Other Affiliations

Affiliations need not be limited to organized institutions. Here are some other possibilities for character affiliations in Hârn:

Clan Affiliations

Characters can take an affiliation with a specific clan/family (presumably their own). A fifth or sixth son or member of a minor branch of the clan would probably only get a +1D affiliation; prominent/distinguished clan members might merit a +2D; while a clanhead or favorite son/daughter might get +3D.

Class Affiliations

It is also possible to have affiliations with a more broadly definied social/economic group, such as “the nobility” (cf. the Mark of Privelege trait). In the example of the nobility, one might give a +1D affiliation to an ordinary knight, a +2D to a Baron or Earl, and +3D to a member of the royal family.

Household Affiliations

One might have an affiliation to an individual households (e.g. the household of the Earl of Techen), Domestic servants ordinary men-at-arms might have +1D, skilled craftsman and retainers might have +2D; actual family members or trusted advisors might have +3D.

Affiliations in Hârn

In Burning Wheel, characters who are part of a group/organization (such as a church, guild, legion) are considered to have an Affiliation with the entity in question.

Affiliations come in three 'values': +1D, +2D, and +3D. The value of an affiliation usually corresponds to the rank that character holds in the organization (higher rank = higher affiliation), but this is not a strict requirement.

Below are some rough suggestions for appropriate affiliation levels for guilds, churches, and military bodies.

Guild Affiliations

For members of Hârn's guilds, typical affiliations would be:

Apprentice: +1D Affiliation
Journeyman: +1D or +2D Affiliation
Master: +2D or +3D Affiliation

Church Affiliations

For members of Hârn's churches, typical affiliations would be:

Lay Member or Acolyte: +1D Affiliation
Priest/Mendicant: +1D or +2D Affiliation
Hiigh Priest, Bishop, Primate, etc.: +2D or +3D Affiliation

Military Affiliations

Military organizations (mercenary companies, armies, royal guards, fighting orders, etc.) would have affiliations like the following:

Common soldier or ordinary Knight: +1D Affiliation
Sergeant/NCO or low-ranking officer: +1D or +2D Affiliation
Commander or other top-ranked officer +2D or +3D

Tribal Affiliations

Members of barbarian tribes might have affiliations, such as:

Ordinary member of tribe: +1D Affiliation
Elite warrior, priest, or shaman +1D or +2D Affiliation
Tribal chieftain +2D or +3D

Chantry Affiliations:

Mages in the Shek-Pvar or others affiliated with a chantry should probably have affiliations to that chantry.

Mavari, Satifa Mavari, or chantry servant: +1D Affiliation
Shenava, +2D Affiliation
Viran or Chantry Seneschal +2D or +3D

Burning Hârn: Basics Affiliations