If race and class were tangible social constructs in a setting

[Dangerious P. Cats]

For a while now I've had an idea for a setting where society collapses and the only people to survive are are re-enactors and role-players. While the re-enactors are off deviding themselves up between kingdoms of the SCA and metal weapons groups the roleplayers who survive build their society as though it were a roleplaying game (a very particular roleplaying game) and so devide everyone within the society is given a race, class and level. I'm trying to work out how this affects people socially. What insitutions would be formed around class and how would being a level 12 farmer be better for you than being a level 7 farmer? Also I'm trying to work out what classes might need to evolve to make such a society work? You need to have craftsmen, farmers beuracrats to keep a society going, and since everything in the society needs to have a class you need to have classes for them (people without a race/class/level are deemed to be a "monster" and have no rights in the society).

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by Dangerious P. Cats

For a while now I've had an idea for a setting where society collapses and the only people to survive are are re-enactors and role-players. While the re-enactors are off deviding themselves up between kingdoms of the SCA and metal weapons groups the roleplayers who survive build their society as though it were a roleplaying game (a very particular roleplaying game) and so devide everyone within the society is given a race, class and level. I'm trying to work out how this affects people socially. What insitutions would be formed around class and how would being a level 12 farmer be better for you than being a level 7 farmer? Also I'm trying to work out what classes might need to evolve to make such a society work? You need to have craftsmen, farmers beuracrats to keep a society going, and since everything in the society needs to have a class you need to have classes for them (people without a race/class/level are deemed to be a "monster" and have no rights in the society).

Many years ago, a friend of mine worked out experience for farmers based on how many animals they butchered a year and how many hit points each one had.

Bill Stoddard

[Barghaest]

Could be worse... could be an MMO society in which case things like farmer would be a secondary 'trade skill' anyone could pick up instead of a true class...

Levels would probably translate to different forms of Rank or Status and primarily affect social interactions because level isn't realistically tangible to judge (you could say they have to take test like Driving Tests to qualify but a lower skill person might feasibly pass with a good roll).

[Dangerious P. Cats]

Originally Posted by whswhs

Many years ago, a friend of mine worked out experience for farmers based on how many animals they butchered a year and how many hit points each one had.

Bill Stoddard

What if they farmed apples?

[Sunrunners_Fire]

Originally Posted by Dangerious P. Cats

What if they farmed apples?

How to put this ... farming only apples is a great way to starve.

Thereby, no-one only farms apples. They farm pigs, chickens, goats, some grains, some tubers, some fruits, they have herb gardens for everything (flavoring and medicinal) they use. They strive for self-sufficiency in everything possible and sell the excess for things they can't produce on their own.

If they don't have enough farmers to have enough excess to be able to afford to support specialists (with enough demand for their specialty so they don't starve), well, they don't have specialists. And it takes hundreds of self-sufficient farmers to be able to afford one or two specialists (like, say, doctors). In which case if they can't do it themselves? It doesn't get done.

[Trachmyr]

Originally Posted by whswhs

Many years ago, a friend of mine worked out experience for farmers based on how many animals they butchered a year and how many hit points each one had.

Bill Stoddard

Heh... I figured out that I'd be a level 7 Ranger (3e) just by the number of water moccassins I've killed (they are my Favorite Enemy).


Edit: To the OT of the thread. I'd say build classes/levels as meta traits of social advantages (Status, Rank, etc.) and Delusions.

Don't forget to add Cultural Familiarities (D&D, Gurps, White Wolf, etc.)

[Rocket Man]

Originally Posted by Trachmyr

Heh... I figured out that I'd be a level 7 Ranger (3e) just by the number of water moccassins I've killed (they are my Favorite Enemy).


Edit: To the OT of the thread. I'd say build classes/levels as meta traits of social advantages (Status, Rank, etc.) and Delusions.

Don't forget to add Cultural Familiarities (D&D, Gurps, White Wolf, etc.)

Of course, the GURPSers might have a Social Stigma as heretics. "Set aside your delusions of class and level! With time and study, ALL may become heroes! And the warrior and the wizard shall lay down together ..." (Thunk)

[rosignol]

I forsee strife between those communities who structured their societies using the d20 ruleset and others who used other popular systems, such as World of Darkness or Palladium.

(GURPS players are far too sensible to take part in such silliness, of course. ;) )

[Trachmyr]

Originally Posted by rosignol

...
(GURPS players are far too sensible to take part in such silliness, of course. ;) )

Or they start structuring a new public school system based on exactly 200 hours of study per subject ;)

[RobKamm]

Originally Posted by rosignol

I forsee strife between those communities who structured their societies using the d20 ruleset and others who used other popular systems, such as World of Darkness or Palladium.

I forsee conquest by those communities that started with live steel training (American Civil War reenactors could have won, but they'll be too busy dealing with the aftermath of the "Authentic Underwear Battles"). If they're smart they'll reassign everyone as 4th level halfling farmers thereby eliminating the possibility of revolt. Assuming the rpg'ers are good roleplayers...