A Local Revolt; The Luddites

The character sprites were made with 8D Character generator. The software is great and available on Steam and Itch.

Luddites

In modern terms, a Luddite is said to be someone who hates technology and fears progress. However, back in the industrial revolution days, they were folk who sought recognition from the powers that be for the hardships of the loss of employment.  

Backdrop to the game

On April 11th, more than 100 Luddites gathered at the Dumb Steeple, a landmark near Mirfield. In the dead of night, they marched on Rawfolds Mill. But its owner, William Cartwright, was ready for them. The mill was fortified, and soldiers were stationed there. The Luddites were beaten off, and two of them were killed.

The Game itself

This revolt is the context for what came next in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Join George Mellor, "The General Ludd of Yorkshire," and his fraternal friends, as they embark on a Luddite mission to bring forth acknowledgement from the government of the hardships their community and other communities faced in the early stages of the Industrial Revolution.   

This game has no battles. It is made for the Historically Accurate Game Jam 7.  The theme was revolts, so I chose to look at the Luddite revolts across the industrial midlands and north of England. 

Thanks and comments on resources

I hope you enjoy the game and find this true story interesting and compelling.  The resources I used included websites and newspaper archives. Visits to the local area, museums, and historical buildings I also spoke with the locals and some rather elderly people in order to get a feel for the story.

Some of the language includes Dialect and vernacular peculiar to the region it is set. This is to engross the player in the culture and for some Yorkshire pride!

Interesting fact

"Wellington's army in the Peninsular was smaller in number than the 12,000 troops assigned to deal with Luddite disturbances in 1812. In Huddersfield alone, 1,000 troops were stationed."