Books as in-game resources?

[HierophantX]

I'm thinking of Call of Cthulhu where and other BRP games where you can increase skills by studying books. Has anyone developed a useful resource for books in the late-medieval/early-modern period that would work here? I know some conversations have gone on and off in various BRP fora over the years, I'm just circling back around.

[Nozbat]

I missed this post @HierophantX..could have been I was severely distracted by real world events but could you clarify what information you wanted from this?

My first and immediate thought is that from the wider dissemination of the Printing Press, books became cheaper and easier to come by. The explosion of interest in the Renaissance of Classical works, Portuguese access to Africa and Asia opened up a lot of new knowledge.

In Renaissance Deluxe skills are divided between Common and Specialist. Both can be started using a period of study, using an appropriate teacher at a base skill. 
 

So for instance, if someone got their hands on a translation of Sun Tzu’s Art of War or Von Clausewitz’s On War.. I’d allow the start of a specialist skill in Strategy & Tactics.. if a player read Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince.. Start Intrique or Bureaucracy etc 

Knowledge is there for players.. they just need to be smart..

This was in the Guardian yesterday and shows just how much interaction between various cultures and how knowledge is shared

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/05/extraordinary-islamic-and-jewish-science-merge-in-11th-century-astrolabe

 

[Nozbat]

Just found this which could be adapted and is on sale under GMs bundle sale. Enough books to satisfy everyone..

https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/404336/100-books-to-find-on-or-about-the-new-world