prognosticValtiel
SOC-5
So in the OTU the Imperium is described as being a sort of "Technocratic Feudalist" governance where Nobles basically help run things. Additionally the local governments for a planet have their own sort of governance that may not exactly match up with the Imperium. So that leads me to a few theories based off this sort of understanding.
Theory 1: McDonalds
This sort of ties into my understanding that the model of government i.e. the Technocratic Feudalist model is basically just akin to McDonalds but the managers are Hereditary nobility. That being the case the theory I have is each noble basically is responsible for their own plot of land and the land itself is the only thing that pays the tithes to the Imperium (the local planet still needs to have some autonomy through taxes and what have you). That being the case I think that these plots of lands basically just can do whatever they want so long as they bring wealth or influence to the Imperium (such as a nobles plot of land being dedicated to be the equivalent of Hollywood, Silicon Valley, New York City, or so on). A noble in this model does not necessarily need to (or want to) own a star port they just need to meet their Imperial obligation on whatever plot of land they have. With petty nobles being only responsible for their own plots of land and the major nobles will either coordinate between all the nobles and settle disputes or simply act as the permanent representative for the worlds nobility in the Moot.
This model would mean that the Nobility would make money solely off their plot of lands and their own influence such as through NGOs or Corporations (which seems to be backed by the lore).
Theory 2: Legation Cities
This idea is basically that the Nobles are specifically tasked with only administrating Star Ports of a world. So the Nobles run these Star Port towns more akin to Legation cities where they are basically just free ports that allow for wealth and influence to flow through. A planet may work with or against these areas accordingly, and this model also has the benefit of allowing the Imperium to be much more hands off (so for example they might only crack down on the lack of Imperial obligations if it's the nobility. All else? Who cares). Petty nobles in this model may handle either smaller class star ports or any other trading ports (such as Airports, Train Stations, etc.) and Major Nobles will coordinate the grander logistical flow of resources.
This model would mean that the Nobility would make money solely off of how efficiently they operate the port cities and how they are able to effectively coordinate logistics on a planet. More trade = more profits.
Theory 3: Tech Monopoly
This is more backed by the Agent of the Imperium book. Essentially put the Imperium will give only the nobility their knowledge or expertise, or what have you on how to use equipment or technology or so on. From there it is up to the nobility to leverage it accordingly and ensure the planet is not only uplifted by that they swear fealty to the Imperium. This has the benefit of Nobility working with far more unscrupulous governments who (if the world violates sophont rights) they might still sell them weapons or technology or what have you because it just gives them money. Minor nobles in this model will be more middle managers or researchers, while major nobility will be akin to CEOs and direct the attention of the grander picture within their fief (for example a Viscount might tell his nobles to focus on building up the military of a world, or the medicine of the world or what have you).
This model would mean that the Nobility makes money similarly to the first method, but their plot of lands would be far more dedicated to building research centers, or industrial centers (so either Silicon Valley or Ruhr Valley).
Theory 4: All of the above
Basically put all of the theories I listed above are exactly how the Imperial nobility works. It doesn't specifically have one model that is used uniformly across the entire breadth of the Imperium. Perhaps in some regions some models are more in vogue than others, or only specific worlds are only viable for specific models (so a Earth-Like world might be more amenable to a Theory 2 Noble fief, while a mining colony hellhole world that exports raw materials and needs advanced goods necessitates a Theory 3 Noble fief).
Wanted to know what everyones thoughts/feedback/their own fan theories as to how this might work would be.
Theory 1: McDonalds
This sort of ties into my understanding that the model of government i.e. the Technocratic Feudalist model is basically just akin to McDonalds but the managers are Hereditary nobility. That being the case the theory I have is each noble basically is responsible for their own plot of land and the land itself is the only thing that pays the tithes to the Imperium (the local planet still needs to have some autonomy through taxes and what have you). That being the case I think that these plots of lands basically just can do whatever they want so long as they bring wealth or influence to the Imperium (such as a nobles plot of land being dedicated to be the equivalent of Hollywood, Silicon Valley, New York City, or so on). A noble in this model does not necessarily need to (or want to) own a star port they just need to meet their Imperial obligation on whatever plot of land they have. With petty nobles being only responsible for their own plots of land and the major nobles will either coordinate between all the nobles and settle disputes or simply act as the permanent representative for the worlds nobility in the Moot.
This model would mean that the Nobility would make money solely off their plot of lands and their own influence such as through NGOs or Corporations (which seems to be backed by the lore).
Theory 2: Legation Cities
This idea is basically that the Nobles are specifically tasked with only administrating Star Ports of a world. So the Nobles run these Star Port towns more akin to Legation cities where they are basically just free ports that allow for wealth and influence to flow through. A planet may work with or against these areas accordingly, and this model also has the benefit of allowing the Imperium to be much more hands off (so for example they might only crack down on the lack of Imperial obligations if it's the nobility. All else? Who cares). Petty nobles in this model may handle either smaller class star ports or any other trading ports (such as Airports, Train Stations, etc.) and Major Nobles will coordinate the grander logistical flow of resources.
This model would mean that the Nobility would make money solely off of how efficiently they operate the port cities and how they are able to effectively coordinate logistics on a planet. More trade = more profits.
Theory 3: Tech Monopoly
This is more backed by the Agent of the Imperium book. Essentially put the Imperium will give only the nobility their knowledge or expertise, or what have you on how to use equipment or technology or so on. From there it is up to the nobility to leverage it accordingly and ensure the planet is not only uplifted by that they swear fealty to the Imperium. This has the benefit of Nobility working with far more unscrupulous governments who (if the world violates sophont rights) they might still sell them weapons or technology or what have you because it just gives them money. Minor nobles in this model will be more middle managers or researchers, while major nobility will be akin to CEOs and direct the attention of the grander picture within their fief (for example a Viscount might tell his nobles to focus on building up the military of a world, or the medicine of the world or what have you).
This model would mean that the Nobility makes money similarly to the first method, but their plot of lands would be far more dedicated to building research centers, or industrial centers (so either Silicon Valley or Ruhr Valley).
Theory 4: All of the above
Basically put all of the theories I listed above are exactly how the Imperial nobility works. It doesn't specifically have one model that is used uniformly across the entire breadth of the Imperium. Perhaps in some regions some models are more in vogue than others, or only specific worlds are only viable for specific models (so a Earth-Like world might be more amenable to a Theory 2 Noble fief, while a mining colony hellhole world that exports raw materials and needs advanced goods necessitates a Theory 3 Noble fief).
Wanted to know what everyones thoughts/feedback/their own fan theories as to how this might work would be.
