Life is Feudal Official Forum

[ThaBadMan]

Lots of familiar names here, how are you all and how is the game so far ?

[Azzerhoden]

Lots of familiar names here, how are you all and how is the game so far ?

Very well. Very much.

[Quette4000]

On to the next testing phase.

[Moose2949]

Definitely an interesting read. Obviously a ton of time has been put into the backstory, but do you have to actually call the guy "Your Majesty"?

[Azzerhoden]

Definitely an interesting read. Obviously a ton of time has been put into the backstory, but do you have to actually call the guy "Your Majesty"?

We have been around for 18 years. What you read is not something that someone threw together, but a conglomeration of grow over that time.

More so, titles actually have meaning in that they convey who someone should go to for help in one area of the game or not. Titles convey responsibility, and more importantly - they have to be earned by demonstrating ability. As an example, my baronetcy conveys that I have been an active, successful leader with the Duchy of Wessex for some time.

His Majesty is His Majesty because he is the glue to holds the Kingdom together. He does this by holding others in leadership responsible for the duties they have assigned, and by keeping us within the boundaries of the rules and society we have established.
All of us live in the real world (and would not, under any circumstances opt to live in a real feudal society).

I am probably the 10th person to hold the title Chamberlain, and as that title has authority in the guild to make binding decisions it's important to be true to the original vision. If a decision strays from our 'core' His Majesty will overrule/modify it so that we remain centered.

What makes LIF so great is that for the most part we no longer have to 'adapt' our vision to work with games mechanics.

[Jade]

Wanted to add that although we are planning to play on the NA server, we do have plenty of people from the EU. At a guess we are roughly 60/40 US to EU.

So if you are from either timezone and want play with like minded people come say hello.

[Caboose_86]

hello i was wondering how many members you have for LIF:MMO, i am very interested in joining.

[Azzerhoden]

We have over 70 members confirmed for the MMO (who own YO and confirmed they will play in the MMO), and more who will look at picking up closer to release.

Assuming you are talking about the Duchy of Wessex. In the Kingdom of Hyperion we have many more, of course.

[LinXiaoMei]

Oh wow you guys really did move from MO. Are you guys playing on a server outside of MMO? I've contemplated on applying for membership during my time in MO but that game was lacking so much

[Azzerhoden]

Oh wow you guys really did move from MO. Are you guys playing on a server outside of MMO? I've contemplated on applying for membership during my time in MO but that game was lacking so much

MO was an official Wessex game when it first opened up, but after that there were only 'expeditions', which is a fancy way of saying that we had a few members who wanted to play under the Wessex flag, but the true momentum of the guild was never brought to bear. Sadly, all these expeditions failed to take off, for a wide variety of reasons.

LIF - MMO is a different beast. This is a game that seems tailored made for much of what Wessex, and to a larger extent the Kingdom of Hyperion, is about.

So please do apply and join us.

[Azzerhoden]

PRIESTS
Are friars or deacons that have passed the sacerdotal examination or by demonstrating that they have the knowledge and capability to act as a fixture of the faith within the community. They must be ordained by a bishop. The form of address for a priest is "Reverend Father" or "Reverend Mother”.

The priests main role is to oversee the mental and physical health of all those who follow the faith and they should spread the word wherever they go, and offer guidance to those who seek it. As such the position of priest can be quite role play intensive. You must know how to address members of the clergy and also secular society with the correct titles, be able to offer guidance and help in matters of Dogma and Lore to the friars and deacons and be ready to lead people in worship.

[Azzerhoden]

THE BISHOP (prelate), or Lord Spiritual[, leads the faithful in his diocese, and oversees all matters religious in nature. A diocese roughly equates to the territory controlled by the bishop’s shire.

Bishops have seats in both the House of Lords and the Ecumenical Council. Bishops are allowed to own property in the form of a temporarily. It's like a fief, only given to the Bishops of the Church. Collectively the Bishops act as land owning agents on behalf of the Church.

The Bishop is a lord of society and is addressed as "His Excellency" at first and "my lord" thereafter.

[Rhade]

So. Much. Virginity.

Can't wait to wreck you guys again, like we did in Darkfall.

See you soon.

[Azzerhoden]

So. Much. Virginity.

Can't wait to wreck you guys again, like we did in Darkfall.

See you soon.

LOL, Pup.

[Azzerhoden]

The ECUMENICAL COUNCIL determines the dogma, lore and laws of the church by two-thirds majority vote. Bishops from other kingdoms or nations that share our religion would also sit on this council. From amongst their number they will nominate a candidate for archbishop whose ordainment must be approved by the King.

The archbishop is a minister in the Royal Cabinet and has a vote in the House of Lords. An archbishop’s vote carries the power of veto. The archbishop is addressed as “your Grace” at first and “my lord” thereafter.

[Azzerhoden]

CLERICAL TITLES
Here's a quick description of the subset classes that clergy members can have. This has no effect on your rank as it is simply a descriptor for the work you do. The various positions are there to assist the bishop with the administration of the church lands and buildings.

ABBOTS are the Masters of an Order of Friars that has been granted an Abbey. The Order holds it as a temporarily, administrated by the Abbot.

His form of address is "the Right Reverend".

[Azzerhoden]

CLERICS are members who have a position in the ducal cabinet. They may be priests, deacons or friars.

CHAPLAINS are priests and deacons who serve in a military position by either being in a military order, or joining a secular army for a campaign.

[Azzerhoden]

MASTER OF THE ORDER are friars that choose to form a spiritual order, and elect from among their members a "leader", or the Bishop may found an order and assign someone to lead it. This person then becomes the Master of the Order.

The Master may be a priest, deacon or a friar but must be ordained upon founding the order. If the Order is granted or conquers land the Master would also assume the position of Abbot or Prior depending on the size of the holding.

[Azzerhoden]

PARSONS are members of the clergy who serve as the head of the church in a county. They are styled "the Reverend Father". This person answers only to the Bishop and must be ordained as a Priest.

PRIORS are members of the clergy who have been granted a priory to run or members who have been assigned by an Abbot to help them run their Abbey. They may be friars, deacons, or priests. Addressed as "the Very Reverend".

[Azzerhoden]

RECTORS are members of the clergy assigned to teach deacons. They may only be priests and are styled "the Very Reverend Father”.

VICARS are members who serve as the second in command to the Bishop. There is only one per diocese, and he answers only to the Bishop. If a bishop becomes an archbishop the vicar will assume full responsibility of the shire while the archbishop serves in the Royal Cabinet. They may only be a priest and are styled "the Very Reverend ".

[Azzerhoden]

SPIRITUAL ORDERS
All clergy belong to an Order depending on their role. Members are allowed to transfer from one type of Order to another. All Orders must be granted a charter, adopt a Rule and pledge allegiance to the church. There are three types of spiritual orders:

MILITARY ORDERS are made up of warrior monks and knights who serve the church. Sometimes a Military Order will have an obligation of obedience to the king (or in our case, the various lords) as they will more than likely be dependent on operating on land which belongs to them. It is possible for a military order to become a shire itself if it grows large enough in both manpower and territory.

The Master of a military order would be a church knight, as would his senior lieutenants if they have distinguished themselves militarily, however, only the Master would be ordained and be guaranteed to hold the rank of priest. However, not all members of a military order are knights. In fact, most of them are friars. To join as a friar the member must pass the friar examination.

MENDICANT ORDERS are what friars in the church belong to by default. If there are significant numbers of friars they may be granted a monastery. The monastery could either be an abbey or priory. Abbeys will oft time have more friars and control larger landholdings, potentially encompassing a village, whereas a Priory would be much smaller or dependent on an abbey.

CANONICAL ORDERS are basically the staff of people who oversee a particular church building. Such an Order will fall under the direction of a vicar or priest and friars, deacons would be members.

[Azzerhoden]

MILITARY
The military body of Wessex is divided into three branches, the Garrison, the Rangers, and the Navy. Any trial or full member may enlist in the garrison, while only villeins and freeman may enlist in the other two. In the Duchy of Wessex everyone is expected to defend the lands of His Grace using any available means possible, even at the risk of loss of items being carried.

[Azzerhoden]

The RANGERS are responsible for policing the territory outside the cities, towns and roadways to provide our people with early warning of hostiles as well as managing the Duchy’s forests and wild game populations. During armed conflict they also serve as advanced scouts or ranged skirmishing units. They report directly to the Warden.

[Azzerhoden]

The NAVY protects the Duchy from invading armies traveling by ship, raiders, and sea pirates, organized around fleets and individual war ships. The Navy is led by the ducal cabinet position of Admiral.

The GARRISON protects the cities and towns within the duchy, as well as the roads and forts within its borders under the Constable and is organized into a Lance. A Lance consists of a paviser, a pikeman, and a bowman and is most often lead by a serjeant, but sometimes by an officer instead.

[Azzerhoden]

A Twenty is made up of 3 to 6 lances and is normally led by an officer or first serjeant. A Company is made up of multiple twenties and led by the highest available officer with junior officers moved to leading each lance. Should there be a need, multiple companies can be organized into Battalions, which would then be led by the highest available officer.

Available militia serve in separate units under command of the garrison.

[Azzerhoden]

FOOTMEN and SAILORS are villeins or freemen that have enlisted in the garrison and have passed basic training. Serfs may join the garrison only as a footman, but do so as militia.

Footmen may be promoted by the Constable, or approved officers after demonstrating that they can follow orders, have an understanding of the Wessex military structure, know what ‘coms discipline’ means and are competent fighters.

The Constable may implement additional requirements to determine promotion to armsman or serjeant as long as the basic tenants of discipline and player skill are maintained.

[Azzerhoden]

ARMSMAN, SCOUTS and SEAMAN are professional soldiers of the shire from amongst the villein and freemen social classes. They are the backbone of each branch and are experienced, capable fighters with sufficiently developed characters.

[Azzerhoden]

SERJEANTS, RANGERS and MIDSHIPMAN are exceptional in combat and demonstrate the consistent leadership qualities that separate them from the normal armsman. They typically lead a lance.

[Azzerhoden]

FIRST SERJEANTs and the SERJEANT MAJOR are the elite from amongst the serjeants and would lead a Twenty, Company, or possible a Battalion as a non-commissioned officer should no officer be available. These titles are consistent across each branch and both are granted the freeman status. Both can be elevated to knighthood directly by the Duke without going through the squirage process.

[Azzerhoden]

MILITIA. When un-enlisted serfs, villeins or freemen join the garrison in battle they will be classed as militia, which are combat ready civilians. This means they have the gear to fight in a battle, but little training. A militia unit is typically lead by a lieutenant.