And how can I make players feel like true Vikings? For the last two weeks, I have been diving into Viking lore and mythology to understand my pagan ancestors better. This involves indulging in reruns of beloved shows like "Vikings", comedies like "Norsemen", literature such as Neil Gaiman's "Norse Mythology", and gradually peeling back the layers of Viking lore within the vast expanse of the cybersphere. Is this enough to be an expert in two weeks? Undoubtedly no, but maybe enough to make my first board game!
Viking history
Retelling the extensive history of the mighty Vikings, spanning approximately 250 years from the late 8th to the early 11th century, would be too great of a task for a blog post like this. For brevity, I'll focus on key aspects and highlights of this dynamic era.
Traders
The Vikings were truly remarkable traders playing a significant role in shaping their society and leaving an indelible mark on the European landscape. Fueled by a desire to discover new fertile lands and armed with a deep understanding of maritime routes, they crafted an extensive network that linked far-off places, almost unimaginative at the time. The Vikings crafted and dealt with diverse goods like metals, textiles, and unique crafts to sell and trade for foreign goods or shiny coins. Beyond just economic gains, their trading expertise played a pivotal role in the "diplomatic" exchange of Norse culture with different regions, lasting long after their downfall.
Warriors
Vikings embarked on military exploits during the brief Scandinavian spring and summer months trying to take advantage of more favorable weather conditions. While warfare and conquest were a seasonal pursuit, Vikings also engaged in conflicts during the winter months, defending their homelands or participating in internal disputes. When the pagan warriors instead joined forces they would set sail to distant shores to engage in raids, conquests, or simply to expand their domain. The raids were said to be swift and strategic, often targeting weaker coastal regions because of their powerful longboats. The Viking Age is usually recognized by the warriors' reputation as fierce and versatile combatants.
Religion
The Old Norse religion also known as Norse paganism was a polytheistic belief system that flourished during the Viking Age and centered around a pantheon of gods. It is believed there were over 66 different deities such as Odin, Thor, Freyja, and Loki, who were in the top 10 as the more important ones. If you are curious, check out all the gods by Historylists.org. Their religious practices included rituals, sacrifices, and ceremonies performed in groves and temples. They also believed in an afterlife, with those who died honorably would join Odin in Valhall. In Valhall, they would fight the giants every day only to resurrect the next day. When they didn't fight they would feast every night on the pig Särimner who would have a similar reappearance pattern. Many sagas and mythologies have been told throughout the ages even surviving when most Vikings converted to Christianity. Did you know that Loki's children include an 8-legged horse named Sleipnir, Jörmungandr, a Serpent encircling the world, and Fenrir, a wolf who will one day slay Odin when Rangnarök (the end of everything) comes? Norse paganism held a pragmatic attitude towards the gods and their divine intervention was often attributed to otherworldly occurrences. For example, when a vicious thunderstorm lights up the sky it is Thor, the god of thunder who rides his chariot across the sky. Likewise, the other gods provide Vikings with connections to nature, attributing spiritual significance to natural elements like trees, rivers, and celestial bodies. Conclusively, the intricacies of Viking religious beliefs and practices reveal a society deeply connected with the divine, shaping their world, moral code, and cultural identity.
From history to a fun board game
The intricate facets of Viking culture, including their exploits, religious beliefs, and martial traditions, will lay a foundation for creating elements shaping the game's authenticity and gameplay mechanics. While I've envisioned capturing the essence of this fascinating era, the depth of Viking history invites further exploration and research for a more nuanced representation. It is also important to mention that the previous paragraphs may glorify Vikings to some degree. Vikings were most likely brutal people capable of extreme and cruel violence, something Vikings exploited to send terror to their enemies and probably the reason we remember them to this day. Like any documentary, movie, book, or other media, to fit all perspectives of a subject into one production would be unrealistic. Some things need to naturally be left out, for creators to tell a focused story to an audience. For my game and obvious ethical reasons, it is important to me to find the right level of authenticity between fiction and history when creating a product meant for a tabletop board game for people of possibly different ages.
Key aspects interesting for a game
“ skilled craftspeople, creating intricate metalwork, woodwork, and textiles”
“ worshiped deities such as Odin, Thor, Freyja, and Loki”
“Their religious practices encompassed rituals, sacrifices, and ceremonies”
“...with the honorable dead joining the god Odin in the warrior's paradise, Valhalla.
“...they held a profound connection to nature, attributing spiritual significance to natural elements like trees, rivers, and celestial bodies”
Famous Vikings
Leif Erikson (970–1020)
Said to be the first known European to set foot in North America. In the US, the 9th of October is an annual observance day called “Leif Erikson Day”, just a day before my birthday. Coincidence? I think not!
Erik Röde (950–1003)
Exiled for manslaughter. Erik played a pivotal role in the exploration and settlement of Greenland.
Ragnar Lodbrok (Legendary, possibly 9th century)
Supposedly a legendary hero and warrior, Ragnar is said to have raided France and England during the 9th century.
Björn Järnsida
Swedish king, son of Ragnar Lodbrok.
Erik ”Blodyx” Haraldsson
Norwegian king after his father Harald Hárfagri
Until next time
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Next time I will brainstorm what kind of Viking story I want to tell and what game mechanics could serve the game favourably!
Cheers
/C
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