Compensation for disabled Last War vets? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Compensation for disabled Last War vets? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
JulesCARV
03-08-08, 04:17 PM Is there any information about compensation schemes for disabled Last War vets?

If there's nothing official yet, my thought is that in Thrane and Aundair, there's a state-funded compensation scheme, with compensation varying with the level of disability, with the most severely disabled people (unable to work at all) gaining the full compensation of 35 Galifars per year. In Aundair, the compensation is reduced by 50% for disabled warforged, on account of their lack of need for food. In Thrane, warforged are not included in the disability compensation system at all. In both countries, compensation for small veterans (halflings, gnomes, goblins, etc) is also reduced by 50%, on account of their lesser needs in terms of food, shelter, etc..

In Breland, there is no national compensation scheme. There are some voluntary groups that try to help out, but a state compensation system has been proposed and died in parliament several times, with several details not having been worked out. Ruken ir'Clarn has been one of the strongest advocates of a national compensation system, and has expressed outrage at his parliamentary opponents for "letting Breland's heroes starve and freeze on the streets of Galethspyre."

In Karrnath, there is no compensation for free disabled Last War vets, but they can always choose to give up their freedom (such as it is in Karrnath) become Wards of the Crown. Wards of the Crown are guaranteed adequate food and shelter, but they effectively place their lives entirely at the disposal of the Karrnathi state. It is rumored that some are used as fodder for dark rituals to stretch the ability of Karrnath's artificers to create magical items. (I.e., sacrificed for dark craft XP) The Karrnathi crown attributes these rumors to a whispering campaign by the Emerald Claw, intended to undermine the Karrnathi state, and denies the rumors categorically.

Thoughts? Or is this all superceded by something in Forge of War or the like?
Half_Dragon_Infernal
03-08-08, 06:33 PM Nothing in the Forge of War. I like your idea though.
RedRider
03-08-08, 08:00 PM In Karrnath, there is no compensation for free disabled Last War vets,I'd think Karrnath, as a highly militaristic culture, would show more concern for their vets.

At the very least, I'd expect families and friends to be more willing to take care of them, even if it does sometimes come with an air of obligation.
JulesCARV
03-09-08, 03:19 AM I'd think Karrnath, as a highly militaristic culture, would show more concern for their vets.

At the very least, I'd expect families and friends to be more willing to take care of them, even if it does sometimes come with an air of obligation.

Well, I was mainly talking about more official programs. Of course friends and family help where they can everywhere.

However, you do raise a point about Karrnath's military-revering culture might mean that official programs might be more expansive and less harshly conditional than I implied. Any ideas?
Syltorian
03-09-08, 07:26 AM However, you do raise a point about Karrnath's military-revering culture might mean that official programs might be more expansive and less harshly conditional than I implied. Any ideas?

Like Red Rider, my reaction was to see Karrnath as the nation most likely to have a veteran and invalid program. I could see special, grand buildings created - like the Invalides in Paris - in conjunction with House Jorasco who have their headquarters in Karrnath.

The invalids and veterans are used to encourage future soldiers, by proving that even if you loose your leg, Karrnath will not forget your sacrifice, and you will be honoured. This needs to be sufficiently grand so as not to backfire. There are many rousing talks given by such people in Karrnath' theatres, schools and squares, and masses to the Sovereign Host as well as special performances are often held in the Invalid and Veteran centres.

I would also see Karrnath' population as offering benefits to war invalids, glorifying their sacrifice. People are supposed to offer up their seats, stand aside in the street, and generally treat them with respect. Veterans and Invalids have an unofficial power to pull rank on city guards: they are more likely to decide in favour of a veteran, and less likely to seek to harrass them. The same goes for the widows/widowers and orphans of war casualties. Special signs (a red band worn around the arm, a medal, or something of that kind) indicates these people, who are living in state housing (similar to barracks). These people are treated with great respect, and offending one can bring the neighbourhood down on you.

To bring in the dark side, though:

Only physical injuries are treated with respect. Karrnath still refuses to accept battle fatigue (shell-shock) as an illness, and continues to see it as cowardice. Such people are left on the street, if they are lucky enough to escape court martial. A soldier who deserts, has disobeyed his commander, or committed an act of cowardice, even if he later gets seriously injured in action, might not receive benefits because he took those risks not out of courage, but because he had nothing to lose (I am basing myself here on the rationale of Sparta against one of their soldiers who was absent from Thermopylae - he was a messenger who got back to the 300 too late - and later died at Plataea. He was not honoured because of the reason given above). Likewise, people who grow depressed because of their injuries risk losing their benefits because they do not show the proper spirit.

Karrnath does engage in dubious experiments. They do not keep the invalids for sacrifices or obviously evil purposes - the experiments believe they are doing good. This is where they develop things such as undead grafts, new healing techniques, and many other treatments that sometimes go wrong. Some of the invalids also volunteer for such experiments. Furthermore, the environment and constant speeches given to the veterans, while meant well, amount to nothing short of brainwashing and indoctrination. It can be a very scary place. The same goes for the orphanages: these children often turn out as the most fanatical supporters of war there are.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
JulesCARV 03-08-08, 04:17 PM	Is there any information about compensation schemes for disabled Last War vets? If there's nothing official yet, my thought is that in Thrane and Aundair, there's a state-funded compensation scheme, with compensation varying with the level of disability, with the most severely disabled people (unable to work at all) gaining the full compensation of 35 Galifars per year. In Aundair, the compensation is reduced by 50% for disabled warforged, on account of their lack of need for food. In Thrane, warforged are not included in the disability compensation system at all. In both countries, compensation for small veterans (halflings, gnomes, goblins, etc) is also reduced by 50%, on account of their lesser needs in terms of food, shelter, etc.. In Breland, there is no national compensation scheme. There are some voluntary groups that try to help out, but a state compensation system has been proposed and died in parliament several times, with several details not having been worked out. Ruken ir'Clarn has been one of the strongest advocates of a national compensation system, and has expressed outrage at his parliamentary opponents for "letting Breland's heroes starve and freeze on the streets of Galethspyre." In Karrnath, there is no compensation for free disabled Last War vets, but they can always choose to give up their freedom (such as it is in Karrnath) become Wards of the Crown. Wards of the Crown are guaranteed adequate food and shelter, but they effectively place their lives entirely at the disposal of the Karrnathi state. It is rumored that some are used as fodder for dark rituals to stretch the ability of Karrnath's artificers to create magical items. (I.e., sacrificed for dark craft XP) The Karrnathi crown attributes these rumors to a whispering campaign by the Emerald Claw, intended to undermine the Karrnathi state, and denies the rumors categorically. Thoughts? Or is this all superceded by something in Forge of War or the like?
Half_Dragon_Infernal 03-08-08, 06:33 PM	Nothing in the Forge of War. I like your idea though.
RedRider 03-08-08, 08:00 PM	In Karrnath, there is no compensation for free disabled Last War vets,I'd think Karrnath, as a highly militaristic culture, would show more concern for their vets. At the very least, I'd expect families and friends to be more willing to take care of them, even if it does sometimes come with an air of obligation.
JulesCARV 03-09-08, 03:19 AM	I'd think Karrnath, as a highly militaristic culture, would show more concern for their vets. At the very least, I'd expect families and friends to be more willing to take care of them, even if it does sometimes come with an air of obligation. Well, I was mainly talking about more official programs. Of course friends and family help where they can everywhere. However, you do raise a point about Karrnath's military-revering culture might mean that official programs might be more expansive and less harshly conditional than I implied. Any ideas?
Syltorian 03-09-08, 07:26 AM	However, you do raise a point about Karrnath's military-revering culture might mean that official programs might be more expansive and less harshly conditional than I implied. Any ideas? Like Red Rider, my reaction was to see Karrnath as the nation most likely to have a veteran and invalid program. I could see special, grand buildings created - like the Invalides in Paris - in conjunction with House Jorasco who have their headquarters in Karrnath. The invalids and veterans are used to encourage future soldiers, by proving that even if you loose your leg, Karrnath will not forget your sacrifice, and you will be honoured. This needs to be sufficiently grand so as not to backfire. There are many rousing talks given by such people in Karrnath' theatres, schools and squares, and masses to the Sovereign Host as well as special performances are often held in the Invalid and Veteran centres. I would also see Karrnath' population as offering benefits to war invalids, glorifying their sacrifice. People are supposed to offer up their seats, stand aside in the street, and generally treat them with respect. Veterans and Invalids have an unofficial power to pull rank on city guards: they are more likely to decide in favour of a veteran, and less likely to seek to harrass them. The same goes for the widows/widowers and orphans of war casualties. Special signs (a red band worn around the arm, a medal, or something of that kind) indicates these people, who are living in state housing (similar to barracks). These people are treated with great respect, and offending one can bring the neighbourhood down on you. To bring in the dark side, though: Only physical injuries are treated with respect. Karrnath still refuses to accept battle fatigue (shell-shock) as an illness, and continues to see it as cowardice. Such people are left on the street, if they are lucky enough to escape court martial. A soldier who deserts, has disobeyed his commander, or committed an act of cowardice, even if he later gets seriously injured in action, might not receive benefits because he took those risks not out of courage, but because he had nothing to lose (I am basing myself here on the rationale of Sparta against one of their soldiers who was absent from Thermopylae - he was a messenger who got back to the 300 too late - and later died at Plataea. He was not honoured because of the reason given above). Likewise, people who grow depressed because of their injuries risk losing their benefits because they do not show the proper spirit. Karrnath does engage in dubious experiments. They do not keep the invalids for sacrifices or obviously evil purposes - the experiments believe they are doing good. This is where they develop things such as undead grafts, new healing techniques, and many other treatments that sometimes go wrong. Some of the invalids also volunteer for such experiments. Furthermore, the environment and constant speeches given to the veterans, while meant well, amount to nothing short of brainwashing and indoctrination. It can be a very scary place. The same goes for the orphanages: these children often turn out as the most fanatical supporters of war there are.