Re: resources

From: BEThexton <bethexton_at_4tznWQag0oWCbDGX9UIY8KyePFsPTYh5_Og74za2ELjHaRD4KFOrgZmedKjZQcBJtf>
Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2002 20:46:16 -0000

As someone else mentioned, in a small and fairly isolated stead most people are not too specialized, and as previously discussed many god talkers will also have another profession. I think this would be the case here. There will be a couple of god-talkers (but they may or may not actually be devotees), but they spend a good part of the year sweating in the fields, weaving, hunting, or whatever. They will not be as highly skilled as the more full time god-talkers that may serve the chief.

I agree that the odds are good that the stead will have one or more people who are the best in the clan at something, but that doesn't mean that they specialize in that thing necessarily. In some cases there are no real specialists in the clan, and they are the best amateur. I think the dominant attitude in these steads is that everyone should be doing something "useful" with useful being defined as helping make food or things we'll use directly or taking care of the children.

You could support a carpenter, since the bulk of his work would be used on the stead, with only a little bit traded away...or as was suggested, he'd be a part time carpenter. If your weaver women were so good that people were willing to give you cows for some of what they produced, well marvellous!....but they'd still better make sure that supper is cooked and the children are learning their prayers. Fancy things and trade goods are all fine and well, but we need to feed everyone, clothe them, take care of our tools, and pay our taxes, so everyone is needed now. Maybe in Dark season you'll have time to do that thing you were talking about....

All IMO, of course.

--Bryan            

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