Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

We encourage you to ask us questions because it helps us build our world. Many of these questions were things we did not think of until someone outside of the forum asked us.

Can I request who to be drafted to?
Not really. I generally don't take drafting requests because it takes the randomness out of the game for the players. The whole point of this plot is that you don't know who your character will be drafted to. Yes, you do risk getting paired with someone who you just don't work with at all. That's why I encourage you to look around if you are really worried about that and I will take requests on who NOT to be drafted with.

Can I make a male who is a widow?
Yes. Just be sure to make a note of it in their history. We would like to know how their wife died.

If a wife/husband dies, what happens to the children?
If a husband dies, the children will be sent to live with the husband's parents and they will become their parents. They basically will forget their real birth mother ever existed. If a wife dies, the children remain with the husband. Until he is remarried, a widow helps out the father with taking care of the children and cooking. When he is remarried, they will consider his current wife their mother.

If a man is widowed, what about childcare? Is there a nanny service?
Small children will need someone to take care of them during the day unless they are old enough to be in school. So if a man is widowed and the children need someone to watch them during the day, there are widows who work as nannies. There are daycare facilities just for this purpose.

What about multiple births? Twins? Triplets?
Well, in the case that one birthing will cause a woman to have more than three children, we can pretend either one of two things. 1.) Genetics have made sure that we only have one child per pregnancy or 2.) The government takes away any children that will cause a couple to have more than three. What they do with them, well we don't really want to think about that.

How fast does time progress (related to pregnancy more than anything)?
We're going in seasons so you're given a three month window. How long a season will last--not sure on that one yet. Maybe a month to a month and a half. Because day to day can be tedious, I know I wouldn't want to play out every little thing. You may jump time if you wish, but remember that this may cause problems with plots outside of your couple. I encourage you to track your threads and keep a timeline.

Do husbands work? Where can they work? How is an income provided?
In reality, you pick what job your husband works at (or he picks it) but in terms of the game, all men are given an aptitude test in school that tells them what job they will be most successful at and they get put onto that track. They don't get a choice but remember, we're not dictating what that job is. So they can work anywhere, really.

Every husband makes the same amount of money, regardless of their job. This is so no one is rich and no one is poor--in theory. Those that budget their money wisely will have more than others. Those who spend it as soon as they get it will not have a lot. But you really don't have any bills since houses and cars are provided for you. Money is essentially given as a means to have things you want but don't have to have. Part of the husband's income is put in a separate account that the wife will use for groceries and household supplies. Then when they have children, they get an increase of income per child to be able to afford things that child.

What are some of the social norms? Do wives go grocery shopping? Do they do it at home, via ordering internet?
Wives run errands per their needs. It is generally their job to make sure the house has food and toiletries. Then if her husband gives her some spending money, she may go shopping to buy something she just wants.

If husbands hold on to the money, how do women get clothing?
All women know how to sew so they can always make clothing. But upon their marriage, they are given a small grant to buy a new wardrobe. Beyond that, her husband would need to give her any funds she needs.

Can a woman--of any status--be legally raped?
Not legally, no. That's not to say it doesn't happen, but it still counts as being unfaithful. So if the woman is unmarried, both parties are executed because she is soiled. If she's married, her husband can decide if she lives or not.

How are people executed? Publicly? Privately?
Privately. Although they are reported on in public newspapers, executions are generally done with a tasteful private injection.

Can my character be gay?
Absolutely!

Can my character marry someone of the same sex?
No, not only is same-sex marriage illegal, but so is homosexuality. Any practice of such a lifestyle must be done in secret or risk execution.

Where is the location?
Ashpoint is a quiet New England town that experiences all four seasons.

Is this something adopted by all countries?
No. Some countries have follow suit with similar practices, but our case is the most extreme. Governments with similar practices include Canada and the U.K.

Does the government restrict travel to other countries?
Yes. No one in or out. All citizens were born here.

Are there certain gender restrictions on who can work where?
Generally, wives don't work. They are meant to be housewives. Husbands can pretty much have any job they want, except for what's restricted for widows. (Boarding School faculty, midwife, and attendant in the lingerie shops.)

What is the official view on domestic abuse?
The government really doesn't want you to beat your wife. They've put a lot of money into making her perfect for you and they'd rather you not break her. However, since there is no divorce, this is not an executable offense. At most, the husband might be sent to the corrective learning center to attend a course on why they shouldn't beat their wife or they will spend 24 to 48 hours in lockup to 'cool down.' Then he just goes back home to his wife. This process can repeat and repeat until one of the spouses is dead.

Is gambling allowed?
Well, the government really doesn't care if you gamble away all your extra income (since they put money away for you for necessities.) You could survive since you don't have any bills and a car and house is put away for you. It just means that your character's family might not have any money to do anything fun for a while.

If everyone gets the same house and the same cars, how do they keep up with them?
Well houses have numbers and streets so that's an easy one. Over time, you'll know how many driveways you're down. Plus houses will be different colors (meaning, the same color won't be side by side though the pattern does repeat.)

Cars are trickier. For intents and purposes, all parking lots have numbered rows and spaces. On your keychain, you have a special indicator that records where your car is located which allows you to find it.

Can the sensor bracelets be broken?
Well, I imagine there is someone out there who can tinker with it and get it off, but I want you to understand how rare that is. An average joe cannot tamper with that bracelet. You'd need to be some kind of genius. And yes, they are waterproof and you will not be electrocuted.

Now, the consequences account might pop into your thread and tell you that your sensor bracelet is malfunctioning. We'll cover that here.

What's the religion around here?
I really don't want to make your character have to follow any specific religion so this is really up to you and them. However, the government seems to highly adhere to Christian values.

Do brides get to indulge in arts?
I imagine they get to learn something about music or dance or art, but only as like a parlor trick. Something that their husband can show off to his friends as something his wife can do and is good at. So basically it's a skill they can acquire, but it's for their husband's use and not for their own enjoyment.

Do widows have to wear sensor bracelets?
Most definitely if they are still marriageable. It reverts back to the programming that brides have for theirs. If they aren't marriageable, they still have a bracelet but it's only used to track their location by the government since they'll be with men all day long. Retired sponsor's get the most freedom and don't have to wear one anymore as the government doesn't seem them as a thread anymore.

Where do marriageable widows go to live?
They return back to the boarding school and are able to go back to their parent's house on weekends and holidays, just like brides.

The Draft: Frequently Asked Questions - The Draft