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Message: <blockquote data-quote="GrumpyOldMan" data-source="post: 1526428" data-attributes="member: 16469">Strangemonkey & S’mon are correct, the basic pyramid I described does not AFAIK actually exist, but it’s a lot simpler than reality It was not meant to be a full description of the feudal system, however, as a method of figuring out who in a kingdom has troops, and where they have come from, it’s a fairly easy system to use.Other complicating factors in England were, the power and independence of the church, and the separation of the landholding nobility from the justice system. The Sheriffs were in charge of tax collection, and the dispensation of the Kings justice within their shires. This could make them as powerful as a Baron or Earl, but, at least in theory, they were political appointees and could be sacked. The nobility could not. (This again is a gross oversimplification.)Even in England the Feudal system did not work in some cities. London was run by ‘elected’ aldermen, these men had a lot of power. Cities need a lot of support services, they import huge amounts of food and require trade to survive. World-builders take note, most English cities are coastal, or at least on a river at a point where sea-going vessels can dock. (Inland cities are modern (industrial revolution) era.) Cities are always surrounded by smaller towns, villages and farms. AFAIK all major European cities are also on major trade routes. Las Vegas could not exist in a medieval world.What all of this boils down to, is that societies are complex things and modelling them is complicated. The model is only made more complicated by multiple religions and pantheons and by the existence of magic. In a fantasy world if there’s a rip space/time leading to the gods plane and every so often magic items fall from the sky into a barren desert, you can bet that there will be a settlement there.CombatWombat51, the fact that you’re thinking about these things means that you’ll be thinking of the whys for the above, too. GOM</blockquote>

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