Blog#16: Put It in Writing

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GoblinWorks: Put It In Writing

 

The Company You Keep

 

The most basic formal organization is the chartered company, which we detailed in LFG! (Looking for Group!).

 

Chartered companies have very basic charters. Forming a chartered company is a multi-step process that begins with the creation of a simple charter that triggers a vote by the members of an ad hoc party.

 

All Politics Are Local Politics

 

Player-run settlements are the centerpiece of the Pathfinder Online design; they also begin with a charter.

 

A character proposing a settlement must define several aspects of the settlement in its charter:

 

Voting

 

Many important events can trigger settlement votes, so the initial determination of who can vote, and how much weight those votes will have, is critical to understanding the dynamics of the settlement.

 

Taxes

 

The tax rate of a settlement determines a percentage of each member's income that is automatically deducted and placed into the settlement's accounts. It is a critical part of the settlement economy. Members' income includes coin received by settlement members from contracts, quests and loot; settlement income includes coin paid as fees for the use of settlement buildings.

 

To Form a More Perfect Union

 

The player nation system, by which settlements can join together to form a larger organization, has a charter very similar to the settlement charter. A player nation does not need to mirror the political or tax structures of its constituent settlements, so the details of a player nation charter could be substantially different than those of their constituent settlements.