It shows the structure of things. It shows a culture and a way of looking at priesthood that is different than most gamers experience. All in all, two paws up.
This is more useful, in general for most gamers, than some of the lists. It is also something that characters might experience. It has a solid order. While the terms are specifically Catholic, it gives you a specific feel for a monestary and how the ranking works.
See this one has ranks and positions. Some of your other subs might be better served with this. Go to Comment
Sumo Ranking Systems (Societal/ Cultural)
(General)
Now this is something you don't see every day. Nor will use be using it either, unless you are running a campaign in Nippon. (I do, so it would be a good thing.)
The best use for this is to take the concepts behind it and adapt it to your campaigns culture.
I am adding a Nippon free text to this and other related subs. Go to Comment
First, by what definition of "professional" are using?
Yes, The Empire existed from 1206 to 1368 which was a small segment of the "Middle Ages" in Europe. And yes, Mongols identifiable as Mongols had existed for nearly 400 years before that. However, the "Middle Ages", and in many ways "Europe", were inconsequential to China/ Asia where the Mongols and The Mongol Culture was focused. (Okay there was a leak of trade going on by this point, but ....) The Mongol expansion moved other "barbarous peoples" into Roman spaces (part of the fall). They even took the eastern edges of Eastern Europe, which is a footnote in the Mongol History really. They were never part of Europes' Middle Ages, they were just around during that 1100 year time 400-1500.
So how did they get professional? After the Romans, the next professional army (One which was paid a wage to be soldiers, did regular training, and was considered a "job") on the planet did not occur until around the late 1500s and did not formally and regularly appear until the mid 1600s.
And for those who need some additional info...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_military_tactics_and_organization Go to Comment
Another fun listing of military/ social ranks. It is something you should keep in mind when designing your "barbarian cultures". After all, some barbarians (Mongols and Celts) are really more civilized that "the Civilized People".
So other than the Catholic orientation (for example Deacon and Subdeacon meaning different things in other denomination), it is a good set of terms. It gives people something to think about rather than thinking everyone is a Cleric.
One things that does bother me however. There is no idea of ranking. This is nothing but a list of offices and position, in alpha order. There is no sense of progression or seniority in the positions. Go to Comment
I somehow missed this one when I was voting on the rest. This is not one of your best, and is subpar even with most of the lists you have tossed up recently. These aren't fantasy.
Perhaps a relabeling or renaming might be in order to improve the reception this one has received? Go to Comment
Ninja Ranks Systems (Societal/ Cultural)
(General)
I happen to like and follow the Genin-Chunin-Soke-Jonin system. That is a matter of taste.
That aside, these seem more like professions/ specialties than ranks except for a few exceptions. Perhaps a change in either title (and removal from the codex), or a restructuring to actually show something like a rank? Go to Comment
While I appreciate any interesting non magical weapon, the descriptions is confusing and the physics of such a weapon (as described) would make for an odd attack. The trade off of weight and manipulation for an inertial second attack seems unwieldy and unlikely.
Nicely done. it is a solid concept. I would of liked a little more description and explanation, but I could live wihtou it. So we have a place, some history, and a few plots. It works for me. Go to Comment
The set up is good, the delivery is a bit behind. It is vague and unmeasured in response. You get power when there is evil afoot... and evil is subjective by who's measure... and then their is a conversion. Go to Comment
The fact that you mess with The Song and have some unpredictable effect, like sending them on a murderous rampage (or have them all drop asleep)?
Like they hang with Dragons?
Not everyone needs to live a depressing, horrid, life. You should leave that to Goths and WoD players.
It is all about the spin. They are aliens, or being enslaved by the song. Or they could be a human disease, slowling taking over "the land". People could be entranced by their song after long enough exposure... turning them from people into Singers. They could be innocent victims to be abused by people, echoing a native plight.
I normally leave the spin to others and what they want to use them for. Nobody should be telling anyone how they should use a sub, not even the author. Go to Comment
The edit function is being wonky right now:
Change the Intro to:
You can hear the song from miles away. The song is enchanting in a mild way. Even the plants sing this haunting tune all day. For this day, you dance a new dance, from your world to theirs. Go to Comment
Systems (Societal/ Cultural) (General)
Adding the Nippon freetext. Go to Comment