[Discuss] Stripping characters of their nobility

[Greg McGlynn]

Thomas Dalton wrote:
> Rulers have the option to question the nobility of a member of their
> realm. From what I've seen, the vast majority of the times that option
> is used, it's in controversial circumstances at best, or outright
> abuse of power at worst (from an IC point of view). However, it seems
> to virtually never get protested the amount it should.
>
> Is it just me that feels this way? If not, what can we do to encourage
> more realistic responses? (I think it boils down to people not RPing
> their characters as selfish enough - no-one is as selfless and cares
> only for the good of the realm as most characters in BM.)
>
I agree with this. It seems to me that a ruler's use of the strip titles 
option should pretty much *always* get protested. The ruler isn't just 
saying the person is bad and shouldn't be doing what they're doing, the 
ruler is saying they aren't even a noble, just a peasant pretending to 
be one. It's one of the worst possible accusations you could make of 
another noble. As I recall, the message informing the realm that a noble 
has been stripped tells you that you should protest this except under 
the most extreme circumstances. The text describing the stripping of a 
noble to the ruler says:

"This is a serious action. It will strip the one so accused of all 
titles and rank. It will certainly make him your enemy. At the same 
time, it will dramatically reduce his power and influence.
Do not underestimate the shockwaves this might send through the ranks of 
your nobles. This is like calling the Earl of Earling a pig farmer who 
has faked his banner, family tree and the whole of it. In a society of 
nobles, anyone who ever so much as dined with him will be insulted."

I suspect the strip function is considered by many to be just another 
form of banning, but clearly it is really far worse. I suggest leading 
by example when you see someone get stripped - protest loudly and have 
your character make sure the other characters know that the stripped 
person has just been accused of being a lowdown peasant pretending to be 
a noble.

Greg McGlynn


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