Difference between revisions of "Hârn Encyclopedia Hârnica 03"

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Encyclopedia Hârnica EH3

This issue we present our first Hârnic castle, an article on manors stressing fief management and economics, and the second of seven atlas maps for the Kingdom of Kaldor.

CG 6003 Encyclopedia Hârnica 3

• • EH3 Has original Hârn Manor Article that became HârnManor ~ Discussion
  • Pages from CG 6003 - Encyclopedia Hârnica 03.pdf

Olokand (Kaldor)

• The Royal Castle in Northwest Kaldor

Manor

The article on Hârnic manors is a new direction for us; a combination rules and environment article. In our experience, fief management is a much neglected part of fantasy role playing which players enjoy once they try it. GM's can use this article at two levels:

1. Using on the Tenant Household routine, and the index of settlements in Atlas Hârnica, the background for any character born in a rural area (most should be) can be generated right down to the level of which houseold the PC is from. Such character detail is always interesting to players and can be helpful to the GM, who can run through the management routine by himself, now and again, generating fate and economic worth for the PC's birthplace and household. Such events may influence the character's future options and decisions.
2. Assuming you have a PC fiefholder or manorial bailiff (how you do this is up to you), most players love to count their pennies and fief management will keep the busy doing just that while you dream up their next quest. Manorial economics are surprisingly complex; the interdepenent details can be overwhelming. Our experience is that a complex "money machine" approach to fief management will not endearyou to your players. We have chosen to simplify the economics in favour of a more personal approach to tennant/lord relationships. Our players love it.

Manor Economics

Manorial economics are surprisingly complex. They can be dealt with at various levels of complexity and abstraction depending on the degree of authenticity desired by the GM and players. This system is intended to provide procedures of medium complexity that will give the feel of fief economics without being incomprehensible.

The system works by filling out budget forms each game year at harvest time; on Hârn this is around the end of Azura, the seventh month. Normally, the GM will only require budgets for manors held (or governed) by player characters. If a regular budget is required for very large holdings, although not may players will achieve this status, then it might be easier to complete the procedure for one year only with average weather and yields, and thereafter to assume that all revenues, service, etc. will stay the same, with optional yearly variations.

The Basic Procedure

We have provided two budget forms, designed to be photocopied as needed. These are the Tenant Household Form (THF) and General Budget Form (GBF). The THF records data on the tenant households in a fief; the GBF is a general assessment of the fief's welfare and is used to compute revenues, changing land use, budgeted expenditures, etc. Since this is a budgetary system, factors tend to change. Work in pencil and keep an eraser handy. Step by step procedures are given for filling out the two forms, to be done in the exact order specified below:

1. . The General Data section in GBF.
2. . The Tenant Household Form.
3. . The Revenue section in GBF
4. . The Household Budget section in GBF
5. . The Fief Budget section in GBF

General Data

1. GROSS ACRES

   The total amount of land in the fief specified in Altas Hârnica indices. This acreage will only vary if land is ceded or annexed.

2. WASTE ACRES

   The number of acres (usually swamp, heath or precipitous rockfield) that have no agricultural value and cannot (with the available technology) be made useful. Determine acreage as (3d6)% of [1].

3. WOOD ACRES

   The total acres of woodland and forest in the fief. Hunting is the most important source of meat for the lord's table. All woods are considered to be private property of the fiefholder. Determine acreage as (3d6 + 10)% of [1]. This acreage will decrease if woods were cleared in last year's fief budget.

   Option: increase woods acres 1% each year to allow for natural growth.

4. CLEARED ACRES

   The total number of cleared acres on the fief suitable for pasture and growing crops. This is equal to gross acres minus the sum of waste and wood acres. This acreage will increase if wooded acres decrease, and vice-versa.

   SUM: Cleared Acres = Gross Acres - (Waste Acres + Wood Acres)

5. LABOUR POOL (LP)

   The additional labour on the fief that is available for hire. Determine by the following formula: (Cottars x 120) + (Half-Villeins x 60) days. This calculation must wait until you have filled in the THF. The GM may wish to add 5-10% more to account for a small amount of labour available from villeins, freeholders, and migrant workers. The labour pool may change if households increase or decrease, or if the status of tenants is altered.

   Option: the GM may wish to establish a minimum labour pool (50%) because some tenants are very dependent on being hired to supplement their income. If the lord does not hire this minimum amount of labour, the welfare of his smaller tenants will suffer, which is best reflected by modifiers on the tenant fate table; cottars (-10), half-villeins (-5).

6. LAND QUALITY (LQ)

   A numerical index designed to reflect the fief's soil fertility and climate. LQ is provided in Altas Hârnica. It is generally considered a constant, or a variable that changes very slowly at GM discretion. LQ is used to modify crop yields.

7. FIEF INDEX (FI)

8. WEATHER INDEX (WI)

Tenant Households

Household Generation

Yeomen

Serf Households

Tenant Fate Table

New Households

Updating the THF

Revenues

Household Budget

Fief Budget

TENANT HOUSEHOLD FORM

GENERAL BUDGET FORM

Atlas Hârnica

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Notes

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