Patronage
or, Where Burdensome Coins Become Fame
The nobility and the well-heeled often lacked the time or talent for tasteful self-aggrandizement, and so supported artisans who would venerate them in return for financial support. This arrangement, called Patronage, generally took on the air of disinterested largesse, as (after a healthy sum was granted to the gifted artisan) the Patron seemed quite surprised at the generous light in which he was depicted.
Patronage thus fulfills two needs: the nobleman's scramble for Status in return for crowns, and the artisan's need for resources to see to his upkeep. Both aspects will be explored by this rule, along with guidelines for player character to player character arrangements.
The Non-Player Artisan
Some generous player characters may seek to bolster their Status supply by retaining a non-player artisan from whom he may commission work. Others may simply seek a short-term boost to Status in return for monetary largesse.
Hiring an NPC artisan is a Primary Action which may be performed by a lackey, if desired. If the character himself hires the NPC, he may combine the Hiring action with the Secondary Actions of Carousing, Bonne Vivant and/or Gambling, all assumed to be at a Tavern where the meeting takes place.
Non-player artisans are hired by reputation, which may or may not reflect his actual skill or dedication. To retain an artisan, the hiring character must specify the types (i.e., Author, Scientist, Playwright, Composer, Sculptor, Painter, Sketch Artist or Foundryman) and pay the sum of 100 crowns per month. This sum accounts for living expenses, studio space and materials cost. Alternatively, if the character owns property in Paris, the artisan may be lodged there (in which case the customary payment drops to a mere 75 crowns per month). Expenses for hiring a publisher or gallery are not accounted for. The Patron gains +3 SP per month for having an artisan in his employ.
Once the artisan has been retained, the referee rolls 1d6 two times to generate the artisan's Talent and Energy. These two statistics define the NPC artisan, and may be found in the Random Artisan Table. Once generated, these statistics remain constant for this artisan, who may be named and remain available for future employ.
The Random Artisan
1d6 Roll |
Talent Description | Energy Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Has-Been: -1 Quality | Lazy: Works 1 week per month | |
2-5 |
Skillful: +0 Quality | Dedicated: Works 2 weeks per month | |
6 |
Gifted: +1 Quality | Driven: Works 3 weeks per month |
Once the artist has been retained, the Patron may commission work at any time. The player specifies the subject matter and form, and decides upon the amount of time the artisan will spend on the project. The artisan will then undertake the effort, spending the number of weeks per month as mandated by his Energy. When the project is finished, the usual steps are taken adding the Talent modifier to its Quality along with any others. The Patron must pay for the publisher or gallery, and, upon determining the reaction, reaps the full amount of Status that the artisan would have received. No monetary benefit goes to the Patron.
The Non-Player Patron
Many wealthy gentlemen and nobles wish to be elevated and immortalized in works of art, and are willing to pay well for just such services. Finding a Patron is a Primary Action, and is successful on a roll of 5+ on 1d6. Lackeys may not seek NPC Patrons themselves, but may perform legwork to learn of a suitable Patron. Each week the lackey searches, roll 1d6. On a roll of 6+ (+1 if he should have Wit) to learn of a suitable Patron. This information lends a +1 bonus to the Player Character when seeking said Patron.
Just as NPC artisans have certain attributes, so do NPC Patrons. These attributes are Integrity and Solvency. Both of these are generated after the contract between the PC and NPC are accepted. Integrity measures the Patron's moral character (for, after all, is the artist painting a picture of a cad or a hero?). Solvency measures the depth of the Patron's pockets -- will the artisan be paid for his work?
The Random Patron
1d6 Roll |
Integrity Description | Solvency Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Baseborn Cad | Hard Times: Has 1d3 months’ income | |
2-5 |
Upstanding Citizen | Flush: Has 1d6+1 months’ income | |
6 |
High-Minded Noble | Wealthy: Has 2d6 months’ income |
The tables are interpreted as follows:
- Baseborn Cad in Hard Times -- The patron expects completed work, but has no intention to pay the full amount.
- Baseborn Cad who is Flush -- The Patron demands three weeks' work per month for the customary fee. If the artist balks, he delays or stops payment.
- Baseborn Cad who is Wealthy -- The Patron contracts for a single week, then drops the artist.
- Upstanding Citizens -- The Patron will contract for whatever he can afford, regardless of Solvency.
- High-Minded Nobles -- The Patron contracts for whatever they can afford and pay a bonus of 100 crowns times the Volume (for written works) or Quality (for physical artworks) modifiers (minimum modifier of 1, for purposes of this calculation). Again, these arrangements are regardless of Solvency.
The character-artisan is assigned a project size (from the Assignment Table), and may select the form of the piece (i.e., novel, painting, sculpture, etc). The character is then paid the sum of 100 crowns per month for a minimum of two weeks work that month (subject to the Patron's attributes). If the project size is "none", the player is paid the 100 crowns with no obligation to work (Cads, of course, will pay nothing for an idle craftsman).
Patron's Assignment
2d6 |
Volume | Scale |
|---|---|---|
2-3 |
None |
(Artist retained) |
4-5 |
0.5 |
Small |
6-8 |
1.0 |
Medium |
9-10 |
2.5 |
Large |
11-12 |
4.0 |
Huge |
Once the character-artisan has completed the work, the Patron will pay for the publisher or gallery. Patrons who have fallen on Hard Times will engage Fynch & Son or the Street Market (both -2 Quality Bonus). Flush Patrons will hire J. Armagnac & Co. or Café Capuchin (both +0 Quality Bonus) and Wealthy Patrons will use Canon & Lourdes, Inc. or the Royal Gallery (+2 Quality Bonus). The artist will receive all money generated by the project (although any costs are the Patron’s responsibility) and any material benefits (such as MRLs) are likewise the artist’s to enjoy. However, all Status received by the artist is halved. The full amount of Status is accorded to the Patron.
Player Character Agreements
Player characters may act as Patrons or Artisans for other player characters. The details of the arrangement are entirely at the discretion of the players, subject to the following restrictions:
- The agreement must be clearly spelled out by each party in their own orders. Any discrepancy in the terms (payment, etc) will nullify the agreement, releasing both parties.
- The terms may not alter or modify the rules in Section 3.8 regarding the creative process or public showing.
- In order for a Patron to receive Status, a payment of monies must be made to the artisan. Whether it is a token payment or a vast sum is entirely up to the players’ agreement.
Player character agreements may be terminated at any time, by either character. If either player terminates, the agreement is automatically nullified. No action may be taken by aggrieved parties, unless both players provide the referee with terms of a contract.[/p
Charitable Giving
The final form of Patronage is also the simplest. Wealthy characters may elect to donate sums of money to worthy causes, such as relief of the poor, hospitals, charities, orphanages and so on. Property, too, may be donated (its Status return is of course calculated by its cash value). In order for cash donations to generate Status for the donor, the money must be taken "out of play" (i.e., not to another character). money gifts between characters may make friends, but no Status is accrued by doing so.
To determine the Status reward for a given donation, see the Donation Table. If desired, the donor or his friends may choose to host an Event to mark the donation (such as a party in the new orphanage created by the character, etc). Such events are considered Special Events under rule 3.2.
Donation |
Status |
|---|---|
50-99 |
+1 |
100-174 |
+2 |
175-299 |
+3 |
300-499 |
+5 |
500-999 |
+7 |
1000-1499 |
+9 |
1500-2499 |
+12 |
2500+ |
+15 |
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