Social Class, Trades, & Inheritance
Peasants
Peasants live and work on a manor, part of a rural estate. They pay rent & taxes directly to their Manor Lord, who is part of the gentry. They can farm animals like chickens, swine and goats in their backyard, or keep small gardens. They can also work in the lord’s fields, or his mines. Jobs like domestic service and cookery are also options for peasants, although prestigious noble houses would be unlikely to employ peasants. Most peasants have a “family trade”, although they may take on extra work for more money.
The firstborn son of a peasant house inherits the hovel. However, since their land is rented, secondborns and onward are free to move out and into an equivalent house, and start their own families without needing to raise money. It can sometimes be beneficial for families to stay together though, as this makes them a stronger economic unit! Often sons will not move out on their own until they are betroved.
Daughters can marry other peasants, but their ideal would be to marry a yeoman bachelor and go up a social class. Peasant daughters, especially thirdborns with no dowry, are likely to take on jobs in servitude, which can provide lodgings and pay handsomely.
Other options for peasants are joining the army (for boys) or joining a cloister (for girls). These aren’t always popular options, though, as they would mean a complete change of lifestyle and losing those all-important family ties.
Foundlings
Orphans brought up within the church, foundlings are somewhat “class fluid” as they are poor, but more educated than peasants. Their prospects are somewhat dependant on the community around them.
They can remain at the Foundling Home or join a monastery, becoming an acolyte. If there is a need, they may be taken on by a yeoman, artisan or merchant in the community as an apprentice. They may be taken on by a wealthy family as a household servant. They can join the army as a mercenary soldier, or even (rarely) become a knight’s squire. They can become a peasant, doing basic agricultural labour and paying rent to their lord. Or, of course, they can marry.
Foundlings always have the last name “Ward”. If they remain in the church, they usually keep this name. Otherwise, they can chose their own last name when they come of age (or take on their spouse's name).
Yeomen
Yeomen are “freemen” farmers and artisans who are wealthy enough to own their own land. They are free from direct feudal obligations to a manor lord, but still subjects of the monarchy. So, they pay their taxes and rents directly to the crown.
Yeoman are usually farmers, who may be beekeepers, herders, vegetables farms, orchard owners, etc. If they are artisans they may have a small shop, or might sell their wares to a local merchant. Most professions available to peasants and foundlings are also available to yeomen (joining the army, apprenticeships, domestic work, etc.)
Compared to peasants, however, for yeomen inheritance is far more important. Only the firstborn son (or daughter, if there are no sons) can inherit the family farm. Secondborns will need to marry well if they want to maintain their social class. Otherwise, when moving out and starting their own household, they will become peasants.
Merchants
Merchants are wealthy traders, shopkeepers and exporters. More advanced and successful artisans like butchers, blacksmiths and clothiers are also considered merchants. If they have to buy raw materials from a peasant or yeoman and then refine those into sellable goods, they are a merchant!
Most merchant homes and shops will live in the “town” on the hill, rather than in the countryside. Merchants businesses should be on community lots, not home businesses. As with yeoman, it is the firstborn son who inherits the family business.
Secondborns onwards will need to start a business of their own (which their family may help fund, if they can) or will continue to work in the family business (either staying in the household, or being hired as an employee). Non-heir merchants can also join the Business career, which represents traveling and trading, eventually raising the funds to open their own shop. They could also join the army, and fund their own business that way.
Gentry
Gentry sims are wealthy knights, landowners, and low-level members of the aristocracy. The land in Driftwood is divided into two manors, with two lords. These are pieces of land that have been awarded to the families for services to the crown. Only the firstborn son can inherit this estate. Other members of the gentry are usually not landowners. (Although, if I eventually want to expand this, I may use subhoods or pretend my landowners have estates off-screen which they just don’t live on).
Gentry men will usually join the Knighthood career. They must start out as a squire and live with an existing knight. (See my Knighthood Rules for full details on this). Other career options for gentry sims are a career in law, politics, or the higher levels of agriculture (estate management). If artistically inclined, they do occasional work as a bard or artist. It’s important that they don’t have a “trade”, however, as this would taint their reputation and downgrade them to merchant status (although this might be an attractive option for some sims).
Non-heir sons will often continue to live in the family manor house, but may move into a merchant-style townhouse if they wish to start families of their own.
Nobility
These are high level members of the aristocracy. Dezruland is divided into seven provinces, each with its own Earl. There cannot be more than seven Earls unless Dezruland expands its territory and creates new titles. The Earl’s heir is his firstborn son, known as the Viscount. The title of the Earl’s wife is Countess (and she would usually be from a noble family herself). Other sons are unlikely to be granted titles of their own, unless they marry well. Sims from these families without noble titles become part of the gentry.
Nobles can work in the Law, Politics, Knighthood or Courtier careers.
Royalty
This is the royal family - the monarchy of Dezruland! Once Driftwood reaches Charter City status, they will live in a grand castle on the hill. The Monarch themselves can have a job in Politics at Level 10. Typically, the rest of the family don’t work.
The heirs for the family have titles; the heir is Crown Prince, secondborn son is Royal Prince, firstborn daughter is Crown Princess, and secondborn daughter is Royal Princess. All royalty should aim to marry sims from the nobility - or foreign royalty created in CAS. If suitable matches cannot be found, sims should become knights (for men) or members of the clergy (for women).