Social Status as an Origin

[BPIJonathan]

I have a campaign world where Social Status plays a factor in who a person is and etc, am I just missing something or is there no way to do it in the existing ruleset?

[Foghorn]

How does Renown (p. 187) not do what you want it to do?

[BPIJonathan]

How does Renown (p. 187) not do what you want it to do?

I had been reading this and i thought it would be what I was wanting, but what I really need is this but I need to have the PCs be able start out with a variable renown. So characters at start could be anything from former slaves to heirs to the throne. Something like that is really what I need, kind of like characters would be from A Song of Fire and Ice series by George R.R. Martin.

[Foghorn]

So, do you just want them to have access to Favors before spending the Reputation on the Renown ranks?

[BPIJonathan]

What I really need is the Renown at start rather than after play. For example, one of the characters is the heir to the old bloodline whose line was displaced by the current. However he knew that information at the beginning of play and needs in FC to be able to take advantage of his status, even if he doesnt have a large reputation.

[pawsplay]

This looks like a job for Style feats.

[Psion]

The only way the existing rules let you do this as written is by origins that let you purchase certain renown cheaper due to bloodline. But that still implies some sort of mobility.

I was thinking that for a game in a society with more rigid castes, each renown track would be within a specific track, a la ancient India. Which track you can buy from is determined by origin or (perhaps) starting class, and you don't have the option to buy from other tracks.

[pawsplay]

At 1st level, spend a Feat on Comely, Extra Contact, Extra Holding, Personal Lieutenant, Prodigal Skill (Impress), Basic Skill Mastery (Actor), or Followers. Choose an appropriate Specialty. Consider taking Courtier levels. The Courtier's only the finest ability seems perfect for a noble scion.

[Foghorn]

Do you want him to have extra Prizes or access to more Favors? What part of the Renown other than the title are you looking for?

[BPIJonathan]

Do you want him to have extra Prizes or access to more Favors? What part of the Renown other than the title are you looking for?

Originally this was done with an extra step in character creation. The characters determined what social status they were born into, they gained bonus feats and sometimes skills and wealth bonuses as well. It also modified their reputation pool, which would effect social based skills. So Im actually trying to duplicate that in FantasyCraft trying to use the existing rules.

[Foghorn]

What do they get for choosing a low social status as opposed to a high social status?

[BPIJonathan]

Depends on the social class, they can get anything from toughness, free equipment, bonus to various skills...really depends on the exact social class they end up picking.

[Crafty_Pat]

Two questions...

1. Is this a player choice or randomly determined? You've mentioned both here.

2. How are you planning to offset the benefits of this bonus Renown/other stuff? In order to balance it against other characters who don't have those benefits, I mean.

[BPIJonathan]

Two questions...

1. Is this a player choice or randomly determined? You've mentioned both here.

In my campaigns its either, depending on the campaign I run, but it will be random in the final released book.

2. How are you planning to offset the benefits of this bonus Renown/other stuff? In order to balance it against other characters who don't have those benefits, I mean.

Since everyone ends up with a modifier at some point then it ends up balanced against itself (at least it has in previous incarnations of these rules, all pre FantasyCraft of course).

[Foghorn]

Here's an idea from something that pawsplay mentioned, doing some Style feats with the "Level 1 only" Prerequisite like you see in the Species feats might be one way to handle it. Throw in a little 'Feat Exchange (Style)' campaign quality and that's the fastest way I see of doing something along the lines of what I think you're getting at.

I don't think it's exactly the effect you're looking for, but maybe close enough to get some gears working. Are we going in at least the right direction, or you looking for something a little different?