5 Default Setting Assumptions

Maedieval ~ A list of 5 of the most important assumptions that differ from a typical RPG setting:
1. SOCIAL STATUS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

In most RPG games, peasants and princes are treated generally as equals and would interact as
equals in a party (at least, in the same sense that in the modern era it is presumed that the upper classes
might have more money and power but are not inherently superior to the working classes).

Knights might get bossed around by a commoner, smart-mouthed peasants might act less than
reverently toward a Bishop. In Maedieval: Stronghold on the Marchlands, social status may be one of
the most important character details of all! It determines the character’s place in the world. The nobility
have rights forbidden to commoners, like being allowed to wear swords publicly, getting to wear armor
in public or even certain fabrics and colors of clothing that peasants are forbidden by law. In a PC
party, characters who have higher social status should expect that characters of lower status would,
within reason, be deferential to them; of course, some characters of higher status might be smart
enough to recognize knowledge and experience from lower-status characters and respect their judgment
on those issues.

Also, contrary to many assumptions in modern literature and media, while there were certainly
some lords who were stupid or cruel, the majority of the aristocracy have a strong vested interest in
caring for their vassals and subjects. Their wealth and prosperity depends on the well-being of their
subjects, after all, and they believe they were born into their status as part of a divine responsibility to
govern over the lower-classes wisely. Wise rulers govern wisely!

2. MONOTHEISM

The medieval period was defined by religion. Specifically, by monotheism. Most RPG settings
have polytheistic pantheons of gods, but Maedieval: SotM setting has a single dominant Church. The
Church of the One, the Guiding Light, the Cleansing Flame – Lord of Law. There are other pagan
religions, dedicated to eld & old gods, but they are outlawed or shunned. The Region is a Prelacy
Triumvirate, or Holy Trinity, King – Church – Guilds.

Heresy, heathenism, witchcraft and especially the worship of demonic forces is not just some
kind of different viewpoint of the world (like we might believe in our modern society), it is a direct
threat to humankind in this life and the next. It is actively culled from civilization!

Chaos represents a danger to humanities survival. Although there is some room for the
supernatural (for example, magic being used in the service of humanity by Magisters who are faithful
adherents of the One), creatures and major forces (demons) of Chaos are always a threat to humanity.
Demons, fae, gobbers and other intelligent creatures of Chaos are hostile to human existence. This
setting generally only features humans, although there are a smattering of ‘good’ Demi-Humans,
(those that could be considered creatures of Law, with souls, who can also worship the monotheistic
god), some of them are even tolerated for their ‘usefulness’, like the dwarves and halflings.
3.LIFE IS CHEAP

One-third to one-half of children won’t live to see their 10th birthday, a quarter of women die
during child birth. Illnesses kill. Wounds are fatal. War is brutal, but disease and infection are as likely
to kill you as an arrow or a sword. There are no second chances, there is no ‘resurrection’ spell that will
bring back even mighty characters. As such, the level-range is generally low. It should be assumed that
the vast majority of people in the world are 0-level or 1st-level characters, that anyone reaching 9th
level is a great hero who would likely be very well known for their achievements, and the most
powerful people in the entire world might only be 12th level.

4. MAGIC IS RARE

There are no ‘magic shops’. Without taking the short-cut of pacts with demons, magic is
complicated and technically demanding (and often expensive). Common priests have no visible magic,
only those special chosen of God are capable of miraculous powers: in the implicit setting of the game
these are Clerics, who are chosen to manifest miraculous abilities by the One. They are not regular
priests, but rather a special militant order within the Church with their own hierarchy, dedicated to
fighting Chaos and spreading the faith. Magic items are difficult to obtain, and only the extremely
lucky or very experienced are likely to have items of any significant power.

5. CIVILIZATION IS SURVIVAL

The central and stable areas of civilization, the heartlands of kingdoms, forts, strongholds, &
keeps, are places of relative security and peace, except when the horrors of war break out, be it external
or internal. Civil war happened more often than external wars, brother vs brother, uncle vs nephew and
the like. There’s crime and banditry, and sometimes rebellion or cultists, but most peasants living in a
centralized area could go their whole life without ever seeing a supernatural monster.

It is in the wilderlands, those wild areas beyond the reach of the order brought about by
“civilization”, that the terrible things of chaos are most likely to dwell. In those lonely places, monsters
can be found. Only the truly brave, truly desperate, or truly crazy would choose to go outside the safety
of civilization if they had any choice at all. It is also for this reason that rebellion, anarchy, and civil
war are seen as terrible threats. When civilization falters, violence and suffering ensue; if instability
rages for long, the dead rise, madmen and scoundrels are drawn by witchcraft and demonolatry to
spread murder and terror, and creatures that once hid in caves in the woods and mountains are
emboldened to hunt in places they previously wouldn’t have dared. This is why people of all social
classes generally favor the security of firm law and strict justice, unless the corruption of those who
rule becomes so terrible that they fail to fulfill their duty to maintain that selfsame order.
In these ways this setting is far different than those that you've previously played, so best
prepare yourself peasant!