Fictional characters in historical games?

[Basementboy]

Wanted to know if all of you enjoy having fictional characters in historical games, or like to keep it strictly to real historical characters on the table- personally I only use them as long as they’re very low-ranking commanders, who are not important enough to be mentioned in any records of the period, and therefore “could” have existed. Interested to hear other thoughts on the matter though!

[JollyBob]

Don't see why not.

If ever get round to my (historical adjacent) Silver Bayonet forces, the British will be lead by Major Sharpe...
And I've been thinking about a Robin Hood themed crusader force based round Angus Donald's Outlaw Chronicles.

It's all supposed to be a bit of fun, after all.

[dadlamassu]

We have had Flashman, Sharpe, Macro & Cato, King Arthur (and his knights), Sherlock Holmes, Dr Watson, Dr Who, Biggles, Conan, Asterix, Obelix, Moriarty, Tarzan, Zorro and probably more in our games.  And King Kong!

Sometimes as main characters, others as supports to give a bit of fun or encourage non-wargamers to have a go as they relate t o the character not necessarily the period.

[Gibby]

I typically don't like using other people's characters in anything, historical or otherwise. Existing fictional characters have their own stories - so no interest at all in playing Sharpe or Flashman or any author's main characters. I suspect that I'm unusual as I've seen loads of "Sharpe" projects over the years. Back when I was into 40k I was never tempted to use any of the named special characters. I like telling the stories of "my dudes" - I'll name them and see what happens to them over the course of a game, or, as is the dream, a campaign!

Fictional characters in terms of ones I've made up - absolutely. I would be way more inclined to follow their exploits in the likes of Sharp Practice than I would try and recreate mass battles with Wellington and Picton in reenactments (although I would happily play those as well).

[Elbows]

Are you talking about known fictitious characters from other works, being introduced to a historical setting...or simply running your "own" generals, division commanders, etc.?

[Aethelflaeda was framed]

I ran a “historical” game the other day with Aubrey, Maturin, Bonden and Killick, Sharpe, Harper and the chosen men in a British sea descent running alongside Haitians and Poles led by Toussaint Louverture against a French spy base headed by aristo family of vampires on an island just off the coast of Haiti.  Poppa Legba and zombi even made an appearance.

I have fought with the HMS Surprise in several naval games.

[Fitz]

Any game, no matter how hard the players try to hove to absolute historical authenticity, is still a made up story. So adding fictional characters is really neither here nor there, and the only thing that really matters is whether it increases the enjoyment for the players.

I'd probably draw the line at including Captain America in my WWII games.

[FramFramson]

"Yes."

[ithoriel]

Most of the people I have played with over the years decades have used entirely fictional forces to fight entirely fictional battles but rooted in a particular historical setting.


So in our case it was should we allow a particular historical personality to appear? Rather than fictional ones.

[Cat]

For my Hundred Years War English army, the standard bearer for the Black Prince is Sir William Thatcher, formerly known as Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein of Gelderland before being properly knighted by the Black Prince at the end of A Knight's Tale.
 

[Elbows]

Well then surely it is beyond contestation...

[Cat]

Well then surely it is beyond contestation...

Exactly!

[carlos marighela]

I've been contemplating working the cast of Auf Wiedersehen Pet into my (entirely fictional but based on reality) Cold War Berlin game. The engineer squadron in Berlin was made up of expats serving as Territorials, so why not use five 'well known' expats and vaguely engineering skilled individuals?

It's all made up anyway.

[Khusru2]

I've used my son's names, my wife's and he daughter's names. My friends past and present.
It makes it more personal I think.

[Von Trinkenessen]

All my games be them"historical" or otherwise use fictional characters and have done for 52 years