I like the concepts of your guild.

[Manus Dei]

Land is divided into fiefs. Fiefs are headed by lords and knights. Only those who are part of fiefs are able to farm limited renewal resources on those fiefs, and they are called villeins. Burgesses are subjects of the Duchy of Wessex, but they are free men. They are not part of a fief, they are part of a boroughs, a town. This is why they are called burgesses and not enfeoffed villeins. But buildings in towns are limited, and the burgesses sacrifices his ability to legally farm from his lord's fief.

If you want to think of fiefs as subclans, I suppose you can. Sleggjaholl is a fief and it certainly is a subclan. But everyone here is a member of the Duchy of Wessex.

I don't know how taxes will work exactly in Darkfall. Some say they can be withdrawn automatically. We will apply what works, and in percentages which we discover to be reasonable.

[Valdemar Severinus]

Land is divided into fiefs. Fiefs are headed by lords and knights. Only those who are part of fiefs are able to farm limited renewal resources on those fiefs, and they are called villeins. Burgesses are subjects of the Duchy of Wessex, but they are free men. They are not part of a fief, they are part of a boroughs, a town. This is why they are called burgesses and not enfeoffed villeins. But buildings in towns are limited, and the burgesses sacrifices his ability to legally farm from his lord's fief.

Let's say that the Duchy controls 2 territories on the map, that would be 2 fiefs and each fief would have 1 city; so technically speaking there would be 2 cities in the kingdoms. Are the villeins of 1st fief, prohibited from entering, adventuring and farming the 2nd fief? I think free movement between the fief's would apply to the members of the guild.

It seems to me that casual players for the most part would play the role of villeins. Does each rank have it's own laws and regulations, I read the common law but that seems to be general law that applies in this case almost to everyone.

And in terms of the military is a soldier bound by his or her role, if for example a footman wants to participate in Naval Battles can he do that or does he have to apply for a seamen rank?

[Manus Dei]

Usually the two lords of neighboring fiefs will work out a personal deal that will allow their villeins to farm both areas, sharing the harvests from each other. But again, when it comes to rare, slowly respawning resources that occur in a certain lord's fief - he technically has sole right to it, and he and his villeins are the only ones who can claim these things without poaching. It's his prerogative if he wishes to allow others to claim these things without consequences.

Yes, each rank does have its own laws and regulations. The three social ranks of aristocracy, freemen and villeins all have more and more liberal limits placed on their activities and rights. Jobs taken like herald or sheriff have codes of conduct attached to them. Titled nobles like knights and lords have codes of chivalry and noblesse oblige to direct them. The Clergy have forsworn worldly title and personal property.

A soldier is not bound by his role, but by his orders. There may come a time when all footmen are requested to board ships and sail. Soldiers can always make requests for special considerations when they wish to be the preferred choice for manning a ship, or, a soldier can always ask to switch branches entirely, in which case, usually a footman who wishes to become a seaman will have to be traded between one knight who leads footsoldiers and one who leads ships.

[Valdemar Severinus]

Usually the two lords of neighboring fiefs will work out a personal deal that will allow their villeins to farm both areas, sharing the harvests from each other. But again, when it comes to rare, slowly respawning resources that occur in a certain lord's fief - he technically has sole right to it, and he and his villeins are the only ones who can claim these things without poaching. It's his prerogative if he wishes to allow others to claim these things without consequences.

Yes but does that apply to the in guild structure? Wessex kingdom/fief will be bordering either Human/racial allies/racial enemies territories, but I ment what happeneds if Wessex controls more then 1 territory and they border each other. Does that mean that players in that 1 fief have to stay within the boundries and cannot travel to, hunt, and group with people who technically belong to their same Nation State/guild.

Let's say I wanna take a group through the other clans territory, and or lead an expedition to pk racial enemies? Can this be done or would we need some kind of permission and or wait till there is an actual guild raid event?

The Clergy have forsworn worldly title and personal property.

What do you mean by that? So if someone becomes a hearler they can't own clothes/armor/weapons?

A soldier is not bound by his role, but by his orders. There may come a time when all footmen are requested to board ships and sail. Soldiers can always make requests for special considerations when they wish to be the preferred choice for manning a ship, or, a soldier can always ask to switch branches entirely, in which case, usually a footman who wishes to become a seaman will have to be traded between one knight who leads footsoldiers and one who leads ships.

I am talking in terms of PVP, there are no restrictions on soldiers they can technically train and do whatever skill they want to have just as long as they report it or let the leaders know of their military status and what skills they are proficient in.

Let's say that I am a footman, and I want to join a group of people who are going to sail or adventure on the ocean; technically I can do that if I want to the leader of the Boat or the superior officer wont go berserk and say "You can't come with us because you are not a seamen/marine, go unenlist with the footmen come back here and apply to become a semen first".

[Manus Dei]

Let's say I wanna take a group through the other clans territory, and or lead an expedition to pk racial enemies? Can this be done or would we need some kind of permission and or wait till there is an actual guild raid event?

Wessex controlling more than one territory means Wessex controls one very large territory. We don't differentiate Wessex 1 and Wessex 2.

What do you mean by that? So if someone becomes a hearler they can't own clothes/armor/weapons?

Land.

I am talking in terms of PVP, there are no restrictions on soldiers they can technically train and do whatever skill they want to have just as long as they report it or let the leaders know of their military status and what skills they are proficient in.

Let's say that I am a footman, and I want to join a group of people who are going to sail or adventure on the ocean; technically I can do that if I want to the leader of the Boat or the superior officer wont go berserk and say "You can't come with us because you are not a seamen/marine, go unenlist with the footmen come back here and apply to become a semen first".

Joining a group and going on an adventure has nothing to do with the military or military actions. Yes, that footman, being part of the military, is expected to train and be proficient in certain weapons required by his unit. He can train anything else on his own time, and he can go ride on boats and sail around with his buddies on his own time too, and those buddies can put whoever they want in charge of the ship if they have one.

[Talfryn Emrys]

I've really enjoyed this thread so far. We might consider making it a mini-fireside chat

[Valdemar Severinus]

Land.

Well yeah but technically you own all the land My gracious Lord, by the way you don't have mood swings do you? You won't log in one night and tell all the Knights to sloughter all the serfs? Or abuse the noble right of prima nocta?

BTW I singed the application, the prima nocta part gave me a good chuckle though my Girlfriend look worried when i pressed the submit button.

The language surrounding this type of roleplaying is confusing, well at least its confusing to me. I think you guys have good ideas but I would definately expand the website and include all the lore and the info that is needed for players to not only understand but imerse themselves in this type of environement.

Can you direct me to threads on this website where I can take a look at all the Lore that you guys will be using.

Joining a group and going on an adventure has nothing to do with the military or military actions. Yes, that footman, being part of the military, is expected to train and be proficient in certain weapons required by his unit.

If you're referring to Spec groups here I agree, that's a good idea especially when you combine the formation and tactical system that the game is supposed to have.

Will there be a distinction in armor/clothing style for units that are part of the State's Millitary wing.

He can train anything else on his own time, and he can go ride on boats and sail around with his buddies on his own time too, and those buddies can put whoever they want in charge of the ship if they have one.

Sounds good.

[Manus Dei]

Well yeah but technically you own all the land My gracious Lord, by the way you don't have mood swings do you? You won't log in one night and tell all the Knights to sloughter all the serfs? Or abuse the noble right of prima nocta?

BTW I singed the application, the prima nocta part gave me a good chuckle though my Girlfriend look worried when i pressed the submit button.

The language surrounding this type of roleplaying is confusing, well at least its confusing to me. I think you guys have good ideas but I would definately expand the website and include all the lore and the info that is needed for players to not only understand but imerse themselves in this type of environement.

Can you direct me to threads on this website where I can take a look at all the Lore that you guys will be using.

I start owning all the land, and then I give fiefs. Churchmen can't get fiefs.

Just tell your girlfriend there's nothing to worry about. You just have to make sure you are not a villein when you get married. Oh, and don't let your liege lord see her if she's pretty. I would never take advantage of ius primae noctis but I can't say the same for my knights. Aeneas is insatiable and you know how Sir Thirlan is about his "numbers". ;-)

All the info IS there on the site, in the government section and in the fireside chats at the top of the commons.

If you're referring to Spec groups here I agree, that's a good idea especially when you combine the formation and tactical system that the game is supposed to have.

Will there be a distinction in armor/clothing style for units that are part of the State's Millitary wing?

Yes, the military has spec groups. And different garrisons of the military where the clothing or "livery" of their knight and the lord above him.

[Thirlan Tyrandor]

Noticed a comment on taxes!

The way taxes will be handled will depend on game and administrative situation. Just know that there will be a REASON behind the numbers. We wont just set the tax to 25% because it's a nice number! At first it might be set at some random number until enough statistics can be gathered to set the appropriate value for a tax that does not constrict our members of their ability to equip themselves yet not low enough to make our administrative costs impossible to support.

Oh also I believe, if I'm not mistaken, that there will be varying "levels" of taxes as well. Lords will set their own taxes in their lands and the Lords in turn will be taxed by his Grace. So as the Exchequer I will "indirectly" influence the taxation of all members by setting the pace of taxation for the Lord. You can call it "trickle down taxation"

[Valdemar Severinus]

Noticed a comment on taxes!

The way taxes will be handled will depend on game and administrative situation. Just know that there will be a REASON behind the numbers. We wont just set the tax to 25% because it's a nice number! At first it might be set at some random number until enough statistics can be gathered to set the appropriate value for a tax that does not constrict our members of their ability to equip themselves yet not low enough to make our administrative costs impossible to support.

I read that you guys already decided on the 50% tax rate for the villeins, although in the beginning of the game I would go higher to get a head start and have most of the resources be used to building the city for at least a few days just until a few important buildings have been constructed as well as some city defences.

First few days is really important, Allow members 2 maybe 3 sets of armor + some weapons and some money to train and have the rest be either stockpiled and or junked for either money or resources. This is how city building worked in the begining week or in Shadowbane, it began at a communal structure where members would contribute as much as possible and pushed themselves and they did it because it was not only in their guilds interest but also in their own interest.

After a few important buildings are built and the city gets rolling the taxes can be eased, the atmosphere wont be so hectic and most people wont be as paranoid knowing that they accomplished at least some form of security.