The society of The Old World is divided into four generic social classes and every character will have a certain standing (or lack of it!) within his own class.
The four social classes are as follows:
| Class Type |
Class Title |
Class Description |
| A |
Noble |
This is the highest class and, in most nations of the Old World, it is restricted to a number of noble families and a small group of individuals who have been elevated to the nobility for outstanding service to the crown or nation. |
| B |
Professional/Academic |
This is the most 'respectable' class of all: the lawyers, doctors, wizards, clerics, merchants, and senior military men all belong to this class. In terms of our own society, this is the upper-middle class. |
| C |
Craftsman/Tradesman |
Most of the skilled workers of the Old World belong to this class, as do the lower ranks of the military establishment. These are 'respectable' people, by and large, but definitely not the upper crust. |
| D |
Labourer/Criminal |
This is the lowest class of unskilled and semi-skilled workers, beggars, and criminals. While there is great variation within this class (more, arguably than in any other), members of the other classes see it as a single undistinguished mass. |
Dealing with other Classes
A nobleman (Class A) won't make any distinction between a Cobbler and a Cooper (who are both C's), for instance. They are both tradesmen and probably a little vulgar to boot. It doesn't matter one jot to him what the two traders may think of their relative position on the social ladder!
The reverse is also true. They just see a nobleman walking into their shops. They don't worry about his precise precedence in the scheme of things.
Modifying Tests when dealing with other Classes.
When a character is dealing with a character from a lower social class, any Fellowship (Fel) or Leadership (Ld) tests are modified.
For each class difference, the higher-class character gains a +10 Ld modifier and a -10 Fel modifier. This reflects the fact that dealings between members of widely separated social classes tend to be more comfortable for both parties if they are conducted formally.
The table below indicates the modifiers to be made to Fel and Ld tests for interactions between characters of different social classes. The columns representing the Social Class of the character making the test and the rows the Social Class of the target subject of the test.
| Class |
A - Noble |
B- Professional |
C-Tradesman |
D-Labourer |
| A-Noble |
Social Standing |
-20Ld/-5Fel |
-40Ld/-10Fel
|
-60Ld/-15Fel |
| B-Professional |
+10Ld/-10Fel |
Social Standing |
-20Ld/-5Fel |
-40Ld/-10Fel
|
| C-Tradesman |
+20Ld/-20Fel |
+10Ld/-10Fel |
Social Standing |
-20Ld/-5Fel |
| D-Labourer |
+30Ld/-30Fel |
+20Ld/-20Fel |
+10Ld/-10Fel |
Social Standing |
HOUSE RULE: You may note in the table above that lower class characters still get to use Ld tests on their superiors. This is heavily penalized and contrary to the official rules.
My justification is that:
a) we are dealing with characters who are supposed to be special, and
b) it seems that under certain circumstances shouting an instruction at your superior might be justified.
For example: Ordering the Duke to 'Follow me' might be a sensible action if you know the only escape route from an ambush or a burning building.
Social Standing
When dealing with characters of the same class as yourself, one's Social Standing comes into play. Social Standing is a value from 1 to 20 that indicates the character's status within his peer group. When a character deals with another character of the same class a Standing Bonus Modifier is added to all Fel/Ld tests, In addition to the effects of any relevant skills.
HOUSE RULE: To be counted your Social Standing must be known to the other party. Thus if you have just met and don't know each other it has no benefit. A bit of self-promotion may be called for.
For example Hans the pavement artist is trying to persuade Jurgen the Watchman not to arrest him for loitering, vagrancy, and defacing council property (namely, one three-yard stretch of public thoroughfare). Both are lower class (D). Hans has a Fel score of 48, which has served him well in the past, and he is one of the better-known pavement artists in the city, with a standing of 9. He has no relevant skills, so his test is 57 - a better than even chance.
High Living the Low Life.
A characters Class and Social Standing are not fixed and can be changed by circumstances. If a lowly carpenter can afford to live like a merchant he may sometimes be taken to be a merchant. Likewise, a Nobleman who has lost his estates and is unable to pay his debts may well find he has been ostracised by his peers and is no longer accepted in their social circle.
The Skids
How to lose social standing and class status in Fragile Alliances.
The WFRP First Edition rulebook states that 7/- a day is the minimum cost of an acceptable standing of living. Anyone spending less than 7/- a day on subsistence is clearly on the decline and will begin to lose social standing within his peer group. He will lose one Social Standing Point for every day he fails to satisfy the 7/- Rule. If his Social Standing drops to zero he will also drop a Social Class and starts again with 1D4 Social Standing Points in the lower class.
Anyone who drops to Class D with a Social Standing of Zero is immediately classed as a beggar.
Nobility must spend 7/- per day per Social Standing Point in order to maintain their social position as it is particularly expensive to keep up appearances amongst the nobility.
The High Life
Characters who wish to try and better themselves may do so simply by spending 1GC per Social Standing Point in a day. This will earn them +1 Social Standing Point. If in doing so their Social Standing rises about 20 then they can elevate their Social Class to the next level beginning again with 1D4 Social Standing in their new Class.
Note that Class B characters may be able to elevate their Social Standing to appear to be Nobility, but that this will only ever be a charade unless they can earn a proper title and estates.
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