Q: What are downtimes? 
A: Downtimes, also referred to as "DTs," and sometimes as "BGAs" or "blue booking," are actions that your character takes over the month(s) between sessions. 

Q: What kinds of actions can I take in downtimes? 
A: This is a very open-ended question, and the best answer is: What do you want to do? DTs are an opportunity for your character to pursue whatever goals they have outside of Court. Some examples are presented below. These are only examples, and many other activities are possible. If you want your character to spend their downtime performing some other activity, feel free to submit it. It might not work, or work out quite the way you planned, but even failures can sometimes lead to good story.

Learning: When you want to spend your hard-earned experience points, downtimes is when you do it. For more details, see the Learning Times House Rules

Crafting: Mundane or magical items can be created. For more details, see the Crafting House Rules

Q: If I want to expand my domain and grow my title, how can I do that?
A: Nobles are assumed to administer to their domains each month, even without a downtime submission. Any actions above and beyond basic maintenance require an action. Growth is the most common downtime action we receive. Many influences offer means to permanently grow your population. Note that influences are NOT the only way to go about this. It is possible to grow your domain by taking creative actions. By interacting with the world and other characters in it (both PCs and NPCs) you may be able to acquire vassals or gain population through roleplay.

Q: I want to hurt my rivals. Can I do that?
A: Yes, PvP is entirely possible in the Seventh Age... just make sure you're prepared to accept the consequences. Influence actions are available which allow you to destroy other influences, or attempt to assassinate other characters. Bear in mind that in most cases, your influences can only affect others inside your own domain. If you want to target a rival in another domain, you will need to use Political Connections to expand the reach of your influences. For more details, see the Influence Rules. PCs also have powers they can attempt to use, but if it targets another character directly (rather than their holdings) it may be delayed until both parties are at game.

Q: I heard about something strange at court. How can I investigate a certain plot hook?
A: The Seventh Age is rife with mystery, conspiracy, and strange goings on. Investigating these events are another very popular downtime activity. Influences and backgrounds are always a good starting point. The Contacts background can be used to investigate a specific influence. Information Network can investigate specific people or topics. Secrets are a more in-depth investigation into a specific topic. Most influences will give you access to temporary Contacts to see what people are using that influence for in your domain. Many can gain temporary Information Network as well. There is only one source of Secrets, however: Spies influence. 

Q: I'm doing some shady stuff in my downtimes. How can I keep others from finding out?
A: The Alternate Identity background can cancel out Contacts and Information Network on a one-for-one basis. People might still know what you did, but use of Alternate Identity can prevent them from finding out that you were the one who did it. There are some actions in the Spies influence that can block other Spies, Information Networks, or Secrets from discovering your secrets.  

Q: A lot of things are covered by the defined influence actions, but I want to do some stuff that isn't. Can I still do them?
A: Absolutely. Each influence level has actions associated with it, but these are suggestions and examples. Custom actions will be accepted within a similar scope and power level. You can also submit Generic actions to use your powers and abilities to try to achieve something not covered by influences. Bear in mind that such actions may fail, but sometimes failures can result in better story than successes.

Q: I don't want to spend much time on my downtime actions. Is there any way to simplify it?
A: Certainly. You can add a General action that specifies what you are trying to do, and what you are using (influences, backgrounds, abilities, powers) to try to accomplish it. The more detail you feel like adding, the better. You need to give us some idea of how you're going about your various actions. Anything that needs to be actively used you must specify that you're using it, and have some idea of how it applies to the action you're taking. We will always try to follow the intent of the action as closely as we are able.