[TML] Strange societys

[darby eckles]

I've been reading the Vattas War series by Elizebth Moon.  Just finished the 4th book, and in it are these flashy rich guys, who come from a very odd society.  FOr those of you who have read it, of course I'm talking about Ransom's Rangers.  For thos of you who haven't read it:  people in a particular society spend chunks of their lives living in 4 specific "rings" (they call them) or states of living in the world.  One is Irrationalism, where the person is legally considered insane and is expected to act strange, goofy, and, well, irrational.  There is also Rational, which is the direct oppoite of Irrational, where they are expected to be super resposible, etc.  Another "ring" is Romantic.  Not in the lover sense, but in the dashing-sword-wearing-super-adventure-and-flashy-dressing sense.  I don't think they mention the 4th "ring".
  
Anyways, I've been trying to picture how this kind of society could function.  I would think that not everyone would be off on a tear in one of these "rings" at once, that they'd have to be intermitent in someone life in order to absorb the goings on when in that state, and to be reflected on.  I mean, you can't have a whole planet going Irrational or Romantic at once, it just wouldn't tick...
   
  Anybody ever use a highly unusual society in your games?
  
Darby

       
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