The Old World: Grim and Perilous

Chapter 7
Social Status
In the Old World's, societies, social status is almost everything - it determines who you are, how
wealthy you are and what you can accomplish in life. It's not a surprise that most people judge
others by what social group they belong to. In this chapter we introduce rules to reflect these
complex social relationships.
Social Groups
There are four basic social groups in the Old
World's society. Moreover, beyond this simple
division, there are outcasts - those who live outside
the boundaries of society.
Aristocracy (Tier 4)
Elite of the elite. Kings, lord electors, the highest
nobility, leaders of major cults, magister
patriarchs and matriarchs of Colleges of Magic
etc. They rule hundreds, thousands, sometimes
tens of thousands of people, and their decisions
can shape entire countries. This social status
should not be available to the PCs unless special
circumstances exist.
Elite (Tier 3)
The elite social group mostly consists of the nobility,
the wealthiest merchants, wizards and the
highest ranks of the clergy. Their power comes
from their property and connections, and they
are unfamiliar with the hardships of the common
folk. Most of these people were born to be rich
and powerful, so if you were not lucky enough to
be one of them, only a brilliant military or church
career can introduce you to this group.
Middle Class (Tier 2)
The middle class, made up of artisans, merchants,
academics, some military men, and
common clergy, usually inhabit cities and other
large industrial and commercial centers of
the Empire. Although most of them were not
born rich, they were fortunate enough or talented
enough to acquire the skills that would
enable them to lead a life not available to most
of the Empire's population, and some of them
even aspire to the elite social group.
Commoners (Tier 1)
The commoners are the largest and most diverse
social group in the Empire. Its representatives
include simple farmers, soldiers,
workers, stevedores, but also influential gang
bosses or devious fraudsters. What they all have
in common is that they are low born and have
experienced poverty and the hardships of physical
work in their lives, with little chance of improving
their situation.
Outcasts
Outlaws, exiles, rebel wizards, mutants,
dwarven slayers and many witch hunters. Although
very different, what they all share is
a life outside the boundaries of society. Outcasts
are not a separate social group, rather it
covers all those vagrants who are unable (or
unwilling) to find a place within the rest of
the populace. While some may at times appear
as heroes to ordinary people, as a whole
they tend to be hated and feared because they
Chapter 7: Social Status 135