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Rank of Level

Started by Greentongue, March 22, 2014, 09:06:11 AM

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Greentongue

March 22, 2014, 09:06:11 AM
Traditionally each level in D&D was named for a rank in society.
How many people actually use that aspect and give the social trapping due to the character's rank?
=

languagegeek

#1
March 22, 2014, 10:08:45 AM
No, we never used the rank titles. I guess the characters' place in society was determined by their actions, history, behaviour, etc. Though I can see how the ranks could be useful.

JamesV

#2
March 22, 2014, 02:25:11 PM
I used to be someone who didn't, but when I prepared for a BFRPG game, I started to be keen on the idea. What are XP and levels, but the development of a character's reputation/legend?

It was pretty fun to start calling some of the PCs "Seth the myrmidon" on occasion.
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gleichman

#3
March 22, 2014, 02:57:35 PM
Don't play D&D, but in our homebrew the character levels equal status, renown and some even title.

Of course they are used. When the Big Damn Heroes arrive it's important that they be known as such.
Whitehall Paraindustries- A blog about RPG Theory and Design

"The purpose of an open mind is to close it, on particular subjects. If you never do — you\'ve simply abdicated the responsibility to think." - William F. Buckley.

Omega

#4
March 22, 2014, 07:21:32 PM
I used them for my magic users. Some others in the group would for their thief that I recall. Others would just pick up one of the titles they liked and use it no matter their level.

Jannet referred to herself as a Tracker.
Dev Dyne would use Footpad or occasionally Cutpurse.
D'arn D'anluth liked to use Swordsman and then upgrade to Myrmidon when he got to that level.

Current local group does not use them.

Ravenswing

#5
March 23, 2014, 02:25:23 AM
Never did, in the relatively brief period I played straight OD&D before deciding the system was a heap of vague crap.  Mostly it's that except for those terribly silly campaigns where people's levels and character classes were represented by glowing symbols floating over their heads, there's no freaking objective, IC way to tell someone's class or level.
This was a cool site, until it became an echo chamber for whiners screeching about how the "Evul SJWs are TAKING OVAH!!!" every time any RPG book included a non-"traditional" NPC or concept, or their MAGA peeners got in a twist. You're in luck, drama queens: the Taliban is hiring.

Brander

#6
March 23, 2014, 02:28:33 AM
I'd love to play in a game that had some sort of institution that used them, but otherwise I've never seen them in play in any of the D&D I've played (or run).
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JeremyR

#7
March 23, 2014, 03:43:44 AM
I don't think they were named for a rank in society. Except maybe the Cleric/Druid level names.

They were just an outgrowth of Chainmail, which didn't have levels, but used different names to designate the power of fighters and magic-users.

Super Heroes were tougher than Heroes. Wizards were the best er, wizard, and there were like 2-3 lower ones with different names.

They just got carried over into D&D.

saskganesh

#8
March 23, 2014, 07:10:57 AM
They are really just a hodge podge of cool names that are supposed to convey character power. There is some implication of social rank in some of the lists due to the titles used, but it's not consistent.

Greentongue

#9
March 23, 2014, 09:39:13 AM
Quote from: Ravenswing;738252Never did, in the relatively brief period I played straight OD&D before deciding the system was a heap of vague crap.  Mostly it's that except for those terribly silly campaigns where people's levels and character classes were represented by glowing symbols floating over their heads, there's no freaking objective, IC way to tell someone's class or level.

What if there was? The clothes and jewelry you wear. The style of your hair. The number of servants that follow you and respond to your beck and call.

Not to say the characters can't run a con, in fact I would expect it, but most societies do have physical trappings that tell others their status.
True not everyone uses them but they certainly are available for those that want to make it clear.
=

Simlasa

#10
March 23, 2014, 12:08:47 PM Last Edit: March 23, 2014, 12:13:47 PM by Simlasa
In World of Warcraft you can judge a character's level by how large and baroque his shoulderpads are...

Maybe only higher ranks are allowed to wear weapons in the city... sumptuary laws can be a fun complication to run afoul of.


The first group I ever played with used them. There was a running jokes about what a 'Myrmidon' might be... and an NPC named Ethel the Myrmidon.

Ravenswing

#11
March 23, 2014, 01:15:12 PM
Quote from: Greentongue;738279What if there was? The clothes and jewelry you wear. The style of your hair. The number of servants that follow you and respond to your beck and call.

Not to say the characters can't run a con, in fact I would expect it, but most societies do have physical trappings that tell others their status.
True not everyone uses them but they certainly are available for those that want to make it clear.
Sure, and how do you enforce them?  World history is studded with sumptuary laws, and cultures for millennia have tried to enforce what people of which social strata could employ what trappings.

Never mind that there's huge incentive to LIE.  The mercenary who wants better pay has incentive to represent himself as being better than he really is.  The arch-wizard who's tired of getting challenged by hotshots wanting to take down the best might represent herself as being Just Another Journeyman.
This was a cool site, until it became an echo chamber for whiners screeching about how the "Evul SJWs are TAKING OVAH!!!" every time any RPG book included a non-"traditional" NPC or concept, or their MAGA peeners got in a twist. You're in luck, drama queens: the Taliban is hiring.

gleichman

#12
March 23, 2014, 01:22:54 PM
Quote from: Ravenswing;738307Sure, and how do you enforce them?  World history is studded with sumptuary laws, and cultures for millennia have tried to enforce what people of which social strata could employ what trappings.

Never mind that there's huge incentive to LIE.  The mercenary who wants better pay has incentive to represent himself as being better than he really is.  The arch-wizard who's tired of getting challenged by hotshots wanting to take down the best might represent herself as being Just Another Journeyman.

All of which is pointless if the game is any version of D&D. If desired the character's rank is what it is and everyone knows it due to his 'bearing' for the same reason all the other stupid stuff in D&D applies- because that's the game and that's the way it is.

The question is more interesting for the rare simulation style game.
Whitehall Paraindustries- A blog about RPG Theory and Design

"The purpose of an open mind is to close it, on particular subjects. If you never do — you\'ve simply abdicated the responsibility to think." - William F. Buckley.

Simlasa

#13
March 23, 2014, 01:25:36 PM
Quote from: Ravenswing;738307Sure, and how do you enforce them?  World history is studded with sumptuary laws, and cultures for millennia have tried to enforce what people of which social strata could employ what trappings.

Never mind that there's huge incentive to LIE.  The mercenary who wants better pay has incentive to represent himself as being better than he really is.  The arch-wizard who's tired of getting challenged by hotshots wanting to take down the best might represent herself as being Just Another Journeyman.
Is there really a problem with any of that? Sounds like extra added fun to me.

Quote from: gleichman;738308All of which is pointless if the game is any version of D&D. If desired the character's rank is what it is and everyone knows it due to his 'bearing' for the same reason all the other stupid stuff in D&D applies- because that's the game and that's the way it is.
Are PCs supposed to automatically be able to judge the Level of an NPC? That's in the rules? I wasn't aware of that... seems lame.

gleichman

#14
March 23, 2014, 01:34:12 PM
Quote from: Simlasa;738310Are PCs supposed to automatically be able to judge the Level of an NPC? That's in the rules? I wasn't aware of that... seems lame.

Everything being talked about in the thread besides the simple label of "Superhero" or whatever isn't the rules.

And D&D is lame, enjoy it for that or find something else.
Whitehall Paraindustries- A blog about RPG Theory and Design

"The purpose of an open mind is to close it, on particular subjects. If you never do — you\'ve simply abdicated the responsibility to think." - William F. Buckley.
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