Are You Writing Serious Fantasy?

[Naaramare]

How much research does everyone put into their work?

Oh Goddess. x.x More than I ever thought I would. My parents, a doctor and a Crown Counsel, are getting somewhat annoyed with my constant questions ("what does a concussion actually entail? can you have a mildly serious headwound without a concussion? what kind of legal system would be in place in a medieval setting?" ad nauseum) and I have sixteen different encycolpaedias bookmarked in my favourites.

As for personal research in the tunes of creating new illnesses/magical systems/what have you, I've also done extensive work, down to the naming systems of my elves (I love my elves. When I don't want to eradicate the whole race of them). I think the idea "it's my story/fantasy, I don't have to" is rank idiocy. You have to stay consistant in your own world; there has to be a reason for every rhyme and a cause for every effect. Me being the perfectionist I am, I'd rather have those be realistic causes for the effects.