Historical Role-Playing Quest: Factory Workers

I decided to dive into the study of my neighborhood—Moscow’s Presnensky district. How might it surprise one? With factories, government buildings, and the magnificent Moscow City. As an interesting foundation for my project, I chose the rich history of the Krasnopresny factories, specifically the Trekhgornaya Manufactory and the Mamontov Brothers' Paint Factory.

What can form the basis of my narrative, and what themes can I extract? I aim to show people the history of the places where they live. As a game designer, I decided to create a Tabletop Role-Playing Game.

Tabletop role-playing games («cabinets») are reminiscent of board games, but there is a significant distinction between them. In a «cabinet game, ” the player is the character, and the action happens here and now, whereas in a board game, the player remains a player, and the action takes place in another world. Typically, these games are played with a small number of participants (from three to fifteen, averaging around ten). The game often proceeds as a dialogue around a shared table; sometimes players may move around a space, but this space is usually small—otherwise, it would be considered an intimate game. In cabinet games, personal interaction is minimized, and the group usually discusses everything together.

Trekhgornaya Manufactory is the oldest textile enterprise in Moscow, founded in the late 18th century. In 1799, the sateen manufactory was established by the Russian merchant Vasily Prokhorov and the dyeing master Fedor Rezanov, named Trekhgornaya after the local area. Later, Vasily Prokhorov bought out his partner’s share and became the sole owner of the factory.

With the advent of the nineteenth century, the factory was renamed the Trekhgornaya Manufactory, situated at the foot of three hills. It quickly gained popularity in the Russian market by beginning to produce high-quality fabrics that soon became symbols of quality and style. By 1830, the manufactory held a leading position among the country’s textile enterprises, exporting its products both domestically and internationally.

The 20th century was a time of trials for the Trekhgorny Manufactory; however, despite revolutionary upheaval and economic hardship, it continued its operations. In 1918, the factory was nationalized, and during the 1920s, it transformed into one of the largest textile enterprises of the Soviet Union. In 1936, it was named after F. E. Dzerzhinsky, underscoring its significance to the nation’s economy.

During World War II, the plant played a vital role by producing fabrics for the Red Army’s uniforms and even ammunition. In 1943, the enterprise contributed over 450,000 rubles toward the construction of the «Moscow» tank column, which speaks to its patriotism and involvement in the country’s fate.

Despite its achievements, the Trekhgornaya Manufactory remained unmodernized and operated on pre-revolutionary equipment for a long time during the Soviet period. Peak productivity was reached in the 1980s, when the plant produced 200 million meters of various fabrics, a landmark event in the enterprise’s history.

In contemporary Russia, the Trekhgornaya Manufactory continues its active operations, producing high-quality fabrics and apparel. It remains one of the largest and most well-known textile manufacturers in the country, although the main building has been converted into commercial spaces while preserving the spirit of its historical heritage.

The Mamonov Brothers Paint Factory is one of the first and largest paint and varnish factories in Russia. Its history began in 1840 when the Mamonov brothers established a small workshop for producing paints and varnishes in Moscow.

In the 1870s, the enterprise experienced rapid growth and modernization, introducing new machinery and technologies that significantly increased productivity and product range. At the same time, the Mamontov Brothers Paint and Varnish Factory began producing paints and varnishes, which quickly gained popularity due to high quality standards and innovation, ensuring it also enjoyed a period of similar growth and development.