Society & Classism
The Old World has fallen, its governments and rulers are extinct. Humanity lives on and societies emerge from a sense of a shared community, but the old lines of class still run through it, shaped by wealth, role, and reputation.
These divisions are no longer enforced by any laws, yet they remain in the minds of many and shape how people judge and treat one another. For some, old hierarchies offer security, or are honored to create a sense of normalcy, order. For others, they are the remnants of a world better left buried. Whatever your view, these perceptions still shape how people respond to you, and they set the stage for how influence and social power are measured in the world presently.
So when approaching how to manage expectations and world response toward influence in society is to have clear, consistent metrics. You cannot be everything at once. Choices have to be made, and sacrifices are part of shaping your character. Just as warriors and crafters must develop their skills to be recognized for their abilities, these societal spheres also require skill investment for the world to recognize your influence, and the game world will do its best to respond accordingly.
Also, frankly, both the world of the game and real life are persistent. Players live across many time zones and have varying amounts of time to dedicate to the game, which makes it impossible to track influence or soft power purely through observation and subjective roleplay efforts. The most reliable way to ensure fairness from the world itself is to have players invest their skill points.
The three societal skills are:
As a rule of thumb, the NPC denizens of the world will use your skill investment as the measure of your standing until your actions prove otherwise. Much like they would expect a craftsman to make their respective products, or expect a warrior to hold their own in a fight, they will size you up and gauge your capabilities based on your societal skills when the situation calls for it.
These skills are designed to give you in-game tools to create story and wield soft influence and power in their respective spheres of influence. That does not mean you cannot have influence without them; you will simply need to rely on your roleplay savvy or use other skill sets in your own way.
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