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<blockquote data-quote="fusangite" data-source="post: 2872148" data-attributes="member: 7240"><p>Except that land was not as directly transferable in Athens. It was not simply a matter of moving fee simple title around.But you do find Republican governance systems like Novgorod, Venice and some other Italian states. Such a system would be harder to sustain in D&D, though. D&D's default system is more likely early medieval feudalism when governments were essentially protection rackets, and for good reason.That's because fantasy literature is about an archetypal and idealized past. The fact is that, aside from republican Rome, most of the myths and stories of heroism are set in aristocratic times and places. Courtly love, knighthood -- these are the social forms around which our literary traditions have formed. </p><p></p><p>One would be hard-pressed to find a lot of stories about heroism and love in medieval or ancient republics, aside from early Rome. And because we tend to see our idealized past as medieval rather than antique, Roman heroism doesn't get much coverage. I think another factor is that medieval republics tended to exert power through trade rather than force. Venice and Novgorod rose to greatness through commercial acumen not strength in arms; and unfortunately commercial success is just not as good reading as military success is. To go a little further, I think episodes like the sack of Constantinople tend to remind us of the venal, plundering aspects of modern capitalism -- something that by both evoking modernity and mild disgust, are unattractive.I don't think D&D emulates autocracy especially well. I think despotism is as rare in narrative terms and as contra-indicated by the actual rules of the game as democracy is. D&D is more likely to have kings and lords as opposed to the despots, service gentry and bureaucrats that characterize autocratic systems.I must concede I'm not very well-read when it comes to setting materials but I had assumed that they were generally describing a feudal rather than an autocratic order.That's really disappointing to hear. Glad I don't blow money on setting books.Retired adventurers might. The first generation of feudal nobility tended to be just these types -- people with little aptitude or training in politics being rewarded for (or just taking payment for) martial service.Yes. But a flaw in most political systems, including the one we have today, is that the skills you need to get the job are not the skills you need to do the job.I have nothing to add here. Ruleslawyer's post is just so great it bears repeating again.</p><p></p><p>Do remember that there is the other kind of adventurer, though: those who, despite their power can't run anything to save their lives because they are violent, unstable, binge-drinking fools who, regardless what titles are given them will find a way to spend their time exclusively on drinking, whoring and fighting.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="fusangite, post: 2872148, member: 7240"] Except that land was not as directly transferable in Athens. It was not simply a matter of moving fee simple title around.But you do find Republican governance systems like Novgorod, Venice and some other Italian states. Such a system would be harder to sustain in D&D, though. D&D's default system is more likely early medieval feudalism when governments were essentially protection rackets, and for good reason.That's because fantasy literature is about an archetypal and idealized past. The fact is that, aside from republican Rome, most of the myths and stories of heroism are set in aristocratic times and places. Courtly love, knighthood -- these are the social forms around which our literary traditions have formed. One would be hard-pressed to find a lot of stories about heroism and love in medieval or ancient republics, aside from early Rome. And because we tend to see our idealized past as medieval rather than antique, Roman heroism doesn't get much coverage. I think another factor is that medieval republics tended to exert power through trade rather than force. Venice and Novgorod rose to greatness through commercial acumen not strength in arms; and unfortunately commercial success is just not as good reading as military success is. To go a little further, I think episodes like the sack of Constantinople tend to remind us of the venal, plundering aspects of modern capitalism -- something that by both evoking modernity and mild disgust, are unattractive.I don't think D&D emulates autocracy especially well. I think despotism is as rare in narrative terms and as contra-indicated by the actual rules of the game as democracy is. D&D is more likely to have kings and lords as opposed to the despots, service gentry and bureaucrats that characterize autocratic systems.I must concede I'm not very well-read when it comes to setting materials but I had assumed that they were generally describing a feudal rather than an autocratic order.That's really disappointing to hear. Glad I don't blow money on setting books.Retired adventurers might. The first generation of feudal nobility tended to be just these types -- people with little aptitude or training in politics being rewarded for (or just taking payment for) martial service.Yes. But a flaw in most political systems, including the one we have today, is that the skills you need to get the job are not the skills you need to do the job.I have nothing to add here. Ruleslawyer's post is just so great it bears repeating again. Do remember that there is the other kind of adventurer, though: those who, despite their power can't run anything to save their lives because they are violent, unstable, binge-drinking fools who, regardless what titles are given them will find a way to spend their time exclusively on drinking, whoring and fighting. [/QUOTE]
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