I needed a few days of thinking about the topic itself and about that what the other have written here. As far as this challenge make fun, like building the houses or recreating the outfits/styles or doing the researches, it's kind of problematic that it's considered as challenge with strict rules and points counting at the end. I don't know if anybody ever made and count these points? I didn't. I came early to the result that I can use the rules as guidelines and not as strict rules which should be followed.
Being this challenge from american pov and simplified rules, doesn't make it easy for other nationalities to start with it, because you don't find an adapted version for your own country. I would really love to read more stories about other countries or more a realistic american version during these timeperiods. I understand if people feel uncomfortable with certain topics and doesn't want to play it. A game still should be make fun and shouldn't put you in depression, imho.
If someone starts with their own national version it's like to be a trailblazer, you have to figured out by yourself what's okay and what's not. Which is hard at the beginning, but gives you the freedom of decision, you can make your own rules or overthrow them, if they doesn't work.
Playing a different nation can be hard. I was thinking to play start another decadechallenge from the point of views of a different country, but during my own gameplay I figured out that this wouldn't just need a general history researching, it also needs researching in law history, for that you need to understand the language, if you want to play historical correct (at least a little bit). For example one of my heir had to wait with the marriage until the name law would allowed the husband to take the heiress family name. Who would know this today if you haven't studied that law or was affected by it. The same applies to citizenship law. You can made easily mistakes, and I would personally be ashamed if someone pointed out a mistake. If is just an entertainment challenge for someone, well okay, go for it. I'm not in the position to judge anybody how they are plaing their games.
I always like learning about different opinions, no matter if I'm fine with it or not. If they are completely wrong I would say something, otherwise I stay silent.
Also when mention love stories, they happened, I think they are the lights in the darkest times, because people still try to live their lifes under any circumstances. During my game I had long discussions with my husband, he had the opinion that I should skip these twelve year if I would feel uncomfortable with it and he disagreed with some screenshots I have posted. For me, a skip wouldn't feel right either, I think too this would be disrespectful not mention it at least in a sentence. With the questionable pictures I have posted them, but I would have them taken down if a mod would told me to do so. They are very strict and they keep their eagle eyes on it. If you want to post some questionable screenhots you maybe ask them prior posting them, if they would like to review that post. As far I know they offered this years ago in the what's happened in your game thread, but I don't know if they still doing this.
So far these are my thoughts. But again, I still love this challenge for building and recreating a historical architectures/interiors during the decades, since I find the modern architecture so ugly and boring and it's quite challenging to find the right items either ingame or cc.
