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So..theoretically, every world in the Imperium of Man owes some graded tithe to the God-Emperor.

And it always seems to fall on the PG and assorted nobility (assuming there is nobility) to go collect that tithe for when the tax collector comes around as well as ruling in the God-Emperor's name.

I've always wondered how that goes down for Feral and Feudal worlds. I'm sure the tithe is minimal at best for such locations - but how does the PG interact with the rest of the Imperium? Or his own subjects for that matter if he isn't a native of the world in question.

Does he even live on the planet? (I say this due to a vague recollection from the Dawn of War series that one of the PG's lived in Orbit around a Feudal World. Does make one wonder how he went about collecting the taxes...)

ContemplativeSphinx wrote:So..theoretically, every world in the Imperium of Man owes some graded tithe to the God-Emperor.

And it always seems to fall on the PG and assorted nobility (assuming there is nobility) to go collect that tithe for when the tax collector comes around as well as ruling in the God-Emperor's name.

I've always wondered how that goes down for Feral and Feudal worlds. I'm sure the tithe is minimal at best for such locations - but how does the PG interact with the rest of the Imperium? Or his own subjects for that matter if he isn't a native of the world in question.

Does he even live on the planet? (I say this due to a vague recollection from the Dawn of War series that one of the PG's lived in Orbit around a Feudal World. Does make one wonder how he went about collecting the taxes...)

From what I've read, the governor is either some form of high king who isn't much more advanced than his people, or is an offworlder who lies in a orbital station. Generally speaking the former acts much like how you'd expect a monarch or other form of ruler of the appropriate technological level.

In the case of the latter, the governors tend to prefer a hand's off approach and only intervene when needed, They still recruit the needed PDF forces and ship off some soldiers to the imperial guard as all world's do, but otherwise, outside of a crisis the Governor can more or less just twiddle his or her thumbs, going on hunting trips, and if he/she feels like being a jerk at the moment they can go around terrorizing the locals from aboard valkyries going "pew pew" at the locals for some cheap laughs. Of course too much of the latter is frowned upon by the Imperium.

Kain wrote:From what I've read, the governor is either some form of high king who isn't much more advanced than his people, or is an offworlder who lies in a orbital station. Generally speaking the former acts much like how you'd expect a monarch or other form of ruler of the appropriate technological level.

In the case of the latter, the governors tend to prefer a hand's off approach and only intervene when needed, They still recruit the needed PDF forces and ship off some soldiers to the imperial guard as all world's do, but otherwise, outside of a crisis the Governor can more or less just twiddle his or her thumbs, going on hunting trips, and if he/she feels like being a jerk at the moment they can go around terrorizing the locals from aboard valkyries going "pew pew" at the locals for some cheap laughs. Of course too much of the latter is frowned upon by the Imperium.

Makes one wonder how all that is supposed to work.

1.) High King Situation

So.... the Ecclesiarchy and relevant Adeptus Munitorium divisions show up, speak of the wonders of the God-Emperor an his Universal Imperium and cow the local population through force of arms if necessary?

Successive High Kings go throughout their lives not quite understanding where the "Angels from the Sky" come from - except that the location (spaceport) is sacred to them and that tribute must be gathered on a schedule?


2.) Off-Worlder living in an Orbital Station

Talk about a "Lost in Translation" moment - how does one go about explaining to the folks one governs the whole concept of a "PDF?"

ContemplativeSphinx wrote:So..theoretically, every world in the Imperium of Man owes some graded tithe to the God-Emperor.

And it always seems to fall on the PG and assorted nobility (assuming there is nobility) to go collect that tithe for when the tax collector comes around as well as ruling in the God-Emperor's name.

I've always wondered how that goes down for Feral and Feudal worlds. I'm sure the tithe is minimal at best for such locations - but how does the PG interact with the rest of the Imperium? Or his own subjects for that matter if he isn't a native of the world in question.

Does he even live on the planet? (I say this due to a vague recollection from the Dawn of War series that one of the PG's lived in Orbit around a Feudal World. Does make one wonder how he went about collecting the taxes...)

In 3rd ed, it was clear and not theoretically:
Rulebook, pages 114-115:

Feral world:
tithe = Solutio tertius

PG operating from orbital bases.
Main export recruts for the IG.

Feudal world:
tithe = Solutio prima - Solutio extremis

PG may live right down there?
Main export recruts for the IG.
As example : Attila, home of the Attilean rough riders, part of the IG with a character. Were the available cavalry models of the IG , mongol style

Seems both export mostly recruts...
The tithe rises from feral worlds to feudal and onwards. Exempt of it are worlds of the mechanicum and most likely astartes.

ContemplativeSphinx wrote:

Kain wrote:From what I've read, the governor is either some form of high king who isn't much more advanced than his people, or is an offworlder who lies in a orbital station. Generally speaking the former acts much like how you'd expect a monarch or other form of ruler of the appropriate technological level.

In the case of the latter, the governors tend to prefer a hand's off approach and only intervene when needed, They still recruit the needed PDF forces and ship off some soldiers to the imperial guard as all world's do, but otherwise, outside of a crisis the Governor can more or less just twiddle his or her thumbs, going on hunting trips, and if he/she feels like being a jerk at the moment they can go around terrorizing the locals from aboard valkyries going "pew pew" at the locals for some cheap laughs. Of course too much of the latter is frowned upon by the Imperium.

Makes one wonder how all that is supposed to work.

1.) High King Situation

So.... the Ecclesiarchy and relevant Adeptus Munitorium divisions show up, speak of the wonders of the God-Emperor an his Universal Imperium and cow the local population through force of arms if necessary?

Successive High Kings go throughout their lives not quite understanding where the "Angels from the Sky" come from - except that the location (spaceport) is sacred to them and that tribute must be gathered on a schedule?


2.) Off-Worlder living in an Orbital Station

Talk about a "Lost in Translation" moment - how does one go about explaining to the folks one governs the whole concept of a "PDF?"

The High Kings generally know enough that disagreeing with the people who can slaughter most of his army with one metal bawks is typically a bad idea. So he just goes along with what they say.

As for the offworlder, they probably don't bother asking and just conscript you into the PDF and curbstomp any dissenters with modern weaponry. Refer to the above Valkyrie "pew pew".

Kain wrote:

The High Kings generally know enough that disagreeing with the people who can slaughter most of his army with one metal bawks is typically a bad idea. So he just goes along with what they say.

As for the offworlder, they probably don't bother asking and just conscript you into the PDF and curbstomp any dissenters with modern weaponry. Refer to the above Valkyrie "pew pew".

Well i'm just trying to think about from an experiential point of view.

I mean example:

I'm Joe Farmer and your my Son. We live on a feudal world were knights go about fighting and such. Then you Get chosen to become part of the Sky Father's PDF...whatever that is...


You just went from primitve agri-society to Space...literally.

How the heck would they get used to all of that so quickly?

ContemplativeSphinx wrote:

Kain wrote:From what I've read, the governor is either some form of high king who isn't much more advanced than his people, or is an offworlder who lies in a orbital station. Generally speaking the former acts much like how you'd expect a monarch or other form of ruler of the appropriate technological level.

In the case of the latter, the governors tend to prefer a hand's off approach and only intervene when needed, They still recruit the needed PDF forces and ship off some soldiers to the imperial guard as all world's do, but otherwise, outside of a crisis the Governor can more or less just twiddle his or her thumbs, going on hunting trips, and if he/she feels like being a jerk at the moment they can go around terrorizing the locals from aboard valkyries going "pew pew" at the locals for some cheap laughs. Of course too much of the latter is frowned upon by the Imperium.

Makes one wonder how all that is supposed to work.

1.) High King Situation

So.... the Ecclesiarchy and relevant Adeptus Munitorium divisions show up, speak of the wonders of the God-Emperor an his Universal Imperium and cow the local population through force of arms if necessary?

Successive High Kings go throughout their lives not quite understanding where the "Angels from the Sky" come from - except that the location (spaceport) is sacred to them and that tribute must be gathered on a schedule?


2.) Off-Worlder living in an Orbital Station

Talk about a "Lost in Translation" moment - how does one go about explaining to the folks one governor the whole concept of a "PDF?"

For number 2 most feral populations would build their own armies to contend with each other. People build armies just like the build houses it's a natural part of civilization.

Primitive worlds are, by definition, very superstitious. So you convince the local population that their God desires the fittest and strongest young men to serve him, and the tribesmen hold trials, and the winners are sent to a 'temple' where you swoop down and scoop them up and send them off to the IG. Any mineral resources could either be mined by the local population (because it's a tribute to the God) or mined by yourself (in a taboo area, where wandering will anger the God).

Kaldor wrote:Primitive worlds are, by definition, very superstitious. So you convince the local population that their God desires the fittest and strongest young men to serve him, and the tribesmen hold trials, and the winners are sent to a 'temple' where you swoop down and scoop them up and send them off to the IG. Any mineral resources could either be mined by the local population (because it's a tribute to the God) or mined by yourself (in a taboo area, where wandering will anger the God).

Hmm. Can't argue with the logic.

I do have to wonder about the Off-worlder PG scenario though - given what you described it would seem like a bit of boredom for the PG provided he wasn't some sort of paternalistic and/or meglomanical autocrat.


Is the Off-world PG post to a Feudal world a punishment i wonder?

ContemplativeSphinx wrote:
2.) Off-Worlder living in an Orbital Station

Talk about a "Lost in Translation" moment - how does one go about explaining to the folks one governs the whole concept of a "PDF?"

Easy enough.

"The Star God demands that you offer a mighty host of your finest warriors, who shall sail through the heavens and revel in the honour of endless battle for his eternal glory."

I can see warrior cultures jumping at the chance to participate in what would come across as a real-life Valhalla.

Hazardous Harry wrote:

ContemplativeSphinx wrote:
2.) Off-Worlder living in an Orbital Station

Talk about a "Lost in Translation" moment - how does one go about explaining to the folks one governs the whole concept of a "PDF?"

Easy enough.

"The Star God demands that you offer a mighty host of your finest warriors, who shall sail through the heavens and revel in the honour of endless battle for his eternal glory."

I can see warrior cultures jumping at the chance to participate in what would come across as a real-life Valhalla.

ROFL!

I wonder if this is how the Space Wolves sell the idea.

I believe that's almost exactly how they go about it, or at least what the people of Fenris believe in any case. It's really not that uncommon, most Space Marine Chapters recruit from feral or feudal worlds after all.

ContemplativeSphinx wrote:Is the Off-world PG post to a Feudal world a punishment i wonder?

That would depend on where you started from, I guess. A lowly bureaucrat of the Administratum would surely see it as a jump up, while a more important official could be shuffled out of the hierarchy by his enemies in this way.

And some Rogue Traders could also fill this function, if they rediscovered a world for the Imperium or handle the main trade circuit in the area. Less boredom, more profit and all he has to do is turn up and demand tribute to the Star Gods on time.

Spetulhu wrote:

ContemplativeSphinx wrote:Is the Off-world PG post to a Feudal world a punishment i wonder?

That would depend on where you started from, I guess. A lowly bureaucrat of the Administratum would surely see it as a jump up, while a more important official could be shuffled out of the hierarchy by his enemies in this way.

And some Rogue Traders could also fill this function, if they rediscovered a world for the Imperium or handle the main trade circuit in the area. Less boredom, more profit and all he has to do is turn up and demand tribute to the Star Gods on time.

Being an offworld governor of a feudal/feral world is quite likely the easiest job as far as managing planets goes. You more or less don't really have to do jack squat and there's no real way for your peons to threaten you. Now whether or not this is a good this is dependant on the laziness of the official in question