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Old 04-24-2012, 07:36 AM   #1
dds_ks
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Default Status by Rank: Cost of Living?

This is about B 29: "Rank".

In the beginning of this chapter, it says "Unlike Status, Rank costs no
money to maintain."

Later on, it says "Rank may coexist with Status. If
so, then high Rank grants additional
Status at no extra cost: +1 to Status at
Rank 2-4, +2 to Status at Rank 5-7,
and +3 to Status at Rank 8 or higher."

This "at no extra cost" obviously refers to CP. But what about cost of living?
Is this, too, for free, as you are recognized as "being of high Status", even if you don't have / spend a lot of money, or do you have to maintain this Status?
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Old 04-24-2012, 07:52 AM   #2
DemiBenson
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Boston, Hub of the Universe!
Default Re: Status by Rank: Cost of Living?

Quote:
Originally Posted by dds_ks View Post
This is about B 29: "Rank".

In the beginning of this chapter, it says "Unlike Status, Rank costs no
money to maintain."

Later on, it says "Rank may coexist with Status. If
so, then high Rank grants additional
Status at no extra cost: +1 to Status at
Rank 2-4, +2 to Status at Rank 5-7,
and +3 to Status at Rank 8 or higher."

This "at no extra cost" obviously refers to CP. But what about cost of living?
Is this, too, for free, as you are recognized as "being of high Status", even if you don't have / spend a lot of money, or do you have to maintain this Status?
Rank has to be in a social/military/etc institution. So the effective Status you get for free from your Rank is a boost to standard of living that is given to you by that institution.
  • A naval captain lives better than the ensigns. He gets better quarters aboard ship, better food, someone to take care of the dry-cleaning and so on.
  • A church bishop lives better than a country vicar. He gets a nicer house, better food, servants, fancy clothes.
In neither situation is the individual paying for the benefit - the institution pays for the extra cost of living... as long as the person holds the Rank.
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Old 04-24-2012, 07:54 AM   #3
whswhs
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Lawrence, KS
Default Re: Status by Rank: Cost of Living?

Quote:
Originally Posted by dds_ks View Post
This "at no extra cost" obviously refers to CP. But what about cost of living?
Is this, too, for free, as you are recognized as "being of high Status", even if you don't have / spend a lot of money, or do you have to maintain this Status?
We went through all this at length during the playtest of GURPS Social Engineering. If your Rank raises your Status above what it would otherwise be, then your organization pays for whatever lifestyle benefits produce this effect.

However, if you get Status free from Wealth, you do have to pay that CoL. If you don't, how does anyone know you're wealthy?

Bill Stoddard
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Old 04-24-2012, 08:12 AM   #4
dds_ks
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Default Re: Status by Rank: Cost of Living?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DemiBenson View Post
Rank has to be in a social/military/etc institution. So the effective Status you get for free from your Rank is a boost to standard of living that is given to you by that institution.
  • A naval captain lives better than the ensigns. He gets better quarters aboard ship, better food, someone to take care of the dry-cleaning and so on.
  • A church bishop lives better than a country vicar. He gets a nicer house, better food, servants, fancy clothes.
In neither situation is the individual paying for the benefit - the institution pays for the extra cost of living... as long as the person holds the Rank.
But then, what if you're not "at home"?
Even naval captains or church bishops might travel without their institution paying. However, they could insist on people refering to them with their title. Would they "lose" the bonus Status as long as they are not paying higher cost of living and regain it when they are back at home? Or would people still recognize them as "something better"?
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Old 04-24-2012, 08:59 AM   #5
roguebfl
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Location: Melbourne FL, Formerly Wellington NZ
Default Re: Status by Rank: Cost of Living?

Quote:
Originally Posted by dds_ks View Post
But then, what if you're not "at home"?
Even naval captains or church bishops might travel without their institution paying. However, they could insist on people refering to them with their title. Would they "lose" the bonus Status as long as they are not paying higher cost of living and regain it when they are back at home? Or would people still recognize them as "something better"?
If they can "expense" the trip the organization pays, else they pay for their chosen holidays CoL like everyone else.
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Old 04-24-2012, 09:00 AM   #6
David Johnston2
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Default Re: Status by Rank: Cost of Living?

Quote:
Originally Posted by dds_ks View Post
But then, what if you're not "at home"?
Even naval captains or church bishops might travel without their institution paying. However, they could insist on people refering to them with their title. Would they "lose" the bonus Status as long as they are not paying higher cost of living and regain it when they are back at home? Or would people still recognize them as "something better"?
Status expenses aren't short term. They're a month minimum. What's a naval captain doing on vacation for multiple months?
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Old 04-24-2012, 09:10 AM   #7
Kromm
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Location: Montréal, Québec
Default Re: Status by Rank: Cost of Living?

Free Status from Rank is free in every sense. The means of support for the Status is abstracted into the point cost for the Rank. High clergy and military officers only enjoy such bonus Status in the society where their Rank has meaning . . . so if their full Status pertains, then they are by definition in a place where the organization behind their Rank has resources and influence, and these assets cover cost of living. If such a person is so cut off from his organization that such support isn't realistic, then the Status won't matter either, so why should he pay cost of living for it? There are certainly cases where a high-Rank person might be sent outside his organization's reach as a consultant, emissary, or what-have-you and yet be expected to look the part, but that's an official function and the sort of thing that the organization will pay for.
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Old 04-24-2012, 09:12 AM   #8
gjc8
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Default Re: Status by Rank: Cost of Living?

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Johnston2 View Post
Status expenses aren't short term. They're a month minimum. What's a naval captain doing on vacation for multiple months?
Take a look at the section titled "Inns, Hotels, and Other Temporary Accommodations" on B265.
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