GOVERNMENT GUILDS

Government guilds are unusual in that they blur the line between municipal and private organizations. Many cities lack such guilds—government employees simply work at the behest of their ruler or the city itself. In regions where government guilds do exist, they take one of three forms.

In the first form, there is literally no difference between the guild and the city department it represents. Everyone who works in that department is a guild member. The department itself is a guild in only the loosest sense of the word; it’s a portion of the city government that provides its members guildlike benefits. Government guilds of this sort do not require dues of their members, financing themselves instead through taxes and city monies. Characters who join such a guild can actually earn a regular (if relatively small) income, but are required to spend the bulk of their time working for the city and guild.

In the second form, the city government subcontracts certain duties to a guild rather than undertaking them directly. For instance, a government might hire a guild to permanently oversee its city watch or handle road maintenance rather than running those departments itself. As above, everyone who works in that department is a guild member, and the guild is fi nanced through city monies rather than dues.

The final variety is a guild in the traditional sense: a private organization, made up of city employees and usually drawn from the same department. Membership is not required (or at least the city doesn’t require it; the guild might strongarm people into joining). City workers join the guild for extra benefits, or as a means of gaining some leverage with the government, allowing the guild to negotiate for better pay and hours. This type of guild requires the standard dues of its members.

Examples: City watch, street cleaners guild, embassy.

Associated Classes: Depends on the specific department, but often includes aristocrat, cleric, expert, and fighter.

Associated Skills: Depends on the specific department, but often includes Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Intimidate, Knowledge (nobility and royalty), and Sense Motive.

Duties: Each member of a government guild must spend at least 10 hours a week working for the guild. Favored Benefits: The character gains a +1 bonus on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks with members of any guild. (When dealing with members of his own guild, these bonuses stack with the standard guild bonuses.)

Sample Contact: Sarruel Thorp (human aristocrat 3/expert 3). Sarruel knows how to pull the right strings and can exempt the PCs from paying one specific fee to the city, be it a fine for minor criminal activity or a tax on a large treasure haul. Once per year.