New SorGun

[SimCoug 5,973]

Welcome to New SorGun.
The year is 1851. The California gold rush is beginning to wane, but thousands and thousands of pioneers are still making the long journey west each year. One group of intrepid settlers made the trip across the Rocky Mountains on the Oregon Trail expecting to make their fortune in the new territory. After arriving in Portland earlier in the year, the group decided that the town was already too crowded and over-developed (the boomtown had a population of 821 according to the 1850 census).
Determined to find a good homestead, the group headed north aboard the schooner “Approximate”. Two weeks later, the ship sailed into a bay and dropped anchor.
This is where our story begins.



Table of Contents

19th Century
Update 1: Natural Beauty
Tutorial: RFR Water Tips

 

The fine print:
I am attempting to build a region within the context of historical events starting in the mid 19^th century. While I may reference actual historical events, the content of this region is entirely fictional (think of any Hollywood movie “based on actual events” and you will get the idea).

I’d like to thank Drunkapple for sharing the Townsville map I’m using.

I’d also like to thank onlyplace4, ionionion, and Cycledogg for their great BATs of 19^th century buildings. There are many others, of course, but finding gems from these three gave me the idea of trying something like this in the first place.

Update 1: Natural Beauty
A few undaunted explorers had mapped bits and pieces of the surrounding terrain in the past, but by and large the terrain has been untouched by man.


The first description of the area in writing was by a man in the Hudson’s Bay Company. From a journal entry dated August 5, 1833. “The bay is wide and large, protected to the west by a large Island, and framed to the east by a towering mountain.”


“A number of streams feed the main river, which empties into the bay.”


“Tide pools and rocky beaches are everywhere to be seen, providing ample supplies of fish, clams, crabs and other sea life.”


“Beyond the beaches lie forests with enough timber to supply all the navies of the world.”


“The south side of the river appears to be inhabited by a tribe of Indians, of whom we saw a party along the coast.”


With little knowledge about their surroundings, and completely cut off from civilization, the party of 24 American pioneers set out to build a new life. With only the sweat of hard labor and their quick wits to rely on, destiny was in their hands.

[TMorgan 19]

Excellent start. I look forward to more of the history and the detail is, well, impressive. I always like to start big, but seeing this detail is awesome.

Though I'm sorry but I must use that region. I love drunk's maps, and this map ticks all my requirements. =)

[Forthwall 1,118]

Great Start, I love what you did with the river in your pristine landscape

[Hampi 54]

Great start! I can't wait until you post your next update!

The landscape is also looking really stunning!

[simlink 1,098]

Great story, this looks like it is going to be great! The natural landscape looks really nice, I especially like the rocky beaches.

[nathanthemayor 1,261]

Wow, nice use of MMPs with that river there.

[SIMplemente 41]

I can't wait for the next update! Very promising start!

Awesome picture of the river... can I go to fish?

  Edited April 9, 2012 by SIMplemente  

[Benedict 3,119]

Great intro. I'm looking forward to seeing where you take this.

[logintime 93]

Your nature detailing is fantastic, especially that river

[Charlie_Zane 963]

wow! I love it already!

I especially love that river shot! wow!

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

WOW!!!! I love the look of your region it's so beautiful. I really love the look of some city journals when they first start off.

[SimCoug 5,973]

Excellent start. I look forward to more of the history and the detail is, well, impressive. I always like to start big, but seeing this detail is awesome.

Though I'm sorry but I must use that region. I love drunk's maps, and this map ticks all my requirements. =)

Thank you - I'm hoping to include historical tidbits throughout each update. And yes, this map has pretty much everything I wanted.

Great Start, I love what you did with the river in your pristine landscape

Thanks! MMP's are fun to play with, but they can take up your free time in a hurry

Great start! I can't wait until you post your next update!

The landscape is also looking really stunning!

Thank you for the compliment - Spending time on the landscape is addicting (who knew SC4 would become a 'paint' program)

Great story, this looks like it is going to be great! The natural landscape looks really nice, I especially like the rocky beaches.

Thank you sim_link - some of my first CJ lurking included Windemere, so don't be surprised if some of your ideas pop up in here

Wow, nice use of MMPs with that river there.

Thanks! MMPs are time consuming but well worth it in the end.

I can't wait for the next update! Very promising start!

Awesome picture of the river... can I go to fish?

I appreciate your comment - and yes, no fishing license required in 1851 - just watch out for bears.

Great intro. I'm looking forward to seeing where you take this.

Thanks! I'm in the same boat since I have no idea where this will end up

Your nature detailing is fantastic, especially that river

Thank you!

wow! I love it already!

I especially love that river shot! wow!

Thanks! That is - tricky to use, but beautiful once you get the hang of it.

WOW!!!! I love the look of your region it's so beautiful. I really love the look of some city journals when they first start off.

Thank you!

[YUUU 65]

This is really great! Nature is really good! Very nice realism.

[Fox 1,444]

Great looking scenery.

Can't wait to see what you do next.

[SimCoug 5,973]

Replies:

This is really great! Nature is really good! Very nice realism.

Thank you - realism is what I am striving for

Great looking scenery.

Can't wait to see what you do next.

Thanks! Next update coming up...

Update 2: Neighbors

Any good pioneer knows that shelter is just as important as food and water. With winter just around the corner, it became priority number one to get trees cut and made into cabins that would last through the first winter.

All the work attracted the attention of some local Indian tribes. Friendly relations began immediately – as the settlers needed food, horses and information about the local terrain, and the Indians gained access to firearms, tools and protection. Our first settlers were able to procure horses and stores of potatoes that would help get them through the winter.

The Wapato tribe had a small village just up the river from the settlers.

The soil was fertile and the Wapato were very adept at growing fruit trees, potatoes and other native vegetable plants. Because of their location, this tribe had experience with white traders, with horses as the main currency. More information on Pacific Northwest Indians here.

Indians in this region relied heavily on canoes for transportation because the dense forests made travel by land difficult.

The bounty of the land made frequent travel less necessary, so often tribes would stake out suitable land for a village and remain there for years. Many Pacific Northwest tribes displayed Totem Poles in their villiages - most of them were erected to illustrate stories.

With houses over their heads, food in their stores and friendly relations with their new neighbors, the settlers of New SorGun were as prepared as they could be for the first winter on their new land.

  Edited April 14, 2012 by SimCoug  

[Charlie_Zane 963]

The settlement looks very neat! Great job, can't wait for the next update!

[simlink 1,098]

Lovely nature scenes, I really like the look of the village. I'm really enjoying the storyline, great work so far!

[TMorgan 19]

Looking forward to the development of the area. Will conflict arise between the natives and the westerners?

[Hampi 54]

Another great update! The nature and the settlement and tribe looks really realistic!

[YUUU 65]

This is just plane awesome! It looks so real. I really feel like watching a settlers story from the 15 or 16th century.

[Benedict 3,119]

Update 2 and your work already has the feel of something special. I really like the pace - not too fast, with just enough progress to be interesting. Both settlements are fantastic. I don't recall seeing traditional indian dwellings or canoes in a cj before - great stuff.

[SimCoug 5,973]

Replies:

The settlement looks very neat! Great job, can't wait for the next update!

Thanks! New update coming soon...

Lovely nature scenes, I really like the look of the village. I'm really enjoying the storyline, great work so far!

Thank you sim_link - The storyline has been half the fun while working on this CJ.

Looking forward to the development of the area. Will conflict arise between the natives and the westerners?

Glad to hear it... as for your question, only time will tell...

Another great update! The nature and the settlement and tribe looks really realistic!

Thank you Hampi - I spent way too much time figuring out how to make MMP files in reader in order to get the Indian Village up to par, so I appreciate your comment.

This is just plane awesome! It looks so real. I really feel like watching a settlers story from the 15 or 16th century.

Thank you! I really like realism in SC4, and I'm glad it shows in this update. This CJ actually takes place in the mid 19th century (in the Pacific NW, USA) and you will soon see signs of that time period (hopefully, if I can pull it off)

Update 2 and your work already has the feel of something special. I really like the pace - not too fast, with just enough progress to be interesting. Both settlements are fantastic. I don't recall seeing traditional indian dwellings or canoes in a cj before - great stuff.

Thank you Benedict - I take that as a huge compliment coming from you. It took some careful MMP work to get those canoes in there. They are actually done by the brilliant DocRorlach - you can find them here

A quick teaser...

Full update to follow shortly. Thanks for all your comments and feedback!

[Schulmanator 5,787]

Nice winter pic!

[vivapanda 422]

Though it's sunny here I can feel the winter cold!

[SimCoug 5,973]

Replies:

@Schulmanator - Thank you, trying to figure a few things out in Photoshop - that one actually worked.

@vivapanda - Yeah, I definitely wouldn't want to be roughing it in a cabin like those settlers.

Update 3: Winter months

Winter 1851-1852

Not long after the winter shelters were constructed the brig Leonesa captained by Daniel S. Howard came to anchor in the bay.

The San Francisco fire destroyed large parts of the city, and lumber was needed to rebuild. The “Leonesa” intended to sail to San Francisco with a cargo full of much needed lumber. The New SorGun settlers immediately drew up a contract and began cutting piles near the shore.

Here’s an actual photo from the late 19^th century showing loggers getting piles into the water for transport.

After the good timber near the shore was exhausted the settlers moved further inland, using a yoke of oxen to get the larger trees onto the beach.

The labor was exhausting, but after about 20 days of working sunrise to sunset, a full load of 256 piles were delivered to Captain Howard.

The payment from the logging contract gave the settlers much needed cash which was spent on food and tools, livestock and firearms. The winter was mild, and the settlers put some of the farming tools to good use tilling fields that would be planted once spring arrived.

Although winters in the Pacific are typically wet and mild, they do get some snow once in a while.

Based on their own travels and information from their Wapato friends, the New SorGun pioneers were able to put together a rough map of their surroundings.

Finally, an overview of the progress made.

Thanks for stopping by!

  Edited April 18, 2012 by SimCoug  

[Charlie_Zane 963]

I love that last shot, i can see how big SorGun has gotten and that map looks very nice!

great work

[Hampi 54]

The map is beautiful great work with that!

Agree with City_Master the last picture looks really nice, New Sorgun has really grown. Will be fun to see what the future will bring for New Sorgun!

[YUUU 65]

Great update! You managed to do a nice patern on the lumbering inside the forest. looks really natural.

[simlink 1,098]

I like the pace of development here, nothing is too quick given where you started. Look forward to more!

[SimCoug 5,973]

I love that last shot, i can see how big SorGun has gotten and that map looks very nice! great work

Thank you! I was playing around in Photoshop and now I'm not really sure how I was able to get that look

The map is beautiful great work with that!

Agree with City_Master the last picture looks really nice, New Sorgun has really grown. Will be fun to see what the future will bring for New Sorgun!

I really like seeing the progress of a developing town, so that will continue to play a major part of this CJ. Thanks for stopping by!

Great update! You managed to do a nice patern on the lumbering inside the forest. looks really natural.

Thanks for the comment YUUU - I was going for realism, but since I wasn't around back then to see how they did things, I was pretty much guessing

I like the pace of development here, nothing is too quick given where you started. Look forward to more!

Thank you so much for the feedback. It's always hard to judge the pace of development. To slow and it gets boring - to fast and you miss lots of neat details.

New update will be going to press shortly.

Thanks everybody for your support - and please don't be shy about leaving a comment (good or bad) - it always helps to guide the direction of this CJ.