Their Finest Hour- Class and Cash in the Battle of Britain

The class system of Victoriana wonderfully reflects the social structure of 1850s England, but does it belong in Their Finest hour? Does this system so central to Victoriana player characters have any relevance in a setting 90 years later? I think it does.

The Battle of Britain brings many opportunities for social classes to mingle, collide, and conspire. Both the chaos of war and the organization of the war effort brought  people of all classes, genders and nationalities together. Women stepped into new job opportunities and responsibilities on the home front. Men of all backgrounds fought side by side, depending on their brothers to stay alive. The diaspora of Europe sought a new chance to fight for their conquered countries.

Between military conscription, and the ever growing need of women workers for factories, upper-class households had to scale down to little if any servants. The classes all stood in line for rations (in fact some aristocratic families ate better under rationing), dug out survivors from destroyed houses, cared for each other’s children, and sought a good night sleep in the same bombs shelters. With all the social layers colliding in a national emergency, this is a perfect setting for Victoriana’s class system.

In the early 20^th century, World War I and the Great Depression wrecked the finances of many aristocrats. With lost lands, lost tenants, and new taxes, land owning aristocracy and massive county houses quickly vanished. Needing funds, destitute members of British nobility sought employment, sold heirlooms, and destroyed heavily taxed mansions to hold onto what little they can. After World War II, the British government, needing to reinforce their economy from war debts, heavily taxed estate inheritances, further degrading the most prestigious family fortunes.

On the other end, the Lower classes elevated by social reforms got better education, higher wages, healthcare and housing. Although issues of class still plague Great Britain today, these postwar changes in societal structure make World War II the last time Victoriana’s class system applies.

Starting Cash

Besides determining your place in society, class determines how much a player character can spend on starting equipment. Here is the cash available at character generation for each class, adjusted for the period.

Low Class: £4 x Wits; begin each adventure with Asset income

Middle Class: £15 x Wits; begin each adventure with 3s in pocket and Asset income

High Class: £35 x Wits; begin each adventure with 10s in pocket and Asset income

Income

Beyond Starting Cash, player characters should take the Asset “Income” for continual financial resources while adventuring. As in the Victoriana Core Rulebook, each class has its own entry and each entry contains three options for Income. The Income Assets are in 1940 pounds sterling.

Lower Class Income (2/5/10)

For two points, +3 pence at the start of each adventure

For five points, +2D* pence at the start of each adventure

For ten points, +2 shillings at the start of each adventure

*Roll two dice, that’s how many pennies. The same goes for shillings and pounds below.

Middle Class Income (2/5/10)

For two points, + 2 shillings at the start of each adventure

For five points, + 2D shillings

For ten points, + £1 at the start of each adventure

Upper Class Income (2/5/10)

For two points, + £2 at the start of each adventure

For five points, +2D pounds at the start of each adventure

For ten points, +£16 at the start of each adventure

In case you were wondering, £1 in 1855 is roughly equivalent to £1 14s in 1940. Next week, we’ll finish up character creation for Their Finest Hour with a look at races and magic. I hope you’re enjoying this exploration of alternate Victoriana.