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In order to maintain a House, certain obligations
to the local government must be met. These take the form of
fees and monthly expenses along with permits to build, expand
and so on as outlined below. As with any government, these are
not all the possible costs. Many things are open to negotiation
between a House and the Council that are not covered here and
these figures should not be presumed to be definitive.
Monthly Costs:
1. Organization Duties
The local government exercises a MONTHLY duty on the House
organization based on its classification:
less than 21 members:
4,000 silvers/month
21-50 members:
8,000 silvers/month
51-100 members:
15,000 silvers/month
over 100 members:
30,000 silvers/month
2. Property Duties
Ownership of property incurs a MONTHLY duty due to the government.
This duty is based on the number of rooms the building maintains,
not including lockers.
up to 15 rooms:
5,000 silvers/month
15-30 rooms:
+3,000 silvers/month
each additional room over
30:
+1,000 silvers/month
3. Overhead
Each organization has a certain amount of overhead which is
incurred MONTHLY. This overhead represents supplies, maintenance
and other expenses incurred by the organization:
250+ silvers/room/month (amount
will vary based on decor)
1,000+ silvers/month to restock
bar (if applicable)
5,000 silvers/month for security
of locker facility (if applicable)
Applications for new Houses will be taken once
a year for a limited number of slots. Due consideration will
be given to all applicants, with the House Controller making
the final decision, based on a variety of factors. A notice
will be posted in the House Clerk's office of Moot Hall, announcing
the dates that applications will be accepted. A person who has
an interest in forming a House must submit a letter of intent
to the local government (email to feedback) of the following
format and information:
"__________, hereby intend to establish an officially
recognized House of Elanthia, to be named the House of __________.
A petition for acceptance will follow."
A response will be sent back indicating the requested House
name has been reserved for a duration of one week, during
which time a petition for acceptance is expected.
An initial interest must be demonstrated for the House; therefore
a minimum committed membership of 5 characters must present
their signatures on the petition for acceptance. This is done
by each potential member (who meets membership requirements)
sending local government (GemStone IV Feedback, or
the House Controller, hereafter referred to as "Simutronics")
a letter stating their intention to join this organization.
To submit the petition for acceptance, the character who
has been chosen as Chairman must email Simutronics with the
necessary information and have its initial members (but no
more than 5 of them) email Simutronics with their intention
to join the organization. These 5 individuals must pass the
minimum membership standard. The fee for submitting a petition
for acceptance (75,000 silvers) must be paid by the Chairman
at this time. The Chairman must contact a GameMaster online
and transfer the silvers before sending the petition. The
GameMaster will log the transfer of funds. This fee is refundable
if the application is rejected.
An additional 75,000 silvers is required once the application
has been accepted. This fee provides for the establishment
of the House accounts and record-keeping by the city.
To demonstrate fiscal responsibility, the House must also
deposit a minimum of 75,000 silvers into the House endowment
fund as soon as feasible after the establishment of the House
Account and Investing of Officers. Failure to complete this
act within thirty days of Investment or prior to obtaining
a building permit will result in forfeiture of all monies
and revocation of House status.
The Chairman may include any letters of recommendation by
other players which he/she feels may further the cause. An
endorsement by another respected House is also a plus.
Heavy consideration is given to the status of a person in
the community. Those persons having current difficulties with
the justice system, i.e. wanted posters, shall clear them
up before being considered eligible for candidacy.
The Petition for Acceptance must be prepared and submitted
with the following information:
1. The names of the three
House Officers (as well as the co-officers if chosen).
2. A Statement
of Purpose which describes the intended purpose of the
House organization. This can be as simple or complex as necessary.
Note: Most Houses use a stock statement of purpose:
"The House of _______ is being established
for the purpose of promoting the lawful goals of its membership
as it may, from time to time, determine to be of mutual benefit."
3. A Statement
of Governing. The style of internal government in a House
organization is self-determined. The statement of governing
becomes part of the 'bylaws' of the House and may not be changed
(since this is the condition upon which the House is accepted
by local government).
Sample styles of governing:
Autocratic: The Chairman has total authority
and responsibility over the organization's activities.
Democratic: Decisions are made by a vote of the majority
with the Chairman breaking all ties and controlling the agenda
for issues to be brought before a vote.
4. The term
of officers and method of selection of new ones must be
stated. The two most common methods are:
For Life: each officer is the established officer
for life, and their heirs are empowered to take their place
upon the death of an officer. Unfilled positions are appointed
by the consensus of existing officers.
Limited: the officer has a term which is established
(1 year, etc.) and at the end of the term elections are
held within the membership to elect new officers.
5. The Bylaws
of the House must also be included in the petition for acceptance.
The Statement of Governing is considered part of the bylaws,
but detailed separately due to its importance. The Bylaws must
include the following details:
Local Government is sensitive about acceptance of new Houses
since they comprise a political power; however, the officials
can be appeased in different ways to help smooth the way towards
acceptance. One possibility might be to assist local officials
with a problem which they have (for example recovering stolen
property). Another possibility is bribery. Bribes are commonplace
and although frowned upon they are legal in most communities.
A bribe typically must be at least 25,000 silvers to have
any impact on the more powerful political NPCs.
After the Petition for Acceptance has been received, the
House Controller will arrange a date when the provisional
House leadership will sit down with local officials to discuss
such matters.
Each House must obtain a building permit, and construct a
building from which they will operate their organization.
This building is technically property of the House; however,
the establishment and utilization of it is tightly controlled
by local government. After the Petition for Acceptance has
been approved, the membership must submit a construction plan
for their House building. Construction will require 10 to
12 weeks (not counting possible schedule and cost over-runs).
The cost of the building permit depends on the location of
the building. The classification of the area is determined
by the GameMaster. The House is allowed to decide in which
of the following areas the building will be constructed; exact
locations may incur a surcharge.
Low Class District:
15,000 silvers
Middle Class
District:
30,000 silvers
High Class
District:
75,000 silvers
Commercial
District:
100,000 silvers
The building must be located within the governed area of
the local government. For instance, within the walls of Wehnimer's
Landing. The House may request a specific location; however,
local government has the final decision on the location. House
buildings may be built inside the walls of any town with a
local government, such as in Wehnimer's Landing, Icemule Trace,
and on Teras Isle.
Each House may have only one main building constructed and,
at a later date, may arrange to have an annex built if the
membership grows enough to warrant a second building.
A House may borrow 50% of the required capital for the construction
of the edifice from the government. This expense is applied
to the House debt records. This is not applicable if the House
is constructing a new building.
The Building Proposal must include the following details:
1. Outside Facade
Supply a description of the building's outside and the
object which will be the 'door' into the building.
2. Rooms
The proposal must number each room (1, 2, 3, ... ) and
include a description for each plus exits (north, east,
etc.) and which room they connect to. All objects included
in the room (furnishing, doors, etc.) must be specified
with both type and name. All descriptions must be under
512 characters, preferably under 256 characters.
3. Objects
All objects must specify their type and where they are
located (they must all be non-moveable) and their object
name. Objects may include an examine description. All object
names must be of the form "article, adjective, noun".
Desks and tables are intended for use as furniture, and
not as storage areas. For proper storage of objects the
House must acquire a storage facility (i.e. House lockers).
4. Financial
The base cost for a building is 10 million silvers. For
that base cost the building will be constructed with:
· Ten common rooms (dining room, foyer,
kitchen, basement, attic, etc.)
· A forty item locker with two entrances.
· A single node.
· Ten private rooms with three touchable objects
apiece.
· Two bars with a total of ten food or drink items
each.
· Atmospheric messaging i.e. "The
clatter of dishes comes from the kitchen as a maid rushes
out to re-stock the bar."
· A Gatekeeper.
· A Coat of Arms.
· An armory table. (Like a small, sharable locker)
· A magical workshop with one table to keep a few
items on.
Included with all of the above are doors, stairways and
regular compass exits for all rooms.
Additional rooms can be added at the cost of 75,000 silvers
per common room and 100,000 for a private room (three objects
per room included).
Other additions such as a third bar, additional entrances
to the lockers, secret doors, etc., must be negotiated as
to cost and design.
The following items are not acceptable for any House:
· Creatures of any kind (including pets).
· Shops or stores.
· Complex systems more appropriate to the game as
a whole.
· Special powers or skills for members.
· Anything deemed unsuitable by the House Controller.
Plans must be submitted no later than 30 days after obtaining
a permit, or the permit will lapse. Extensions may be had
for half the original permit price if done before expiration.
After expiration will incur full fees.
Any required revisions must be made by the House in a timely
manner. Remember, 'As ye submit, so shall ye be built.'
1. To preserve the integrity
of the global game system, all decisions by the House Controller
are considered final, and those participating in the House
system must respect these decisions.
2. All actions by House members
or leadership are expected to be carried out using the highest
standards of roleplaying.
3. Malicious abuse of the House
system, such as the financial components, beyond the scope
and intent of the House concept presented here will result
in the disbanding of the House or replacement of its leadership,
at the discretion of the House Controller. Furthermore, those
involved will be blacklisted from forming another House, or
belonging to any other House.
4. Houses must conform to the
basic 'feel' of Elanthia. Thus no cable TV or chrome-plated
bar-stools with Naugahyde covers (unless you can provide actual
Nauga skins) will be considered. The GameMaster who will build
the House will review the plans and make recommendations for
changes. Plans will be amended and revised by players and
resubmitted. The GameMaster reserves the right to make ad-hoc
editorial changes to the building to fit properly into the
environment or to remove logical incongruities.
5. Any additional rooms added
for continuity or technical adjustment will not count against
the House total unless the House is provided a chance to modify
their plans to eliminate the need for such. Reasonable attempts
will be made to consult with House Officers during construction
and for any changes deemed necessary but Simutronics retains
final judgement on suitability of any design. Private rooms
are done at the discretion of House Officers and any designs
must be routed from the player to their Officers for approval.
All designs will be final upon acceptance by the House and
any changes after that point will count as either new construction
or re-design and will be priced accordingly.
6. By participating in the House
system, players indicate that they have read these ground
rules and all relevant Tomes articles and agree to them. It
is the responsibility of each House Chairman to instruct potential
new members and other officers to read the House documentation
before joining and inform them of the dictates of this paragraph.
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