Book One
There are some assumptions made herein that might not
FOUNDATIONS
Introduction
This is not as strange or dichotomous a book as the title
sounds. Because of the immersion in campaigns of Fan-
tasy Role-Playing Games in pseudo medieval to early Re-
naissance milieu, a work of this sort is not merely apropos,
but long needed. That is, those enjoying the entertainment
provided by such games will have their appreciation en-
hanced by this text. Through a combination of historical
fact and the magical stuff of the Fantasy Role-Playing
Game, all concerned will be better equipped for heroic
adventures in the make-believe environment.
Using mainly the English socio-economic class system,
based on feudalistic concepts of the high medieval to Re-
naissance periods and a sure knowledge of both, the reader
is treated to a potpourri of details regarding all manner of
things. After defining the social structure, so as to place
into perspective characters “met” in the fantasy world, this
book details how such imaginary persons are garbed, what
weapons they might have, how they travel, where they live,
what they eat, and so forth. Indeed, in its own way, this is
a rather monumental treatise, information-wise, compacted
into a small size.
While the information is “Eurocentric,” there is sufficient
detail to enable the reader knowledgeable in such different
culture to apply the work to any comparable society of
non-European basis, modify it so as to implement its the-
ses in virtually any civilization of the sort used in Fantasy
Role-Playing Games.
suit every fantasy milieu. The initial one is that while guns
and gunpowder are right out, this does not mean that tech-
nology is unknown or useless. Indeed, if one is familiar
with history, such as the feats of Archimedes during the
siege of Syracuse, there is no reason whatsoever to sup-
pose that firearms and technology need go hand in hand.
So, this world in which “everyday fantasy living” occurs
has quite a number of “advances” and even amenities.
These are assumed for any number of reasons.
Initially, the uppermost strata of the population of the “civi-
lized” states needs be well-housed, well-protected, and both
autocratic and plutocratic. They need these things to offer
a plainly evident goal for which those “beneath” them will
have much motivation to achieve. Secondarily, these nobles
and aristocrats must have the wherewithal to command
obedience and offer rewards for success and unpalatable
consequences for disobedience or failure. The tertiary rea-
son is one that might be foremost in many minds. Their
wealth presents a marvelous target for all manner of crimi-
nal activity - blackmail, burglary, robbery, swindles, cheat-
ing at gambling, pick-pocketing, and grab-and-run theft.
So the world in which they live is one where some tech-
nologies are a step beyond the medieval, and in some in-
stances beyond the Renaissance. The economy is not purely
agricultural, and because of deep plowing and developed
farming methods - plus land enclosure to accommodate
these methods - more than half the population is needed
to feed the remainder and to produce a surplus for trade.
There is thriving trade and considerable industry sup-
ported by such commerce. To move goods around
the world, ships are technologically advanced. De-
signs are as “recent” as those of our own world in
1650 or thereabouts, sans cannons, but with cata-
pults (even pneumatic ones). River traffic thrives,
and canals for transportation by boat and barge
link rivers and reach towns otherwise deprived of such com-
mercial benefit. On land, the vehicles to move freight and
people are likewise advanced, so that wagons and coaches
are closer to models of the 18th century than the 15th. Road
networks are not extensive or advanced, so aside from wa-
ter connections, much of the state is rather isolated, linked
by arteries that are mere bridal paths and tracks.
Along with such advances, there are smaller ones that are
quite important. Time is kept by mechanical clocks and
watches. News and information are conveyed by print, as
woodblock printing exists. Engineering is such that bridges,
tunnels, and sewers are slightly more advanced in design
than they were in the time of the Roman Empire. Indoor
plumbing, even hot water, are not uncommon for the
wealthier citizens of the more advances states. As there is
no gunpowder, the art of fortification and siegecraft has
not gone much beyond that of the late middle ages concen-