Zornhau Forums

Priority-wise, I'm thinking about going heavy on skills. Not going to commit to any of the others just yet. Want to see how much gear the various cash outs will buy for you before I make any firm commitments.

Before I commit to this game, I would like to know the speed this game is going to have as in how many posts in a given time or how often a new post is expected?

Otherwise, Venice is cool and I have even visited it once so it has this one extra point as a setting

I would probably use the character I posted but I have to modify it a bit. As a concept he was part of a mercenary company so it might be possible that he knows how to ride but if GM says no, it's cool. I suppose the same applies to teamster.

I will also probably change firearms proficiency to something else. How appropriate do you think the messers proficiency would be?

Probably going to be a pretty low post requirement, I'm sure we are all busy.

You can take horsemanship if you like, I was just commenting that there probably aren't many horses in Venice.

Only firearms available is the arquebus. No pistols in the time period. Messer is a little out of style (German as opposed to Italian) but is often small enough to be worn as a sidearm. If you want to use it, that's fine by me.

OK, I'm in!

I will continue my char gen in the topic already started

I'd like to make sure I'm doing everything right.
For this game I want to play a son of this powerful merchant, who hired other players characters and wants me to work with them. He is at Lesser Noble level of wealth and position.
So... I should pick a High Freeman priority for my character, cash out and take the Patron minor edge? So I have 24 marks for personal armour and weapons, I live with my family in our house/tower, and I don't have to worry about food, clothing and shelter?

I think High Freeman and that particular edge (that I don't remember at the moment) to be a heir. Although I don't know if a merchant should be High Freeman or Lesser Noble (the actual head of house).

Personally I thought that cashing out is that you are on your own. So, if you take this option you are not living with your parents. If you don't cash out you get the gear listed in the Social Class priority of your choosing.

Marras wrote:I think High Freeman and that particular edge (that I don't remember at the moment) to be a heir.

You mean the Edge Claim? I'm afraid it doesn't really fit in this situation.

Marras wrote:Although I don't know if a merchant should be High Freeman or Lesser Noble (the actual head of house).

I base this ideas on what 33 said: that merchants here are extremely wealthy and take part in ruling the city, so I think tier 4 in social class of this particular merchant works well.

Marras wrote:Personally I thought that cashing out is that you are on your own.

And I believe if you don't "cash out" than you are really "on your own", you got your businnes running, earning a living.


I believe I have two ways to go:
- the first one is what I presented above, which gives me 24 marks to spend;
- second: I could select the Lesser Noble level and cash out, getting a whopping 96 marks to spend - but losing a priority pick.
I think I will decide when I see the equipment list and what can I afford.

Trappings refer to the things they are
assumed to own at the beginning of the
game. Income describes the amount of
money per season that character will earn
under normal circumstances.
Alternatively, players can cash out,
forgoing both trappings and income in exchange
for an amount of money that can be
spent however they please.

And

Note that characters who take this
option will have to find some other way to
earn their living, unless they have an edge
like Patron.

To me this reads like if you cash out you are more or less a hobo. So it is interesting to see what's the verdict

But you are right that Claim doesn't seem to work here. If you are not an heir (second son sidebar) then yes, you pick High Freeman but then you get only High Freeman cash out value.

At first having your own family as a patron seemed a bit funny but this could really work although with a minor version the pay/stipend is pretty low. Maybe your character is not seen in the most favorable light? Maybe that's why you chose to do the dirty work for your family to get more prestige in the eyes of your father?

Marras wrote:At first having your own family as a patron seemed a bit funny but this could really work although with a minor version the pay/stipend is pretty low.

Well, actually they're not "patrons", just my... family. I thought that taking this Edge is a good way to ensure they keep me fed and classy dressed, and I have a place to sleep and store my stuff safely, so I don't have to worry.
It should work

Marras wrote:Maybe your character is not seen in the most favorable light? Maybe that's why you chose to do the dirty work for your family to get more prestige in the eyes of your father?

Oh, I have some ideas, but they are to be presented to our GM with the whole story and background. Not your businness, you sellsword
At least, not for now

(if this sounded rude, I'm sorry... didn't mean to be offensive, now I realised it might look like this)

True, not my business

In regards to Merchants, Nobles and Social Class in Venice.

Usually, a very rich Merchant would be a High Freeman with the Wealthy Edge. However, in Venice the rich Merchants actually take part in governing, which is usually the prerogative and power of the nobles.

So for this game, if the head of the family is a member of the Council of Forty then their entire family is equivalent to a social class of Lesser Noble since they have actual legal power. They cannot be a Greater Noble. Other non-nobles are capped at High Freeman but can take the Wealthy edge as desired. Actual Nobles by blood do not need to be on the Council of Forty to be a Lesser or Greater Noble.

Korbel, this means your character could be either High Freeman or Lesser Noble, depending how much of your characters fathers power is transferred to you. If he is on the council but old and decrepit or very ill and your character practically runs the family he would be a Lesser Noble. If the father is very much in control and your character is subservient then maybe High Freeman is a better fit. Pick whatever edges you think fits your concept, if any. I could see Ally, Claim, or Patron or all working depending on the kind of relationship he has with his father.

In regards to Cashing Out or Trappings/Income, I believe Marras has the right of it.

Cashing Out is basically for Mercenaries, Sailors or Murder Hobos who carry their worldly belongings on their backs and travel the world. If someone has a home or works in Venice then they are using Trappings and Income. Even if it's technically the fathers home, your character would still have access to its resources. If you insist on Cashing Out, it would mean their father has effectively thrown them out of the house and cut them off from the family business.

If you tried to combine something like Cashing Out and taking the Patron edge I would allow it, but I will make it reflect in the narrative. In this example, perhaps the father doesn't have very much love for his son but is forced to work with him anyway; taking on a very business-like relationship.

Just dropping in to say how awesome it is to see our terms and toolkit helping you guys pin down the specifics of how this particular society works. Way, way cool. Carry on.

The Second Son sidebar on page seems to imply that Cashing Out is a standard option for someone who is part of a wealthy household, without being in charge of that household:

To do this, roll your character up as one social class lower than the one you want to play. You retain all of the social privileges of the higher class, but to represent your character’s personal wealth, you recieve the cash out value of the chosen
priority.

thirtythr33 wrote:Same with armor. Gamberson, Arming Doublet or Jack of Plates is about as heavy armor as you will get away with for casual wear.

I believe it's quite warm in Venice, so maybe a light chain shirt is more apprioprate for civilian use, walking around the city? With little or no padding and something to cover maybe (to prevent from sun heating up the armor)? It's not gonna be very protective (but it should stop dagger cuts), but at least you're not overheating very fast. I mean, in a gambeson / jack of plates / brigandine you are about as warm as when wearing a winter jacket during summer - not fun, I think.
Unless we are playing in winter, or wear armours only at night (though nights are probably warm too, aren't they?).

An arming doublet would make more sense, I think - it's still thick clothing, but it doesn't look like you're going out looking for trouble. The moment you're wearing metal armour, it looks like you're expecting trouble - and you must only be expecting trouble if you're planning to cause it.