The world of darkness (WoD) is based upon the real world:

• Most of the action takes place on a planet the inhabitants call Earth

• The WoD Earth looks the same as the real one, with the same countries, cities, population groups, political parties, etc.
• Earth's history seems to very closely mirror our own history
• Earth seems to be in a solar system of nine planets, etc.

 
But there are some big differences between the world of darkness and the real world:

• Supernatural creatures exist. Humans share the world with creatures such as Werewolves and Vampires.

• Reality is shaped by humans, if the majority of humans believe that telephones work, then they do. Individual humans with a strong belief in themselves can (and do) redefine reality in a small area, for a short time, before the reality of the masses reasserts itself. These special humans are called Mages.
• The world is a darker and much nastier place to live in:
  • There are drug dealers on every street corner

  • Crime is commonplace, most people are armed in some way
  • Mega-corporations are corrupt
  • Pollution is everywhere
• The reasons for historical events are sometimes different: wars happen for different reasons than the human population thinks. In the word of darkness the conspiracy nuts are usually right.
• Some famous people in history were not quite what people thought they were - some were not even human