A character’s notability is dependant upon their entry in Slowcake’s Exceptionals, which is the Society renown item. However, there is no connection between your notability and your renown in Society: it’s possible to have high notability with no renown, or vise-versa. How do these two different gameplay mechanics translate into the "reality" of life in Fallen London?
Renown is the regard in which one is held by society in general, while notability is effectively how well… notable one is at any particular time to them. How fresh you are in their minds.
A high renown but low notability person would be someone known rather well, but not thought of as often as a high notability person with low renown.- Someone which would be the flavour of the month but likely to be forgotten soon enough.
How I would put it:
Notability measures your weight in all of London. If every costermonger in Spite has heard of your deeds, if privy councilors weigh your opinions and probable reactions, if people from Zee captains to the Calendar Council to the Masters take you into account, then you have high Notability.
Renown deals with a much narrower spectrum. How good are you at parties? Can your acquaintances get ahead by name-dropping? Do people come to you to sort out life’s little scandals? In short, how much do people in Society owe you?
If you’d like, you can think of it this way: High Notability means you’re one of the movers and shakers of London, but that’s a quick-moving game. If you don’t keep playing (or if you play poorly) you’ll find yourself out of position soon enough. High Renown means that you’ve done the right families a good turn, and they’ll never forget it.
Or, as examples: A famous Society hostess (ex. Mrs. Greville) would have high Renown, but little to no Notability. The Gracious Widow and the Topsy King have high Notability, but no standing in Society, and thus no Renown. The Duchess has both.
There’s a difference between being notable and being liked by people personally.
edited by Tystefy on 8/10/2017