Achieving Nobility [Archive] - Wizards Community

Achieving Nobility [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
TWG_Prometheus
06-08-04, 09:24 AM One of the characters in my campaign wants to become a noble. The notion works with the setting, and he's made contact with folks in the society that could definitely help him with that sort of thing. The problem I'm running into is that I'm not incredibly certain what sort of requirements I should set. Outside of valorous efforts in wartime (no current major war in the area, although I guess I could start one) I don't know of too many ways that someone actually gains nobility. So, the basic question is for ideas on different ways that a PC might gain nobility.

I have a few ideas on how he could go about this myself, but the board often tends to generate some good thoughts. Thank you in advance for any purposeful input.

Note: This is an evil campaign...the PCs are essentially hiding from the forces of good in the city while they perform their dastardly deeds, so having the PCs pull off some mighty deed of goodness and receive nobility as a reward is unlikely. The player in question wants actual nobility, though, and not just a way to pretend at being a noble.
Nagol
06-08-04, 09:40 AM There are few ways to enter the nobility. Generally, the entry point for nobility is a non-inheritable title. In Europe, the choices were generally restricted to knight-errant or landed knight.

Knighthoods and other noble titles were granted a few different ways:

If your father was nobility (including a knight) and you were a non-inheriting "good" son, you could be squired to another noble and gain your knighthood upon completion of the squire duty (7 years).

If you were rich, you could marry into a noble improverished family. Depending upon the society, you may be considered nobility as opposed to a consort of nobility. Such distinctions are important to court politics.

If you were REALLY rich, you could "aid" the king ina time of need and be granted title and land that is currently vacant.

There is always to old "all titles of land are occupied in the kingdom. Let's make the kingdom bigger and get granted title over the new part" route.

If the kingdom's power structure is unclear or the government is weak, build a keep and claim a title to the land surrounding it. If no one successfully disputes your claim (by killing you on the battlefield, usually) you are now a noble.
Aramar the Black
06-08-04, 09:48 AM An actual noble? So is he lawful evil?

Well, he could go steal a bunch of money from somewhere outside the city, preferibly, then come into town acting all heroic, or claiming to be desended from great ancestors or family lines, and set up a base, or mansion,with help from the stolen money and your various contacts. The slowly work his way up in the favor of other nobles. Maybe make up a few stories, and he's in.

However, a more legitimate way is to do something very heroic or great that will get noticed by the local ruler, and they may grant him his own land. Though, he might want to have made aquintences with the ruler(s) first, and going on a quest assigned by the is a great way to gain status in thier eyes, usually. Once you have your own land, do as above. (or as close as possible.)
Zael
06-08-04, 01:27 PM I feel you guys are being to "Lawful" in all this. The best way for a truly evil (and powerful) PC to become a noble would be to overthrow the current system. If you needed a war, make them start one! Or hire assassins to kill off all the noble's in "said area"
and leave them in shambles, then this noble stranger rises up to take control in this time of anarchy(your PC). :king:

I don't know what your group consists of, but i'm sure at least one of them would agree with being totally up for a conquest of destruction...:schemes:
TWG_Prometheus
06-08-04, 02:04 PM Err...yeah. The PC in question is Chaotic evil, and the rest of the party is leaning Chaotic at least---the whole nobility thing probably doesn't really work extremely well with his character concept, but the player wants his character to be a noble. So be it.

Overthrowing the kingdom is definitely an option, but without going into it much, they'd get their butts kicked at this point. Perhaps that should be one of that character's long-term goals...if they want to accomplish it that way.

Marrying into nobility, however, is a good method that might work in a shorter amount of time.

Thank you for the suggestions again. If anyone else has more they'd like to add, it'd be appreciated.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
TWG_Prometheus 06-08-04, 09:24 AM	One of the characters in my campaign wants to become a noble. The notion works with the setting, and he's made contact with folks in the society that could definitely help him with that sort of thing. The problem I'm running into is that I'm not incredibly certain what sort of requirements I should set. Outside of valorous efforts in wartime (no current major war in the area, although I guess I could start one) I don't know of too many ways that someone actually gains nobility. So, the basic question is for ideas on different ways that a PC might gain nobility. I have a few ideas on how he could go about this myself, but the board often tends to generate some good thoughts. Thank you in advance for any purposeful input. Note: This is an evil campaign...the PCs are essentially hiding from the forces of good in the city while they perform their dastardly deeds, so having the PCs pull off some mighty deed of goodness and receive nobility as a reward is unlikely. The player in question wants actual nobility, though, and not just a way to pretend at being a noble.
Nagol 06-08-04, 09:40 AM	There are few ways to enter the nobility. Generally, the entry point for nobility is a non-inheritable title. In Europe, the choices were generally restricted to knight-errant or landed knight. Knighthoods and other noble titles were granted a few different ways: If your father was nobility (including a knight) and you were a non-inheriting "good" son, you could be squired to another noble and gain your knighthood upon completion of the squire duty (7 years). If you were rich, you could marry into a noble improverished family. Depending upon the society, you may be considered nobility as opposed to a consort of nobility. Such distinctions are important to court politics. If you were REALLY rich, you could "aid" the king ina time of need and be granted title and land that is currently vacant. There is always to old "all titles of land are occupied in the kingdom. Let's make the kingdom bigger and get granted title over the new part" route. If the kingdom's power structure is unclear or the government is weak, build a keep and claim a title to the land surrounding it. If no one successfully disputes your claim (by killing you on the battlefield, usually) you are now a noble.
Aramar the Black 06-08-04, 09:48 AM	An actual noble? So is he lawful evil? Well, he could go steal a bunch of money from somewhere outside the city, preferibly, then come into town acting all heroic, or claiming to be desended from great ancestors or family lines, and set up a base, or mansion,with help from the stolen money and your various contacts. The slowly work his way up in the favor of other nobles. Maybe make up a few stories, and he's in. However, a more legitimate way is to do something very heroic or great that will get noticed by the local ruler, and they may grant him his own land. Though, he might want to have made aquintences with the ruler(s) first, and going on a quest assigned by the is a great way to gain status in thier eyes, usually. Once you have your own land, do as above. (or as close as possible.)
Zael 06-08-04, 01:27 PM	I feel you guys are being to "Lawful" in all this. The best way for a truly evil (and powerful) PC to become a noble would be to overthrow the current system. If you needed a war, make them start one! Or hire assassins to kill off all the noble's in "said area" and leave them in shambles, then this noble stranger rises up to take control in this time of anarchy(your PC). :king: I don't know what your group consists of, but i'm sure at least one of them would agree with being totally up for a conquest of destruction...:schemes:
TWG_Prometheus 06-08-04, 02:04 PM	Err...yeah. The PC in question is Chaotic evil, and the rest of the party is leaning Chaotic at least---the whole nobility thing probably doesn't really work extremely well with his character concept, but the player wants his character to be a noble. So be it. Overthrowing the kingdom is definitely an option, but without going into it much, they'd get their butts kicked at this point. Perhaps that should be one of that character's long-term goals...if they want to accomplish it that way. Marrying into nobility, however, is a good method that might work in a shorter amount of time. Thank you for the suggestions again. If anyone else has more they'd like to add, it'd be appreciated.