Vondy

This makes my head hurt

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.

Re: Re: Hero is broken You haven't watched too many chop sockey martial arts movies, have you?

Arch Types? I prefer Roman Arches

I think - until you've really worked the vampires out - you should stick with mortals. They can always become vampires later, right? Being hunters might be an interesting way of introducing them to the vampire world you want to flesh out. The point totals your indicating are what mostly leads me to this conclusion, too. 75+75 and free gear is pretty much a talented hunter campaign, unless you've come up with a way of building vampires on the cheap.

I'm generally pretty forgiving about this as I take a fairly cinematic view as a game master -- If makes for cool visuals I'm all for it. Like a dodge, if the character is aware of the attack and hasn't attacked in that segment I let them go for it. If they're suprised they're hosed. Mwahahahahahaha!!!! An example: After a succesful hearing perception roll: Me: "You're examining the contents of the crate - mostly packing materials and cheap trinkets to sell to tourists - when you hear a deep "ka-thoomp, ka-thoomp" outside and the distinct breaking of glass. You recognized the sound as a grenade launcher being fired." Player: "Grenades? Oh, crap." Me: "Do you want to dive for cover...?" Player: Winks at me and gives me the good idea: "hearing the grenade launcher Midnight runs for towards the nearby forklift and makes a desperate leap for safety...." Me: "That's four hexes away so its a minus four on your to hit roll. You need a 13 or less." Player: Rolls a 12. Me: "Midnight crashes into the concete floor and skids behind the forklift just in time. Flame and heat fills the space you were previously occupying and the world around you is filled with shrapnel. Your shoulder stings from where a razor piece of metal cut into your arm, tearing your costume and bloodying your sleeve [no damage, just sfx]. It was close, but you are basically unharmed..."

I've used some rules I converted from the Jovian Chronicles game -- WOO Factor: The John Woo, or Weapons Out of Ordinance, factor. Characters only run out of bullets at points of dramatic tension, and only have to change clips when there's plot reason for it. It encourages characters to rapid fire a lot (even if they miss a bunch) and "blaze away". I've done it like this: Extra Bullets/Clips (X Charges), Ablative. In other words: everytime the character empties a clip they make a roll to see if they have more bullets, or clips, as is appropriate to the scene (GM's discretion). If you're a real chow yun fat type it may be a roll to see if you have more guns.... Each time they make the roll it gets harder to make: 15-, 14-, 12-, 11-, 10-, 8-... This is only appropriate to highly cinematic games with lots of thugs for the hero to shoot through. Existential Angst: There comes those moments where the character snaps and becomes an uber-fighting machine, often when friends or family are brutalized or killed, or some other traumatic event occurs. This usually lasts for a single scene or adventure, after which the character returns to "normal". I've done it like this: Its assumed some situations, at the GMs discretion, may require the character to make an ego roll (this should be discussed with the player). If they fail the following is added to the character until the cause of their angst is removed: Obsessed with Vengeance (Com, Total): 20 Points Filled With Existential Angst (Com, Total): 20 Points 2d6 Dex Aid, Self Only, Only When Confronting Cause of Angst, Fades Per Minute 2d6 Con Aid, Self Only, Only When Confronting Cause of Angst, Fades Per Minute 2d6 Stun Aid, Self Only, Only When Confronting Cause of Angst, Fades Per Minute What Fun!!! Script Immunity: Lets face it, protagonists and major villians shouldn't have to worry about one of the goons taking them out. Its not dramatic, and its not fun. Major characters should only have to worry about other major characters. Using this the GM doesn't have to feel like he has to hold back at every turn (what if I accidentally kill them all...?), or worrying about fudging a lot of the goons rolls. Only major characters have this (at no cost, of course): 8d6 Luck, Ablative, Only To Avoid Death or Serious Injury It gets harder and harder to use script immunity: 15-, 14-, 12-, 11-, 10-, 8- By the time the heroes have gotten to the major bad guy they should be hanging around 11- or worse, and he should still be around 14-, which is good since he'll probably be outnumbered.... Just like WOO Factor it gets harder and harder to make your roll Goons Are Fragile: If a hero hits a normal goon they go down. If he hits an elite goon he gets stunned. If a hero hits a henchman or major villian they fight as expected. Use a Timer: My players know they have about 30 seconds to decide what to do. If they don't I move on and they lose their action. Description Bonuses: Players who describe their characters actions in dramatic detail get a +1 OCV or DCV bonus.

Quincy Mike Hammer The Master A-Team BUCK ROGERS (Gil Gerard, baby) Knight Rider NYPD Blue THE FALL GUY

I can't believe no one has mentioned -- EXCALIBUR! If you don't mind b-movies there's always -- The old Saturday afternoon Sinbad movies Beastmaster Barbarians

I don't think there is a difference between them. They're the same skill IMHO. They just have different prefixes for the purpose of discerning whether or not you get a kickback on the cost. The only way a KS would differ would be if you made it more specific, such as: KS: New York Government, KS: New York History, KS: New York Underworld. Then it would be a different skill (or really, a more specialized version of the skill).

An AK or CK is really just a specialized subset of a KS. In other words - to my way of thinking - they're the same skill type. The only reason I can think of that they are devided into two distinct categories is to accomodate the existence of the scholar and traveler skill enhancers, which are, by definition, distinct. Science and Professional skills are somewhat different in that they have more immediate, practical applications, but in fact, they also represent a specialized form of knowledge and, as such, have their own skill distinct skill enhancers as well.

If the margins are wide enough you can get most print shops to "drill" your books so they'll fit into a 3 ring binder. I like the way RM used to do this. I - personally - would prefer not to pay the extra for a hard cover.

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! 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

My Ultimate Champions: NM Quantum (leader wise) NM Team Defender (loved it) 4E Obsidian (I prefer him to worf) 4E Solitaire (witchcraft is okay) 4E Jaguar (didn't like seeker, loathe nighthawk's hood)

I knew a group that insisted package deal disads didn't count towards the characters total disads, and then only included the points paid for the package after disadvantages on the sheet.

Makes perfect sense... if your playing the Superfriends.

I think the closest real world term for this sort of blade is a "sea sword", which is a cross between a cutlass and scimitar.

You should see my stats for Al Gore... talk about automaton rules. Cool write up on your beastie. Do you have stats?

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

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...

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 folkâ€, 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.

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

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.

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". 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.

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