What old careers should fall under "Commoner"?

Fisherman, Chimneysweep, Lamplighter, others?

jh

Pretty much any job that doesn't require specialized knowledge. A Ratcatcher, though a class, could also be a commoner. The Ratcatcher class is really an experienced Ratcatcher, while most of those who go under the streets of Imperial cities are just common folks with a club.

Historically, everyone who is not a noble is really a commonoer. Even a very wealthy merchant is still a commoner. But the emergence of the middle class does kinda squeeze a third option in there. The Middle class careers probably do not see themselves as commoners, but the aristocracy probaly do regard them as commonsers anyway. It lies a bit in the eyes of the beholder, I guess.

I'd break the career list down like this, into nobles, commoners and burghers (land-owners, middle class, artisans, merchants etc):

Commoners
Acolyte
Agent
Agitator
Barber-Surgeon
Boatman
Coachman
Commoner
Flagellant
Giant Slayer a smelly dwarf, ugh!
Gambler would suit a noble, tho.
Hunter
Mercenary
Messenger
Roadwarden
Scout
Soldier
Thief
Thug
Troll Slayer
Watchman
Waywatcher
Zealot
Dockhand
Bounty Hunter
Pit Fighter
Ratcatcher
Smuggler

Burghers
Apprentice Wizard unless of noble birth, of course!
Burgher
Disciple
Student
Initiate could be of noble birth. Cold be commoner, too.
Witch Hunter probably awarded a bit of respect...
Bailiff
Swordmaster
Wardancer
Ironbreaker
Scribe

Nobles
Dilettante
Envoy

I guess you could also say that the "exotic non-human careers" like Troll Slayers and Wardancers are treated as just that, exotics, that fall outside the rigid boundraries of empire social class law... same as "adventurerers" really. I'd assume that most people would not know how to treat a high elf wardancer, so they'd probably go for a measure of courtesy and respect normally reserved for nobles. And a whole lot of suspicion and fear, of course. Wizards, witch hunters and priets would probably get the same treatment.

No way a ratcatcher is every anythjing other than a commoner. Even the king of ratcatchers is still a commoner.

Emirikol said:

I'd assumed (and still believe) that "Commoner" is only intended to be the "Peasant" career, and not replace any others. I don't interpret it to be a generic placeholder, so much as specifically the 3rd Ed equivalent of the Peasant career.

From the commoner card:

• They are rustic farmers, labourers, and herdsmen in the main...

From the peasants entry on page 48 of the 2nd Ed rulebook:

• They are farmers, labourers, and herdsman.

Sounds pretty similar to me.

Olemak said:

This is true for the social class. I got the idea he was asking from a game mechanic standpoint; what jobs would fit under a "Commoner" class, meaning if you're a Lamplighter, you can be represented in-game with a Townsfolk or Commoner class.

If the question really is about social class, then anyone who is not a noble is a Commoner, and treated as such, with few exceptions.