Social Standing Sub-System

Back for some more D&D shit. I feel like I need to diversify my blog posts a little with non-game reviews and non-D&D material but it seems like that takes a lot more effort to do that ._.

Social Standing (SOC) is an extra stat for older D&D games that modifies reaction checks. It is a representation of how a character is regarded in a specific social milieu. SOC can vary drastically depending on the nature of the society the character is interacting with (orcs will have a bad standing among elves but an okay standing among humans).  If you have a system that would normally apply a Charisma-based modifier to reaction checks, disregard that rule (because it would stack otherwise) and use the one below

SOC is derived from Charisma modifier + Race modifier + Class modifier.

I use an altered Reaction Roll table as seen in Terrors & Wonders (v0.3 coming soon-ish). These rules were written with these types of reaction rolls in mind.

2d8	Attitude
2-3	Hostile
4-8	Unfriendly
9-12	Neutral
13-15	Friendly
16	Helpful

Now here are some charts for race and class modifiers to SOC. The first set assumes pretty standard quasi-medieval quasi-European human-dominated societies. The second set assumes pretty standard humanoid (in the D&D sense) societies. Needless to say, different cultures will have different standards. For example, the Al-Qadim would have much more lenient SOC modifiers for race whereas Ravenloft would have much harsher ones; being an arcanist would carry a positive modifier during the heyday of the Netherese Empire but a negative modifier in the post-fall years. You could also apply a modifier for sexes too such as a -2 for men in an amazon-style society or a similar penalty for women in strongly patriarchal societies. Note that the class modifiers assumes that the characters have pretty stereotypical equipment (full-plate + weapons = Fighter, pointy hat + staff = Wizard, etc.). Otherwise use None/Not Apparent.

Social Standings for Human Societies

Race	SOC Modifier
Dwarf	+0
Elf	+0
Halfling	+1
Half-orc/Half-ogre	-1
Human	+2
Other Humanoid	-3

Class	SOC Modifier
Cleric	+1
None/Not Apparent	+0
Fighter	+0
Thief	-1
Wizard	+0

Social Standings for Humanoid Societies

Race	SOC Modifier
Dwarf	+0, -2 A, or -4 B
Elf	-2 or -4 C
Halfling	-1
Half-orc/Half-ogre	+0
Human	-2
Other Humanoid	Usually +0 D

^A This is the standing of standard Dwarves among Derro and Duergar (and vice versa)

^B Their standing among underground humanoids they conflict with (Grimlocks, Morlocks, etc.)

^C Their standing among full-blooded Orcs (the feeling is mutual)

^D Humanoids of the same race get +1. Hobgoblins get +2 among Goblins.

Class	SOC Modifier
Cleric	-1E, +0F, or +1G
None/Not Apparent	-1
Fighter	+1
Thief	+0
Wizard	+2

^E Alignment/philosophy is opposite or opposing

^F Alignment/philosophy isn’t relevant

^G Alignment/philosophy is similar or compatible

Example 1: Brother Bert is a Human Cleric of Law with a Charisma of 13. Among the human baronies of Alemane he has a SOC of +1 (Cha) + 2 (Race) + 1 (Class), or SOC +4. Based on this, the worst reaction he might get some unkind words spoken to him (Unfriendly). If he decides to bash some heads then all bets are off, of course.

Example 2: Brother Bert is a Human Cleric of Law with a Charisma of 13. Among the Chaos-worshiping orcs of the Bloody Caves he has a SOC of +1 (Cha) - 2 (Race) -1 (Class), or SOC -2. It's very likely that someone may randomly decide to randomly attack him (Hostile) and impossible that anyone will help him unless he can repay them (Friendly).