Proposed Civil-Service Pay Scale

[Keklas Rekobah]

In another thread, the question was raised as to why Scouts receive no pension. While various reasons were put forward, no one considered the Real World institution of the General Schedule currently in use in the USA.

Here is my (IMTU) proposal for the . . .

3rd Imperium General Schedule (GS) Monthly Pay Scale

The general schedule (GS) is the predominant pay scale within the 3rd Imperium's civil service. The GS includes the majority of white-collar personnel (professional, technical, administrative, and clerical) positions.

PROCEDURE

1) Roll 2D (2d6).
2) Apply a DM per the bonus or penalty of the character's SOC score.
3) The final result is the GS rating of a person on the GS payroll in the 3rd Imperium. There are only 16 pay ratings -- GS-0 to GS-15 (or GS-F) -- thus, results less than 0 are 0 and results greater than F are F.

The amount shown is that person's monthly pay. Persons on 'Detached Duty' (i.e., Detached-Duty Scouts, Intelligence Agents, Diplomats, Knights Errant, et cetera) receive this amount as a monthly stipend.

A civil servant comes up for promotion once every year. Various factors come into play, and the 3I's guidebook for determining who gets promoted would be over 2000 pages long in hardcopy form. Most supervisors aren't concerned, however, as few people ever protest their own promotions.

Note that those who amass large volumes of personal items in one location may have to abandon their goods when transferred or called to active duty.

GENERAL SCHEDULE
MONTHLY PAY SCALE

GS - PAY/MO
0 - Cr1000
1 - Cr1165
2 - Cr1360
3 - Cr1585
4 - Cr1850
5 - Cr2155
6 - Cr2510
7 - Cr2930
8 - Cr3415
9 - Cr3980
10 - Cr4640
11 - Cr5410
12 - Cr6310
13 - Cr7355
14 - Cr8575
15 - Cr10000

SOCIAL CLASS
DICE MODIFIERS

SOC DM
0 -3
1-2 -2
3-5 -1
6-8 +0
9-B +1
C-E +2
F+ +3

Note that blue-collar workers are usually (1) hired locally, (2) paid the prevailing local wage for equivalent work, and (3) easily replaced under the Imperium's "At-Will Hiring" policy.

 

[McPerth]

So, to compare with the crew posts given in CT:

• Pilot: 6000 Cr/month, So equivalent to GS 12
• Navigator: 5000 Cr/mnth. So equivalent to GS 11
• Engineer: 4000 Cr/month, So equivalent to GS 9
• Steward: 3000 Cr/month. So equivalent to GS 7
• Medic: 2000 Cr/month, so equivalent to GS 4-5
• Gunner: 1000 Cr/month, so squivalent to GS 0

IIRC (I cannot find it right now), if one crew member fills 2 positions At -1 to his skill level), he earns 75% of both posts' ware. So, for the multi-positions I expect to be common:

• Pilot/Navigator: 8250 Cr/month, So equivalnet to GS 14
• Steward/Medic: 3750 Cr/month, So equivalnet to GS 8-9
• Steward/Gunner: 3000 Cr/month (see that in this case being aslo gunner does not add to pay): So equivalent to GS 7.

And see that this does not include any addition for skills over 1, nor the fact that they are lodged and fed...

 

[aramis]

In another thread, the question was raised as to why Scouts receive no pension. While various reasons were put forward, no one considered the Real World institution of the General Schedule currently in use in the USA.

Here is my (IMTU) proposal for the . . .

3rd Imperium General Schedule (GS) Monthly Pay Scale

The general schedule (GS) is the predominant pay scale within the 3rd Imperium's civil service. The GS includes the majority of white-collar personnel (professional, technical, administrative, and clerical) positions.

PROCEDURE

1) Roll 2D (2d6).
2) Apply a DM per the bonus or penalty of the character's SOC score.
3) The final result is the GS rating of a person on the GS payroll in the 3rd Imperium. There are only 16 pay ratings -- GS-0 to GS-15 (or GS-F) -- thus, results less than 0 are 0 and results greater than F are F.

The amount shown is that person's monthly pay. Persons on 'Detached Duty' (i.e., Detached-Duty Scouts, Intelligence Agents, Diplomats, Knights Errant, et cetera) receive this amount as a monthly stipend.

A civil servant comes up for promotion once every year. Various factors come into play, and the 3I's guidebook for determining who gets promoted would be over 2000 pages long in hardcopy form. Most supervisors aren't concerned, however, as few people ever protest their own promotions.

Note that those who amass large volumes of personal items in one location may have to abandon their goods when transferred or called to active duty.

GENERAL SCHEDULE
MONTHLY PAY SCALE

GS - PAY/MO
0 - Cr1000
1 - Cr1165
2 - Cr1360
3 - Cr1585
4 - Cr1850
5 - Cr2155
6 - Cr2510
7 - Cr2930
8 - Cr3415
9 - Cr3980
10 - Cr4640
11 - Cr5410
12 - Cr6310
13 - Cr7355
14 - Cr8575
15 - Cr10000

SOCIAL CLASS
DICE MODIFIERS

SOC DM
0 -3
1-2 -2
3-5 -1
6-8 +0
9-B +1
C-E +2
F+ +3

Note that blue-collar workers are usually (1) hired locally, (2) paid the prevailing local wage for equivalent work, and (3) easily replaced under the Imperium's "At-Will Hiring" policy.

way too high at the high end.

 

[kilemall]

way too high at the high end.

Sure about that? The work being paid doesn't necessarily scale to Earth standards, a top-end interstellar role has several times the responsibility that a nation-state on a balkanized world has.

 

[Keklas Rekobah]

way too high at the high end.

How so?

Consider that to receive GS-14 or GS-15 pay, a character must already have a SOC score of 12+, which has a roughly 1 in 36 chance of occurrence under normal circumstances.

Consider this, as well: A "Detached-Duty" Scout on a one-year tour of the Imperial Fringe is not likely to be anywhere near a 3I Scout facility very often, where he or she could collect back pay. And the Scout is likely to be at the facility only for a yearly overhaul of his or her Scout/Courier. Even so, the facility is not exactly likely to have any TEC-G+ whiz-bang gizmos piled up in the 3I equivalent of a thrift store's "Bargain Bin".

Now consider that only about 37.11% of all starports even have a chance of hosting a Scout base, and you'll begin to see that even though a Detached Duty Scout with a SOC score of F might pull down a yearly salary of Cr120,000, he or she might not (1) be anywhere near his or her wealth, (2) be anywhere near a shop selling TEC-8+ goods; and (3) be able to keep all of his or her unspent wealth due to taxes, tariffs, fees, fines, medical bills, bribes, and the myriad of unforeseen expenses associated with interstellar travel.

Finally, if you apply the implied rule that only those former Scouts who have received a Scout/Courier are actually on Detached Duty, then you will see just how rare a Cr120,000 yearly stipend actually is.

As always, results IYTU may vary.

 

[Keklas Rekobah]

So, to compare with the crew posts given in CT:

• Pilot: 6000 Cr/month, So equivalent to GS-12
• Navigator: 5000 Cr/month. So equivalent to GS-11
• Engineer: 4000 Cr/month, So equivalent to GS-9
• Steward: 3000 Cr/month. So equivalent to GS-7
• Medic: 2000 Cr/month, so equivalent to GS 4-5
• Gunner: 1000 Cr/month, so equivalent to GS-0

IIRC (I cannot find it right now), if one crew member fills 2 positions At -1 to his skill level), he earns 75% of both posts' ware. So, for the multi-positions I expect to be common:

• Pilot/Navigator: 8250 Cr/month, So equivalent to GS-14
• Steward/Medic: 3750 Cr/month, So equivalent to GS-8 to GS-9
• Steward/Gunner: 3000 Cr/month (see that in this case being also gunner does not add to pay): So equivalent to GS-7.

And see that this does not include any addition for skills over 1, nor the fact that they are lodged and fed...

Good analysis. Again, I'm proposing the GS scale for only those characters that are still on the GS payroll. I'm also proposing that only those former Scouts who have actually received a Scout/Courier as a benefit roll be considered to be on Detached Duty, and thus still on the GS payroll -- lose the ship, and lose the Detached Duty benefit; lose the benefit, and forfeit the pay.

Simple, eh? It sure beats trying to make a living between the stars with only 5 tons of cargo space . . .

 

[McPerth]

way too high at the high end.

Not knowing a dime about US GS wadges I guess the high end is for very high position civilian workers (the ones who have the minister or governor pone number on quick call list). If so, I find them too low instead ...

Aee that a character with pilot 3 would earn Cr 7200 a month, and if he has also navig 3 (HG chargen, Accademy, Flight school and 2 terms in flight night well attain those skill levels) would earn Cr 9462 (I guess skill reductions are applied) a month... And with free lodging and food...

I guess a GS 14-15 should earn more than this comercial starship pilot...

 

[aramis]

How so?

Consider that to receive GS-14 or GS-15 pay, a character must already have a SOC score of 12+, which has a roughly 1 in 36 chance of occurrence under normal circumstances.

The Credit is, in most ways, the 1976 and 1977 US dollar...

Actual GS-Scale for the year 1976, PER YEAR!!!

Grade	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	Step 5	Step 6	Step 7	Step 8	Step 9	Step 10
1	5,810	6,004	6,198	6,392	6,586	6,780	6,974	7,168	7,362	7,556
2	6,572	6,791	7,010	7,229	7,448	7,667	7,886	8,105	8,324	8,543
3	7,408	7,655	7,902	8,149	8,396	8,643	8,890	9,137	9,384	9,631
4	8,316	8,593	8,870	9,147	9,424	9,701	9,978	10,255	10,532	10,809
5	9,303	9,613	9,923	10,233	10,543	10,853	11,163	11,473	11,783	12,093
6	10,370	10,716	11,062	11,408	11,754	12,100	12,446	12,792	13,138	13,484
7	11,523	11,907	12,291	12,675	13,059	13,443	13,827	14,211	14,595	14,979
8	12,763	13,188	13,613	14,038	14,463	14,888	15,313	15,738	16,163	16,588
9	14,097	14,567	15,037	15,507	15,977	16,447	16,917	17,387	17,857	18,327
10	15,524	16,041	16,558	17,075	17,592	18,109	18,626	19,143	19,660	20,177
11	17,056	17,625	18,194	18,763	19,332	19,901	20,470	21,039	21,608	22,177
12	20,442	21,123	21,804	22,485	23,166	23,847	24,528	25,209	25,890	26,571
13	24,308	25,118	25,928	26,738	27,548	28,358	29,168	29,978	30,788	31,598
14	28,725	29,683	30,641	31,599	32,557	33,515	34,473	35,431	36,389	37,347
15	33,789	34,915	36,041	37,167	38,293	39,419	40,545	41,671	42,797	43,923
16	39,629	40,950	42,271	43,592	44,913	46,234	47,555	48,876	50,197	-
17	46,423	47,970	49,517	51,064	52,611	-	-	-	-	-
18	54,410	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Note the RANGE: only a factor of ×9 from bottom to top. GS Salaries are pretty good at the low end... $485/month
UK civil servants throughout the imperial period were not well paid, either. Those positions requiring social standing were generally individuals already wealthy, and the pay wasn't the reason for taking the job... but that's also why a financial crisis was so often seen as grounds for dismissal - the job wasn't worth the pay.

 

[Keklas Rekobah]

Hmm . . .

Okay, adding steps 1 through 9, and making the range only 10x from start to finish gives us the following values, rounded off to the nearest credit:

[b]GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) MONTHLY PAY SCALE TABLE[/b]

GS  Step 0:  Step 1:  Step 2:  Step 3:  Step 4:  Step 5:  Step 6:  Step 7:  Step 8:  Step 9:
 0   Cr1000   Cr1015   Cr1029   Cr1044   Cr1060   Cr1075   Cr1091   Cr1107   Cr1123   Cr1139
 1   Cr1156   Cr1173   Cr1190   Cr1207   Cr1225   Cr1243   Cr1261   Cr1279   Cr1298   Cr1317
 2   Cr1336   Cr1355   Cr1375   Cr1395   Cr1416   Cr1436   Cr1457   Cr1478   Cr1500   Cr1522
 3   Cr1544   Cr1567   Cr1589   Cr1613   Cr1636   Cr1660   Cr1684   Cr1709   Cr1734   Cr1759
 4   Cr1785   Cr1811   Cr1837   Cr1864   Cr1891   Cr1919   Cr1947   Cr1975   Cr2004   Cr2033
 5   Cr2063   Cr2093   Cr2123   Cr2154   Cr2186   Cr2218   Cr2250   Cr2283   Cr2316   Cr2350
 6   Cr2384   Cr2419   Cr2454   Cr2490   Cr2526   Cr2563   Cr2601   Cr2639   Cr2677   Cr2716
 7   Cr2756   Cr2796   Cr2837   Cr2878   Cr2920   Cr2963   Cr3006   Cr3050   Cr3094   Cr3139
 8   Cr3185   Cr3232   Cr3279   Cr3327   Cr3375   Cr3424   Cr3474   Cr3525   Cr3577   Cr3629
 9   Cr3682   Cr3735   Cr3790   Cr3845   Cr3901   Cr3958   Cr4016   Cr4074   Cr4134   Cr4194
10   Cr4255   Cr4317   Cr4380   Cr4444   Cr4509   Cr4575   Cr4642   Cr4709   Cr4778   Cr4848
11   Cr4918   Cr4990   Cr5063   Cr5137   Cr5212   Cr5288   Cr5365   Cr5443   Cr5523   Cr5603
12   Cr5685   Cr5768   Cr5852   Cr5937   Cr6024   Cr6112   Cr6201   Cr6291   Cr6383   Cr6476
13   Cr6571   Cr6667   Cr6764   Cr6862   Cr6963   Cr7064   Cr7167   Cr7272   Cr7378   Cr7485
14   Cr7595   Cr7705   Cr7818   Cr7932   Cr8047   Cr8165   Cr8284   Cr8405   Cr8527   Cr8652
15   Cr8778   Cr8906   Cr9036   Cr9168   Cr9302   Cr9437   Cr9575   Cr9715   Cr9856  Cr10000

Note: The interval between steps is determined by: ((10000 / 1000)^(1 / 159)); so, not only does the monthly pay increase with each step, but the increase itself increases with each step.

 

[Keklas Rekobah]

I'm now thinking to use this as an ad-hoc standard for:

1) Paying characters that have been hired by a governmental agency under term contracts as mercenaries, couriers, brokers, lawyers, et cetera.

2) Paying characters that have been hired under permanent contracts as researchers, technicians, scientists, et cetera.

3) MAYBE paying a stipend to Scouts who have been awarded a Scout/Courier, and/or who have left the IISS after their fourth term (an ersatz retirement pension).

Other ideas:

Begin with a 2D-2 roll for the GS level (range: GS-0 to GS-10; mean: GS-5).
Apply a +1 DM roll for a University degree, and another for Honors.
Apply a +1 DM for Military Service (A/M/N), and another for a Commission.
Apply a +1 DM for a Scout with a Scout/Courier.
Apply DM for Social Class, per MgT.

Results less than 0 become 0, and results greater than 15 become 15.

The Yearly Employee Review

Pay increases would require a 2D roll once per year that exceeds the current GS pay grade (ignoring the step), and applying DMs as above. A successful review roll would bump the monthly pay up by one step. If this bump puts the character in the next higher pay grade, then it is said that the character has received a promotion (i.e., GS-3.9 to GS-4.0), and receives a +1 DM to the next review roll. A roll that equals the current pay grade leaves the character at that pay grade, with no DM for the next review roll. A roll that falls below the current pay grade not only gives the character a pay cut by one step (and may result in a demotion), but gives the character a -1 DM on the next review roll

Again, this is something that I'm now kicking around as a possible means to standardize pay when the patron is a government agency.

"Okay, after a thorough screening of your background and review of your qualifications, I'm empowered to offer you the position of Senior Research Technician, GS-7.0, for a period of one year at Research Station Epsilon, after which time your performance will be re-evaluated in reference to your contract, which spells out your duties as follows: ... <time passes> ... and any other such duties as may be required to ensure the health, safety and security of any and all persons assigned to this station. Any questions?"

 

[aramis]

Hmm . . .

Okay, adding steps 1 through 9, and making the range only 10x from start to finish gives us the following values, rounded off to the nearest credit:

[b]GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) MONTHLY PAY SCALE TABLE[/b]

GS  Step 0:  Step 1:  Step 2:  Step 3:  Step 4:  Step 5:  Step 6:  Step 7:  Step 8:  Step 9:
 0   Cr1000   Cr1015   Cr1029   Cr1044   Cr1060   Cr1075   Cr1091   Cr1107   Cr1123   Cr1139
 1   Cr1156   Cr1173   Cr1190   Cr1207   Cr1225   Cr1243   Cr1261   Cr1279   Cr1298   Cr1317
 2   Cr1336   Cr1355   Cr1375   Cr1395   Cr1416   Cr1436   Cr1457   Cr1478   Cr1500   Cr1522
 3   Cr1544   Cr1567   Cr1589   Cr1613   Cr1636   Cr1660   Cr1684   Cr1709   Cr1734   Cr1759
 4   Cr1785   Cr1811   Cr1837   Cr1864   Cr1891   Cr1919   Cr1947   Cr1975   Cr2004   Cr2033
 5   Cr2063   Cr2093   Cr2123   Cr2154   Cr2186   Cr2218   Cr2250   Cr2283   Cr2316   Cr2350
 6   Cr2384   Cr2419   Cr2454   Cr2490   Cr2526   Cr2563   Cr2601   Cr2639   Cr2677   Cr2716
 7   Cr2756   Cr2796   Cr2837   Cr2878   Cr2920   Cr2963   Cr3006   Cr3050   Cr3094   Cr3139
 8   Cr3185   Cr3232   Cr3279   Cr3327   Cr3375   Cr3424   Cr3474   Cr3525   Cr3577   Cr3629
 9   Cr3682   Cr3735   Cr3790   Cr3845   Cr3901   Cr3958   Cr4016   Cr4074   Cr4134   Cr4194
10   Cr4255   Cr4317   Cr4380   Cr4444   Cr4509   Cr4575   Cr4642   Cr4709   Cr4778   Cr4848
11   Cr4918   Cr4990   Cr5063   Cr5137   Cr5212   Cr5288   Cr5365   Cr5443   Cr5523   Cr5603
12   Cr5685   Cr5768   Cr5852   Cr5937   Cr6024   Cr6112   Cr6201   Cr6291   Cr6383   Cr6476
13   Cr6571   Cr6667   Cr6764   Cr6862   Cr6963   Cr7064   Cr7167   Cr7272   Cr7378   Cr7485
14   Cr7595   Cr7705   Cr7818   Cr7932   Cr8047   Cr8165   Cr8284   Cr8405   Cr8527   Cr8652
15   Cr8778   Cr8906   Cr9036   Cr9168   Cr9302   Cr9437   Cr9575   Cr9715   Cr9856  Cr10000

Note: The interval between steps is determined by: ((10000 / 1000)^(1 / 159)); so, not only does the monthly pay increase with each step, but the increase itself increases with each step.

You're still an order of magnitude off...
You're converting yearly to monthly.

 

[PVernon]

For Reference; CT cost of living

The overhead expenses:

Starvation Level, Bare minimum food 60cr/m, dismal lodging 60cr/m.
120cr/m 1440cr/yr
Subsistence level, Reasonable food 120cr/m, acceptable lodging 180cr/m.
300cr/m 3600cr/yr
Ordinary level, Good food 200cr/m, good lodging 200cr/m.
400cr/m 4800cr/yr
High Living, Excellent food 600cr/m, Excellent accommodations 300cr/m
900cr/m 10800cr/yr

 

[kilemall]

The overhead expenses:

Starvation Level, Bare minimum food 60cr/m, dismal lodging 60cr/m.
120cr/m 1440cr/yr
Subsistence level, Reasonable food 120cr/m, acceptable lodging 180cr/m.
300cr/m 3600cr/yr
Ordinary level, Good food 200cr/m, good lodging 200cr/m.
400cr/m 4800cr/yr
High Living, Excellent food 600cr/m, Excellent accommodations 300cr/m
900cr/m 10800cr/yr

Good to keep in mind, most pensions are going to pay living expenses and not much else- exactly what you want for adventurer motivation to score credits.

 

[Keklas Rekobah]

You're still an order of magnitude off... You're converting yearly to monthly.

Correct, but only for pensions. I'm now focused more on a pay scale that is more appropriate for Civil Servants or Travellers in the regular employ of a Government agency or patron.

Detached Duty Scouts may not need to be on the regular payroll, IF they can make a go of it doing speculative trade, mail service, and occasional contract work for patrons -- so no pensions for them. This seems to be what Mr. Miller had in mind from the start.

Otherwise . . .

The overhead expenses:

Starvation Level, Bare minimum food 60cr/m, dismal lodging 60cr/m.
120cr/m 1440cr/yr
Subsistence level, Reasonable food 120cr/m, acceptable lodging 180cr/m.
300cr/m 3600cr/yr
Ordinary level, Good food 200cr/m, good lodging 200cr/m.
400cr/m 4800cr/yr
High Living, Excellent food 600cr/m, Excellent accommodations 300cr/m
900cr/m 10800cr/yr

Consider: The "common sense" budget for housing IRL is no greater than 1/4 to 1/3 of a person's total monthly income. Thus, the following individual incomes from LBB3p19 might better apply:

• Starvation Level: bare minimum of food, Cr60 per month; dismal lodging, Cr60 per month. Income: Cr180 to Cr240 per month.

• Subsistence Level: reasonable food, Cr120 per month; acceptable lodging, Cr180 per month. Income: Cr540 to Cr720 per month.

• Ordinary Level: good food, Cr200 per month; good lodging, Cr200 per month. Income: Cr600 to Cr800 per month.

• High Living: excellent food, Cr600 per month; excellent accommodations, Cr300 per month. Income: Cr900 to Cr1200 per month.

A GS-0.0 Civil Servant living alone without dependents would still do reasonably well at these income level. The same person would still be doing alright with an unemployed partner at the "Ordinary" level.

Working out the details ITU does not seem too difficult. Of course, this is all predicated on the idea of a 12-month (365-day) Imperial year of 30 or 31 days per month, and only 12 pay-days. If it was instead predicated on a 13 month (365-day) Imperial year of 28 or 29 days per month, then there would be 13 pay-days per year, and the total pay per year would increase by 13/12, or 108 & 2/3rds percent (108.666...%).

Now, if someone could extrapolate a pay schedule for Prevailing Wage (PW) that is based on standard ship's crew pay, and apply it toward commercial blue-collar work, then we may have a package worth passing around.

 

[kilemall]

Was it Mercenary or Striker that gave us merc pay predicated on rank?

Ah here it is, Mercenary, with pay starting at Private for Cr300 per month and 1 share, to top NCO at Cr1000 and 7 shares, officers range from 2nd Lt at Cr1000/5 shares to Colonel at Cr2000/10 shares.

So, even with the risks of the merc job, the ship crews earn more generally speaking.

Point being, ship crews may be the 'upper end' of salaries and not typical.

Or, that gives us a look at what a salary/share mix might look like, as opposed to just a flat salary.

 

[PVernon]

I used 12 months for a year.

 

[aramis]

Correct, but only for pensions. I'm now focused more on a pay scale that is more appropriate for Civil Servants or Travellers in the regular employ of a Government agency or patron.

nope. The payscales listed for real GS grades are the 1976 ANNUAL PAY for serving persons. The pay scale proposed was using them (rounded slightly) as MONTHLY.

 

[Keklas Rekobah]

Was it Mercenary or Striker that gave us merc pay predicated on rank?

Ah here it is, Mercenary, with pay starting at Private for Cr300 per month and 1 share, to top NCO at Cr1000 and 7 shares, officers range from 2nd Lt at Cr1000/5 shares to Colonel at Cr2000/10 shares.

So, even with the risks of the merc job, the ship crews earn more generally speaking.

Point being, ship crews may be the 'upper end' of salaries and not typical.

Or, that gives us a look at what a salary/share mix might look like, as opposed to just a flat salary.

Much as in real life, several pay scales exist, depending on the oversight of the people employed. Thus, the civil service has its own pay scale for non-combatant white-collar workers, the military has its own pay scale (which the mercs ITU have more-or-less copied to attract veterans), ordinary hourly blue-collar wage earners have a slippery-slidey pay scale based on local "poverty" levels and cost-of-living, and ship workers have a standard pay scale (which the Free-Traders have more or less copied from the Merchants to attract skilled crew-members).

My proposal has evolved into a "Standard" means of calculation a basic wage for travellers hired by government patrons (i.e., agencies, agents, Squires, Knights, et cetera) on a long-term basis.

As always, conditions in your Traveller universe may vary -- "Traveller is necessarily a framework describing the barest of essentials for an infinite universe" (LBB3-p48).

 

[Keklas Rekobah]

I used 12 months for a year.

I knew that I'd seen something about the length of an Imperial month somewhere in canon . . .

"Imperial dates count from the year of the founding of the Third Imperium, specifying the year zero as a holiday year. Dates before that are negative, dates after that are positive, with the sign usually suppressed. Imperial dating uses a Julian system for specifying days. Each day in the year is consecutively numbered beginning with 001. Thus, in the year 1105, the first day of the year is 001-1 105. Weeks of seven days and months of 28 days are used to refer to lengths of time, but rarely to establish dates.

Reference: CT S08 Supplement 08 Library Data A-M; 1980; pages 22-23, "Dating Systems".

The Imperial calendar was established at the creation of the third Imperium as a universal calendar reform. Imperial dates count from the year of the founding of the Third Imperium, specifying the year zero as a holiday year. Dates before that are negative, dates after that are positive (with the sign usually suppressed). Imperial dating uses a modified Julian system for specifying days within the year. Each day is consecutively numbered beginning with 001. Thus in the year 1105, the first day of the year is 001-1105. Weeks of seven days and months of about 28 days are used to refer to lengths of time, but rarely to establish dates. Seasons vary from world to world, as do planetary years, and local seasons and year lengths are the prerogative of individual worlds within the Imperium.

Reference: CT S12 Supplement 12 "Forms & Charts"; 1983; pages 46-47, "Imperial Calendar".

QED: An Imperial year of 365 days, divided into months of 28 days, will be 13 months and one day long!