Construction (sage study)

Construction is a sage study in the fields of Architecture and Civitas, encompassing the art of crafting dwellings, workshops, mills, pathways, bridges, tunnels, aqueducts, and sewers. This study provides an understanding of rudimentary tools, labor-intensive excavation techniques, adeptness in stonemasonry, woodworking skills, financial acumen, contractual agreements and the oversight of labourers to ensure efficient productivity.

The character has additional knowledge of Gothic architecture, characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults and flying buttresses, through the use of traditional methods and craftsmanship passed down through generations. Eache relies on basic machinery and hand tools, often using with locally sourced materials like stone, timber and clay. The medieval approach to construction relies on ingenuity, manual labour and an intuitive understanding of engineering

The use of labour includes coordination of work gangs and the ability to price materials, wages and, with experience, the hiring of other overseers to ensure reliable meeting of contracts. Projects are unlimited in size, ultimately allowing characters to build cathedrals or castles, among other majestic structures.

Sage Abilities

The sage abilities below are those acquired by a character through the study, according to status.

Amateur Status

• Guild Member: the character may apply to an association of skilled workers in any sage ability of choice; these maintain a hierarchical structure, but are also there to provide apprentices, contracts, supplies and status.

• Tradecraft: granting one trade ability to the architect, gained from time spent on building sites. The character chooses from carpentry, excavation, brickwork, masonry, tile work or thatching, becomining a journeyfolk in guild terms.

• Foreman: providing skill at keeping a team of up to eight persons, with no more than two trades, continually active and productive on a work site.

• Simple Builds: the creation of functional architectural plans for square-construction buildings without elaborate features such as arches, pillars, domes and so on. This includes hovels and saw pits.

Authority Status

• Generalist Builds: the ability to produce load-bearing structures of any size, along with landscape design, except that construction must retain a comparable design with structures already existing. The level of knowledge is not sufficient as yet to produce truly unique structures.

• Elder Crafter: character has a deeper understanding of their chosen tradecraft, as a highly experience and respected individual in the construction study. The character may also become a journeyfolk in two other tradecrafts of choice.

• Site Management: providing skill at managing up to five foremen, with up to 40 workers and 8 additional specialists operating under direct supervision, continually active and productive upon a construction site.

Expert Status

• Effortless Construction: the character's touch upon materials seems almost magical. While overseeing or participating in construction, their mere presence accelerates the building process. Walls rise faster, joints fit perfectly, and materials seem to align effortlessly under their direction.

• Mad Builder: so long as it's related to the business of construction, the character can work continously for 72 continuous hours without needing rest and without experiencing a drop in productivity, stopping for 10 minutes every six hours to eat and drink.

• Renowned Designer: the character's reputation as a master builder has reached important persons in the realm and adjoining realms, so that nobles and wealthy merchants come to approach with opportunities and contracts. At the same time, some of the best people in the trades apply to the character as underlings.

Sage Status

• Architect's Vision: allows the design and manifestation of buildings that have never been previously conceived before, allowing the creation of a wonder.

• Mystic Artisan: Surrounds the character with a mystical aura that enhances personal building skills, allowing crafting and precision at near-impossible levels, while granting a magical protective awe to every part of the construction work, defying the will of others to destroy or violate it.

See Bard Sage Abilities