[DGP Worldbuilder] Sub-Law Level Definitions?

[Kilgs]

I was finally working through DGP's Worldbuilder system and I really like the "personal" law level and tech idea.

But where can you find definitions for them? Like Trade? Civil Law?

Is it just a guideline and flesh it out on your own or are these contained somewhere or in some other book?

 

[GypsyComet]

are these contained somewhere or in some other book?

Those breakdowns are distinctive to the three world building DGP books (Grand Survey and Grand Census for CT, and the WBH for MT).

 

[Kilgs]

So I need Grand Survey and Grand Census? Are they contained in just one of those...?

 

[Supplement Four]

Grand Census and Grand Survey were the first set of books written for CT. The World Builder's Handbook is the MT version of the rules.

I've got both. I'd have to dig them out, but IIRC, there's a large section on Law the describes everything. Just keep looking in the book. It's there.

 

[GypsyComet]

Either the Grand pair OR the WBH will have complete coverage, as the WBH compiled the two older books and updated them to MT.

 

[Supplement Four]

Either the Grand pair OR the WBH will have complete coverage, as the WBH compiled the two older books and updated them to MT.

IIRC, they both have the complete coverage. I know the CT books do, and I'm almost as sure about the WBH. It's in there, under the Law section.

 

[Kilgs]

Will dig or read completely), thanks!

 

[GypsyComet]

IIRC, they both have the complete coverage.

That's what both of us were trying to say, yes.

 

[Supplement Four]

That's what both of us were trying to say, yes.

I was agreeing with you!

 

[Supplement Four]

I was finally working through DGP's Worldbuilder system and I really like the "personal" law level and tech idea.

But where can you find definitions for them? Like Trade? Civil Law?

I dug out my WBH. What you want is on page 57.

 

[kilemall]

So what is a sub law level?

 

[Supplement Four]

So what is a sub law level?

Can you give me a page number on where you are seeing that? I'll look it up.

 

[Hyphen]

I think they are referred to as "Detailed Law Levels", rather than "Sub-Law Levels", but that's a minor quibble. ;-)

The first check regarding "Law-Related Details" is for uniformity of law: does the Law Level apply to the entire planet? (c.v. "Rescue on Ruie", JTAS 1).

The second is to flesh out the Law Profile, where the simple (simplistic? ;-) ) Law Level is broken down into the following "Detailed Law Levels":

Overall - Weapons | Trade | Criminal Law | Civil Law | Personal Freedom

e.g. 9-B76AA
(all WBH, p 82)

Then the referee applies their understanding of the basic Law Level rules to each component, when necessary. Law Level is defined as " The degree to which the law interferes with individual actions" (WBH, p 57).

And the WBH also says, "It is more difficult to make precise rules for law levels than for government types. the law related details given on the charts are largely suggestions -- you as referee must rely on your sense of the game to temper any law-related details." (ibid)

IOW, you can use the law level breakdowns as target numbers to roll against whenever you think the PCs are doing something you don't want them to do, or you want to chuck in some "heat" to keep them honest.

Law Level, therefore, is tempered by the speed of plot.

 

[Supplement Four]

I haven't looked it up myself, but Hyphen is usually correct.

 

[kilemall]

Can you give me a page number on where you are seeing that? I'll look it up.

I don't have the book in question, I was riffing off the OP question.

 

[kilemall]

Hmm, I did consider having a 'random' law level setup, where the LL is the basic roll to see whether something is illegal or not. So you could have a society where murder is legal but double parking is not, and the LL is more an 'average' then a hard constant.

 

[Kilgs]

Yeah. They all have the same entries... nothing very concrete. I was just trying to figure out what the various levels of Civil Law, Criminal Law etc. Just looking for more detail. I guess I'll just make it up then!

 

[Hyphen]

I haven't looked it up myself, but Hyphen is usually correct.

Nicest thing I've heard all day. ;-)

 

[Kilgs]

Nicest thing I've heard all day. ;-)

And accurate as well Regarding the Target number mechanic.

(I chuckled on this a couple days later as I was whining about examples for various law levels regarding civil and such... and I'm an attorney. Sooooo laaaaaazy.)

 

[Hyphen]

I'm an attorney. Sooooo laaaaaazy.)

Best Traveller lawyer joke from my Taglines page:

Glenn Grant reports on this query sent to himself and Roderick Darroch Elliot:

Ross Coburn: "Either of you have my Referee's Companion? It's the same size/shape as the three MT core books, similar bad cover art, shows a guy on a scout in the water about to get et. I've been tearing up the apartment looking for it. . . ."

Darroch: "Sorry. I had to borrow it to use as an exhibit. I'm trying to use it to prove the existence of psionics so I can get my client off on a defense of pre-emptive self-defense."

Glenn's eye-rolling comment on this exchange: "Lord help us all."