[Good Gear Games] What is Your Social Class?

[Good-Gear-Games]

Hello again from Good Gear Games.

We at GG Games, which means me, have been working on getting the foundations for a Victorian Steampunk setting, for the PFRPG, laid out and are steadily coming along with everything. But there is an area that I want to make sure to get not only right, but I want to make it work.

Social classes were a large part of the Victorian era in real life and are a large part of many Steampunk stories and tales, with four main social classes existed during the time. The aristocracy, the middle class, the working class, and the underclass.

So my question to you, active board members and Steampunk enthusiasts, what are you looking for in a social class mechanic?

Would you prefer them as feats, traits, templates, something completely different?

Do you want them to have major mechanical effects on characters or just be background/story driven or something in between?

Let me know your opinions, concerns, questions, and feeling on the subject.

Thank you,
Santiago Mendez IV
Good Gear Games

[Dream Daemon]

You could make social class as a prerequisite for some traits. For instance, Pathfinder has a "Rich Parents" trait that gives extra money to a starting character, so a similar trait in a Victorian steampunk setting could have a prerequisite of being in the aristocratic social class. Similarly with Pathfinder's Resilient trait, whereby a character gains a Fortitude save bonus because he or she grew up consuming questionable food and water. This could conceivably have an underclass prerequisite.

Having said that, I would prefer social classes not having a major mechanical effect and just being sort of background to an interesting character. I also consider having trait bonuses mentioned above as minor mechanical effects.

[Cheapy]

I like what DD suggests. Mostly background info with some traits.

I know that the Inner Sea World Guide has a feat that represents you being from a noble house. Available at first level only, of course.

[Dark_Mistress]

I would have them be more or less templates. They give one or two traits and then a few free skill points in preset skills or limited choice. Like working class might get say 2 skill points in one profession or craft for free. (yes I know you can only start with one but since it is preset I don't think it would unbalance things) or something along those lines.

[Good-Gear-Games]

OK, so far it sounds like making the Social Classes themselves be templates that provide a very minor effect while establishing a background. Then having some traits that have a Social Class requirement. This sounds like a great idea so far.

Thank you all for your feedback.

[Starglim]

Masque of the Red Death (or possibly just the Living Death campaign) had the Savoir-Faire feat, which in essence allowed characters to interact comfortably outside of their social class - either upward or downward, so it's not just that the middle class shrink from contact with the working class, but the working class also have their own manners and social circles where toffs and bosses are unwelcome.

[Endzeitgeist]

I'd prefer social classes to be handled somewhat along the sides of CoC/ToC - not feats, not skills or sqs, but a factor that greatly determines how one is received and which class-etc. options are open for one. E.g. Wizard only middle-class+ etc.pp.

[Good-Gear-Games]

I am not familiar with CoC/ToC (This is Call of Cthulhu correct?) but I do get the idea and like it.

[Endzeitgeist]

Trail of Cthulhu by Pelgrane Press is a stellar example: Your social status makes sure that each class can have both benefits and penalties - gentlemen can't go to regular pit fights, servants don't talk to them etc. "The Dying of St. Margarete" is a great example of ToC-design.

If you're not familiar with Call of Cthulhu (especially gaslight...)/Trail of Cthulhu - be sure to check at least some files out - they are the benchmark for Victorian RPGs along the German-only Midgard (oldest German RPG, not affiliated with OD) setting 1880.

[Good-Gear-Games]

Looking at the system, GUMSHOE, which is a system that I have been really interested in looking at, I think that this may be a good read to get some ideas and inspiration from. I know it is blasphemous to say this but Cthulhu has never really interested me, though I have never been disinterested in it.

I will check it out when I get a chance to purchase the core book. And thank you for pointing it out to me. The more inspiration I can get the better the final product will be.