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<blockquote data-quote="NewJeffCTHome" data-source="post: 1934353" data-attributes="member: 25012">I think a chaotic society can function.&nbsp; I don't even think it has to be small.&nbsp; I think it can be a huge empire and still be chaotic.&nbsp; Maybe a society has such a Byzantine set of elaborate laws that are enforced at the whim of local governors, constables and whoever has power that it is really a chaotic mess that somehow works.&nbsp; A law that is enforced strictly in one province because the governor or Duke of that province thinks it should be enforced.&nbsp; However, the strictness of enforcement is generally proportional to the distance from the Duke’s castle or the governor’s residence.&nbsp; Then, in another province or Dukedom in another part of the kingdom, this law is rarely enforced, except in a few isolated towns.&nbsp; However, in one section of the capital city of the province, this law is enforced ruthlessly due to a fanatical knight being in charge of that area.&nbsp; Everybody is afraid to challenge this knight because he is a war hero and (supposedly) a distant cousin to the king.It would be lots of “who you know” types of deals – if you have the right connections with the right people you could be going places in one province or one fiefdom.&nbsp; However, that power could stop at the borders, or possible go further if you know the right people elsewhere.In every country in the world, the “who you know” factor is important.&nbsp; However, in a chaotic society, it is much more important and also is more random.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="NewJeffCTHome, post: 1934353, member: 25012"] I think a chaotic society can function. I don't even think it has to be small. I think it can be a huge empire and still be chaotic. Maybe a society has such a Byzantine set of elaborate laws that are enforced at the whim of local governors, constables and whoever has power that it is really a chaotic mess that somehow works. A law that is enforced strictly in one province because the governor or Duke of that province thinks it should be enforced. However, the strictness of enforcement is generally proportional to the distance from the Duke’s castle or the governor’s residence. Then, in another province or Dukedom in another part of the kingdom, this law is rarely enforced, except in a few isolated towns. However, in one section of the capital city of the province, this law is enforced ruthlessly due to a fanatical knight being in charge of that area. Everybody is afraid to challenge this knight because he is a war hero and (supposedly) a distant cousin to the king. It would be lots of “who you know” types of deals – if you have the right connections with the right people you could be going places in one province or one fiefdom. However, that power could stop at the borders, or possible go further if you know the right people elsewhere. In every country in the world, the “who you know” factor is important. However, in a chaotic society, it is much more important and also is more random. [/QUOTE]

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