Victoriana

[Steve]

I came across this Steampunk setting in my FLGS, a fantasy RPG set in the Victorian era, using the Fuzion System. From what I have read so far, it looks to be pretty good. While I am not that interested in the Fuzion system nowadays, at least it should be fairly easy to convert to Hero System.

Anyone else seen it yet? I think it just came out recently.

[Syberdwarf2]

Originally posted by Steve
I came across this Steampunk setting in my FLGS, a fantasy RPG set in the Victorian era, using the Fuzion System. From what I have read so far, it looks to be pretty good. While I am not that interested in the Fuzion system nowadays, at least it should be fairly easy to convert to Hero System.

Anyone else seen it yet? I think it just came out recently.

Do you have a link?

[Dr. Rune]

Originally posted by Steve
I came across this Steampunk setting in my FLGS, a fantasy RPG set in the Victorian era, using the Fuzion System. From what I have read so far, it looks to be pretty good. While I am not that interested in the Fuzion system nowadays, at least it should be fairly easy to convert to Hero System.

Anyone else seen it yet? I think it just came out recently.

I haven't seen this one yet, but it sounds very interesting. I was a big fan of Castle Falkenstein, as well, which would work out much better in Hero anyway :)

[Steve]

Originally posted by Syberdwarf2
Do you have a link?

Here is the only one I found:

http://freespace.virgin.net/j.tuckey/introduction.htm

[ShelleyCM]

I picked up a copy of it today (and GURPS Age of Napoleon, and Steam Tech, and a Waterloo game....arg....my poor Citibank card!)

Victoriana looks very cool.

-Shelley

[ShelleyCM]

Originally posted by ShelleyCM

Victoriana looks very cool.


Permit me to qualify this now that I've had a chance to look closer: not a lot of substance, a *lot* of typos -- it looked cool, but IMHO CF is a better bet.

-Shelley

[AlHazred]

My poor credit card thanks you for your mini-review. Now to go back to my attempt to combine Castle Falkenstein with GURPS Goblins...

[ShelleyCM]

Originally posted by AlHazred
My poor credit card thanks you for your mini-review. Now to go back to my attempt to combine Castle Falkenstein with GURPS Goblins...

You're very welcome -- and the book now has the distinction of being the only thing I've ever returned to a game store, ever. Yikes!

-Shelley

[Spence]

Originally posted by ShelleyCM
I picked up a copy of it today (and GURPS Age of Napoleon, and Steam Tech, and a Waterloo game....arg....my poor Citibank card!)

Victoriana looks very cool.

-Shelley

GURP's Age of Napoleon? I may have to get that one. How is it? How crunchy?

[ShelleyCM]

Originally posted by Spence
GURP's Age of Napoleon? I may have to get that one. How is it? How crunchy?

It's really quite good. Packed with history, adventure seeds, campaign ideas, period details... Any game book that has a write-up of Admiral Lord Cochrane is the coolest ever, just by itself, but it's full of neat historical bits. I was irritated that Stephen Decatur was listed with admirals, since he was a commodore, but that's a minor quibble (they didn't call him an admiral, just listed him there). There's lots of public domain art, maps, and useful information about how everyday life was lived. My cursory read didn't spot any historical inaccuracies, either, which is a big deal for me.

The bias is (naturally, in a game book) in favor of the military aspects than the social (in the Bibliography, there are several Hornblower film credits listed independently while "Any of the recent Jane Austen adpatations" are lumped into one category and not even mentioned by name, which any Janeite knows is ridiculous because some are more accurate than others) but that stands to reason, as I figure may be the only gamer out there who cares which random poobah gets however many guns in their salute AND where they should sit at the dinner table in relationship to other poobahs. :)

In a nutshell, I don't think there's anything in the book (other than GURPS stats) that I don't already have in one reference book or another, but it was so nice to have all that information together in one place that I felt it was money well spent.

-Shelley

[Vondy]

D-Man's character design tactic for Victorian Hero:

Perk: Peerage/Aristocrat (5 Points)
Perk: Seated member of the House of Lords (3)
Perk: Obscenely Rich (15 Points)
Perk: Sr. Officer (Colonel ?), Army (5)
Perk: Top Man (3) - Intelligence Position
Skill Enhancer: Well Connected (3)
Influential Contact - In Business (3)
Influential Contact - In Government (3)
Influential Contact - In Military (3)
Reputation - Quintessential Gentleman (3)
High Society +2 (7)
97 Points "Other" (beating people on the head, etc.)

In the Victorian Era social precedence and reputation is... everything

[ShelleyCM]

Oh! Thank you, D-Man -- I'd completely not realized that I could have touted my Regency HERO site! :)

http://www.mactyre.net/archives/regency

(And don't forget the all important Dancing skill!)

Thanks!
-Shelley

[Vondy]

I really liked your Regency Hero site when I found it last year. Do you plan to update it at some point?

[ShelleyCM]

I have been working on it! It's such a fun genre to work with -- very much suited to all sorts of styles of play. Recently I've been researching the criminal aspect of play -- without a regular, organized police force, how the PCs deal with bad guys, that kind of thing.

-Shelley

[Vondy]

That's actually a topic I can help you with!

Wow, an actual use for my CrimJ degree (wooohooooo!!!!).

The origin of the British police lies in early tribal history and is based on customs for securing order through the medium of appointed representatives. In effect, the people were the police. The Saxons brought this system to England and improved and developed the organisation. This entailed the division of the people into groups of ten, called "tythings", with a tything-man as representative of each; and into larger groups, each of ten tythings, under a "hundred-man" who was responsible to the Shire-reeve, or Sheriff, of the County.

The tything-man system, after contact with Norman feudalism, changed considerably but was not wholly destroyed. In time the tything-man became the parish constable and the Shire-reeve the Justice of the Peace, to whom the parish constable was responsible. This system, which became widely established in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, comprised, generally, one unarmed able-bodied citizen in each parish, who was appointed or elected annually to serve for a year unpaid, as parish constable. He worked in co-operation with the local Justices in securing observance of laws and maintaining order. In addition, in the towns, responsibility for the maintenance of order was conferred on the guilds and, later, on other specified groups of citizens, and these supplied bodies of paid men, known as "The Watch", for guarding the gates and patrolling the streets at night.

In the eighteenth century came the beginnings of immense social and economic changes and the consequent movement of the population to the towns. The parish constable and "Watch" systems failed completely and the impotence of the law-enforcement machinery was a serious menace. Conditions became intolerable and led to the formation of the "New Police".

:D

Since most constables didn't have anything akin to the sort of formalized training that took place after 1829, and didn't have many resources at their disposal, the PCs could get away with quite a bit if they were smart, or knew the right people.

In addition, the constable was often required to enlist the aid of private citizens (we did the same in America: "possies")invested with temporary authority. If a group of able bodied PCs of good reputation were to offer aid they may well be embraced with open arms.

If they took care of something themselves -- it would depend on the constable in question or the connections they had. If they seemed to have a legal right they probably wouldn't be interferred with.

Interestingly -- constables seldom executed warrants. Those were usually executed by private goons in the employ of the attorney who obtained the warrant.

[ShelleyCM]

Neat -- thanks!! I'll solicit your comments before I post my update, then (if you don't mind).

By the Regency, in London, you run into the Bow Street Runners -- one of my PCs in my 1793 game is a gentleman who helped the Runners out. That was a fun PC! I think it was in the early 1820s that there's an official London police force ( or thereabouts).

Have you read the Julian Kestrel mysteries by Kate Ross? They're a lot of fun.

-Shelley

[Vondy]

I'd be happy to take a look at it.

I haven't read them, but I'll look for them. I like detective/mystery stories a lot.

FYI - Sir Robert Peel founded the Metropolitan Police in London in 1829.

It took 10 years to absorb all of the various Patrols (the Bow Street Runners were first).

Scotland Yard was initially set up at 4 whitehall palace.

[ShelleyCM]

Originally posted by D-Man
I'd be happy to take a look at it.

I haven't read them, but I'll look for them. I like detective/mystery stories a lot.

FYI - Sir Robert Peel founded the Metropolitan Police in London in 1829.

It took 10 years to absorb all of the various Patrols (the Bow Street Runners were first).

Scotland Yard was initially set up at 4 whitehall palace.

Thanks -- at least I nailed the decade . :)

The Kestrel mysteries are cool. Kestrel is a dandy a la Beau Brummel, and he develops a penchant for investigating murders. There are only four books (the author died young, sadly). The first one has PoV issues (too much head-hopping) but she has it down to an art form by the last. You don't learn much about Kestrel during the course of the books, not til the end -- he's as much a mystery as the murders he solves.

-Shelley

[lemming]

Originally posted by ShelleyCM
I have been working on it! It's such a fun genre to work with -- very much suited to all sorts of styles of play. Recently I've been researching the criminal aspect of play -- without a regular, organized police force, how the PCs deal with bad guys, that kind of thing.
Dueling or ruining their social standing? he said before even looking at the site...

[ShelleyCM]

Originally posted by lemming
Dueling or ruining their social standing? he said before even looking at the site...

A fair amount of that has gone on, too. :)

-Shelley

[Vondy]

Here is The Table of Precedence for Women, according to the Stockdale 1818 Peerage:

The Queen
The Princess of Wales
Princesses, Daughters of the King
Princesses and Duchesses, Wives of the King's Sons
Wives of the King's Brothers Wives of the King's Uncles
Wives of the eldest Sons of Dukes of the Blood Royal
Daughters of Dukes of the Blood Royal
Wives of the King's Brothers' or Sisters' Sons
Duchesses
Marchionesses
Wives of the eldest Sons of Dukes
Daughters of Dukes
Countesses
Wives of the eldest Sons of Marquesses
Daughters of Marquesses
Wives of the youngest Sons of Dukes
Viscountesses
Wives of the eldest Sons of Earls
Daughters of Earls
Wives of the younger Sons of Marquesses
Baronesses
Wives of the eldest Sons of Viscounts
Daughters of Viscounts
Wives of the younger Sons of Earls
Wives of the eldest Sons of Barons
Daughters of Barons
Maids of Honour
Wives of the younger Sons of Viscounts
Wives of the younger Sons of Barons
Wives of Baronets Wives of the Knights of the Garter
Wives of Bannerets of each Kind
Wives of the Knights Grand Crosses of the Bath
Wives of the Knights Commanders of the Order of the Bath
Wives of Knights Bachelors
Wives of the Eldest Sons of the younger Sons of Peers
Wives of the Eldest Sons of Baronets
Daughters of Baronets
Wives of the Eldest Sons of the Knights of the Garter
Daughters of Knights of the Garter
Wives of the Eldest Sons of Bannerets
Daughters of Bannarets
Wives of the Eldest Sons of Knights Grand Crosses of the Bath
Daughters of Knights of the Bath
Wives of the Eldest Sons of Knights Bachelors
Wives of the younger Sons of Baronets
Daughters of Knights Wives of Companions of the Order of the Bath
Wives of Esquires of the King's Body
Wives of Esquires of the Knights of the Bath
Wives of Esquires by Creation Wives of Esquires by Office
Wives of the younger Sons of Knights of the Garter
Wives of the younger Sons of Bannerets
Wives of the younger Sons of Knights Grand Crosses of the Bath
Wives of the younger Sons of Knights Bachelors
Wives of Gentlemen entitled to bear arms
Daughters of Esquires entitled to bear Arms, who are Gentlewomen by birth
Daughters of Gentlemen entitled to bear Arms, who are Gentlewomen by birth
Wives of Clergymen, Barristers at Law, Officers in the Navy and Army
Wives of Citizens
Wives of Burgesses

And for the men...

The King
The Prince of Wales
King's Sons
King's Brothers
King's Uncles
King's Grandsons
King's Brother's or Sister's Sons
Prince of Saxe Coburg Saalfeld
Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Primate of all England
Lord High Chancellor, or Lord Keeper
Archbishop of York, Primate of England
Lord High Treasurer
Lord President of the Privy Council
Lord Privy Seal
Lord High Constable
Earl Marshal
Lord High Admiral
Lord Steward of his Majesty's Household
Lord Chamberlain of his Majesty's Household
Dukes, according to their Patents
Marquesses
Dukes' eldest Sons
Daughters of Dukes
Earls, according to their Patents
Marquesses' eldest Sons
Daughters of Marquesses
Dukes' younger Sons
Viscounts, according to their Patents
Earls' Eldest Sons
Marquesses' younger Sons
Bishops of London, Durham, Winchester, and all other Bishops, according to their Seniority of Consecration
Barons, according to their Patents
Speaker of the House of Commons
Viscounts' Eldest Sons
Earls' younger Sons
Barons' Eldest Sons
Knights of the Garter
Privy Counsellors
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster
Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench
Master of the Rolls
Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer
Judges and Barons of the Degree of the Coife of the said Court according to Seniority
Bannerets made by the King himself in person under the royal standard displayed in an army royal in open war, for the term of their lives, and no longer
Viscounts' younger Sons
Barons' younger Sons
Baronets
Bannerets not made by the King himself
Knights Grand Crosses of the Bath
Knights Commanders of the Bath
Knights Bachelors
Eldest Sons of the younger Sons of Peers
Baronets' Eldest Sons
Knights of the Garters' Eldest Sons
Knights Grand Crosses of the Bath's Eldest Sons
Knights' Eldest Sons
Baronets' younger Sons
Companions of the Order of the Bath
Esquires of the King's Body
Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber
Esquires of the Knights of the Bath
Esquires by Creation
Esquires by Office

[ShelleyCM]

For others who might be interested, there's a great website about how to address every level of English nobility. I don't have the link handy, but I do know it's linked from my 1793 site:

http://www.mactyre.net/shelley/1793

-Shelley

[Vondy]

I got strangely inspired!

I did an edit on him. I added the suggested disease immunity, 2 damage classes, and tweaked his levels

JAMES ELLIOT (DUKE OF BADENSHIRE)
Val CHA Cost Roll Notes
13 STR 3 12- 151½kg; 3d6
18 DEX 24 13- OCV: 6; DCV: 6
13 CON 6 12-
11 BODY 2 11-
13 INT 3 12- PER Roll 12-
11 EGO 2 11- ECV: 4
18 PRE 8 13- PRE Attack 3½d6
18 COM 4 13-
5 PD 2 Total PD/rPD: 5/0
3 ED 0 Total ED/rED 3/0
3 SPD 2 Phases: 4, 8, 12
6 REC 0
26 END 0
25 STUN 0
Total Characteristics Cost: 56
Movement: Run: 7"/14"
Swim: 2"/4"
Powers & Skills
Climbing 13- (3)
Concealment 12- (3)
Conversation 13- (3)
Contortionist 13- (3)
High Society 13- (3)
Paramedic 12- (3)
Riding 13- (3)
Seduction 13- (3)
Stealth 13- (3)
Streetwise 13- (3)
Raised Abroad (Traveler) (3)
1) AK: England 11- (1)
2) AK: India 11- (1)
3) KS: London 11- (1)
4) KS: Calcutta 11- (1)
World Wise (Scholar) (3)
1) KS: Ayurvedic Healing 14- (4)
2) KS: Indian Mysticism 11- (1)
3) KS: Kalaripayit 13- (3)
4) KS: Military World 11- (1)
5) KS: Rumor Mill, The 11- (1)
6) KS: Yoga 11- (1)
Polygot (Linguist) (3)
1) LS: Bengali (Fluent Conv.) (1)
2) LS: English (Imitate Dialects) (0)
3) LS: Italian (Fluent Conv.) (1)
4) LS: Nepalese (Fluent Conv.) (1)
5) LS: Punjabi (Fluent Conv.) (1)
Jack of Trades (3)
1) PS: Courtesan 11- (1)
2) PS: Dancing 14- (4)
3) PS: Gurukkal 13- (3)
4) PS: Intelligence Officer 11- (1)
5) PS: Indian Meditation 11- (1)
Kalarpayit (0)
1) Block +1 +3 --
2) Elbow/Punch +1 +3 5d6
3) Death Blow -2 0 2d6 HKA
4) Kick +2 0 7d6
5) WE: Blades (1)
+2 DC for Martial Attacks (8)
+2 Focused Blows (STR) 0; Doesn't Affect Figured: -½; Damage Only: -½; RE: Zero, +½ (1)
Social Precedence (0)
1) Perk: Mysterious Wealth (10)
2) Perk: Duke of Badenshire (5)
3) Perk: Boodles Membership (1)
4) Perk: Army Colonel (2)
5) Perk: Top Man (Intelligence Post) (2)
6) Perk: Decorated For Valor (1)
7) Perk: Powerful Patron (Army) (3)
8) Perk: Consumate Gentleman +2/2d6 (2)
WF: Thrown Knives (1)
WF: Early Firearms (1)
WF: Blades (1)
Meditative Trance (+3 to EGO Rolls) (3)
Immunity: Central Asian Diseases (3)
+1 level w/All Combat (8)
+3 level w/Kalaripayit (9)
Running (+1", 7", NC: 14") 1 (2)
Contact: Antonia Vampa 12- (3)
Contact: Lady Grace Hampton 12- (3)
Total Powers & Skills Cost: 159
Total Character Cost: 215
Disadvantages: + 100
DF: Painfully Good Looking (5)
DF: Aura of Danger (5)
DF: Immaculately Dressed, Groomed (5)
Secret ID (Army Intelligence) (15)
Honorable (Common, Strong) (15)
Very Private Man (Common, Moderate) (10)
Noblesse Obligue (Common, Moderate) (10)
Mild Womanizer (Uncommon, Moderate) (5)
Rep: Strange Associates (8-) (5)
DNPC: Father (Normal, 8-); Skills: Useful, -5 (5)
DNPC: Punjab (Normal, 8-); Skills: Useful, -5 (5)
Hunted: Husband Seekers (11-); Capabilities: Less Powerful, 5; NCI: None, +0; Geo: Unlimited, -0; Actions: Hunting, ×1; Punishment: Mild, -5 (5)
Hunted: Enemies of the Crown (8-); Capabilities: As Powerful, 10; NCI: None, +0; Geo: Unlimited, -0; Actions: Hunting, ×1; Punishment: Harsh, 0 (10)
Total Disadvantage Points: 200


James Elliot was born in Calcutta, India on 13 July 1787, the son of Captain Peter Elliot, a British army officer of common birth, and Lady Julia Brandon, estranged daughter of the Duke of Brandon, who disowned her for marrying beneath her station. Elliot was raised in India, and when his mother died in 1790, his father hired an Indian woman to serve as his nanny. When he was old enough Elliot returned to England where he was educated at Eton College and the Royal Military College in Britain. Elliot was commissioned as an Ensign in the British Army in 1808 and returned to India, where he was assigned the governor's general staff as his intelligence attaché. Elliot married Miss Constance Bennett, the daughter of Colonel George Bennett, the commander of the 33rd Light Dragoons in Bengal, in 1810, which Elliot transferred to as a Captain later that year.

Elliot distinguished himself as both an intelligence officer and a warrior when the 33rd was sent to Indonesia to fight in the Dutch East Indies (1810-1811), and rose to the rank of Major by the time the unit served in the Nepalese Campaign (1814-1816), during which he was decorated for valor numerous times. In late 1816 Elliot was promoted to Colonel and placed in charge of the 41st Light Dragoons, but left active duty when his wife Constance, a consummate hunter, was killed by a Bengal Tiger she’d been stalking shortly before the outbreak of the 3rd and final Mahratta War (1817-1819).

During the 3rd Mahratta War Elliot returned to the general staff as a “special intelligence officer” and commanded a small group of Gurkha and Punjabi raiders to devastating effect, slaying more than one of Mahrattas in their own palaces. It was in the final days of that conflict that Mr. Drummond, a London solicitor, and Sir Percy, a member of the Governor’s diplomatic staff, informed him that his Grandfather, the Duke of Badenshire, had died, and that he was the only living heir.

Elliot has since returned to London where he has been invested with his titles and assumed his seat in the House of Lords. He has taken up a sizable gentleman’s apartment near Whitehall, where he meets with all manner of “strange folk”, and lives with his seemingly mute Indian manservant, Punjab. He has avoided social engagements to date, which has made him something of an enigma throughout London, though he has been seen at his club, Boodles, occasionally. More interestingly, he has been seen in the company of Antonia Vampa, a beautiful Italian heiress of shocking reputation (and glamorous, trend-setting fashion sense), which has led some to whisper that she is his mistress.

Personality: Elliot is a battle hardened soldier and shrewd intelligence officer who is still shocked that he is now the Duke of Badenshire. A private man still recovering from the loss of his wife, he has found a kindred spirit in Antonia Vampa, an intrepid adventuress and, unbenounced to London society, a widow herself. The two are dear friends and occasional lovers, though neither has expressed an interest in marriage. Elliot is a man of his word and, having considered himself a commoner for most of his life, feels a strong sense of noblesse oblige. Due to his Indian nanny he possesses a deep respect and understanding for Indian culture, and is a Gurukkal, a master of the Ayurvedic healing and Kalaripayit fighting arts – which were taught to him by his Nanny’s father before and after his English schooling. He is both gracious and considerate to those he meets, but does not suffer fools easily. He has a weakness for beautiful women.

Appearance: Elliot is painfully handsome, standing six feet tall with dark hair, vibrant green eyes, and strong, aquiline features. His eyes hold an ache of loneliness women seem unable to resist. Broad shouldered and trim he dresses immaculately (often under the critical eye Antionia Vampa), and carries a concealed Kukri when he is expecting trouble. He appears to be roughly 30 years of age and moves with the grace of a man who has every muscle under his command. His inflection carries a touch of Scottish in it from his father’s side of the family.

Reputation: a decorated war hero and senior officer, Elliot is considered, due to his peerage and considerable means, to be an extremely eligible bachelor. His strange manservant, rumored affair with Antonia Vampa, and the unusual visitors at his flat ensure he remains an object of speculation and rumor in society, though the lack of details ensures conflicting stories abound. He is very popular with Lady Hamilton, a Patroness of Almacks’, whose daughter he saved from a footpad shortly after his arrival in London. A Colonel in the Army, Elliot is a favorite of the First Lord (Army) and is trusted by those in government to handle those “delicate and often dangerous affairs of state” known only to a select few.

Notes: The "focused blows" is there because I loathe half dice. I based Antonia Vampa loosely on the Italian woman in Brotherhood of the wolf. I assume his father lives on the Brandenshire Estate. The Hunted "Husband Seekers" is sort of humor - sort of not.

[ShelleyCM]

Very cool -- a great addition to any RH game! Just seeing that Dancing skill makes me grin. :) Maybe he ought to have some disease immunity, having spent so much time in India?

[Before I read the whole thing, as I scrolled down, I caught the words "yoga," "military," and "Boodles" all in one flash, and it led to a very interesting mental picture!]

Oh! I had another idea: "Immunity to Smallpox" for those who've had the vaccine. Another thing to go on the RH list.

-Shelley

[Gary Ciaramella]

*trying not to cry*
God... I wish I lived near some of you so I could be in a REAL role playing campain! Regency Hero... Castle Falkenstein... *sigh* You folks are just... awesome.

[ShelleyCM]

Originally posted by Gary Ciaramella
*trying not to cry*
God... I wish I lived near some of you so I could be in a REAL role playing campain! Regency Hero... Castle Falkenstein... *sigh* You folks are just... awesome.

Gosh, you made me blush. :) The sad thing is that there seems to be one or two of us in any given gaming group -- not enough to make any of us happy, since we tend to be the ones running the historical games, not playing in them!

-Shelley

[Vondy]

Originally posted by ShelleyCM
Very cool -- a great addition to any RH game! Just seeing that Dancing skill makes me grin. :) Maybe he ought to have some disease immunity, having spent so much time in India?

[Before I read the whole thing, as I scrolled down, I caught the words "yoga," "military," and "Boodles" all in one flash, and it led to a very interesting mental picture!]

Oh! I had another idea: "Immunity to Smallpox" for those who've had the vaccine. Another thing to go on the RH list.

-Shelley

Disease immunity is a good idea!

After I made him I got a funny mental picture, too: playing cards at boodles and having some of the older members in the game complain about stiffness, sore joints, whatever, and having him convince them that Yoga would be an excellent remedy. I had this picture of a group of chubby, stuffy english gentlemen sitting around with their legs crossed going "Ohm....."

I'm worklng on Antonia now...

[Peregrine]

A question of military rank for the Duke:

Isn't Ensign a naval, and not army, rank? Thus wouldn't he have been commissioned as a Lieutenant (Leftenant?)?

[Vondy]

You would think so. The British Army uses Second Lieutenant exclusively today, but during the Napoleanic era they used the rank of Ensign (and Cornet) as well. I couldn't find an exact year for the change, but I'm assuming it occured around 1900 (since WWI sources use the newer rank).

Both of the biographies I looked at for Wellington referred to his intial Army commission being at the rank of "Ensign". I found the following chart for British Army ranks on a site dedicated to the Colonial era as well:

Rank Grades:

Private Man [Trooper-cavalry, but also referred to by type: Rifleman, Dragoon, Guardsman, etc.]
Lance Corporal [Chosen man]
Corporal
Lance Sergeant
Sergeant [Troop Sergeant-cavalry]
Colour Sergeant [created in 1813 to reward deserving Sergeants]
Troop Sergeant-Major [cavalry]
Regimental Sergeant Major

NOTE: some assignments carried rank such as Farrier Sergeant in the cavalry or Quarter Master Sergeant in the infantry.


PURCHASE OFFICER'S RANKS:
Ensign [Cornet-cavalry, 2nd Lieutenant-Rifles]
Lieutenant
Captain
Major
Lieutenant Colonel

NON-PURCHASE RANKS:
Regimental Colonel
Major General
Lieutenant General
General
Field Marshal

[Peregrine]

Sonuvagun.

Learn something new every day.

[Vondy]

Here are Antonia's game statistics. She's heavily inspired by Sylvia from Brotherhood of the Wolf. I'm about half way through her write up, which I hope to post on the morrow. She needs another 5 point limitation and she's extremely lethal with a blade. Oh - and I edited the Duke (see above) so she wouldn't make him look like such a woosy! :D

My wife was interested in this character, so I may have found something for her to play...

ANTONIA VAMPA
Val CHA Cost Roll Notes
10 STR 0 11- 100kg; 2d6
20 DEX 30 13- OCV: 7; DCV: 7
13 CON 6 12-
10 BODY 0 11-
18 INT 8 13- PER Roll 13-
10 EGO 0 11- ECV: 3
20 PRE 10 13- PRE Attack 4d6
20 COM 5 13-
5 PD 3 Total PD/rPD: 5/0
3 ED 0 Total ED/rED 3/0
3 SPD 0 Phases: 4, 8, 12
5 REC 0
26 END 0
25 STUN 3

Total Characteristics Cost: 65
Movement: Run: 6"/12"
Swim: 2"/4"

Powers & Skills
Acting 13- (3)
Analyze: The Male Mind 13- (3)
Bribery 13- (3)
Concealment 13- (3)
Contortionist 13- (3)
Forgery 13- (4)
High Society 13- (3)
Lockpicking 13- (3)
Persuasion 13- (3)
Riding 13- (3)
Seduction 13- (3)
Sleight of Hand 13- (3)
Stealth 13- (3)
Streetwise 13- (3)
Jack of All Trades (3)
PS: Courtesan 15- (4)
PS: Dancing (Society) 13- (2)
PS: Dancing (Belly) 13- (2)
PS: Masseuse 13- (2)
PS: Chef 13- (2)
PS: Intelligence Agent 13- (2)
PS: Chess 13- (2)
Scholar (3)
KS: Liquers & Vintages 11- (1)
KS: Fashion & Trends 11- (1)
KS: The Church 11- (1)
KS: Military World 11- (1)
KS: Literature 11- (1)
KS: Scents 11- (1)
KS: Fencing 13- (3)
Traveler (3)
AK: England 11- (1)
AK: France 11- (1)
AK: Greece 11- (1)
AK: Italy 11- (1)
AK: Athens 11- (1)
AK: London 11- (1)
AK: Paris 11- (1)
AK: Rome 11- (1)
Linguist (3)
LS: English (Fluent Conv.) (1)
LS:French (Native Accent) (3)
LS: Greek (Fluent Conv.) (1)
LS: Italian (Imitate Dialects) (0)
LS: Latin (Native Accent) (3)
LS: Spanish (Native Accent) (3)
Fencing (22)
Maneuver OCV DCV Damage
Thrust +1 +3 Weapon
Lunge 0 +2 Weapon +2DC
Slash -2 +1 Weapon +4DC
Parry +2 +2 --
Disarm -1 +1 --
Defense Manuever III (8)
WF: Blades (1)
WF: Pistols (1)
WF: War Fan (1)
+3 level w/Rapier (6)
Perk: Comfortable Lifestyle (3)
Perk: Trend Setter (3)
Contact: Duke of Badenshire 11- (2)
Contact: London Underworld Figure 11- (2)
Contact: Local Arch-Diocese 11- (2)

Total Powers & Skills Cost: 150
Total Character Cost: 215

Disadvantages: + 100
Secret ID (Intelligence Agent) (15)
Rivalry: Other Women; Professional/Romantic, 10 (10)
Watched: The Vatican (8-) (10)
Rep: Courtesan (11-) (10)
Passionate Woman (Uncommon, Strong) (10)
Deep Friendship (Elliot) (Uncommon, Strong) (10)
Jealous/Territorial (Uncommon, Strong) (10)
DF: Stunning Beauty (5)
DF: Trend Setting Fashion Sense (5)
DF: Italian Accent (5)
DF: Smoldering Dark Eyes (5)

Total Disadvantage Points: 195

[AlHazred]

Just curious, but would being female be worth a 5 point Social Limitation? Or was the Empire really that cosmopolitan?

[Vondy]

Women could inherit property, manage their own affairs, and in some cases inherit titles. They could not, however, vote, serve in the military (even today combat units are out), or hold high office. A woman who held a peerage in her own right usually sent a proxy to speak and vote on her behalf in the Lords, but I believe (depsite its being unheard of), that she could insist on being seated herself.

From a purely "all things being equal" point of view being female would be a disadvantage (Maybe 5 Points), however, I wouldn't give any points for being female unless the game was centered on aspects of life that would diminish a female character's ability to influence the game's plot, or the female character, other than being female, was equal to her male counterparts in other areas of life.

In fact, the infromal social division of the sexes means there are situations where a male character won't be able to funtion to his utmost. Women often exercised a significant amount of silent moral authority through their control of unofficial forums, personal contacts, and through their husbands.

It would also depend upon a woman's station, but that's not entirely gender based. The Lady Clonfert (signifying the wife of a peer), for example, would wield far more power, and possess far more social clout, than, say, Mr. Lt. So-And-So of the RN, whose career she could potentially make or break through her morass of social contacts in the upper strata of society, both male and female (barring any special honors or patronage on his part).

For me limitations are determined on "how much will it impact the character", which is based on a number of factors. The immense influence women had in unnoficial channels in Victorian England was such that, unless I was running an active duty military or halls of government campaign, I wouldn't give points for it.

I'm in the process of editing her background.

[AlHazred]

I'd think the fact that there are men in power who wouldn't let a woman do certain things in certain circumstances, and that these men might be able to make the determination for the PC group, would probably be worth 5 points.

[Vondy]

Its only a lim if those circumstances are likely.

And God help Lt. So-And-So when he pisses off Lady Clonfert and makes a decision for the whole group [over her protestations] -- I hope her husband (or brother, or uncle, or father, or son) isn't an admiral, or in the Lords when the next naval appropriation comes up.

A few placed words and he gets cashiered for the good of the service's budget, or to scratch a fellow peer's backside. Let alone what it would do to the young man's marriage prospects if he was hoping to marry up (socially speaking).

I would give the points if it were a game where the female PC was going to be in positions of social disadvantage due to sex regularly [in a naval game, or a we're government secretaries game] , but money and rank had so much to do with Victorian society that I wouldn't give it carte blanche.

Victorian era games that occur in urban scenarios, or within "society" don't necessarily favor the male of the species. In fact, the inherent sexism can very much work in the woman's favor when intrigue is afoot.