Nov 18, 2020

OSR Social Status - A New Ability

A while back I wrote about the Social Status score. While I think that Gygax and Arneson nailed it near-perfectly with the standard six abilities, if there was room for one more it would be some sort of Social Status stat. 

Here that original article is developed and refined into a system that can be added to any OSR game. All of the information and research was refined, like panning for gold into a clear, concise, uncluttered rule set that can add something to just about any fantasy campaign. In particular the Warriors of the Red Planet roleplaying game mentions Social Status during character creation, but doesn't describe it much further from there. In the source material it is an important element in the sword and planet stories with space princesses to be betrothed and evil emperors to be overthrown.

This supplement is a perfect addition to that game. It also includes a folding character sheet that would fit in your original White Box (or Woodgrain Box if you are so lucky) done in a minimalist basic OSR style with room for this new ability. 


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3 comments:

  1. Tim FoxJune 24, 2021 at 8:38 AM

    Hi, there are some excellent ideas in this supplement that help define how a character begins the game, and how they might advance in social status over time and also the price (literally) of how to maintain it. I had a question regarding using these ideas in Warriors of Mars. In Warriors of Mars, social status is called social standing and is not tied to social class. The supplement appears to link social status more to the social class you are born into. Is there a good way to reconcile these differences? Also, the amount of starting money in the Mars game is 2d6 x10 gp. Do you recommend changing this to a 3d6 roll for social class x 10 to determine starting gold? You may tell me to take the best of what you like, but I just wondered what you intention was with the Mars game in particular. Regards, Tim

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  2. Tim FoxJune 24, 2021 at 3:50 PM

    These rules have characters start the game with social status determined by the social class you are born into, but Warriors of the Red Planet starts the game with the notion that a commoner could begin with a high social status. Also rules about starting gold are different. Are the supplement rules meant to replace the rules set in the book or just provide new game options?

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  3. Thomas DenmarkJune 28, 2021 at 9:57 PM

    Social Status was written to be a general supplement for original and basic and compatible games like S&W, Labyrinth Lord. As well as Warriors of the Red Planet.

    In WotRP it is meant to supplement, not replace the Social Standing rules. Since not a lot of detail is given for how Social Standing works in the game.

    Good point about the 2d6x10gp. I missed that. I don't think making it 3d6x10gp breaks the game in any way.

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