History TabletopGame / LaceAndSteel

* FantasyCounterpartCulture: The main setting of Mittlemarch bears a clear resemblance to Europe during TheCavalierYears. What with its Absolutist monarchs, courtly intrigue, pike and shot weaponry, and flamboyant Baroque style. Despite this, there are some clear differences. For one thing, the traditional narrative of European history is flipped with the Tantic (aka Germanic) nations descending from the powerful empire while the reformation, (aka Latin) nations spawning from barbarian invaders. In addition, there was no Protestant reformation, and the north is warm and the south is cold.

* FantasyCounterpartCulture: The main setting of Mittlemarch bears a clear resemblance to Europe during TheCavalierYears. What with its Absolutist monarchs, courtly intrigue, pike and shot weaponry, and flamboyant Baroque style. Despite their there are some clear differences. For one thing, the traditional narrative of European history is flipped with the Tantic (aka Germanic) nations descending from the powerful empire while the Alamaric (aka Latin) nations spawning from barbarian invaders. In addition, there was no Protestant reformation and the north is warm and the south is cold
** Duncruigh: This maritime nation, known for its parliamentary monarchy and thriving trade network, is clearly inspired by [[UsefulNotes/{{Britain}} England]]. It's noted for featuring a powerful middle class at the nobilities expense, similar to England after the civil war.
** Scarmis: GrimUpNorth but in the South. Scarmis is a maritime nation with a history of militarism and freezing weather. While it serves a s stand in for Scandinavia as a whole, it bears a particular resemblance to UsefulNotes/{{Sweden}}. It's war with Forija recalls the Great Northern War.

** Forija: A combination of the UsefulNotes/TsaristRussia and the UsefulNotes/PolishLithuanianCommonwealth. Like Russia, Forija is a rising empire in a freezing part of the world, that rose to power by uniting city-states and conquering an East populated by steppe riders. However the cavalry's use of "winged hussars" recalls the Commonwealth, not to mention their tendency for flamboyancy. However the nations in general characteristics, as well as their war with Scarmis, marks it as mostly Russian.
** Albernia: Spain, in particular based on the villanous reputation they possed in the time period. Situated in the warm north, with ties to Haravy, Albernia is a decadent nation intended to be the games main antagonists.

** Tantic Empire: the UsefulNotes/HolyRomanEmpire. The Tantic Empire retains its influences decentralized nature, medieval traditions, and German naming conventions. Despite this it also fills the role of the original UsefulNotes/RomanEmpire: it's existed since ancient times and Jesus was crucified within its borders.
** Haraby: ArabianNightsDays, with a particular influence from UsefulNotes/TurksWithTroops. It's style is based more on Christian perceptions of the Ottomon Turks rather than how it actually was.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfRules: The game is firmly a product of its time: having to look up things in ''two'' tables just to make a ''basic'' ability check may be quite jarring to a post-UsefulNotes/{{d20|System}} player.

* FiveRaces: Completely averted! The playable races besides humans are actually [[OurCentaursAreDifferent Half-Horses]] (large and strong), [[FaunsAndSatyrs Satyrs]] (nimble and enterprising), [[HarpingOnAboutHarpies Harpies]] (flying and matriarchal), and [[WingedHumanoid Pixies]] (nature-attuned and inventive). In other words, the game is consciously inspired more by Mediterranean and Celtic folklore than by the Germanic and North-European influences used by Tolkien.

** Nantierre: UsefulNotes/LetatCestMoi, Nantierre is led by an Absolute Monarch half horse named Queen Aelis. Nantierre has a powerful army dominated by the nobility, as well as a reputation for cosmopolitanism and high fashion. In a perpetual war with Duncruigh, much like England and Pre-revolutionary UsefulNotes/{{France}}.

** Scarmis: {{Grim Up North}} but in the South. Scarmis is a maritime nation with a history of militarism and freezing weather. While it serves a s stand in for Scandinavia as a whole, it bears a particular resemblance to {{Sweden}}. It's war with Forija recalls the Great Northern War.
** Nantierre: UsefulNotes/LetatCestMoi, Nantierre is led by an Absolute Monarch half horse named Queen Aelis. Nantierre has a powerful army dominated by the nobility, as well as a reputation for cosmopolitanism and high fashion. In a perpetual war with Duncruigh, much like England and Pre-revolutionary {{France}}.

** Welfland: {{The Netherlands}}, This is a young Republic created after a daring revolt. Armies from all the major nations are currently fighting to determine its future. Noted for having the potential to become a major trading and naval power.
** Tantic Empire: the {{Holy Roman Empire}}. The Tantic Empire retains its influences decentralized nature, medieval traditions, and German naming conventions. Despite this it also fills the role of the original UsefulNotes/RomanEmpire: it's existed since ancient times and Jesus was crucified within its borders.
** Haraby: {{Arabian Nights Days}}, with a particular influence from UsefulNotes/TurksWithTroops. It's style is based more on Christian perceptions of the Ottomon Turks rather than how it actually was.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfRules: The game is firmly a product of its time: having to look up things in ''two'' tables just to make a ''basic'' ability check may be quite jarring to a post-TabletopGame/{{d20|System}} player.

* FantasyCounterpartCulture: The main setting of Mittlemarch bears a clear resemblance to Europe during the {{Cavalier Years}}. What with its Absolutist monarchs, courtly intrigue, pike and shot weaponry, and flamboyant Baroque style. Despite their there are some clear differences. For one thing, the traditional narrative of European history is flipped with the Tantic (aka Germanic) nations descending from the powerful empire while the Alamaric (aka Latin) nations spawning from barbarian invaders. In addition, there was no Protestant reformation and the north is warm and the south is cold
** Duncruigh: This maritime nation, known for its parliamentary monarchy and thriving trade network, is clearly inspired by {{England}}. It's noted for featuring a powerful middle class at the nobilities expense, similar to England after the civil war.

** Nantierre: {{Decadent Ancien Regime France}}, Nantierre is led by an Absolute Monarch half horse named Queen Aelis. Nantierre has a powerful army dominated by the nobility, as well as a reputation for cosmopolitanism and high fashion. In a perpetual war with Duncruigh, much like England and Pre-revolutionary {{France}}.

** Forija: A combination of the {{Russian Tsardom}} and the {{Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth}}. Like Russia, Forija is a rising empire in a freezing part of the world, that rose to power by uniting city-states and conquering an East populated by steppe riders. However the cavalry's use of "winged hussars" recalls the Commonwealth, not to mention their tendency for flamboyancy. However the nations in general characteristics, as well as their war with Scarmis, marks it as mostly Russian.

** Tantic Empire: the {{Holy Roman Empire}}. The Tantic Empire retains its influences decentralized nature, medieval traditions, and German naming conventions. Despite this it also fills the role of the original {[Roman Empire}}: it's existed since ancient times and Jesus was crucified within its borders.
** Haraby: {{Arabian Nights Days}}, with a particular influence from {{Turks with Tanks}}. It's style is based more on Christian perceptions of the Ottomon Turks rather than how it actually was.