jmucchiello wrote:QuentinTheTroll wrote:In practice, achieving such a feat of renown such as killing 1000 orcs would translate directly to being made chieftain.
Most of those 1000 orcs were killed in the Great Tomb of Molydbu. Is anyone going to know YOU killed 1000 orcs?
But every 5th level neutral warrior is a chieftain? How many chieftains are there? If a party has a chieftain, where are his tribesmen when he's in the dungeon? If the party has 3 5th level fighters, are there three different tribes following them from town to town?
reverenddak wrote:I understand this too, it's pretty hard to quantify social status or rank, but XP and levels is as good as it gets. But one Army's General is another Army's Field Marshal.
That's the thing. Level titles do not quantify social rank. Social rank does. It has nothing to do with xp.
I am stunned at how popular they are.
Yes, they will know. Not to be too "on the nose" about it, but this game is at least 50% about the glory. A 5th level guy is going to be kind of a big deal. A chieftan is a chieftan, regardless of where his "tribe" may or may not be.
Was not Aragorn the "Captain and King" of Boromir, long before he ever wore a crown?
You are thinking way too literally about these titles, I think. If you don't like them, don't use them, but there isn't a logical, authoritative reason NOT to use them.
And yes, every 5th level warrior is going to attract followers of some sort or the other. A 5th level guy is likely to be the highest ranking warrior for miles within a villiage's borders. He may choose to dismiss them, ignore them, or run them off, but it's hard to think there won't be the opportunity to lead men by the time a warrior achieves 5th level.
Secondly, you are right: level title DON'T quantify social rank. That's the point. They are an
illustration of the social rank that anyone who has survived and achieved a certain level of adventurous success will enjoy. Again, it is a mark of glory and status within society.
Think of it this way:
Warren Buffett is called an Oracle. Before he achieved XP to warrant that, he was something of a Maven. Before that, an Expert, and before that a Student.
Anyone who goes through some sort of demonstrated financial expertise will earn the same progression of monickers. It is easier to find Students of Business than an Expert, and harder still to find someone you would describe as a Maven.