Overview

London is cold, damp, and often grey.
Weather is not extreme, but it is constant and oppressive.

• Rain is frequent

• Fog is common

• Sunlight is limited

• Darkness dominates large parts of the day

The environment affects:

• movement

• visibility

• behaviour

• crime

🌦️ Typical Weather Patterns

• Rain

  • frequent, light to steady

  • rarely stops fully

• Fog

  • thick, especially near river and docks

  • reduces visibility heavily

• Cold

  • constant damp cold rather than sharp frost

• Wind

  • moderate, stronger near river and open areas

• Clear weather

  • rare but noticeable

🌫️ Fog (Very Important)

• Most common in:

  • Thames

  • Docks

  • East End

• Effects:

  • visibility reduced to short distances

  • sound carries differently

  • movement slower

• Impact:

  • crime easier

  • tracking harder

  • confusion increases

🌧️ Rain Impact

Elite Areas (Mayfair / Kensington / Royal)

• Roads remain usable

• Minimal disruption

• Activity continues normally

City of London

• Slower movement

• Crowds tighten

• Business continues

Soho

• Streets remain active

• Slight reduction in traffic

• Indoor spaces become more crowded

Southwark / East End

• Streets become muddy

• Movement slower

• Less organisation

Docks

• Surfaces become dangerous

• Slippery, unstable

• Work slows but continues

Slums

• Severe impact

• Flooding possible

• Movement difficult

• Living conditions worsen immediately

🌙 Light & Darkness

Natural Light

• Shorter days, especially in winter

• Overcast skies reduce brightness even during day

Night Time

• Darkness is heavy

• Limited visibility outside lit areas

🔥 Street Lighting

Elite Areas

• Consistent oil lamps

• Maintained and regularly spaced

• Streets visible at night

City of London

• Well-lit main roads

• Side streets less reliable

Soho

• Mixed lighting

• Some well-lit areas, others shadowed

Southwark / East End

• Limited lighting

• Many dark areas

Docks

• Minimal lighting

• Firelight and scattered lamps

Slums

• Almost no lighting

• Darkness dominates

🕯️ Indoor Lighting

• Candles and oil lamps

• Wealth determines brightness and quality

🧠 Environmental Effects on Behaviour

Rain

• People move faster

• Gather indoors

• Crime becomes more opportunistic

Fog

• People become cautious

• Movement slows

• Crime increases

Darkness

• Elite areas → controlled

• Lower areas → dangerous

⚠️ Crime & Weather

• Rain → easier escape

• Fog → ideal for crime

• Darkness → increases risk

🚶 Movement Modifiers

• Rain → slower in all districts (minor → severe in slums)

• Fog → reduced visibility everywhere

• Night → safe in West, unsafe in East/South

🎯 Key Rules

• Weather amplifies class difference

• Elite unaffected

• Lower class heavily affected

• Fog = danger

• Darkness = control vs chaos