A Systemic Survey
of Occupations
"We don't need to think about the whole web up front... We can jump from connection to connection like a spider on its web."
130+ Historically Grounded Roles
This is not a list of "Quest Givers." It is a functioning economy. Drawing primarily from Medieval Western Europe, but expanding to include global concepts like the Waqf (charitable endowments from the Islamic Caliphates), this survey captures the reality of how settlements functioned.
The Spider on the Web
Occupations do not exist in a vacuum. The Vintner pays Tunnage (tax) to the crown. The Verderer enforces laws that affect the Woodcutter.
The book maps these connections. When your players visit the Blacksmith, the entry connects you immediately to the Whitesmith or the Charcoal Burner who supplies the fuel. You traverse the social web naturally, improvising a consistent world without needing to memorize it.
One Job, Two Worlds
A title is just a label. Context is everything. The book and tool differentiate how a role manifests based on the settlement size.
The Rural Village
Here, the Blacksmith is likely a generalist. They shoe horses, repair plowshares, and fix pots. They are a pillar of the community, likely paid in barter or favors.
"I can fix the hinge, but I'll need a sack of flour for the trouble."
The Urban Center
In the city, specialization reigns. The Blacksmith might only make nails, while a Locksmith handles keys and a Armorer handles plate. They belong to a Guild, pay heavy taxes, and operate in a cutthroat cash economy.
"Talk to the Guild Master. My dues are paid; I don't work off the books."
The "Sentient" Book
Powered by Modern AI
Imagine if a book in your game could talk back. That is what we have built.
We live in a world of AI, and A Systemic Survey embraces it. The companion web app is not just a digital reference; it is contextually aware.
- Contextual Awareness: Tell the app, "I'm in a starving fishing village," and it won't just generate a Fishmonger. It will generate a desperate Fishmonger selling rotting catch at inflated prices.
- Instant Content: Players ask a question you didn't prep for? The app generates the answer in the voice of the NPC.
- Topical Generation: Need a rumor about the local Duke? The tool weaves the NPC's job knowledge into the rumor.
Generated: Elias "Gilded-Rim" Thorne
Role: Master Cartwright
"My wheels don't just turn, traveler. They glide. The King himself rides on my axletrees."
Urban Context: Elias operates a massive workshop with three apprentices. He is currently being sued by the Ironworkers Guild over the price of rim-bands.