menu, the plots are summarized. Claim jumpers on gold prospectors, Jail breaks or preventing jail breaks, Bank robbers, CHARACTERS: Sheriff/Marshal Cattle Police Rustlers with Cattle being the main ones but need not be. Priest/Preacher Cowboys Bandits Little Boy/Girl Soldiers/Federals - US- Mexican Army - French (Canada or Mexico or )- Spanish - British- Russian- OthersFederal Agent Indian Agent Scout - white or Indian, or maybe even black. Indians (helpful of they are known aggressive types, but not always, depends on the plot). Never know they might be the victims. Bar: - Bartender - Bar Maid - Whores/Entertainers/Madame - Drunk(s) - Gamblers/Card SharksPreacher Lord/Don/Owner of the local ranch Undertaker Hangman School Teacher Snake Oil Salesman (or some other travelers/sales person) Conmen (see snake oil, but not always the same) Carpet Bagger (more for southern style) Bankers (can be a character or just a plot device, or? ) .Prospectors/Miners Blacksmith Gambler Gunslinger Peasants/Peon Slaves - Former or even depending on time and place, current. - Slaves are not always black, some Asian and Irish slaves/indentured servants, as well as some Indians (From India) was used in late western times. - Chinese/Blacks/Irish slaves or semi-slaves (Indentured). - Many southerners used black slaves from their plantations/stock to mine Californian gold for their lands there. Confederates (former/bandits or refugees?) Engineers (Train normally, but possible others, like the oil or water or projects type) Doctor/Dentist/Snake Oil Salesmen (Quack or for real.)Adventurer/Big Game Hunter Judge Post Master Gunsmith Carpetbagger (southern style or ?) Foreign dignitary (not often) President or member of current or past administration) Member of Congress, but not often Secret Agent (See James West for some ideas, but not always) -------------------MORE CHARACTERS: Post Master/Clerk Stagecoach Driver/Guard/Clerk Sheriff/Prison Guard/Deputy/Marshal Bounty Hunter Madame/Whore/Bartender/Kid Bank Manager/Clerk/Guard General Store Owner/Manager/Clerk/Worker Miner/Prospector/Assayer Cattlemen Police/Sheriff Newspaper Owner/Press person Mortician/Grave Digger Executioner/Hangman Priest/Pastor Mine Owner/Manager Doctor/Nurse (more like helper or wife?) Doctor might also do Vet work? Blacksmith/Copper Smith, Gunsmith. Bandits - Mexican - Former Union/Confederate/French/Mexican Army. Guards/Soldiers Former or current Militia PLACES: Hotel/Bar Whore House Ranch - Sheep/Cattle Farm Bank Jail Train Stop/Station Store (General) Houses Court House Feed Store/Livery Stable/Blacksmith/Corral Hacienda/Ranch (And buildings for it) Church Gallows Undertakers Office Doctors Office Post Office Fort Apothecary Opium Den (sometimes the same as the Apothecary, some time separate) Often run by a Chinese doctor. Corral Brothel Assayers office Land claims office Wainwrights or Cooper place/shop (one does wagons the other does wheels or is it pots/pans and like?) GROUPS: Cattlemen Sheep Herders Farmer Settlers - Former Slaves- Mormons or other like religious groups Wives Club Grange/Farmers Groups Crime Group Hatfield/McCoy/etc: Any group that might have a natural grudge against the other, often due to a land or like issues that went to far. Racial/Religious/Romance and more (Romeo and Juliet). Deputies Soldiers Tribes Cattlemen Sheep Herders Farmers Miners Chinese: Chinese or other Asian group (most often seen in the western US). Chinese and like can add Eastern elements, such as the early Tong/Triads and more. But also how they was treated.. Mexicans (Spanish and Non-Spanish). Revolutionaries (Poncho and Friends and more). Much of the troubles of the 1840s to 1920 was over Northern Mexican issues, and land acquisition from Mexico). Groups, ex-Confeds, like Klan or like type people, or you mean like the James/Younger/Dalton gangs, who had Mosby or Quantrill backgrounds.. True, need not be ex-confederates, can be real ones, such as they mission in like 1863 to go to California. But they did not get there to cut off the gold mines.. Or as said before they got lost or just trying to escape from justice. Mormons or other religious group, most often Christian in nature. Like Black settlers, off to find a land where slavery is not around, or something like that. Monastery or like things? PLOT IDEAS: Gun slinger Cattlemen vs Sheep Herders Sheep Herders vs Farmers Farmers vs Cattlemen Farmers vs Sheep Herders or Cattlemen Miners vs someone? Claim jumpers or ? Murder or self defense Locked up wrongly Defense, sheriff arrests someone and he can not do much until judge or marshal is in town or army is. Runaway slave Burning down the local Chinese doctors house (why many Chinese doctors houses/work place was strong and nearly bullet proof). Conflict: Well, Hatfields and McCoy, can also means two groups that do not like each other, to include farmers vs cattle headers, or sheep herders vs cattle and so on. Looking for more ideas and such, some westerns are more 1900s, but could be westerns, sort of. PLOT LINES: Abused wife on the run Cowardly Sheriff Escaped Slave Freed Slaves (group or) Mexican Laborers Escaped Indians Peons Soldiers Damsel in Distress Kidnapping Rustled Cattle Sheep Herders Water Rights Westerns can include South America? Wandering Monk(s) Pilgrims Column of Soldiers Us or other) How far back is a Western? Spanish conquest? Pre-Spanish (some basic background from pre-Columbian. How many movies that was not a western, but might as well been one? Star Wars for instance? Movies that come to mind for ideas? OTHER ELEMENTS: Foreign elements such as: Mexico/Spanish - Poncho Vila - Emperor Maximillian - Texas/Chihuahua Rebellion French Canadian - What is now NW US was once US/British Territory (Oregon/Washington/Idaho and ..) As well as foreign trade. California was a nation for a short time.. Also Russia claimed what is now Alaska, British Columbia, Washington/Oregon/California coast to San Fransisco and Hawaii.. From SteveMike Adams 2015 and earlierhttps://sites.google.com/site/abrigon/gaming/elements-of-a-western-2016