Quote from: Venka on March 15, 2023, 11:58:00 PM

Quote from: Effete on March 15, 2023, 06:52:35 AM
Practically-speaking, if you don't know the "proper" names for things, what makes you think your players will?

This is fine though.  You can simply tell them what it is, and then the next time it comes up, give XP to whomever remembers the new vocabulary word!  Learning can be fun!

No.  That's making learning vocabulary part of game play, instead of a minor, tertiary side effect.  It's a bad move for several reasons that really aren't on topic, though. 

Quote from: Steven Mitchell on March 16, 2023, 08:25:13 AM
No.  That's making learning vocabulary part of game play, instead of a minor, tertiary side effect.  It's a bad move for several reasons that really aren't on topic, though.

If you aren't willing to troll your players on not knowing period-accurate terms for polearms, utensils, and yes, furniture, how will you ever work your way up to mutating them into the piles of ash and slime that all player characters secretly deserve to be?

Invoke your inner tyrant at least a bit here!

Quote from: Venka on March 16, 2023, 11:49:09 AM

Quote from: Steven Mitchell on March 16, 2023, 08:25:13 AM
No.  That's making learning vocabulary part of game play, instead of a minor, tertiary side effect.  It's a bad move for several reasons that really aren't on topic, though.

If you aren't willing to troll your players on not knowing period-accurate terms for polearms, utensils, and yes, furniture, how will you ever work your way up to mutating them into the piles of ash and slime that all player characters secretly deserve to be?

Invoke your inner tyrant at least a bit here!

For game play, central to the characters, absolutely!  For side issues, not so much.  I like to keep my powder dry for the right moments.

QuoteAcanthus

Acanthus is a carved ornament featuring leaves (modelled on the acanthus plant). They are typically found at the top of Corinthian columns and were popular additions to mahogany furniture from the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods.

Always wondered what those were.

QuoteArmoire

An armoire is a style of wardrobe. This type of wardrobe typically comes from France.

This one I at least knew.

QuoteBombe

Bombe means "curving outward", "bulging" or "bombe-shaped". It is a French term used to describe pieces that feature an outward swelling curve at the front. This creates an attractive look and the style is often used for bureaus and commodes.

Another one wondered about.

QuoteCabriole Leg

A Cabriole leg is stylised after the hind legs of animals and is recognisable by its double curve. This style of leg looks like an elongated letter S, creating an elegant finish. Typically, the feet used on cabriole legs are ball, claw, hoof, bun or scroll styles.

Knew the term, did not know it was for the legs.

There are quite a few websites and books on the matter. The library is the best guide for this in my experience. Not only do they have lots of books and ebooks, they also have magazines and emagazines, along with social digests and other online reference sources in their Electronic A-to-Z subscriptions (meaning your taxes already pay for it, might as well use it). So besides your Consumer Reports and Chilton guides, go ahead and explore what your nearby libraries have for you! 

What I do is decide on a "theme," like Arabian Nights. Then I spend some time googling images, and save what I'd like to use. Then I assemble them and present to players to help set the environment in their minds. You can make all sorts of little docs or handouts if you like, IE Guide to the City, or Gazetteer of Our Homeland, or Typical Homes by Social Class. Distribute as relevant.

For furniture, make an adventure where they have to retrieve the Earl's beloved X which was being shipped overland and was taken by bandits. The thing is fragile and heavy. Then include a picture from wikipedia. They'll never forget that piece of furniture ever again.

Later have the same Earl pay the group to steal a different type of furniture. Same deal. They'll remember. After that if you ever mention the two types the players will know.

Speaking of furniture - whenever anyone rolls an even number in combat I roll on my trusty dungeon dressing list and try to incorporate the resulting furniture into the description if possible. So orcs are jumping on benches then swinging their falchion, and Goblins are tripping over rugs or whatever to try to bring the battle to life a bit. None of my dungeon dressings have unknown furniture though. Armoire would probably be the most obscure.