Post by Bubba Kush on Jan 14, 2014 11:41:16 GMT -8
The Camarilla is a neo-feudal organization, yes? Depending on the storyteller, the Cam can be a world-dominating enterprise, or a collection of loose city-states operating on treaties, or anywhere in-between. But, nevertheless, it is a feudal organization.
So why doesn't the Prince (or more likely Seneschal) ever hold court? I think I understand gamer logic behind why we don't, but hear me out.
Court is vital to feudal structure. Machiavelli laid some feudal groundwork in his book "The Prince" (in fact, the kindred term of Prince is directly attributed to this book, both in and out of character). Fear, and love to a lesser extent, is the backbone off feudal society and that is exercised in court.
In traditional court, the Prince (we'll just stick to vampire terms here) or Seneschal will sit on their throne and hear from petitioners. Let us remember that the social contract is "Protect us and rule justly, and in return I'll obey your absolute rule". These petitions can be anything: seeking residence, settling disputes, and appointments of office are just a few examples.
These petitions are witnessed by denizens of the domain and serve another social function: status. Important lords and ladies of the court are allowed better places to observe and are often literally higher up than the rabble.
Further, court allows for social networking. This is where the Harpy can spread their gossip, this is where laws become reality, and this is where everyone can take stock of new blood and new situations that arise within the domain.
What's more is that Court is what separates the Cam from the Anarchs/Independents. Cam members get the protections of the Prince, sure, but they must obey and if Court attendance isn't mandatory by law, then at the very least not going makes you that much more suspect and expendable.
Again, I think I understand gamer logic behind why only the upper court meets etc. But not having court invites metagaming of the lame sort. I don't fear the Prince or Sheriff or Harpy because they display any power in character, I fear them because of the meta conversations about Erik, Sean, Evan, Chris, etc playing them.
One last related bit: holding court allows us to actually play vampires of ennui. Should hundreds year old vampires have cell phones, read harpy posts on forums, and have a solid grasp on the modern world? Debatable.
But in an escapist activity like Larp, should we really be playing our 21st century selves in 100+ year old bodies?
So why doesn't the Prince (or more likely Seneschal) ever hold court? I think I understand gamer logic behind why we don't, but hear me out.
Court is vital to feudal structure. Machiavelli laid some feudal groundwork in his book "The Prince" (in fact, the kindred term of Prince is directly attributed to this book, both in and out of character). Fear, and love to a lesser extent, is the backbone off feudal society and that is exercised in court.
In traditional court, the Prince (we'll just stick to vampire terms here) or Seneschal will sit on their throne and hear from petitioners. Let us remember that the social contract is "Protect us and rule justly, and in return I'll obey your absolute rule". These petitions can be anything: seeking residence, settling disputes, and appointments of office are just a few examples.
These petitions are witnessed by denizens of the domain and serve another social function: status. Important lords and ladies of the court are allowed better places to observe and are often literally higher up than the rabble.
Further, court allows for social networking. This is where the Harpy can spread their gossip, this is where laws become reality, and this is where everyone can take stock of new blood and new situations that arise within the domain.
What's more is that Court is what separates the Cam from the Anarchs/Independents. Cam members get the protections of the Prince, sure, but they must obey and if Court attendance isn't mandatory by law, then at the very least not going makes you that much more suspect and expendable.
Again, I think I understand gamer logic behind why only the upper court meets etc. But not having court invites metagaming of the lame sort. I don't fear the Prince or Sheriff or Harpy because they display any power in character, I fear them because of the meta conversations about Erik, Sean, Evan, Chris, etc playing them.
One last related bit: holding court allows us to actually play vampires of ennui. Should hundreds year old vampires have cell phones, read harpy posts on forums, and have a solid grasp on the modern world? Debatable.
But in an escapist activity like Larp, should we really be playing our 21st century selves in 100+ year old bodies?
