schuetz@via.DEC (DTN 381-2647 or system REGAL, GLIVET, or LAGER) (06/05/85)
A while ago, I suggested that instead of dwelling on alignments, you could emphasize social status instead. At that time I promised to type in the SWORDBEARER references. Here they are: This system places negligible emphasis on money. What you can buy depends on your social status. You are always assumed to have the pocket money available for your status. You can borrow one class higher, but if you fail to pay up in time, you drop a class in status. These are typical social distinctions in western Europe during 1200-1400 AD. Status 0: Outcasts, hermits, escaped slaves, highwaymen, etc. Status 1: slaves, indentured servants, serfs; no personal wealth. Status 2-4: Peasants, migrant laborers, junior apprentices; housing owned by landholder, master Status 5-7: Rich peasants, freemen landholders, woodsmen, hunters, senior apprentices, poor merchants & tradesmen, infantry Very plain private residence for family. Status 8-10: junior journeymen, merchants, shopowners, mercenary cavalrymen, non-commisioned officers (sergeant of the guard) Status 11-13: Senior journeymen, well-off merchants, large shopowners, retainers to nobility, cavalry non-coms and junior officers Status 14-16: guild masters, ship captains of large vessels, owners of trading houses, senior officers, inheritors of significant wealth, high level retainers to nobility (steward, chamberlain, etc) Status 17+: Nobility with patent and title 17: knight (dame) 18: knight banneret (dame) 19: baron (baroness) 20: count (countess) 21: earl or marquis (marchioness) 22: duke (duchess) 23: prince (princess) 24: king (queen) 25: emperor (empress) Of course, the religious organizations have their own heirarchy; in many cases they had more wealth than the local nobility. Status 2-7: novices 8-13: lay brother, monk, initiates 14-16: senior brother, or chaplain 16-18: abbott, also ordained priest 19-20: grand master of order Those studying for priesthood: Status 10-13: brother 14: father, ordained priest 15: curate - own parish 16: rector - large parish, has others under him 17: Monseigneur - assists others 18-19: Deans oversee parishes 20-21: bishop - city church 22-23: archbishops large regions, capital city 24: primate - nation, province 25: pope - empires Those of status 21 or higher may be appointed Cardinal, part of the governing body of the church So what does this entitle you to? Social status has its privileges and better armor/weapons. Not everyone walked around with a longsword. The following items are followed by their minimum social status to acquire: Tent (4) Mule (6) Cart, wagon (6) Riding or draft horse(8) Warhorse or courser (15) lantern, grapple (6) traps, tools (7) leather helmet (5) open metal helmet (7) closed metal helmet (14) leather jerkin or coat (4) leather braces (6) greaves (9) chainmail corset (10) chainmail coat (arms & legs) (12) breastplate (13) half-plate (15) vambraces (16) full-plate (17) (nobility only) light leather bards (9) leather half-barding (11) leather housing (12) metal chanfron (14) metal chest barding (17) complete metal barding (18) fist (0) improvised club (1) club, spiked club, giant club (2) staff (2) quarterstaff (5) knife (2) dagger (4) shortsword(4) scimitar (7) longsword (8) rapier (9) hand-and-a-half (11) greatsword (13) hand-axe (5) battle-axe (6) halberd (8) maul (3) hammer (5) great-hammer (6) mace (10) morning-star (11) whip (6) flail (7) spear (4) pike (7) lance (11) rock (0) javelin (4) throwing spear (6) darts (8) throwing stars (10) sling (2) bolo (3) light bow (6) medium bow (7) long/composite bow (8) cross-bow (8) light shield (5) heavy shield (12) retinues: unskilled slave (10) or hireling (11) apprentice (11) semi-skilled slave (12) or hireling (13) journeyman (14) skilled slave (15) or hireling (16) body-guards, clerks, tutors etc. squire (17) artisan (18) slavemaster (18) guard captain (19) steward or chamberlain (20) Try playing these social distinctions. Character goal becomes to elivate status to enable him to use magic weapon, have hirelings, etc. Pretentious characters will soon be put in their place by those in authority, and will probably lose a status level if action is public. You have to earn the rights and privileges, usually by petitioning a noble for a quest. (This sounds better to me every time I read it. I'll have to insist upon it in my next dungeon.) SWORDBEARER was published by Heritage, USA (now defunct, I understand). Send mail if you have questions. /Chris