Below is a list of some of the questions we have been asked, and our answers to them. If there’s something you’d like to know or have clarified that isn’t covered here, please either post a question on our Forum or email us. The questions are broken down into those about the rules, those about the setting, and those aboutevent one.

After reading the rules, I see that humans can only ever wield daggers and staffs due to the fact they are not allowed Rank. Is this true?
You’re kinda half-right. Humans can’t buy Rank, which means that it’s illegal for them to use swords, wear plate armour, or whatever else. However, human characters are welcome to use their starting money to purchase such items, and are welcome to use them during the event. The point is that there may be consequences to that choice, of the nature of heavy-set orcish types coming to talk to you about obedience, compliance, and the fragility of the average human’s kneecaps.

Are there any prerequisites for High Magic?
No. You need only buy Artifice, Majesty or Shamanism. However, the mechanics of each of these different forms of magic definitely benefits those who purchase supplementary skills.

What about Thaumaturgy?
In order to buy any Thaumaturgical Spells, you must learn Read Scroll of the same level. You also need at least Basic Thaumaturgical Power. It is worth noting also that a thaumaturge needs to be “powered up” by a High Mage whenever they wish to refresh their Thaumaturgical Power.

What should combat be like?
The longer a combat continues, the more likely it is that your wounds will go Septic before they’re treated. Thus, we imagine that most combats will be quick and dirty. So that they’re not too absurd, however, we’d ask that you leave a pause of at least one second between blows with the same weapon (meaning that someone wielding a weapon in each hand can strike at most twice a second). We’d also ask that you react appropriately to being struck by a weapon.

Why aren’t there any maps?
Simply put, because maps aren’t very common IC. The majority of people have only the vaguest grasp of geography. If you want a map, then you need to learn Knowledge: Geography or Navigation.

Why don’t all members of the High Races have Rank?
Because not all High Race members are that important. Prior to the Commonwealth, Rank was a much less formal thing – orcs respected great warriors, leaders and shamans, dwarves used an arcane and complex system based on academic prowess, and elves measured it by purity of blood. For the vast majority of dwarves and orcs, at least, Rank just wasn’t an issue. Only since the formation of the Commonwealth has it become more visible. It’s also worth noting that a dwarf or orc without Rank is still more important than any human.

What about religion?
Leaving aside the question of human Faith for now, each of the High Races has a belief system laid out in their briefing document. For the most part, this is not a blueprint for an evangelical or missionary religion, but is rather the collective view of most of that race’s membership across the continent. The three High Races’ creation beliefs set them up with a spiritual viewpoint, or even a divine purpose. What each dwarf, elf or orc character chooses to do with this structure is up to them.