What is SOC Below 7?
- Thread starter Jame
- Start date
In my mind, SOC levels are foggy below 10, which is where the nobility start. T5 sets living standards at Cr250 per month per point of SOC, which might work fine as a general rule.
Assuming SOC is measured as an Imperial standard (economic benefit == good), a rough stab at classfying SOC might be this. The top echelons have more than one possibility; I'm brainstorming.
9 - "I'm powerful enough to set regional policy"
9 - "Working for an industry means working for me"
8 - "I'm a senior advisor"
8 - "I own a successful company"
7 - "I am a manager"
7 - "I am a specialist"
6 - "I am a professional"
5 - "I am a hard worker"
4 - "I am a temp or semi-skilled worker"
3 - "My contributions are deemed marginal at best"
2 - "I am a drain on the state's resources"
1 - "You want I should rob/kill someone?"
0 - "I am an undocumented laborer"
Assuming SOC is measured as an Imperial standard (economic benefit == good), a rough stab at classfying SOC might be this. The top echelons have more than one possibility; I'm brainstorming.
9 - "I'm powerful enough to set regional policy"
9 - "Working for an industry means working for me"
8 - "I'm a senior advisor"
8 - "I own a successful company"
7 - "I am a manager"
7 - "I am a specialist"
6 - "I am a professional"
5 - "I am a hard worker"
4 - "I am a temp or semi-skilled worker"
3 - "My contributions are deemed marginal at best"
2 - "I am a drain on the state's resources"
1 - "You want I should rob/kill someone?"
0 - "I am an undocumented laborer"
In my mind, SOC levels are foggy below 10, which is where the nobility start. T5 sets living standards at Cr250 per month per point of SOC, which might work fine as a general rule.
Assuming SOC is measured as an Imperial standard (economic benefit == good), a rough stab at classfying SOC might be this. The top echelons have more than one possibility; I'm brainstorming.
9 - "I'm powerful enough to set regional policy"
9 - "Working for an industry means working for me"
8 - "I'm a senior advisor"
8 - "I own a successful company"
7 - "I am a manager"
7 - "I am a specialist"
6 - "I am a professional"
5 - "I am a hard worker"
4 - "I am a temp or semi-skilled worker"
3 - "My contributions are deemed marginal at best"
2 - "I am a drain on the state's resources"
1 - "You want I should rob/kill someone?"
0 - "I am an undocumented laborer"
Assuming SOC is measured as an Imperial standard (economic benefit == good), a rough stab at classfying SOC might be this. The top echelons have more than one possibility; I'm brainstorming.
9 - "I'm powerful enough to set regional policy"
9 - "Working for an industry means working for me"
8 - "I'm a senior advisor"
8 - "I own a successful company"
7 - "I am a manager"
7 - "I am a specialist"
6 - "I am a professional"
5 - "I am a hard worker"
4 - "I am a temp or semi-skilled worker"
3 - "My contributions are deemed marginal at best"
2 - "I am a drain on the state's resources"
1 - "You want I should rob/kill someone?"
0 - "I am an undocumented laborer"
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
Hi Jame, my thoughts?
Well since SOC 9+ is the common benefit level for the few careers that care (specifically Navy, Diplomat and Bureaucrat) and SOC 8- is the common "benefit" level for criminals (Pirates and Rogues) I'd say Traveller has no real middle "class", you are either Nobility (or in that circle for SOC 9 and 10) or a Commoner/Citizen.
MT specified that SOC 5- indicated the character had little influence and I seem to recall our games defining a SOC 0 as a non-person, either in prison, escaped from the same, or wanted for crimes against the Imperium and destined for prison IF captured alive.
So a SOC 4 in my opinion is just some regular working stiff, trying to make ends meet as best they can in whatever career they are in. Maybe a military officer who doesn't play the political games, or a highly skilled healer who never got their MD, or even just a Free-Trader Captain trying to keep ahead of his payments.
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
Hi Jame, my thoughts?
Well since SOC 9+ is the common benefit level for the few careers that care (specifically Navy, Diplomat and Bureaucrat) and SOC 8- is the common "benefit" level for criminals (Pirates and Rogues) I'd say Traveller has no real middle "class", you are either Nobility (or in that circle for SOC 9 and 10) or a Commoner/Citizen.
MT specified that SOC 5- indicated the character had little influence and I seem to recall our games defining a SOC 0 as a non-person, either in prison, escaped from the same, or wanted for crimes against the Imperium and destined for prison IF captured alive.
So a SOC 4 in my opinion is just some regular working stiff, trying to make ends meet as best they can in whatever career they are in. Maybe a military officer who doesn't play the political games, or a highly skilled healer who never got their MD, or even just a Free-Trader Captain trying to keep ahead of his payments.
That's actually a good way of looking at it, far-trader. So a SOC-4 isn't trailer trash (necessarily), but isn't important enough to make a visible impact. Kinda like robject's "temp or semi-skilled worker" classification.
But how can someone, not in the military, improve his/her SOC?
But how can someone, not in the military, improve his/her SOC?
I still say Trailer Trash - especially if 7 is the average stat.
In a proper class system, as opposed to the American $$$ = class equasion (and thank God, although hang out with rich New Englanders who claim to have come over in C17th for a different perspective). Short of re-inventing the wheel, movement up beyond Soc 8 is going to be pretty hard. Class by its very nature is an exlusionary category that only lets a few move upwards - i'd recommend The Class Structure of the Advanced Societies by Anthony Giddens on this one if it was comprehensible without a sociology professor to translate it).
In a proper class system, as opposed to the American $$$ = class equasion (and thank God, although hang out with rich New Englanders who claim to have come over in C17th for a different perspective). Short of re-inventing the wheel, movement up beyond Soc 8 is going to be pretty hard. Class by its very nature is an exlusionary category that only lets a few move upwards - i'd recommend The Class Structure of the Advanced Societies by Anthony Giddens on this one if it was comprehensible without a sociology professor to translate it).
That's actually a good way of looking at it, far-trader. So a SOC-4 isn't trailer trash (necessarily), but isn't important enough to make a visible impact. Kinda like robject's "temp or semi-skilled worker" classification.
But how can someone, not in the military, improve his/her SOC?
But how can someone, not in the military, improve his/her SOC?
I still say Trailer Trash - especially if 7 is the average stat.
In a proper class system, as opposed to the American $$$ = class equasion (and thank God, although hang out with rich New Englanders who claim to have come over in C17th for a different perspective). Short of re-inventing the wheel, movement up beyond Soc 8 is going to be pretty hard. Class by its very nature is an exlusionary category that only lets a few move upwards - i'd recommend The Class Structure of the Advanced Societies by Anthony Giddens on this one if it was comprehensible without a sociology professor to translate it).
In a proper class system, as opposed to the American $$$ = class equasion (and thank God, although hang out with rich New Englanders who claim to have come over in C17th for a different perspective). Short of re-inventing the wheel, movement up beyond Soc 8 is going to be pretty hard. Class by its very nature is an exlusionary category that only lets a few move upwards - i'd recommend The Class Structure of the Advanced Societies by Anthony Giddens on this one if it was comprehensible without a sociology professor to translate it).
I'd say in Traveller it's possible to move up, but there are several mechanisms, each of which has an effective range. The higher up you go, the more visible and formalized the process, it seems.
For the bottom rungs in the Imperium, the need is for skill and education. It might just be getting a break, learning a trade, and jumping to another system where people didn't know you were scum. Military service is an obvious example. Say that ranges from 0 to 4.
For those nearer the middle, it requires amassing wealth, since there's no true status until SOC 10, nobility. Put that at 5 through 9.
At the top is sheer social performance (government and noblesse oblige, etc), as a functioning member of the Imperial Machine. To most nobility I'd think that money is not a (major) concern. That's 10 and up.
How's that?
For the bottom rungs in the Imperium, the need is for skill and education. It might just be getting a break, learning a trade, and jumping to another system where people didn't know you were scum. Military service is an obvious example. Say that ranges from 0 to 4.
For those nearer the middle, it requires amassing wealth, since there's no true status until SOC 10, nobility. Put that at 5 through 9.
At the top is sheer social performance (government and noblesse oblige, etc), as a functioning member of the Imperial Machine. To most nobility I'd think that money is not a (major) concern. That's 10 and up.
How's that?
I'd say in Traveller it's possible to move up, but there are several mechanisms, each of which has an effective range. The higher up you go, the more visible and formalized the process, it seems.
For the bottom rungs in the Imperium, the need is for skill and education. It might just be getting a break, learning a trade, and jumping to another system where people didn't know you were scum. Military service is an obvious example. Say that ranges from 0 to 4.
For those nearer the middle, it requires amassing wealth, since there's no true status until SOC 10, nobility. Put that at 5 through 9.
At the top is sheer social performance (government and noblesse oblige, etc), as a functioning member of the Imperial Machine. To most nobility I'd think that money is not a (major) concern. That's 10 and up.
How's that?
For the bottom rungs in the Imperium, the need is for skill and education. It might just be getting a break, learning a trade, and jumping to another system where people didn't know you were scum. Military service is an obvious example. Say that ranges from 0 to 4.
For those nearer the middle, it requires amassing wealth, since there's no true status until SOC 10, nobility. Put that at 5 through 9.
At the top is sheer social performance (government and noblesse oblige, etc), as a functioning member of the Imperial Machine. To most nobility I'd think that money is not a (major) concern. That's 10 and up.
How's that?
A SOC level also should represent how the person acts and talks as well as official, recognized rank.
So, someone who is a SOC 4 might have more money than a SOC 8, but, his mannerisms, speech, habits, and tastes mark him to those who care about such things as a SOC 4.
In some societies there is also a SOC assigned (or perceived) by one's parents. I'm thinking of India's various untouchable groups. There, *we* wouldn't perceive a difference, but some perceive and truly care that a person is "untouchable" because his parents are. I seem to recall an article where people were telling an interviewer that no matter how the "untouchable" looked or truly did, some sort of mannerism or speech would eventually trip him up.
Above SOC 9 (ie, the noble classes), the SOC level is probably a combination of official title/rank (awarded, inherited) and mannerisms/speech again. So, someone may have been given the title of Baron, but all of the other Barons still think that person really has his original SOC of 5.
Ron
So, someone who is a SOC 4 might have more money than a SOC 8, but, his mannerisms, speech, habits, and tastes mark him to those who care about such things as a SOC 4.
In some societies there is also a SOC assigned (or perceived) by one's parents. I'm thinking of India's various untouchable groups. There, *we* wouldn't perceive a difference, but some perceive and truly care that a person is "untouchable" because his parents are. I seem to recall an article where people were telling an interviewer that no matter how the "untouchable" looked or truly did, some sort of mannerism or speech would eventually trip him up.
Above SOC 9 (ie, the noble classes), the SOC level is probably a combination of official title/rank (awarded, inherited) and mannerisms/speech again. So, someone may have been given the title of Baron, but all of the other Barons still think that person really has his original SOC of 5.
Ron
A SOC level also should represent how the person acts and talks as well as official, recognized rank.
So, someone who is a SOC 4 might have more money than a SOC 8, but, his mannerisms, speech, habits, and tastes mark him to those who care about such things as a SOC 4.
In some societies there is also a SOC assigned (or perceived) by one's parents. I'm thinking of India's various untouchable groups. There, *we* wouldn't perceive a difference, but some perceive and truly care that a person is "untouchable" because his parents are. I seem to recall an article where people were telling an interviewer that no matter how the "untouchable" looked or truly did, some sort of mannerism or speech would eventually trip him up.
Above SOC 9 (ie, the noble classes), the SOC level is probably a combination of official title/rank (awarded, inherited) and mannerisms/speech again. So, someone may have been given the title of Baron, but all of the other Barons still think that person really has his original SOC of 5.
Ron
So, someone who is a SOC 4 might have more money than a SOC 8, but, his mannerisms, speech, habits, and tastes mark him to those who care about such things as a SOC 4.
In some societies there is also a SOC assigned (or perceived) by one's parents. I'm thinking of India's various untouchable groups. There, *we* wouldn't perceive a difference, but some perceive and truly care that a person is "untouchable" because his parents are. I seem to recall an article where people were telling an interviewer that no matter how the "untouchable" looked or truly did, some sort of mannerism or speech would eventually trip him up.
Above SOC 9 (ie, the noble classes), the SOC level is probably a combination of official title/rank (awarded, inherited) and mannerisms/speech again. So, someone may have been given the title of Baron, but all of the other Barons still think that person really has his original SOC of 5.
Ron
Sheer social performance?
What do you mean by the 'social' part? That if you are soc 4 and go to manners class after getting your title you can fit in?
What lucky people you Americans are with your egalitarianism (I am not being sarcastic) - you should try coming from the streets in Britain and trying to make your better. Its a tough struggle. The entrance figures to University from the lower rungs of society has not changed in 30 years.
I think Ron above is more to the point - Soc 4's will never be accepted by Soc B's in a class society.
(I am assuming Soc relates to the 3I and that it is a class based society, of course, but I think the feudal structure rather helps me.)
What do you mean by the 'social' part? That if you are soc 4 and go to manners class after getting your title you can fit in?
What lucky people you Americans are with your egalitarianism (I am not being sarcastic) - you should try coming from the streets in Britain and trying to make your better. Its a tough struggle. The entrance figures to University from the lower rungs of society has not changed in 30 years.
I think Ron above is more to the point - Soc 4's will never be accepted by Soc B's in a class society.
(I am assuming Soc relates to the 3I and that it is a class based society, of course, but I think the feudal structure rather helps me.)
Sheer social performance?
What do you mean by the 'social' part? That if you are soc 4 and go to manners class after getting your title you can fit in?
What lucky people you Americans are with your egalitarianism (I am not being sarcastic) - you should try coming from the streets in Britain and trying to make your better. Its a tough struggle. The entrance figures to University from the lower rungs of society has not changed in 30 years.
I think Ron above is more to the point - Soc 4's will never be accepted by Soc B's in a class society.
(I am assuming Soc relates to the 3I and that it is a class based society, of course, but I think the feudal structure rather helps me.)
What do you mean by the 'social' part? That if you are soc 4 and go to manners class after getting your title you can fit in?
What lucky people you Americans are with your egalitarianism (I am not being sarcastic) - you should try coming from the streets in Britain and trying to make your better. Its a tough struggle. The entrance figures to University from the lower rungs of society has not changed in 30 years.
I think Ron above is more to the point - Soc 4's will never be accepted by Soc B's in a class society.
(I am assuming Soc relates to the 3I and that it is a class based society, of course, but I think the feudal structure rather helps me.)
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