Wolv0rine
First Post
Since I'm parading pieces of Arwend around the forum here, I figured I'd trot this out too. Social Class is something from 1E that I feel is sorely missing, and I rather enjoy this take on it.
[Note, the following is cut n' pasted en toto from it's parent documents, so some personal notes may be present. And text enclosed in brackets, like this is, is meant as notes to myself while writing]
Social Class
Nearly everyone falls into a social class, be it by virtue of their income, their position, their vocation, or what not. From the poor to the obscenely wealthy, these levels of social affluence carry freedoms and responsibilities different from the others.
Characters from different social strata view each other with certain prejudices that color their interactions. A character dealing with another character of the same social status receives a +3 adjustment. This modifier drops by 1 for every social class difference between the characters.
Thus, a Poor character dealing with a Poor character will receive a +3 reaction adjustment; while a Poor character dealing with a Regal character will receive a –3 reaction adjustment. The seven social classes are as follows:
Those in the higher social classes are assumed to possess access to larger and more stable sources of income. These characters have a Wealth score in addition to any currency they carry on their person.
When making transactions taking place in a location that would logically be in a position to recognize such a thing, such characters may make a Wealth check instead of using currency. If the check is failed, the character is free to use any currency they may carry, but suffer a –1 penalty to reaction checks with whoever they were dealing with when the Wealth check failed.
A failed Wealth check does not necessarily mean that the character does not possess the required wealth (in the royal coffers, for a Regal character, for example). It may mean that their note of credit is unacceptable in a given place (i.e. in a small village, the local blacksmith may not feel he can enter the palace, or even make the trip, to collect on the note).
Social Class Feats
Social Class feats are a kind of Talent Feat. Unlike most other Talent Feats, however, social feats can be affected (and in some cases, negated or changed) in the course of gameplay. Doing so should only come after careful consideration however, as this threatens to nullify a precious feat taken by the player.
[Should the higher-class feats cost multiple feat slots?]
Poor (Talent)
You were born and raised in a poor family. Your social status is low, and your initial wealth is very limited, but you get along well with those of low status wherever you go.
Benefit: You receive a +4 to all Survival checks and any Craft checks to make simple tools (wheelbarrow, shovel, barrel, crude chair, etc), however your starting gold is halved.
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
Middle Class (Talent)
You are the child of a family of craftsmen or merchants. One or both of your parents are likely skilled in a craft and/or profession.
Benefit: You receive a +4 bonus to any single Craft skill, and a +2 bonus to any single Profession skill.
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
Upper Class (Talent)
Your family has achieved a high level of social status and has access to a healthy influx of income. You were raised in the manner of a lesser noble.
The money and social skills you have learned tend to aid you in many situations.
Benefit: You receive a +4 bonus to all Appraise checks, as well as all Cha-based skills. Finally, your starting Wealth is (5+ 1d6).
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
Titled (Talent)
Your family hold a title granted by the nobility at some point. You have an ancestral manor or keep which overlooks a parcel of land owned and maintained by your family in the name of the nobility. This grants you a level of social status and wealth equal to a lesser noble.
Benefit: You receive a +4 bonus to all Ride checks, and gain the Simple Weapons Proficiency feat, as well as all Cha-based skills. Finally, your starting Wealth is (10+ 1d6).
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
Nobility (Talent)
You come from a noble family that still has lands and power. You are not directly in line to inherit, but you still have your upbringing, limited resources, and status.
Benefit: You receive a +2 to all Diplomacy and Knowledge (etiquette) checks. You also always have a place to stay with your family and can ask other nobility to put you up for short times with a Diplomacy check with a DC of 15. Finally, your starting Wealth is (10 + 1d6).
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
High Nobility (Talent)
You come from a noble family that still has lands and power. You are in line to inherit, and are expected to enter into the family politics and take your place when the time comes.
Benefit: You receive a +4 to all Diplomacy and Knowledge (etiquette) checks. You also always have a place to stay with your family and can ask other nobility to put you up for short times with a Diplomacy check with a DC of 15. Finally, your starting Wealth is (15 + 1d6).
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
Regality (Talent)
You come from a royal family. You are not directly in line to inherit, but you still have your upbringing, considerable resources, and status.
Benefit: You receive a +6 to all Diplomacy and Knowledge (etiquette) checks. You also always have a place to stay with your family and can ask other nobility to put you up for short times with a Diplomacy check with a DC of 15. Finally, your starting Wealth is (15 + 1d10).
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
High Regality (Talent)
You come from a royal family and are directly in line to inherit, you are expected to lay aside all other commitments and take your throne when the time comes.
Benefit: You receive a +8 to all Diplomacy and Knowledge (etiquette) checks. You also always have a place to stay with your family and can ask other nobility to put you up for short times with a Diplomacy check with a DC of 15. Finally, your starting Wealth is (20 + 1d10).
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
So, thoughts? Love/Hate from my fellow 1E carryovers? A few WTFs from post-1E gamers? It's all good.
[Note, the following is cut n' pasted en toto from it's parent documents, so some personal notes may be present. And text enclosed in brackets, like this is, is meant as notes to myself while writing]
Social Class
Nearly everyone falls into a social class, be it by virtue of their income, their position, their vocation, or what not. From the poor to the obscenely wealthy, these levels of social affluence carry freedoms and responsibilities different from the others.
Characters from different social strata view each other with certain prejudices that color their interactions. A character dealing with another character of the same social status receives a +3 adjustment. This modifier drops by 1 for every social class difference between the characters.
Thus, a Poor character dealing with a Poor character will receive a +3 reaction adjustment; while a Poor character dealing with a Regal character will receive a –3 reaction adjustment. The seven social classes are as follows:
- Poor: Peasants, farmers, laborers
- Middle Class: Craftsmen, merchants, traders
- Upper Class: Landed officials, military officers, affluent merchants
- Titled: Baron/Baroness
- Nobility: Count/Countess, Viscount/Viscountess
- High Nobility: Duke/Duchess, Marquis/Marquise
- Regality: Emperor/Empress, King/Queen, Prince/Princess
Those in the higher social classes are assumed to possess access to larger and more stable sources of income. These characters have a Wealth score in addition to any currency they carry on their person.
When making transactions taking place in a location that would logically be in a position to recognize such a thing, such characters may make a Wealth check instead of using currency. If the check is failed, the character is free to use any currency they may carry, but suffer a –1 penalty to reaction checks with whoever they were dealing with when the Wealth check failed.
A failed Wealth check does not necessarily mean that the character does not possess the required wealth (in the royal coffers, for a Regal character, for example). It may mean that their note of credit is unacceptable in a given place (i.e. in a small village, the local blacksmith may not feel he can enter the palace, or even make the trip, to collect on the note).
Social Class Feats
Social Class feats are a kind of Talent Feat. Unlike most other Talent Feats, however, social feats can be affected (and in some cases, negated or changed) in the course of gameplay. Doing so should only come after careful consideration however, as this threatens to nullify a precious feat taken by the player.
[Should the higher-class feats cost multiple feat slots?]
Poor (Talent)
You were born and raised in a poor family. Your social status is low, and your initial wealth is very limited, but you get along well with those of low status wherever you go.
Benefit: You receive a +4 to all Survival checks and any Craft checks to make simple tools (wheelbarrow, shovel, barrel, crude chair, etc), however your starting gold is halved.
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
Middle Class (Talent)
You are the child of a family of craftsmen or merchants. One or both of your parents are likely skilled in a craft and/or profession.
Benefit: You receive a +4 bonus to any single Craft skill, and a +2 bonus to any single Profession skill.
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
Upper Class (Talent)
Your family has achieved a high level of social status and has access to a healthy influx of income. You were raised in the manner of a lesser noble.
The money and social skills you have learned tend to aid you in many situations.
Benefit: You receive a +4 bonus to all Appraise checks, as well as all Cha-based skills. Finally, your starting Wealth is (5+ 1d6).
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
Titled (Talent)
Your family hold a title granted by the nobility at some point. You have an ancestral manor or keep which overlooks a parcel of land owned and maintained by your family in the name of the nobility. This grants you a level of social status and wealth equal to a lesser noble.
Benefit: You receive a +4 bonus to all Ride checks, and gain the Simple Weapons Proficiency feat, as well as all Cha-based skills. Finally, your starting Wealth is (10+ 1d6).
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
Nobility (Talent)
You come from a noble family that still has lands and power. You are not directly in line to inherit, but you still have your upbringing, limited resources, and status.
Benefit: You receive a +2 to all Diplomacy and Knowledge (etiquette) checks. You also always have a place to stay with your family and can ask other nobility to put you up for short times with a Diplomacy check with a DC of 15. Finally, your starting Wealth is (10 + 1d6).
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
High Nobility (Talent)
You come from a noble family that still has lands and power. You are in line to inherit, and are expected to enter into the family politics and take your place when the time comes.
Benefit: You receive a +4 to all Diplomacy and Knowledge (etiquette) checks. You also always have a place to stay with your family and can ask other nobility to put you up for short times with a Diplomacy check with a DC of 15. Finally, your starting Wealth is (15 + 1d6).
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
Regality (Talent)
You come from a royal family. You are not directly in line to inherit, but you still have your upbringing, considerable resources, and status.
Benefit: You receive a +6 to all Diplomacy and Knowledge (etiquette) checks. You also always have a place to stay with your family and can ask other nobility to put you up for short times with a Diplomacy check with a DC of 15. Finally, your starting Wealth is (15 + 1d10).
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
High Regality (Talent)
You come from a royal family and are directly in line to inherit, you are expected to lay aside all other commitments and take your throne when the time comes.
Benefit: You receive a +8 to all Diplomacy and Knowledge (etiquette) checks. You also always have a place to stay with your family and can ask other nobility to put you up for short times with a Diplomacy check with a DC of 15. Finally, your starting Wealth is (20 + 1d10).
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
So, thoughts? Love/Hate from my fellow 1E carryovers? A few WTFs from post-1E gamers? It's all good.
