[info: faq]
Q: You said that GH is "generic Renaissance" in a "fictional part of Europe". What does that mean?
It's our way of letting people use real-world mythologies and folklore without having to do a lot of historical fact-checking. Because the game takes place solely in Tyrol and Balfour at large - a fictional country - in-game events are unaffected by what's going on in the rest of the world. Similarly, "generic Renaissance" spans a potential 300 years. It's a safety net, a jumping off point so that players can have a general idea of what their characters might encounter, dress like, and act like without having to do a ton of research.
Q: How loose are these historical guidelines? Could I have, for instance, a member of nobility with a Japanese PB?
Very loose. We'll only enforce them if someone posts about their polaroids or something equally way off-base. We trust player discretion and we're not going to fact-check. It's a fantasy game, after all.
In regards to foreign ethnicities, yes and no. Any ethnicity is a-okay. And no character will be looked down upon for racial/ethnic reasons in the game. The only discrimination in Tyrol is against Others. That said, since Tyrol is technically in Europe, if you have a character who's natively Egyptian they'd need a reason for why they've made the trip. For Others it's pretty easy (they were drawn there) but a member of the Imperial Court in China is going to need a bigger motivation.
Q: What about women's rights? Sexuality?
Inheritance laws in Balfour are patrilineal, meaning that all property and titles will first and foremost go to men (and this includes the Crown). Women are able to inherit, but only if there's no living male heir. Otherwise, they're given nearly the same privileges as men; they can run businesses, be elected to Councils, etc, and are educated as well as (and sometimes better than) most men.
Sexuality comes secondary to producing an heir. Homosexual men and women are still expected to marry a partner of the opposite sex and produce children. So long as they continue their line, it's acceptable to take up a same-sex consort behind the scenes. If they refuse to do their duty and marry off it's very likely they'll be disinherited.
Q: What about outside wars or rulers? Will they ever enter in to GH?
No.
Q: If Others can be anything ever believed in, can I app a god/goddess?
No. No gods, no religious figures. Others are creatures from folklore and mythology, not deities. If you're not sure where the creature you want to app falls, toss one of us an e-mail and we'll talk it over.
Q: How does this Belief thing work?
It functions as a magically enhanced version of the normal concept, but it requires concentrated Belief to produce noticeable results. This Belief must also be genuine, meaning that trying to force a Belief on someone that is very obviously untrue (ie something they can physically see is not the case) won't work. There must at least be a doubt in the person's mind that what they're being told could be true.
EX. The Golden Hour tries to convince Tyrol that the sky is neon pink. The sky is very clearly not neon pink, and so no one Believes it.
EX2. The Golden Hour tries to convince Tyrol that on the night of the full moon, it will rain. This is within the realm of possibility enough that most would Believe it enough to make it happen.
EX3. The Golden Hour tries to convince Tyrol that on the night of the full moon, the sky will bleed. It's crazy, but with enough agitation and appeal to superstition they could make it happen.
For Belief to affect a person's existence (ex, the strange old widow believed to be a witch actually made into one), it must be highly concentrated. Belief has no effect on the past. The Others are drawn to it because it's what made them; they're strongest when they're near large sources of it.
Q: Can I have my character affected by Belief?
Yes! Just keep in mind that it does require a large amount of people Believing in whatever it is for it to happen. If your character isn't well-known, it's unlikely it'll work. If you have an idea for a Belief you'd like spread, let us know!
[If there are any questions you have that aren't answered on this post or in the rest of the game information, drop a comment here and we'll be happy to answer!]