Kingdom Building

A well-preserved ruin is found in your kingdom, with historical artifacts connected to the people who lived in your land long ago. Effect: Lore +1. If you have a Museum, the discoverers donate 10,000 gp worth of historical artifacts to its collection (if you have multiple Museums, choose one as the recipient).

One of your leaders (determined randomly) is the target of an assassination attempt. If the target is a PC, the GM should run the attempt as an encounter, using an assassin of a CR equal to the targeted PC's level. If the target is an NPC, you must succeed at a Stability check to prevent the assassination. If the assassination occurs, Unrest increases by 1d6 and the kingdom immediately incurs the penalties for not having a leader in that role.

Bandits are preying upon those who travel through your kingdom. Attempt a Stability check. If you succeed, your kingdom's defenses stop the bandits before they cause any harm. If you fail, the bandits reduce your kingdom's Treasury by 1d6 BP (each time you roll a 6, add the result to the total and roll again).

Randomly select one settlement. Commerce booms among that settlement. Until the next Event phase, Economy increases by the number of buildings in the settlement that grant an Economy bonus, and Corruption increases by 1d4 in that settlement.

The citizens demand a particular building be built (01—75) or demolished (76—100). Select the building type randomly from those available for the settlement. If the demand is not met by the next Event phase, Unrest increases by 1. Alternatively, you can suppress the citizens' demands and negate the event by succeeding at a Loyalty check, but this reduces Loyalty by 2 and increases Unrest by 1.

Pests, blight, and weather ruin the harvest in the settlement's hex and all adjacent hexes. Attempt two Stability checks. If both succeed, the problem is fixed before your kingdom takes any penalties from the event. If only one succeeds, affected farms reduce Consumption by 1 (instead of the normal reduction) in the next Upkeep phase. If neither succeeds, affected farms do not reduce Consumption at all in the next Upkeep phase.

A religious cult of an alignment opposed to the kingdom's alignment begins kidnapping, converting, or even publicly sacrificing citizens. Attempt a Loyalty check and a Stability check. If both succeed, the cult is disbanded before your kingdom takes any penalties from the event. For each of these checks you fail, Unrest increases by 1 and Productivity, Society, and Stability decrease by 1. If both checks fail, the event continues in the next Event phase.

A nearby kingdom sends an ambassador to you to negotiate an embassy (01—60), treaty (61—90), or alliance (91—100), as if using a diplomatic edict (see Special Edicts). If the GM doesn't have an appropriate kingdom in mind when this event occurs, determine the kingdom's alignment randomly; it may be hostile or friendly. The ambassador bears 1d4 BP worth of gifts for your kingdom.

Scholars unearth a bit of ancient lore or devise important new research of their own. Fame increases by 1 and Lore increases by 1d4.

One of your Houses or Tenements becomes a hive of illicit drug trade. Attempt a Loyalty check and a Stability check, with a penalty equal to the number of Brothels, Tenements, Waterfronts, and lots with squatters in the settlement. If you succeed at both checks, you eliminate the drug den before your kingdom takes any penalties from the event. If you fail at one check, Crime and Unrest increase by 1. If you fail at both checks, Crime and Unrest increase by 1; Economy, Loyalty, and Stability decrease by 1; and on the next Event phase, a second drug den event occurs in the same settlement (01—50) or the nearest settlement (51—100).

Trade is booming in your kingdom! Your Treasury increases by 1d6 BP (each time you roll a 6, add the result to the total and roll again).

Your kingdom's leaders are invited to a festival in a neighboring kingdom. If you attend and bring 1d4 BP worth of gifts, for 1 year Society increases by 1, Fame increases by 1 for any check relating to that kingdom, and you gain a +2 bonus on edict checks relating to that kingdom.

Nobles (or other influential rival groups) are bickering. Attempt a Loyalty check. If you succeed, you end the event but Unrest increases by 1. If you fail, Corruption increases by 1, Unrest increases by 1d6, and the event is continuous.

Spoilage, treachery, or bad luck has caused a food shortage this turn. Attempt a Stability check. If you succeed, Consumption in the next Upkeep phase increases by 50%. If you fail, Consumption in the next Upkeep phase increases by 100%.

Farmers produce an unexpected windfall! In the next Upkeep phase, the kingdom's Consumption is halved (but returns to normal on the next turn).

Good weather raises spirits and productivity. Economy, Loyalty, and Productivity increase by 2 until the next Event phase.

This event is identical to the building demand event, but the citizens want the construction or destruction of a terrain improvement in the hex.

Zealots mobilize public opinion against a particular race, religion, kingdom, behavior, or kingdom leader. Attempt a Loyalty check. If you fail, the zealots run rampant; Infamy and Law increase by 1 and Lore, Loyalty, Productivity, and Stability decrease by 2. If you succeed, the zealots are somewhat suppressed; Lore, Loyalty, Productivity, and Stability decrease by 1. Two successful checks in a row end the event (if a check ends the event, no penalties from it occur that turn).

Authorities shut down a major criminal operation or thwart a plot against the settlement. Law and Loyalty increase by 1 and Crime and Unrest decreases by 1.

Overeager settlers claim an unclaimed hex and construct a Farm, Mine, Quarry, or Sawmill at their own expense, but are fighting over ownership. This hex is not part of your kingdom, so you gain no benefits from it. Productivity, Society, and Stability decrease by 1. Attempt a Loyalty check. If you succeed, Unrest increases by 1. If you fail, Unrest increases by 1d4. If you construct an identical improvement in an adjacent hex during your next Edict phase, remove this event's changes to Productivity, Society, and Stability.

A fire, storm, earthquake, flood, massive sabotage, or other disaster strikes! Roll 1d6; on a result of 1—5, the disaster threatens only 1 improved hex. On a result of 6, the disaster is widespread and threatens 1d6 additional improved hexes adjacent to the target hex. Attempt a Stability check for each threatened hex; failure means the disaster destroys one terrain improvement in the hex and Unrest increases by 1.

A fire, a flood, a storm, an earthquake, massive sabotage, or another disaster strikes the settlement! Roll 1d6 to determine how many lots are threatened by the disaster. On a result of 6, the disaster is widespread and affects 1d6 additional adjacent lots. Attempt a Stability check for each threatened lot; failure means the disaster destroys the building in that lot and Unrest increases by 1.

A monster (or group of monsters) attacks the kingdom. The GM picks a claimed hex in the kingdom in which the monster is active. The CR of the monster encounter is equal to the party's APL + 1d4 — 1. You can personally deal with the monster (earning XP and treasure normally) or succeed at a Stability check to eliminate it. If the monster is not defeated this turn, Unrest increases by 4. If the kingdom's Unrest is 5 or higher, the monster's hex becomes unclaimed.

A natural event, such as a bloom of rare and beautiful wildflowers or a good omen in the stars, raises your kingdom's morale. You gain a +4 bonus on Stability checks until the next Event phase.

A small group of indigenous intelligent creatures joins your kingdom and submits to your rule. Society and Stability increase by 1, Unrest decreases by 1, and your Treasury increases by 1d6 BP (each time you roll a 6, add the result to the total and roll again).

A noble family offers to construct a Monument (01—50) or Park (51—100) in your settlement at the family's own expense. The nobles pay all costs and Consumption for this purpose.

One of your kingdom's citizens creates an artistic masterpiece, constructs a particularly impressive building, or otherwise brings glory to your kingdom. Fame increases by 1, your Treasury increases by 1d6 BP, and Unrest decreases by 2. You gain a +4 bonus on Economy checks until the next Event phase.

Randomly select one settlement with a Cathedral, Shrine, or Temple. Pious religious folk journey to your settlement, holding a religious festival in that settlement at no BP cost to you.

A deadly sickness strikes the target hex or settlement. You cannot construct terrain improvements or buildings there while plague persists. Attempt two Stability checks, each with a penalty equal to the number of Brothels, Foreign Quarters, Highways, Inns, Piers, Roads, Stables, Stockyards, Tenements, and Waterfronts in the hex, and a bonus equal to the number of Alchemists, Cathedrals, Herbalists, Hospitals, and Temples in the hex. If you succeed at both checks, the event ends but Stability decreases by 2 and Treasury by 1d3 BP. If you fail at one check, Stability decreases by 4, Treasury decreases by 1d6 BP, and Unrest increases by 1d3. If you fail at both, Stability decreases by 4, Treasury decreases by 1d6 BP, Unrest increases by 1d6, and in the next Event phase the plague spreads to an adjacent hex.

A sudden absence of political machinations coincides with an increase in public approval. Unrest decreases by 1d6. Until the next Event phase, you gain a +2 bonus on checks to resolve continuous events. If your kingdom has no Unrest and no continuous events, both Loyalty and Stability increase by 1. If you are using Law settlement modifiers for the kingdom (see Expanding Settlement Modifiers), this also increases Law by 1 for the entire kingdom.

One of your leaders is implicated in a crime or an embarrassing situation, such as an affair with another leader's spouse. Infamy increases by 1. Attempt a Loyalty check. If you fail, Unrest increases by 2 and you take a —4 penalty on all Loyalty checks until the next Event phase.

The settlement immediately fills one of its open magic item slots (selected randomly) with a better than normal item (medium if a minor slot, major if a medium slot). Treat the settlement's base value as 50% higher than normal for determining the item's maximum price. If the settlement doesn't have any open magic item slots, treat this event as Unexpected Find.

A serial killer, arsonist, or daring bandit plagues your kingdom. Attempt two Stability checks, adding the settlement's Law and subtracting its Crime. If you succeed at both checks, the criminal is caught before your kingdom takes any penalties from the event. If you fail at one, the criminal escapes, Unrest increases by 1, and the event is continuous. If you fail at both, the criminal makes a fool of the authorities; Law and Loyalty decrease by 1, Treasury decreases by 1d4 BP, Unrest increases by 2, and the event is continuous.

Criminals begin kidnapping citizens and selling them into slavery. Attempt a Loyalty check and a Stability check, each with a penalty equal to the number of Brothels, Tenements, Waterfronts, and lots with squatters in the settlement. If you succeed at both checks, the slavers are caught before your kingdom takes any penalties from the event. If you fail at one of the checks, Loyalty, Stability, and Unrest decrease by 1, but the event is not continuous. If you fail at both checks, Loyalty, Stability, and Unrest decrease by 2, and the event is continuous.

Unscrupulous merchants are subverting legitimate businesses. Attempt a Loyalty check and a Stability check, each with a penalty equal to the number of Piers, Waterfronts, and trade routes in the kingdom. If you succeed at both checks, the smugglers are stopped before your kingdom takes any penalties from the event. If you fail at one of the checks, Corruption increases by 1d2 in each settlement, Crime increases by 1 for the kingdom, Productivity for the kingdom decreases by 1d3, Treasury decreases by 1d3 BP, and the event is not continuous. If you fail at both of the checks, Corruption increases by 1d4, Crime for the kingdom increases by 1, Productivity for the kingdom decreases by 1d6, Treasury decreases by 1d6 BP, and the event is continuous.

An empty settlement lot is taken over by beggars, troublemakers, and people unable to find adequate work or housing; they camp there with tents, wagons, and shanties. You cannot use the lot for anything until the squatters are dispersed. Fame and Stability decrease by 1, and Unrest increases by 2. You may try to disperse the squatters with a Stability check. Success means the squatters are dispersed and the event is not continuous, but if a House or Tenement is not built in that lot on the next turn, Infamy increases by 1 and Unrest by 2. Failing the Stability check means the event is continuous, and you may not build on that lot until the event is resolved.

Local citizens discover a forgotten magical item. The settlement gains one temporary minor (01—70) or medium (71—100) magic item slot that is automatically filled in the next Upkeep phase. This slot and the item go away if the item is purchased or in the next Event phase, whichever comes first.

Thugs and dissidents riot and destroy property. Attempt a Loyalty check and a Stability check. If you succeed at both, the vandals are stopped before your kingdom takes any penalties. If you fail at one check, Society decreases by 1 and one random building in the settlement is damaged. If you fail at both, one random building is destroyed (Unrest increases by 1 for each lot of the destroyed building), and 1d3 other random buildings are damaged. A damaged building provides no benefits until half its cost is spent repairing it.

A celebrity from another kingdom visits one of your settlements, causing a sudden influx of other visitors and spending. Fame increases by 1 and Treasury increases by 1d6 BP (each time you roll a 6, add the result to the total and roll again).

A rich merchant or a noble from another land is impressed with your kingdom and asks to construct a Mansion (01—75) or Noble Villa (76—100) in the settlement at no cost to you. If you allow it, the building provides its normal benefits to your kingdom.

If a building requires another to be adjacent (such as how a Tavern must be adjacent to a House or Mansion), and that required building is demolished or destroyed, the GM may decide that the associated building goes out of business 1d3 turns later. If this occurs, you lose the building's benefit and Unrest increases by 1.

If you build a replacement, on the next Upkeep phase you may attempt an Economy check to reactivate the abandoned building; success means it is occupied and provides its bonuses again. You may keep trying each turn.

Instead of Cathedrals, Shrines, and Temples providing the same bonuses regardless of religious affiliation, they can provide bonuses based on the alignment of the god worshiped.

A Temple: Chaotic Loyalty +2; Evil Economy +2; Good Loyalty +2; Lawful Economy +2; Neutral Stability +2 (apply twice if simply Neutral, not CN or LN). A Cathedral increases these by 4 instead of 2. A Shrine increases one attribute by 1.

Alternatively, a religious building may grant bonuses based on the god's portfolio (e.g., a Temple of a goddess of wine increases Economy and Loyalty each by 2). These replace the building's normal modifiers and should never exceed normal bonuses (+1 Shrine, +4 Temple, +8 Cathedral).

There are four types of optional special edicts: Diplomatic, Exploration, Trade, and Vassalage. Each turn in the Edict phase, after you have issued your Holiday, Improvement, Promotion, and Taxation edicts, you may issue one of these special edicts. See the individual entries below for rules on each type.

Diplomatic edicts allow you to establish an embassy, treaty, or alliance with another kingdom. You must have an official representative present in the other kingdom. Using this edict costs 1d4 BP in travel and other expenses.

Your representative must attempt a Diplomacy check. The DC is determined by the following formula:

Special Size Modifier = kingdom's Size ÷ 5, applied separately for your kingdom and the target kingdom.

Alignment Difference Modifier

Relationship Modifier (per third party)

Attitude

The target kingdom's initial attitude toward you is indifferent (like an NPC). The GM may modify this based on alignment, shared history, culture, warfare, and espionage. Each attitude step worse than helpful increases DC by 5.

Embassy

Attempt a Diplomacy check vs the Diplomatic edict DC. On success, recognition is established; the embassy in the other kingdom grants your kingdom Consumption +1, Economy +2, and Society +2. On failure, you cannot attempt again for 1 year. Failing by 5 or more: Fame −1 and target's attitude worsens by 1 step.

An embassy is a permanent agreement. Closing it requires a Loyalty check; failure means citizens reject severing ties and you must try again next turn. If you attack a kingdom with which you have an embassy, Infamy increases by 1 (or by 1 and Unrest increases by 1 on a failed Loyalty check).

Treaty

Requires an existing embassy. Your envoy attempts three Diplomacy checks vs the Diplomatic edict DC; at least two must succeed. You and the target kingdom's leader then make a series of opposed skill checks (Bluff, Diplomacy, Knowledge, Sense Motive) to determine negotiating advantage.

Balanced treaty: each kingdom's Economy increases by 10% of the other's Economy. Unbalanced treaty: the advantaged kingdom gains 15%, the disadvantaged gains 5%; the advantaged kingdom's Infamy increases by 1.

Alliance

Requires an existing treaty. Your envoy attempts six Diplomacy or Intimidate checks; at least four must succeed. Negotiating advantage is determined as for treaties. Bonuses apply to Stability instead of Economy. Allied kingdoms can move armies through each other's territories. Failure to send aid when an ally is attacked increases Infamy by 1d4.

Multiple Kingdoms: A kingdom may have embassies with any number of kingdoms. For each treaty or alliance after the first, the Economy or Stability bonus is reduced by 1 (minimum +0).

To apply settlement modifiers kingdom-wide, add up the Settlement modifiers for all settlements in your kingdom, divide by 10, and apply the following alignment adjustments: Chaotic +1 Crime; Evil +1 Corruption; Good +1 Society; Lawful +1 Law; Neutral +1 Lore (apply twice if simply Neutral, not CN or LN). Use these totals everywhere in your kingdom. If a settlement has its own settlement modifier, use the higher of the two modifiers for rolls relating to that settlement.

Exploration edicts commission explorers to map unclaimed hexes and prepare them for your kingdom. Financing explorers costs 1d4 BP per month of the expedition, paid in advance. Explorers start at your capital and spend the contracted time traveling, exploring, and mapping unclaimed hexes, then return to your capital.

Explorers note obvious terrain features on the first day in a hex. Each additional day allows Knowledge (geography) and/or Survival checks to locate hidden landmarks (DC 15–30).

If explorers have a hostile encounter while unsupervised, attempt a Stealth check for the expedition (DC = 10 + twice the encounter's CR). If that fails, attempt a Stability check (DC = Control DC + twice the encounter's CR); failure means the explorers are killed, Unrest increases by 1, and the BP investment is lost.

Kingdoms gain notoriety for the actions of their leaders and citizens and for constructing certain buildings. Fame represents a positive perception (culture, learning, honor); Infamy represents a negative one (treachery, corruption, villainy). Fame and Infamy are independent — a kingdom can have both.

• Starting Values: When you found a kingdom, it starts with Fame 1 or Infamy 1 (Ruler's choice). The other starts at 0. Neither can go below 0.
• Settlement Modifiers: Add all Lore and Society modifiers from all settlements and divide by 10; add this to Fame. Add all Corruption and Crime modifiers and divide by 10; add this to Infamy.
• Size Increases: When your kingdom's Size reaches 11, 26, 51, 101, and 201, Fame or Infamy (Ruler's choice) increases by 1.
• Using Fame and Infamy: For every 10 points of Fame, citizens gain +1 on Diplomacy checks to influence government officials of other kingdoms. For every 10 points of Infamy, citizens gain +1 on Intimidate checks to influence government officials of other kingdoms.

The kingdom-building rules presume a feudal monarchy. The following optional government types adjust settlement modifiers to establish different campaign flavors. You may choose one of the following as your kingdom's government.

Declaring Independence

If all leaders agree, divide your kingdom amiably during the Event phase:

1. Decide how many kingdoms to form from the old one.
2. Split hexes, treasury, and mobile assets in a fair manner (proportionate to population or Size).
3. Determine how much Unrest is not from leadership and building modifiers; divide by the number of daughter kingdoms (minimum 1 each).
4. Each daughter kingdom follows the founding steps. Loyalty increases by 1 for each for the next 6 months. Add the split Unrest to each daughter kingdom's total.

If using Diplomatic edicts, you may declare independence via a Diplomatic edict to form an alliance, with the sponsor's initial attitude 2 steps worse than normal.

Forming a Union

If all leaders in each kingdom agree, combine Treasuries and other mobile assets. Average the non-leader-based Unrest of each kingdom (minimum 1). Then follow the founding a kingdom steps. Leaders who change roles treat this as a role change, gaining or losing the relevant bonuses the next turn.

For every 5 full ranks in a relevant skill, a leader may increase their leadership modifier by an additional 1, in addition to the standard ability score bonus.

The GM may want to adjust settlement modifiers based on the settlement's size relative to the standard size categories in the Core Rulebook.

Modifiers: Add the listed number to the settlement's Corruption, Crime, Law, Lore, Productivity, and Society. Danger: Add the listed number to the settlement's Danger value.

Trade edicts allow you to create a trade route with another kingdom, increasing BP gained each month. To plan a trade route, determine the Trade Route Length (TRL) in hexes along the path (roads and rivers count normally; grassland and desert count double; highways and water count as half). Divide TRL by 10 to get the Route Modifier (RM); subtract TRL from your kingdom's Size to get the Length Modifier (LM, minimum 0).

Establishing a trade route requires at least 5 BP investment. When traders first arrive, attempt Economy, Loyalty, and Stability checks:

• All three fail: trade route fails; Fame −1, Unrest +1.
• One succeeds: expedition fails but recovers 1d4 BP per 5 BP invested.
• Two succeed: Economy +1, Treasury + RM + 2d4 BP per 5 BP invested.
• All three succeed: Economy +2, Fame +1, Treasury + RM + 2d4 BP per 5 BP invested.

An established trade route lasts 1 year. A kingdom can maintain one of each type:

• Food: Requires surplus Farms and Fisheries reducing Consumption below 0. Successful route increases Economy by 1 for every 10 Farms and Fisheries.
• Goods: Requires at least 1 Guildhall. Count Guildhalls, Smithies, Shops, Trade Shops, and Tanneries in the starting settlement and divide by 10; successful route increases Economy by that amount.
• Luxuries: Count Alchemists, Caster's Towers, Exotic Artisans, Herbalists, Luxury Stores, and Magic Shops and divide by 10; successful route increases Economy by that amount.
• Raw Materials: Requires at least 1 Foundry to count Mines. Successful route increases Economy by 1 for every 10 Mines, Quarries, and Sawmills.

Vassalage edicts allow you to cede a portion of your lands to a subordinate leader, sponsor a colony, or subjugate a conquered kingdom. You must select a person to take the Viceroy leadership role. Issuing a Vassalage edict costs 1d4 BP plus a starting Treasury grant to the Viceroy (up to 1/4 of your kingdom's Treasury). The vassal functions as a separate entity with its own kingdom scores.

New Vassal or Colony

When creating a new colony or kingdom, you may immediately establish an embassy, treaty, or alliance (your choice) with your new vassal — balanced or unbalanced, at your discretion. These decisions are automatic and do not require rolls.

Subjugation

When subjugating a conquered kingdom, you may immediately establish an embassy, but must follow normal Diplomatic edict rules for treaties or alliances. BP spent on bribes or gifts may be counted toward new improvements or buildings in the vassal kingdom.

Vacancy Penalty

If the vassal kingdom takes a vacancy penalty for having no Viceroy (or a Viceroy neglecting duties), that kingdom also takes the Ruler vacancy penalty. A Consort or Heir from your kingdom may mitigate this penalty while touring the vassal state, but cannot simultaneously mitigate your own kingdom's Ruler vacancy penalty.