09/05/2025
Thinking about signing up for Banbury Tales but unsure what kind of experience to expect? How historically accurate or socially realistic is it? Is there conflict and drama or is it all just manners and dresses? Is it light and comedic, or dark and serious? We would like to try and answer these questions:
💥 Societal norms and restrictions:
Banbury Tales is set in Regency England, a society bound by rigid class distinctions, patriarchal values, and social conservatism. Sexism, classism, and a deep anxiety about reputation are part of daily life. Women’s ambitions are often confined to advantageous marriages, q***r desires are kept behind closed doors, and scandal can ruin not only individuals but entire families, which is where the game's dramatic potential and stakes lie.
❓ Why is this important for our game?
We aim to preserve these historical power imbalances and constraints that drive character conflict and drama, rather than smoothing them out through modern, liberal dynamics and worldviews. We invite you to lean into these tensions and explore how your character navigates, manipulates, or is crushed by the norms of their world.
⚠️ Zero tolerance for discrimination outside the game:
While we play with historical forms of oppression, we stand against any form of discrimination outside of the game. In our workshop, we’ll find ways to explore period-appropriate bigotry that enable more play, not less. While there are only female and male characters available, we welcome players of all gender identities to sign up.
🕵️♀️ Some characters come with a secret:
From financial ruin and forbidden love to hidden parentage and political intrigue, some characters harbour shameful secrets. Rather than explosive confrontations, secrets in Banbury often simmer under the surface, creating tension through gossip, rumour, and social maneuvering to suppress, discredit or smother in etiquette.
👂 Servants have ears and are eager to share:
If your character uncovers a secret, discretion would be more appropriate than direct confrontation. Gossip is the currency of Regency society, and a subtle hint or overheard phrase in the drawing room can be just as dangerous as an outright accusation. Your character might confide in a friend, make an offhand remark that starts a rumour, or speak in front of the servants (NPCs), knowing that they might take the story further. Scandals don't need to be dragged out in the open to take effect.
🎭 What tone we want:
This is not a game of relentless suffering, nor is it a whimsical tea party. We would like to balance lighthearted moments with emotional depth. Moments of lightness and romantic yearning coexist with tension, manipulation, and heartbreak. Think Downton Abbey, if it were set in the Regency era - happy, bittersweet, or tragic.
✍ If all of this appeals to you, you can still sign up until 14 May (midnight): https://forms.gle/2tJTjdgrYWWxMMee9
