Things You've Learned From Games Here

[LostInTheMist]

Obviously, I'm talking about things you've learned that are non-adult, and appropriate for discussion in this forum.

I thought of this because, in order to give a little extra authenticness to one of my currently ongoing roleplays, I went to the Wikipedia article for gyros (the food) and learned the etymology, history, ingredients, and modern construction of the gyros. (Including that gyros is a singular, and the shortening to gyro is an americanization.)

Similarly in another game I learned a lot about viking clan structure and meal habits. (Like two meals a day, the dagmal and the nattmal.)

So what have you learned in seeking to make your games more authentic? (Or maybe learned for other reasons, but related to your games on the site.)

[Oniya]

Ooh!  Also known as 'don't look at my search history, I'm a writer'. 

I haven't done a lot of recent RP stuff, but I spent a good period of time looking up 'wild edibles of the Blue Ridge Mountains' for a relatively brief portion of some free-writing I'm doing.

There is an easily recognized shelf-fungus that tastes like chicken.  Also, the inner bark of most conifers is edible, and can be used as a source of dietary fats in a pinch.

[Esoterica]

I did a lot of research into the Middle Ages for one of my roleplays on here. I knew some stuff before from going to Medieval Times, but I knew a lot more after the research and it was a lot of fun.

[Skynet]

For my own research with games, I learned quite a bit of India-related stuff when an Indian-American deuteragonist. A lot of it is random bits and pieces as opposed to anything truly deep, however.

1.) Holi is a popular Hindu holiday where colorful powders and water are used to decorate people, sometimes in free-for-all water gun and balloon fights.

2.) Khatri is both a surname and a caste of people mostly living in the Punjab region. They're mostly Hindu, but their caste gave rise to a huge amount of famous Sikhs.

3.) Johnny Bravo was such a popular show in India that it had its own movie there and nowhere else, Johnny in Bollywood.

I also picked up various things about Mormon religion and culture, particularly in Utah for a tale set in said state. I actually made a thread about it a while ago.

But otherwise, other subjects in no particular order...

1.) Arabic naming structures.

2.) Basque and Catalan languages were banned in Spain under Francisco Franco's rule.

3.) Various European micro-states (Vatican City, Andorra, San Marino, & Monaco) are not part of the EU.

4.) The Schengen Area are a mostly EU-agreement between European countries that ease up on passport and border control between them, using a more unified policy.

5.) In late 1800s, Sudan a religious leader known as Muhammad Ahmad led a religious uprising against Egyptian forces ruling over said country.

[Scylla]

1 and Only)  If you’re encountering opposition, you’re headed the right direction.  If there is none, you’re going the wrong way.