Social Classes in Glorantha

[Jeff]

This is some material Greg and I put together that will likely be appearing in one of the near future RQ releases. Some interesting surprises here.

SOCIAL CLASSES

These are general terms. Each region may have its own special term, or even divide each these classes into more than one type. Regardless of the local name, the general social divisions are more or less the same.

Social class generally extends to your immediate kin as well, and sometimes to your extended kin as well.

Region	Unfree	Semi-free	Free Common	Free Wealthy	Low Noble	Middle Noble	High Noble	Total
Sartar	10	16	50	16	5	2	1	100
Esrolia	30	25	25	10	5	3	2	100
Hendriki	0	16	60	16	5	2	1	100
Malkonwal	0	50	30	11	5	2	2	100
Rightarm Islands	20	23	35	14	5	2	1	100
Tarsh	15	26	35	15	5	2	2	100
Prax	15	0	52	25	7	1	0	100
Caladraland	10	25	46	10	5	3	1	100
Holay	25	25	30	10	6	2	2	100
Aggar	10	22	45	15	6	1	1	100
Vanch	20	30	30	10	6	2	2	100
Imther	20	25	35	10	7	2	1	100
Sylila	20	40	20	10	6	2	2	100
Dara Happa	35	35	10	10	6	2	2	100

UNFREE 

This is a person who is not free to do as they will, but instead is designated as property off someone or something else. The exact nature of a slave varies greatly. Domestic slaves have some skills useful within an educated context. Crafts slaves have some useful crafting skill. Labor slaves are unskilled and generally miserable.

Ransom: none

SEMI-FREE 

This is a person who is not property but is not a full free member of the community. A client of another person is typically semi-free as they are not independent of their patron. They are bound to their lands or professions, or work somebody else’s land, livestock, or workshop and are usually unable to leave without permission of their lords. They do have some legal rights and are protected by their patrons.

Ransom: 150 to 250 L

FREE COMMON 

This is a free person with legal standing in the community. They usually must have some property or other means of reliable income, and are expected to perform some responsible civic duties as well.

Ransom: 500 L

FREE WEALTHY 

This is a Free Commoner with enough wealth to be armed and equipped better than their peers. They might have military duties, like thanes; religious duties, like priests or scribes; or they might be wealthy farmers, merchants, or crafters. They have increased social standing and civic responsibilities. They may have reached this status through their own pluck, official appointment, or other means.

Ransom: 1000 L

LOW NOBLE 

This is the equivalent of a landed knight or chieftain, the lowest of aristocratic circles in many cultures. This is the equivalent of a chief priest of temple.

Ransom: 2000 L

MID NOBLE 

This is the ruling class – the equivalents of barons, counts, tribal kings, high priests, city mayors, etc., or important retainers of high nobles. They are generally urbanized in customs.

Ransom: 4000 L

HIGH NOBLE 

This is the uncommon nobility, of the highest rank. This includes the rulers of an entire region – kings or queens who rule over many tribes (such as Esrolia, Sartar, Tarsh, etc.), Lunar Satraps, and the Prince of Sartar.

Ransom: 40,000 L

[Akhôrahil]

Using Aggar numbers for Talastar would be about right?

[Minlister]

Thanks Jeff, the number offer quick insight into the social structure.

I think something as useful would be to give standard names to these social groups for various  societies. It will add immediately flavour to any game.

[DerKrieger]

On 10/11/2019 at 7:23 AM, Minlister said:

Thanks Jeff, the number offer quick insight into the social structure.

I think something as useful would be to give standard names to these social groups for various  societies. It will add immediately flavour to any game.

Agreed, adding a general name for each culture could go a long way towards playing character from different cultures as these numbers already do. Obviously characters from Dara Happan are going to have very different views on the Unfree/Slaves in general than someone from Hendriki. 

[Lordabdul]

Thanks Jeff! I'm actually surprised at Esrolia, which I pictured as the more civilized and progressive place around Dragon Pass. But looking at those numbers, you could interpret it as a ruthless oligarchy where Nobles rules over a majority (55%) of people that are enslaved or partially enslaved, with little middle-class people. I didn't picture Ernalda as the type of deity to condone this type of society either but maybe I have her wrong, or maybe nobody bothered to free traditional slave families dating all the way back to the Vingkotling era, but that feels like an awful long time ago.