Peasant?

So, it's right there in the rank 7 description.

But, from a historical standpoint, doesn't "peasant" actually better match rank 6?

I assume the difference between a rank 6 farmer and a rank 7 farmer is that a rank 6 farmer pays rent or corvee labor (or is squatting), but is free to leave, while a rank 7 farmer is bound to the land, and gets only what the landlord gives him. I've seen the word peasant used for both of those statuses, though, and I probably would leave it out of the description of rank 7. I think serf gets the idea across better.

I was under the impression that peasant referred exclusively to free tenants, while serf referred to bound tenants.

I think it varies by historian, some use the terms that way and some don't. Or maybe all historians use the terms one way, and it's lay people who conflate them. Either way, I certainly would not expect everyone who reads the rules to understand the difference. I think if that is the difference between rank 6 and rank 7, it should be explained.

I wouldn't look too hard for 6th Rank and 7th Rank to line up with any particular feudal law. It would be a pretty startling coincidence if they did.

-Vincent

Ok, what is the difference between a 6th rank farmer, and a 7th rank peasant/serf? That the 6th rank does not own land, but has personal rights and non-land property, while the 7th rank has nothing?

Dunno. I'll decide when I write the section on "if your rank increases from 7th to 6th, one of the following must have happened..."

-Vincent