My opinions/thoughts:
Reguarding Power/Influence
Q: How big a gap is there between the haves and the have-nots?
A: Probably big. If we're talking players, that's the difference between a new player with no home, a few ducats, clothes and maybe minimal equipment (all stuff we need to iron out later) and an established player running a shipping corporation with friends in high places, living in a mansion and tooling around in a private starship.
Q: How significant a part of society and politics is that gap?
A: I would think it would be significant, depending on the situation. Consider the difference between an established player requesting an audience with the governor versus a new player. Established players may be welcomed in at any time, thanks to their previous relations with the official OR their fame and connections. Or maybe they bribe their way in. New players could maybe request a meeting with the governor but wind up with a meeting with a lower functionary... next week... maybe.
Q: Who are the haves?
A: Established players (probably, but not guaranteed), designated NPCs. GMs, of course...
Q: What makes them powerful?
A: Money, Fame, connections... can you buy 'power', of course. Giving money to government officials to support their election campaigns or for any other excuse should generally increase your prestige and 'power' with that official. OR, depending on the NPC personality, it may offend them, resulting in lowered 'power'.
Q: Who are the have-nots?
A: New players, kinda... players that squander their 'head start' and piss people off (asshats), poor players, NPCs.
Q: How do they find themselves marginalized?
A: Favor with NPCs is one thing we can control... pricing differences, role-play attitude, availability of jobs, etc. A scurvy dog is not going to be offered a job to escort a princess to another planet, for example. (though I despise escort missions...)
Q: Are they oppressed or merely ignored?
A: I think oppression should be an option, depending on the local conditions.
Q: If the have-nots are even slightly oppressed how are they kept down?
A: Access to shops, hotels, jobs/missions/quests, prestigious NPCs, financial opportunities (small business loans?)
Q: Iron rule?
A: Sometimes. ![Big Smile [:D]](/devsite/emoticons/emotion-2.gif)
Q: Opiate of the masses?
A: Iron rule is facilitated nicely by opiating the masses... IMHO...
Q: Rigid indoctrination to stick to your caste?
A: I would expect this to be more of a rule than an exception... /shrug
Q: How do the have-nots view the haves?
A: Depending on the personality of the NPC, deference, respect, jealousy, outrage, hero worship...
Q: Do they aspire to change their lot in life or is this impossible?
A: Some probably do... whether it's possible or not is up for debate. If someone makes a toon that's placed in the peasant class of the Japanese-ish society, I wouldn't expect them to be able to socially advance as far as a member of the samurai class in that society, no matter how much money they had. Similarly, ethnocentric societies would probably not allow foreigners to their more prestigious circles of power.
Q: Do they adorn themselves in cheap versions and knockoffs of the rich or famous, or are they issued practical uniforms with the bare minimum needed to do their jobs?
A: ROFL! I would imagine that the real have-nots (laborers, for example) would have 'practical uniforms'... lower class functionaries like hotel operators, service personnel, etc would probably have cheap knockoffs of rich and famous outfits. Goose feathers in hats rather than peacocks, for example.
Q: How do the haves view the have-nots?
A: I would imagine general disdain... all three options below could apply, depending on the NPC and the culture.
“Why don't they round them all up and 'send them away somewhere'”?
“Like children or a garden, those people must be tended carefully, given plenty of water and sunlight and sometimes weeds must be pulled.”?
“Let them eat cake!”?