[quote=TheUnknowable]
We could, but then it's much more freeform, Cultures, races, money, goods, would all have to be made up. If it's in this world we know what does and doesn't exist.That said, I'd rather do a Fantasy or sci-fi world (say, we left Earth and all converged on a world the governments officially don't know about, as it would result in people like us leaving) than a historic world. I sucked a world history. American history was ok, but only because it affected me.
[/quote]

Goods isn't really an issue if it's fantasy in so much as it's a not-Earth world with similar biology and all that. Complete with humans. And to be able to write your own culture would be a relief and a breather from everyone trying to be German or something.

Per money, if this RP is about groups of banished people trying to establish a country of their own, then you don't really need to look much further than the basic social concept of [url=http://youtu.be/Ls8FBFFjMxk]Banished[/url]. Remove money all together, let it be a early modern (as in 17th or 16th century society in terms of technology and social structure) but with a distinct need within it to pursue a means of life comparable to early neolithic society (which is to say a trade of resources based on need of that as opposed to a value placed on it). Sort of proto-socialist. And if this group is banished to some new wilderness world un-inhabited by or un-invaded by "the old world" the money question is pretty much void since they're no longer part of that society.

As well there's a chance to have more unique and richer interaction within the groups as they become more settled in their new world and we can write our own conflict between them as opposed to trying to half-ass inter-social conflict between multiple groups based purely on generalizations we hear or read on the news, which I fear everyone here will no doubt do. But if you still want a "Amish like group" then you can certainly write them to this new setting.

You can also ignore the whole, "I don't know history of X and Y" because it's not relevant. It had nothing to do with the lore, or this world. Its only use would be for us - the players - to look at as a model if they need or want one.

Furthermore you don't need to explore the outer world beyond the RP's scope to put it in the OP. You can just let us handle that, or allow it all to be treated vaguely.

It also solves the entire question of where it's set when you can just make a rough idea of some fantasy valley, tropical island, or forest beyond some immense and impossible steppe for our colonists to call home.