I'm running a play-by-BBS game of MegaTraveller in which one of the
characters is a duke and another is a duchess.
Does anyone have any information about nobility in the Imperium? In
particular, how involved is a duke or duchess in actually running their
dukedom or duchy? If they decided to go galloping across the galaxy,
would they be chastised for neglecting their duties? Or would it be quite
common to leave the operation of the dukedom or duchy in the hands of some
type of administrator?
What about special rights of these high nobles? When visiting a planet
with a high law level, can they expect to be allowed to keep their weapons?
How much control, if any, do they have over planets within their dukedom
or duchy? As I understand it, the Imperium merely rules the space BETWEEN
the stars, rather than the planets themselves.
How much access could they get to meeting with government leaders on
planets outside of their area?
How widely known is a duke or duchess outside of their area? If they are
out in public on a planet a couple of subsectors away from their home, would
people be pointing and saying, "Look, it's Duke So-and-So"? If they arrive
at a planet, will they be met at the starport by an official delegation, a
brass band, and a flock of reporters?
How much financial power would you say a duke or duchess typically has? The
income from the pension as given in the MT rules just doesn't seem high
enough for someone who in theory rules such a vast area. At the same time,
however, I'm somewhat reluctant to tell them they have vast resources at
their disposal, as that would tend to upset game balance.
Dominic Duvall | [email removed]
The Quest, BBS for F&SF and RPGs | [email removed]
[phone removed], 3/12/2400 baud |