Editing Magipunk:Campaigns (section)

=== Lower Class ===

Why are the PC's from the lower social classes?  There are two big reasons:

First, it gives them some built in motive.  The state of being poor in Atathorn is a pretty unpleasant one.  It's easy for the players to see that their characters are doomed to unpleasant, un-improving lives if they just sit around.  There are wonders to be had in the world of Magipunk, but the poor are generally cut off from them.  And it gives the GM a good way to start the group off -- they can be employed to do something.

Second, the powers-that-be in Atathorn are pretty scummy.  The Alliances combine the worst features of modern corporations and old-style aristocracy, and they're the upper classes.  Magipunk is a game where nobody's lily-white, in terms of morality, but the Alliances are darker than usual.  So by starting off seperate from them, you give the PC's a chance to become the heroes of the game -- or sell out and join the bad guys, if that's the kind of game that appeals to you.