painandgreed
First Post
I want social standing to count a great deal in the campain I'm currently designing and want some mechanic to deal with this for characters. Namely, how to tell or give the chance for characters to be of high (or low) social standing.
There's always the old Unearthed Arcana % chart that I could have them role on, but that's a little too random.
I could add another stat like in Traveller. It would allow those that wanted to play high social standing characters do so and give another throw away stat to those who didn't when arranging stats. Still, I hate to go so far as to create another stat.
With 3E, it seems the easiest would be to come up with feats to represent this. Perhaps even region feats to represent the various countries different hereditary systems. Something like:
Low Class [General]
You were raised in a family that was poor and of low social standing and by your mannerisms and accent, everybody around you can tell.
Benefit: You receive a +2 bonus with Cha based checks when dealing with the lower classes even if not known because you are obviously one of them and represent the archetypical "commoner".
Special: You suffer a -10 penalty in any check that involves trying to pass yourself off as nobility. You can only take this feat at character creation.
Good Family [General]
You come from a family with a long and respected background. Even though your family may not be wealthy or powerful, they are still respected by the nobility.
Benefit: You receive +2 when making Cha based checks when dealing with nobility.
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
Nobility [General]
You come from a noble family that still has lands and power. You are not necesarily in line to share in any of it but you still have your pride and a place to stay.
Prerequisite: Good Family
Benefit: You receive +2 when making Cha based checks when dealing with repersenatives of the government who are not nobility themselves. 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.
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
High Nobility [General]
You are a member of feudal nobility with lots of money and power and are expected to enter into the family politics.
Prerequisite: Nobility
Benefit: Not only does your family outfit you in just about any normal equipment you desire but you (and your friends so long as they are with you) will always have a castle to call home and good food to eat at the master's table.
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation. This feat may be taken by a fighter for his 1st level feat. To remian in good standing with the family, you will be required to undertake tasks they give, and you follow their orders they give you perhaps including telling you whom to marry. (Yes, at this point the entire thing becomes a plot hook for the campain more than a mere feat.)
Any thoughts or other ideas?
There's always the old Unearthed Arcana % chart that I could have them role on, but that's a little too random.
I could add another stat like in Traveller. It would allow those that wanted to play high social standing characters do so and give another throw away stat to those who didn't when arranging stats. Still, I hate to go so far as to create another stat.
With 3E, it seems the easiest would be to come up with feats to represent this. Perhaps even region feats to represent the various countries different hereditary systems. Something like:
Low Class [General]
You were raised in a family that was poor and of low social standing and by your mannerisms and accent, everybody around you can tell.
Benefit: You receive a +2 bonus with Cha based checks when dealing with the lower classes even if not known because you are obviously one of them and represent the archetypical "commoner".
Special: You suffer a -10 penalty in any check that involves trying to pass yourself off as nobility. You can only take this feat at character creation.
Good Family [General]
You come from a family with a long and respected background. Even though your family may not be wealthy or powerful, they are still respected by the nobility.
Benefit: You receive +2 when making Cha based checks when dealing with nobility.
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
Nobility [General]
You come from a noble family that still has lands and power. You are not necesarily in line to share in any of it but you still have your pride and a place to stay.
Prerequisite: Good Family
Benefit: You receive +2 when making Cha based checks when dealing with repersenatives of the government who are not nobility themselves. 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.
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation.
High Nobility [General]
You are a member of feudal nobility with lots of money and power and are expected to enter into the family politics.
Prerequisite: Nobility
Benefit: Not only does your family outfit you in just about any normal equipment you desire but you (and your friends so long as they are with you) will always have a castle to call home and good food to eat at the master's table.
Special: You can only take this feat at character creation. This feat may be taken by a fighter for his 1st level feat. To remian in good standing with the family, you will be required to undertake tasks they give, and you follow their orders they give you perhaps including telling you whom to marry. (Yes, at this point the entire thing becomes a plot hook for the campain more than a mere feat.)
Any thoughts or other ideas?
Last edited:
