Thread: Questioning chirine ba kal - part II

Originally Posted by Bren

I meant Chirine. My Internet mind reading tells me that you would come up with a higher starting estimate than would Chirine.

Given that part of the intent is to deter entitled cheap skates I'd at least go to $200/hour plus expenses. More if one can already garner a higher rate for non-RPG consulting. No reason to charge less for RPG work.

Agreed. The most I ever got for free-lance work was $450 an hour, so I tend to use that as a baseline.

Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya

Well, there's an old saying that every man has his price, and for a hundred and fifty clams per hour I'll put up with a lot.

More to the point, though, if the people Chirine is talking about are the type of dingbats, wombats, and short-necked giraffes we used to encounter back in the old days, the mere mention of expecting them to actually cough up money will cause them to vanish faster than a politician's promises the day after the election.

Agreed; and yes, I am.

Originally Posted by kk7

Sorry to barge in for a moment, but I wanted to say to Chirine -- it took a few years, but I finally made it to your thread! Looks like I have a lot to catch up with; glad it's still under a hundred pages of posts, at least

FWIW, demanding lawyers' rates to get out of doing something you'd pay lawyers' rates to avoid is always a deeply satisfactory maneuver.

-- Si'ak, Personal Secretary to Her Towering Contusion, Documenter of Pan Chaka, Licensed Resident Alien, and Largely Acquitted of Cannibalism

Welcome to our corner booth here in the old place. Ask away; I will always try to answer you as honestly and accurately as I can.

In my experience there are only two kinds of customer:

the ones who look at a quote and ask in shock, "that much?"

and

the ones who look at a quote and ask in shock, "that's all?"

Therein lies the problem, your price will always be too much for some people and too little for others. Of course, as you raise the price the distribution shifts accordingly but nothing is ever the right price. Inevitably some of the people you least want to deal with are willing to pay just about anything because nobody else wants to deal with them either.

Originally Posted by Neshm hiKumala

Hi everybody.

Questions on names and secret names in Tsolyanu.

It's mentioned that Tsolyanis have two names, well, three if you include their childhood "pet names":
- A childhood "pet name".
- An official, public "adult" name.
- A secret name.

That "secret name" is the one you keep to yourself, as it would give sorcerers complete control over your sorry self if it became known to them.

01 - I don't recall any of the systems used to run games on Tekumel (I'm unfamiliar with the EPT rules) actually having players come up with secret names for their PCs. Is that correct?
02 - Have any of you used the concept of the "secret name" in your games?
03 - Chirine, do you have a secret name? Not asking for it (fret not!), but did the Prof ever use it in his campaign?

No, they don't. It never came up in games with Phil.

Not me, no, although it does come up in my book - I do try to bring out all that I can of Phil's cultural details like this one.

No. It was always 'Chirine!'

Originally Posted by AsenRG

Thank you!

Hmm, I need to watch that movie...

I think the plan that Gronan suggested is good, Uncle!
And Bren's suggestion for a price is good, too, if possibly a bit underrated.

Well, you never know - but then, at least if they start paying, they'd be showing some respect instead of entitlement, right?

You're welcome!

I think you'll enjoy it!

Agreed!

Also agreed!

Originally Posted by Shemek hiTankolel

Chirine,

I was curious about social status and rank in the Tsoly�ni Army.
What would take precedent status or rank? If for example you had a Kasi from The Cloak of Azure Gems, and one from The Bolt of Flame who would "automatically" be considered to be the senior? I'm guessing that it would be the former.
If, using the same example as above, the Kasi from The Bolt of Flame were a veteran and the Cloak of Azure Gems Kasi was a fresh new officer would the same deference still be in effect.
Does this vary from legion to legion?
When, if ever, is status subordinated to experience?
I'm pretty sure I know what your answer will be, but inquiring minds want to know.

Shemek

Right. Normally, it's legion status that rules, not clan status. A 'lower status' Kasi would be polite to a 'higher status' one in social situations - that's just normal good manners - but time in grade and length of service would make all the difference. A high clan young officer might be socially superior at parties, but he or she would be a damn fool not to pay attention to and respect a veteran - it can literally make the difference between life and death on the battlefield. So, clan status at parties - but be careful! - and legion status everywhere else.

Originally Posted by Shemek hiTankolel

General question to the thread.

I don't recall if this question has been asked before, but which of MAR Barker's novels is your favourite, and which is your least favourite?


Shemek

I like all of them, but then I'm biased...

Originally Posted by David Johansen

So, a friend of mine used to make $300/hr as a clown. That was his rate but there were expenses for expendables ranging from balloons and makeup to travel expenses and he was only getting maybe three to five hours a month. So, while it's nice when you can get it, that kind of paid service arrangement really isn't as lucrative as it sounds.

I'd suggest $500/hr to start plus travel expenses.

Agreed. Sounds like a good rate, and expenses will always be billed. No, you don't get many gigs, but I'm trying to avoid them...

Originally Posted by kk7

Oh, hell

Be brave. It's not that bad.