Your campaign and the general level of education...

[Mark]

1.) How common is a level of education for the NPCs (and PCs) in your game world?

2.) Are only the elite spellcasters educated, but perhaps only in their field?

3.) Do nobles benefit from higher learning, or perhaps just the basics?

4.) Do experts have schools for their specialties?

5.) Are there trade schools for craftsmen or just apprenticeships (and how formal are they)?

6.) Do commoners ever see the inside of a classroom?

7.) What sort of training beyond the tilting field is received by guards, warriors, and soldiers?

8.) Do bards learn exclusively from a single master, or are there dormatories with some of the best damned parties in the kingdom full of them?

9.) Where do monks learn their many disciplines?

10.) Does every temple have a classroom for their clergy?

 

[Wombat]

First up, I have run several campaigns with vast differences on this topic, so this material only applies to the current campaign

1.) How common is a level of education for the NPCs (and PCs) in your game world?

Not very. Literacy must be purchased, as well as additional languages. Commoners know very little; experts, priests, and magi rather more. More or less "Medieval Standard" rather than "D&D Standard".

2.) Are only the elite spellcasters educated, but perhaps only in their field?

Knowledges represent Education in my game, thus anyone with Knowledge is Educated, at least to some extent. See above.

3.) Do nobles benefit from higher learning, or perhaps just the basics?

Some nobles take further education, but this is far from the rule.

4.) Do experts have schools for their specialties?

Most Experts are craftspeople, thus they learn by apprenticeship (there is also no differentiation between Craft & Profession in our game, nor is there a set stat, such as DEX or INT, that is inherently tied to the skill -- we use the "Most Appropriate Stat".

5.) Are there trade schools for craftsmen or just apprenticeships (and how formal are they)?

Some crafts have very formal apprenticeship programs; most deal with "learn by doing" process.

6.) Do commoners ever see the inside of a classroom?

Nope. Why should they? Does a farmer ever need to read?

7.) What sort of training beyond the tilting field is received by guards, warriors, and soldiers?

Again, does a warrior need to read?

8.) Do bards learn exclusively from a single master, or are there dormatories with some of the best damned parties in the kingdom full of them?

Bards are rare and it is entirely one-on-one training.

9.) Where do monks learn their many disciplines?

Happily, we have no monks, as they don't fit the setting. Neither do we have Paladins or Sorcerers.

10.) Does every temple have a classroom for their clergy?

Not every temple -- most temples are more like "shrines", unless by "temple" you are not referring to the building, but the institution. Every church maintains learning facilities, but even many priests have minimal education.

Personally, I prefer the "Medieval Standard" level of education. If peasants start getting education, then they start discussing major ideas and start wondering why they are peasants...

 

[Amrynn Moonshadow]

interesting topic, btw.

1.) How common is a level of education for the NPCs (and PCs) in your game world?

Education, i guess is in some cases formal learning. most people have life skills which relate to what they do, and what they should know. i guess they aren't the same in that case. most people (commoners what-have-you) have skill ranks in knowledge skills for sure, and craft skills. you're not really going to find alot of bakers with spot or move silently, rather with things like "profession", "craft" and "knowledge". maybe a specific baker who is known for over hearing his customers and is a great wealth of info on people in town would have "gather information" "listen" or something like that. a small town near a wooded area would probably have members of the milita be better lumberjacks than fighter anyway. (skill ranks in "profession", etc) larger cities where there are more people, more varied types of people, and where people aren't living day to day you see more institutions of learning for sure.

2.) Are only the elite spellcasters educated, but perhaps only in their field?

nope. i look to the real world for this. a nurse isn't *as* skilled as a doctor, but a veteran nurse does know a whole lot more than a medical student, that's for sure; in that area of speciality. similarly a crusty old wizard may know alot about history or arcana, or spellcraft; but his librarian/wife/maid/cook/servant would through association of being near that kind of stuff all the time would know more about arcana, or old maps or how to tell if a certain spell is in effect through habituation at a higher degree than some two bit adventurer who stumbles into the library.

3.) Do nobles benefit from higher learning, or perhaps just the basics?

Yes, again I look at the real world. specifically some of the still developing countries show a great example of a highly stratified situation. people with money have money. they don't really have to worry about spending all day at a mill or tilling the feilds. they use that money to make sure they get more and more of it. one way is to get educated. over in India all the rich people's sons and daughters attend institutions of higher learning. even if they fail the parents buy off the examiners, and the dumb kids get to go up in level. this even happens in law schools, irony of irony. i fully expect bribery to be quite prevalent in most human lands to say the least. i DM in the forgotten realms, and many lords of waterdeep bribe tutors or what have you to overlook their childrens' failing and write letters for them to be accepted into more prestigious centers of learning (mage guilds, monastaries, chuch hierarchies, merchant guild colleges etc . . .). you will find that nobles have more varied skills, especially with the FR feat "Education" which makes all knowledge skills class skills, and grants a +1 to two such skills.

4.) Do experts have schools for their specialties?

In some places, but not all experts do. for instance in Waterdeep (in the FR) there is a bardic college. to say that every student there is a bard would be incorrect. i can imagine that most of the students are going there to learn music, history, dancing etc . . . not everyone there knows how to cast arcane spells in light armor. how silly is that . . .

daughter of a noble: "daddy, daddy, guess what i learned at dance class today . . . i learned how to use a crossbow!"

5.) Are there trade schools for craftsmen or just apprenticeships (and how formal are they)?

again, it depends on the location. i can assume that on evermeet there's probably some sort of place where you can go to learn how to make really nice flutes, but the really really nice ones are secrets which are passed down from journeyman craftsmen to apprentices. i'm sure a dwarven city would kind of have some sort of formal learning on how to know your way around an anvil, mainly because dwarves make alot of weapons - - everyone has to do it. it's contributing to the dwarf society to do that, work in shifts, etc. in that case you could say a dwarf clan would be much like a trade school. (spend a winter or two with them after earning their trust, and they might accept you and teach you a thing or two as well!)

6.) Do commoners ever see the inside of a classroom?

depends on the society. there are some nasty places there education is hoarded by the powerful few, and things like public schools are basically outlawed. on the other hand, i'm pretty sure that silverymoon may have one or two basic schools for children. why not, they are "good" in silverymoon. now, ancient europe didn't really have this, but they didn't have magic either. again, i look to the 3rd world, because D&D is based in a stratified society. in India commoners are allowed to go to school, even the lowest class people, but they are put into situations outside of their control where getting a petty job to help support the family is more important for their immediate survival than being a burden until the day that they may get a higher paying job . . .

7.) What sort of training beyond the tilting field is received by guards, warriors, and soldiers?

guards do most of their work through their title. they basically sit around and say "keep in line" now and then to people who wander too close to whatever doorways they shouldn't be wandering nearby. they probably carry with them a bludgeoning weapon, a dagger, short sword, torch, and a set of keys. they are meant to police unarmed commoners, not fight off trolls. if you really wanted to break into some place it would happen. they would have to retreat and get reinforcements.

warriors are much more martial in that respect. they *are* the guys that are supposed to protect cities from trolls. your average militia member would be this, and depending on the needs of the city/town you would see different things in their skills (farming, woodcutting, fishing along with things like spot and ride or whatever).

you go to war with soldiers. that alone sets them appart from the rest. they are going to die for a cause, you better make sure they do less dying then the other guys side. these people are probably taught alot more tactics, formations, and of course, have more martial related feats. a guard may have the "run" feat to run and chase down a cutpurse in a marketplace. a warrior may have "weapon focus". a soldier may have things like "combat expertise" or "ride by attack"

8.) Do bards learn exclusively from a single master, or are there dormatories with some of the best damned parties in the kingdom full of them?

a migratory bard tries to learn from as many people as he can. most people learning in some institution are most likely non-bards, but still poets, actors, musicians etc. (like the people who lives in carnegie hall)

9.) Where do monks learn their many disciplines?

some seek out migratory 'masters' who live in far off places. other people learn their fighting styles at monastaries and so forth.

10.) Does every temple have a classroom for their clergy?

if not, every temple should have at least a library / theology debate place.

of course ALL of these answers are really dependant on the level of tech, level of social civics and by race. (obviously an orc city isn't going to be filled with orc bardic collages . . .)

 

[Tonguez]

1.) How common is a level of education for the NPCs (and PCs) in your game world?

I assume that PCs are from the Middle classes (at least, higher with a level of Aristocrat) and that most 'Middle-class' or higher persons have formal tutelage of some sort.

Commoners have no formal education and NPCs vary by class (Experts, Adepts and PC classed NPC are educated, the rest maybe not)

2.) Are only the elite spellcasters educated, but perhaps only in their field?

No. I have both Arcane Academies and Theological Colleges with Science and Arts added for a broader Curriculum. Clergy, Wizards and Aristocrat/Experts will be Trained at such a college in such disciplines as Engineering and Architecture, Alchemy, History and Languages.

3.) Do nobles benefit from higher learning, or perhaps just the basics?
Yes (see above)

4.) Do experts have schools for their specialties?

Guilds sometimes run Schools but most experts train via the Apprenticeship system

5.) Are there trade schools for craftsmen or just apprenticeships (and how formal are they)?
See above

6.) Do commoners ever see the inside of a classroom?

Very rarely, their might be an itinerant Erudite Sage (Adepts of the god of Knowledge) who will give informal schooling in a community

7.) What sort of training beyond the tilting field is received by guards, warriors, and soldiers?

Obviously Skill at arms and Military Drill.
IMHO Any warrior who is given more advanced training (eg an Special Forces Elite or a Sapper ect) should be a Warrior/Expert (eg IMC I distinguish between Guards and Sentinels. Sentinels are highly trained guards who serve the Royal Court. They are able to read body language (Feat based on Sense Motive) and have various Stealth Skills)

8.) Do bards learn exclusively from a single master, or are there dormatories with some of the best damned parties in the kingdom full of them?

I use the Celtic idea of the Omaan - the College of Bards - essentially a Guild to which all Bards belong and from which they can gain training. Certain Master Bard might start up troupes which also provide training. One of my campaigns had the PCs as members of a travelling Circus troupe which had ties to the Omaan and also established an Academy of Performing Arts

9.) Where do monks learn their many disciplines?

In Temples. IMC Monks follow the same god as the Erudite Sages but whereas Erudite Sages seek knowledge and teach others, the Monks seek to gain mastery of Mind and body

10.) Does every temple have a classroom for their clergy?

Besides the Theological Colleges/Universities mentioned above every Major religious order IMC has monastary type set ups where neophytes are taken and trained from youth in the holy scripture and dogma of the faith.

 

[Crothian]

1.) How common is a level of education for the NPCs (and PCs) in your game world?

It's reserved for the wealthy and the prodigies mostly

2.) Are only the elite spellcasters educated, but perhaps only in their field?

There is a single mage school that does teach things, but it is not easy to get into.

3.) Do nobles benefit from higher learning, or perhaps just the basics?

Mostly the basics like literacy and numbers

4.) Do experts have schools for their specialties?

No, I use a an apprentice system

5.) Are there trade schools for craftsmen or just apprenticeships (and how formal are they)?

Apprentiships only and they very in formality. Some crafts have guilds so they are very formal, but the guildless have little formality.

6.) Do commoners ever see the inside of a classroom?

No

7.) What sort of training beyond the tilting field is received by guards, warriors, and soldiers?

Weapons and the ability to follow orders mostly

8.) Do bards learn exclusively from a single master, or are there dormatories with some of the best damned parties in the kingdom full of them?

There is a single Bard college (ironically near the Mage School). But most traveling minstrels learn a little here and there.

9.) Where do monks learn their many disciplines?

The church and monastaries for the religious monks. THere are martial monks that train at fighting acedemies.

10.) Does every temple have a classroom for their clergy?

No, few classrooms. Most of tyhe teaching is in practice.

 

[Creamsteak]

1.) How common is a level of education for the NPCs (and PCs) in your game world?

Literacy is common. Most people have a disciplined craft or profession, and the vast majority of people know general history and current events that are not kept secret from the general people.

2.) Are only the elite spellcasters educated, but perhaps only in their field?

No.

3.) Do nobles benefit from higher learning, or perhaps just the basics?

Additional knowledge of areas the general people care little about is obvious, politics and higher education included. Knowledge skills might be a 'little' more common, but not the largest gap.

4.) Do experts have schools for their specialties?

Yeppers. You don't 'have' to go to a school to be the best in your craft though...

5.) Are there trade schools for craftsmen or just apprenticeships (and how formal are they)?

Both, and varied.

6.) Do commoners ever see the inside of a classroom?

Where do they live? If they don't live within one or two miles of a schoolhouse, they don't. If they do, they probably get to visit them on occation. Teachers tend to be clerics and experts mostly.

7.) What sort of training beyond the tilting field is received by guards, warriors, and soldiers?

Well, most are trained to do the job professionally. Everyone else is a conscript at best. They more often than not have a craft, but not as likely to have a profession. Knowledge skills, they mostly disregard unless it's a particular NPC.

8.) Do bards learn exclusively from a single master, or are there dormatories with some of the best damned parties in the kingdom full of them?

Whatever fits the particular bard. Theres probably a bardic school somewhere, but I almost always assume Bards are naturally gifted and then self-taught.

9.) Where do monks learn their many disciplines?

Self-Discipline really. Unless the come from an order.

10.) Does every temple have a classroom for their clergy?

Unless it's a chaotic temple, the answer is probably. Chaotic churches seem more likely than not to 'recruit' through doing rather than teaching.

All IMHO obviously.

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

Well, speaking for Urbis ...

1.) How common is a level of education for the NPCs (and PCs) in your game world?

Some very basic reading and writing is common among the masses - the urban poor read very slowly, and most of them would have read problems if their index fingers were cut off, but they can do it well enough to read official pronouncements and instructions.

2.) Are only the elite spellcasters educated, but perhaps only in their field?

Wizards are considered craftsmen, if highly-paid ones. Clerics who are part of an organized religion get a very good, if biased, ecucation, while clerics who aren't learn in a more haphazard way, just as bards and sorcerers. Druids are mostly educated in the ways of the wild, but since they are on the retreat, much knowledge has been lost.

3.) Do nobles benefit from higher learning, or perhaps just the basics?

They recieve the best education possible. Politics are devious in Urbis, and a good education will increase your odds of survival far more than swordsmanship ever could. Same goes for non-noble members of ruling families - the aristocracy didn't survive the rise of the city-states in all regions.

4.) Do experts have schools for their specialties?

Yes, and they try to make damn sure that these schools retain a monopoly - if their knowledge becomes too common, they'd sink in status and possibly join the unwashed masses.

They don't always succeed, though...

5.) Are there trade schools for craftsmen or just apprenticeships (and how formal are they)?

There are, but many are under increasing pressures from new factories who use unskilled labor to produce goods. It's pretty much the same as during the Industrial Age...

6.) Do commoners ever see the inside of a classroom?

Depends on how poor they are. There are schools open for the general public, but if the family is too poor, the children are sent to work somewhere to pay the rent...

7.) What sort of training beyond the tilting field is received by guards, warriors, and soldiers?

Whatever the one who hires them is willing to afford. Some city-states have professional military training, while others are content to hire mercenaries...

8.) Do bards learn exclusively from a single master, or are there dormatories with some of the best damned parties in the kingdom full of them?

Depends. Some learn from a single master, but there are also "Entertainer's guild", and in recent decades some nobles and other rich families have started to educate their children in the basics of the bardic arts - after all, influencing lots of people is a very useful skill for a ruler...

9.) Where do monks learn their many disciplines?

Monk in Western regions are in decline, and most belong to beggar orders, which means they enter an apprenticeship under a single master. But they can also recieve training in far-off lands where large monastic orders still exist.

10.) Does every temple have a classroom for their clergy?

If it's an organized religion, they are likely to have a theological college somewhere. If not, their temple likely isn't large enough for organized education of initiates.

 

[Sabaron]

1.) How common is a level of education for the NPCs (and PCs) in your game world?

In most countries, the majority is entirely uneducated. There are two countries which are exceptions to this rule. One is a vast, centrally located empire that needs competent administrators and managers, and the other is a small swamp kingdom in the south that places a high cultural value on education.

2.) Are only the elite spellcasters educated, but perhaps only in their field?

Most spellcasters, with the exception of nobles, are poorly educated outside of their spellcasting training.

3.) Do nobles benefit from higher learning, or perhaps just the basics?

Nobles in all but the barbaric kingdoms are generally well educated.

4.) Do experts have schools for their specialties?

Only in the swamp kingdom. The apprentice system rules everywhere else.

5.) Are there trade schools for craftsmen or just apprenticeships (and how formal are they)?

See 4.

6.) Do commoners ever see the inside of a classroom?

Only in the swamp kingdom

7.) What sort of training beyond the tilting field is received by guards, warriors, and soldiers?

Professional warriors are the backbone of the nations' militaries. However, the average warrior isn't taught much other than how to fight and to be loyal to the king/emperor/chief/mayor. Officers recieve substantial training in logistics, tactics, and other military disciplines.

8.) Do bards learn exclusively from a single master, or are there dormatories with some of the best damned parties in the kingdom full of them?

Bards are on the apprentice system, except in the swamp kingdom (where they do indeed have excellent parties).

9.) Where do monks learn their many disciplines?

Monastaries. Isolated, out of the way places full of monks. Mostly located near inhospitable locales like vast swamps, deserts or jungles. And, of course, the occasional capital city.

10.) Does every temple have a classroom for their clergy?

The rich ones do. More rural temples work mostly on a variation of the apprentice system.

 

[alsih2o]

1 uncommon, without money or a vow to the church you probably cannot read or do math past 2 digits.
2 no, being as "book magic" is illegal in maissen, sorcerers are coddled and educated, wizards meet in secret and their education has holes.
3 basics, unless they join the church or military
4 some, siege engineers, enigineers in general, church folk and administrators get some education too
5 apprenticeships, except for a few stoneworking schools and one boatmaking guilds school
6 no, not unless you count "sunday school" as a classroom
7very similar to basic training, some dummy work, a little sparring with wooden weapons and some drilling.
8 not dorm, but similar. bards travel freely (occasionally even past the state limits) and trade info freely (after they have learned the story of the founding according to the state)
9 3 monasteries, 1 run by the state, one by philosophers who provide some protections to the theocratic council and a clandestine monastery run by runaway slaves.
10 yes, the clergy rule all, and act like it.