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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

Pathfinder RPG (1st Edition) Pathfinder RPG (2nd Edition) Starfinder RPG

Rules Index | GM Screen | Player's Guide
Kingmaker Adventure Path / Appendix 2: Kingdoms

Kingdom Rules

Source Kingmaker Adventure Path pg. 533
A kingdom's Size reflects the complexity of its governance, its influence on other nations, and its access to resources. A kingdom's Size also determines its Resource Die and other statistics. The actual total population of a kingdom is a function of its Size as well, but population numbers do not have a direct effect on these rules.

Size: The total number of hexes in the kingdom. When a kingdom's Size reaches 10, 25, 50, and 100, it gains kingdom XP as a milestone award.

Type of Nation: These are sample placeholder names for the level of prominence of a kingdom, but feel free to adjust.

Resource Die: The type of Resource Die a kingdom rolls.

Control DC Modifier: As a kingdom increases in Size, it grows more difficult to control. This modifier increases a kingdom's base Control DC.

Commodity Storage: This number indicates the maximum units of a specific Commodity that can be stored in a kingdom. Building specialized structures can increase this number on a per-Commodity basis.

Kingdom Size

SizeType of NationResource DieControl DC ModifierCommodity Storage
1–9Territory1d4+04
10–24Province1d6+18
25–49State1d8+212
50–99Country1d10+316
100+Dominion1d12+420

Resource Die

Source Kingmaker Adventure Path pg. 533
A kingdom's economy is based on the sum of the productive activity of its citizens, and that activity is reflected in a quantity of resources that the kingdom can tap into each month. These resources are represented by Resource Points (see below) which are determined by Resource Dice, with the number of dice being equal to the nation's level + 4. When a kingdom is first founded, each Resource Die is a d4, but as the kingdom advances in Size, its Resource Die increases to d6, d8, d10, or d12 (see the Kingdom Size table).

Resource Points

Source Kingmaker Adventure Path pg. 533
A kingdom's Resource Points (RP) represent a combination of the work of a kingdom's citizens and the time spent on jobs, talent, labor, tools, and funds to handle this toil. Resource points do not directly represent amounts of coins in a treasury, but rather an abstraction of the nation's total amount of available funds to handle tasks. Since luck and demand play a part in a kingdom's resources, the exact total of RP a kingdom will have each turn varies; a new total of RP is rolled at the start of each Kingdom turn using Resource Dice. Any RP not spent by the end of that turn convert to kingdom XP at a rate of 1 RP to 1 XP.

Whenever the kingdom is forced to spend RP that would drop it below 0, spend all the RP the kingdom has and then increase a Ruin of the PCs' choice by 1.

Ruin

Source Kingmaker Adventure Path pg. 533
As bad luck, natural disasters, unexpected shortages, or even warfare damage a kingdom, it becomes Ruined in one of four categories opposing the kingdom's four ability scores. Ruin rises and falls as Kingdom turns progress, but if it rises too high, it can cause lasting or even permanent harm to the kingdom.

Culture is opposed by Corruption, which represents citizens falling to debauchery, delving into forbidden lore, pursuing unethical research practices, or destroying their own heritage and history.

Economy is opposed by Crime, which includes theft, smuggling, and enterprises that suffocate prosperity.

Stability is opposed by Decay, representing physical harm, neglect, or degradation of the kingdom, its people, and its infrastructure.

Loyalty is opposed by Strife, which includes acts of treachery, subterfuge, bribery, violence, abuse of power, and infighting between groups.

Accruing Ruin: As Ruin accumulates, the categories gain points. These point totals are persistent, decreasing only in specific circumstances, but most often when a Ruin's point total exceeds that Ruin's threshold. Other events can reduce or increase a Ruin's point total as well—typically as the result of kingdom activities or events.

Ruin Threshold: Each Ruin has a threshold; a point at which the penalties associated with that Ruin increase. A Ruin's initial threshold is 10, but each threshold increases as the kingdom levels up and becomes more able to withstand Ruin in all its forms. Whenever a Ruin exceeds its threshold, reduce that Ruin's total points by an amount equal to its threshold, and increase the Ruin's penalty by 1.

Ruin Penalty: A Ruin penalty applies to all checks using that Ruin's associated ability score. For example, if your kingdom has a Corruption penalty of –4, it takes a –4 item penalty on all Culture checks.

Reducing Ruin Penalties: When a kingdom reaches 5th level, and then again every 3 levels thereafter, it gains Ruin resistance; each time it does so, it has the opportunity to reduce an existing Ruin penalty to 0. This is an extremely effective way to manage a Ruin penalty that's crept particularly high, but it's also an extremely limited resource, as a kingdom will only get, at most, 6 opportunities to adjust a Ruin penalty in this way over the course of a campaign. The Repair Reputation activity can reduce existing Ruin penalties, although at a much slower rate. Other activities or events can reduce Ruin penalties as well, as detailed in the text for each. Finally, if circumstances ever allow for a Ruin's points to be reduced and that particular Ruin is already at 0 points, instead of reducing Ruin to a negative value you can instead attempt a DC 16 flat check; on a success, reduce that Ruin's penalty by 1 to a minimum of 0.

Unrest

Source Kingmaker Adventure Path pg. 534
Unrest represents unhappiness among the kingdom's citizens, who show their lack of confidence in the leadership by balking at edicts, refusing to follow commands, and disrupting local economies through boycotts, walkouts, and refusal to talk to emissaries. Unrest is a persistent value that remains from turn to turn and can be adjusted during Kingdom turns as events play out.

Unrest 1: If a kingdom has at least 1 point of Unrest, take a –1 status penalty to all kingdom checks.

Unrest 5: If a kingdom has 5 or more points of Unrest, take a –2 status penalty to all kingdom checks.

Unrest 10: If a kingdom has 10 or more points of Unrest, take a –3 status penalty to all kingdom checks.

Unrest 15: If a kingdom has 15 or more points of Unrest, take a –4 status penalty to all kingdom checks.

Expanding a Kingdom

Source Kingmaker Adventure Path pg. 534
A kingdom grows one hex at a time on the Stolen Lands map, via Region activities like Claim Hex and Clear Hex. The PCs can pursue these activities during the Activity phase of each Kingdom turn.

Losing Hexes

Source Kingmaker Adventure Path pg. 534
It's possible to lose control of a hex. When this happens, the kingdom immediately loses any benefits from terrain improvements in that hex, and all settlements in that hex become Freeholds. Monsters may move into an abandoned hex, increasing the chance for random encounters, and if you wish to reclaim the hex, you may need to clear it first of hostile creatures. Each hex lost decreases a kingdom's Size by 1. This affects the kingdom's statistics, such as the type of its Resource Die.

If one or more hexes are lost in such a way that it breaks the connection between parts of a kingdom, so that all of the hexes are no longer contiguous with other hexes of the kingdom, whatever portion of the territory contains the capital becomes the primary territory and the rest of the kingdom becomes its secondary territory. All Kingdom skill checks made to resolve issues associated with secondary territories take a –4 circumstance penalty. When a kingdom starts a turn with any number of secondary territories, increase Unrest by 1. Once a secondary territory is connected to the primary territory via at least one hex, it becomes part of the primary territory.

If a kingdom is reduced to 0 hexes, whether through Unrest, a disaster, war with another kingdom, or any other effect, the PCs are at risk of having their rule end. On their next Kingdom turn, they must claim at least one new hex and establish or claim at least one settlement, or their kingdom is considered totally destroyed, and they must start over. In this case, you should have the PCs undertake a new adventure of your design to secure a new charter.

Diplomatic Relations

Source Kingmaker Adventure Path pg. 534
Diplomatic relations refers to acts of leadership that engage with other nations. In order to begin diplomatic relations with another group, PCs must first successfully Send a Diplomatic Envoy to the target group. When they establish diplomatic relations with a group, record the name of that group on the kingdom sheet. Once the PCs have established diplomatic relations with a group, they can use the Establish Trade Agreement and Request Foreign Aid Leadership activities.

Trade Agreements

Source Kingmaker Adventure Path pg. 534
The PCs can bolster their kingdom's economy by Establishing Trade Agreements with other groups with whom they have diplomatic relations. To do so, they must first successfully perform the Establish Trade Agreement activity. There is no need to record the actual physical route of the Trade Agreement on the map, nor does distance play a significant factor.

Commodities

Source Kingmaker Adventure Path pg. 535
As a kingdom grows, it stockpiles resources beyond those required for day-to-day life. These resources are known as Commodities and are used to build structures in settlements, to trade for RP using the Trade Commodities activity, or to expend during kingdom events.

The types of Commodities that are available include Food, Lumber, Luxuries, Ore, and Stone. As kingdoms accumulate or expend these Commodities, track the numbers on the kingdom sheet. Unless specialized storage improvements have been built in its settlements, a kingdom is limited to a maximum number of stored Commodities in each category as determined by its Size (see the Kingdom Size table). Commodities gathered in excess of this storage limit are lost.

Each type of Commodity can be gathered by special activities as detailed below, but Commodities can also be discovered via kingdom events or while exploring the Stolen Lands, earned as rewards for quests, purchased from allies via Purchase Commodities, or acquired via Establishing Trade Agreements.

Food stockpiles are expended to pay for Consumption during the Upkeep phase of a Kingdom turn, but also when faced with famines or other disasters, and to keep armies fed during times of war (as described in those events). Food is gathered with Harvest Crops, Go Fishing, or Gather Livestock.

Lumber is used to build structures during the Civic Activities step of the Activity phase of a Kingdom turn, and it is gathered from lumber camps built by Establish Work Site.

Luxuries are used to build specialized structures or are expended during certain encounters, generally those with high stakes or magical effects. Luxuries can be found during adventuring, created via Craft Luxuries, or earned during certain events.

Ore is used to build structures. Ore is gathered from mines built by Establish Work Site.

Stone is used to build structures and is gathered from quarries built by Establish Work Site.

Terrain Features

Source Kingmaker Adventure Path pg. 535
Many hexes have features that grant benefits once claimed. In some cases, certain Region activities must be taken before a hex's benefits can be enjoyed. These terrain features offer unique opportunities for a kingdom to add something special to its national character and may improve one or more of the kingdom's statistics. Some hexes offer one-of-a-kind benefits which are fully described within the adventure itself; more common terrain features are presented here.

A single hex can contain only one terrain feature. If you want to construct a feature in a hex that already contains a feature, you must first Clear the Hex unless otherwise specified in the text.

Bridge: A hex that contains an easy land route over a river (be it a bridge or a ford) bypasses the normal increase in RP cost to Build Roads in that hex. A Settlement can be built in a hex with a Bridge; doing so allows that Settlement to start with a Bridge structure on one water border.

Farmland: No Farmland hexes exist in the Stolen Lands at the start of Kingmaker; they must be created by the PCs via the Establish Farmland activity. Each Farmland hex reduces a kingdom's Consumption score by 1, provided the Farmland lies in the area of influence of one of its settlements. Settlements cannot be built in a Farmland hex. Some kingdom events can result in Farmland being destroyed. When that happens, the hex loses its Farmland status. To restore it, a PC must successfully use the Establish Farmland activity on the hex during a future Kingdom turn.

Freehold: A Freehold is a special kind of Settlement— one that's not part of your kingdom. It may be of any size, from a village to a city. If you can convince the locals that your leadership is worthy, they may choose to join your nation and become your citizens. Bringing a Freehold into a kingdom requires a successful Pledge of Fealty leadership action. When a new settlement joins a kingdom, immediately add that settlement and its structures to the kingdom (as detailed in the encounter text). The kingdom gains no XP for any improvements already built there. Any future improvements built there grant normal XP awards.

Landmark: A Landmark is a site of great pride, mystery, or wonder, such as an outcropping in the shape of a human face, a supernaturally ancient tree, or a lake with an unusual color. Adding Landmarks to a kingdom inspires its artists and bolsters kingdom morale. When the PCs add a Landmark hex to a kingdom, reduce Unrest by 1d4, and until the end of your next Kingdom turn, all Culture- and Economy-based skill checks gain a +2 circumstance bonus. When a kingdom claims its first Landmark hex, it gains 40 kingdom XP as a milestone award.

Refuge: A Refuge is a place where people can shelter in safety, such as a hidden valley, a cave system, an isle in the middle of a river, or similar naturally defensible location that can be used as a safe fallback point, storage location, or even a guard post or prison. At the GM's option, creature lairs may function as potential Refuges when claimed, provided the creatures that dwell there are defeated or allied with. When you claim a Refuge hex, reduce one of the kingdom's Ruins by 1, and until the end of your next Kingdom turn, all Loyalty- and Stability-based skill checks gain a +2 circumstance bonus. When a kingdom claims its first Refuge hex, it gains 40 kingdom XP as a milestone award.

Resource: Any hex indicated as being a particularly dense or lucrative source of Lumber, Ore, or Stone makes for an excellent place to Establish a Work Site. If the PCs Establish a Work Site in such a hex that focuses on the appropriate type of Commodity (as indicated in the encounter text), all Commodities produced are doubled.

Ruins: Ruins in a hex consist of a partially destroyed structure, often one that has been claimed by bandits, monsters, or other inhabitants. If you Claim and Clear a hex with Ruins in it, you can thereafter use what remains of the Ruins as the basis of an appropriate type of Settlement structure (as indicated by the encounter text), reducing the cost of that structure by half.

Settlement: A Settlement can be a village, town, city, or metropolis; see Settlements for full details.

Structure: If the PCs Clear a hex that contains a Structure, they can automatically add that structure to a settlement founded there, free of cost. Each specific hex encounter area in this Adventure Path notes any types of structure it contains, as appropriate.

Work Site: A Work Site generates commodities each Kingdom turn once you establish it via Establish Work Site. A Work Site established in a regular hex generates 1 Lumber, 1 Stone, or 1 Ore, depending on what type of site it is. Unlike most features, a Work Site can be constructed in a hex that already features a Resource, provided the Work Site is focused on harvesting that specific Resource. A Work Site established in a Resource hex doubles its Commodity production to 2. Work Site Commodities accumulate during the Upkeep phase of a Kingdom turn. Some kingdom events can result in Work Sites being destroyed. When that happens, the hex loses its Work Site status; to restore it, you must successfully perform the Establish Work Site activity on the hex during a future Kingdom turn.

Fame and Infamy

Source Kingmaker Adventure Path pg. 537
Fame and Infamy represent a kingdom's reputation as it's regarded by its neighbors. When the PCs create their kingdom, they must decide if their kingdom aims to become famous or infamous—the choice is largely cosmetic but does impact where and how you gain points in either. For example, some structures can grant these points when built, but only if their Fame/Infamy trait matches that of the kingdom.

Kingdoms initially have a maximum of 3 Fame/ Infamy points at any one time. These can be used in one of two ways. Neither of these is an action, but the entire party must agree to spend the point. All Fame/ Infamy points left unspent at the end of a Kingdom turn are lost.

Spend 1 Fame/Infamy Point to reroll a Kingdom skill check. You must use the second result. This is a fortune effect (which means you can't use more than 1 Fame/ Infamy point on a check).

Spend all your Fame/Infamy Points to stave off the effects of anarchy or ruination. You can do this if a kingdom's Unrest would result in anarchy (in which case your Unrest is instead set at 1 point below the value at which anarchy occurs), or if an increase to a Ruin would increase the ruin penalty (in which case the Ruin is instead set at one point below the value at which a ruin penalty would accrue).

Earning Fame or Infamy Points

Source Kingmaker Adventure Path pg. 537
You earn 1 Fame or Infamy point (as appropriate) automatically at the start of each Kingdom turn. You can earn additional points in the following ways.

Achieve a Critical Success: Whenever you roll a critical success on a Kingdom skill check, gain 1 Fame/ Infamy point.

Build a Famous/Infamous Structure: Certain settlement structures grant 1 Fame or Infamy point when they are built. If your kingdom builds a structure that opposes your Fame or Infamy, you lose 1 point.

Create a Masterpiece: Once per Kingdom turn, you can attempt to Create a Masterpiece to potentially gain points, at the risk of losing points.

Undertake a Noteworthy Act: At the GM's discretion, a noteworthy act taken by a PC during play grants an additional automatic Fame or Infamy point (as appropriate) at the start of the next Kingdom turn.