Re: What's a Keyword?

From: donald_at_...
Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2007 21:24:05 GMT

In message <20070115091757.o8kjrnkhbkg8cck0_at_...> Greg Stafford writes:
>
>Quoting Mike Holmes <mike_c_holmes_at_...>:

>> Well, the Heortling keyword has the ability "Farmer" in it. This may
>> or may not be something that Boldhomers know, I can't say.
>
>The Boldhome residents who are Farmers certainlyu would have this.
>It's a profession keyword. But the potters wouldn't have this.
>
>> Maybe this is a bad
>> example. But I can certainly imagine a culture which is largely agrarian,
>> where Farmer might be suitable for 99% of the people in the culture.
>
>Sartar culture would qualify for this, though probably not 99%. More
>like 90 or 95%.

[snip]

>Not to me. It seems ther eis a ocnfusion here between occupation
>and culure.

The confusion arises because in the RQ rulebook the Heortling keyword includes the skill "Farming". The Bison Rider keyword includes "Herd Bison" and the Grazelander one includes "Herd Horses". As far as I can see those are the only occupations which appear in published Homeland keywords.

I can see two explanations:

1. They are mistakes.
2. They reflect the fact that the vast majority of people in that culture have those skills whatever their actual occupations.

The second fits Bison Riders and Grazelanders pretty accurately but the Heortlings as more problematic because of the Sartarite cities. Certainly a rural Heortling is likely to have general farming skills even if they choose to be a smith, or whatever, in adult life.

So what about those born and brought up in the cities? Firstly, some will be farmers working the land surrounding the city. Secondly there will be some farming activity within the city, vegetable gardens and some livestock - probably as a part-time addition to peoples income.

My biggest doubt over this interpretation is having a general skill of farming at the same level as specific skills of ploughing, herding etc. That makes the generalist who may not even be a farmer as capable as the specialist farmer. So I'd impose a penalty on a specific farming task.

However there is a bigger problem with many of the keywords and that is they assume a male character. While it is just possible that Dara Happen women generally learn dagger combat the idea that Tarshite women are usually proficient at axe and shield combat seems incredible. Then Darjiini women get a choice between spear fighting and wrestling, and so on.

-- 
Donald Oddy
http://www.grove.demon.co.uk/