[Rq-rules] Slave Skills - Social RolePlay Experiment

[Fred Vogel]

>From: "Den, Tony T" <Tony.Den at standardbank.co.za>
>The postulation is that of a party of 15 years olds (or there abouts). The 
>characters are all slaves and have either been born into slavery, or have 
>just been slaves for a long time. Depending on whom their master(s) are and 
>how they are treated, they could come with a whole bunch of pre determined 
>issues. EG: They were humans taken slave by orcs when they were around 5 
>years old. Some may remember being small and free, some not. Some may hate 
>their masters, others may have "become orcs" through conditioning and 
>abuse.

>Anyway, to get to my point, if I ever run an adventure like this, what are 
>the general skills a slave is likely to have acquired.

Well I guess the answer is, it depends on their back story.  In your 
example, they are held by orcs; they probably speak orc very well and may 
not speak common at all depending on exposure.  They would speak languages 
according to thier exposure.  They probably couldnt read/write anything 
unless is was a skill used in their slave capacity.

I would not think they had any particular education type skills; however, 
they could effectivly know certain types of "lore" at certain levels just 
from exposure.

As for other skills; slaves almost have a master/apprentice thing going.  
They only do one or two things for a very long time.  They probably get very 
good at the associated tasks.  Being a field worker may seem unimpressive 
from and adventurer point of view...but plenty of revolts have been led with 
pitch-forks.  I would expect a guy who can expertly deliver a whack to some 
kind of plant he is harvesting can deal an equally nasty whack to someone's 
legs.

In the area of socialization skills; from what I see, these kinds of people 
still have something of a life.  Thier hard circumstances may have made them 
masters at story telling for entertainment/money; fast talk to get out of 
trouble or con someone; theiving skills just to have something on occasion; 
hiding to stay out of trouble. Since slaves are usually deprived of money 
they could evolve into great barterers.  Anyway...you get the picture.  
Watch a war movie about POWs who are kept for long periods of time and look 
for skills that they develop.

As for stats, it also really depends on what they do and how they are 
treated. A laborer may get great CON DEX and STR benefits; however, if he is 
malnourished severly he might suffer at some or all.  If the slave's living 
conditions are bad...his APP may suffer due to health problems etc.

As for magic, I agree that would probably be few and far between; however, 
if it proved of value to the master a work spell or two might be known.  
Like plow, or light so they can work in the dark, the list of mundane spells 
is limitless.  Even though these spells may seem boring or useless; never 
underestimate what the player can do to turn something into an advantage.

That's my 2c.  Hope its at least worth 1.5c to you.

Fred