Archives of Nethys
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Kingmaker Adventure Path
Appendix 2: Kingdoms
Leveling Up your Kingdom
Kingdoms increase in level by gaining kingdom experience points (XP). At each new level, a kingdom improves attributes and focus areas beyond those provided by its basic background and the specific choices made at the time of its founding.
At the end of a Kingdom turn, if the kingdom has at least 1,000 XP and has not yet reached its maximum level (see below), increase the kingdom's level by 1 and deduct 1,000 from its current XP total. (The kingdom's level can't increase by more than 1 on a single Kingdom turn.) Note the kingdom's new level on the kingdom sheet. If the kingdom has any leftover XP, they are retained and count toward gaining the next level.
The kingdom's maximum level is equal to the party's level; it can never exceed the level of the PCs themselves. So, for example, if the PCs are still 1st level when the kingdom reaches 1,000 XP, the kingdom cannot level up yet; it will level up at the end of the first Kingdom turn after the PCs have reached 2nd level. (It's possible for a kingdom to accumulate a large reserve of XP, at which point the party's level effectively determines when that kingdom levels up rather than just XP accumulation. This is fine.)
When your kingdom gains a level, each army you have gains a level as well. See Appendix 3 for additional details on armies.
As the kingdom advances, it gains the abilities described on these two pages. Abilities gained at levels higher than first list the level at which they are gained next to their name.
At the end of a Kingdom turn, if the kingdom has at least 1,000 XP and has not yet reached its maximum level (see below), increase the kingdom's level by 1 and deduct 1,000 from its current XP total. (The kingdom's level can't increase by more than 1 on a single Kingdom turn.) Note the kingdom's new level on the kingdom sheet. If the kingdom has any leftover XP, they are retained and count toward gaining the next level.
The kingdom's maximum level is equal to the party's level; it can never exceed the level of the PCs themselves. So, for example, if the PCs are still 1st level when the kingdom reaches 1,000 XP, the kingdom cannot level up yet; it will level up at the end of the first Kingdom turn after the PCs have reached 2nd level. (It's possible for a kingdom to accumulate a large reserve of XP, at which point the party's level effectively determines when that kingdom levels up rather than just XP accumulation. This is fine.)
When your kingdom gains a level, each army you have gains a level as well. See Appendix 3 for additional details on armies.
As the kingdom advances, it gains the abilities described on these two pages. Abilities gained at levels higher than first list the level at which they are gained next to their name.
Kingdom Advancement
| Level | Control DC | Kingdom features |
| 1 | 14 | Charter, government, heartland, initial proficiencies, favored land, settlement construction (village) |
| 2 | 15 | Kingdom feat |
| 3 | 16 | Settlement construction (town), skill increase |
| 4 | 18 | Expansion expert, fine living, Kingdom feat |
| 5 | 20 | Ability boosts, ruin resistance, skill increase |
| 6 | 22 | Kingdom feat |
| 7 | 23 | Skill increase |
| 8 | 24 | Experienced leadership +2, Kingdom feat, ruin resistance |
| 9 | 26 | Expansion expert (Claim Hex 3 times/turn), settlement construction (city), skill increase |
| 10 | 27 | Ability boosts, Kingdom feat, life of luxury |
| 11 | 28 | Ruin resistance, skill increase |
| 12 | 30 | Civic planning, Kingdom feat |
| 13 | 31 | Skill increase |
| 14 | 32 | Kingdom feat, ruin resistance |
| 15 | 34 | Ability boosts, settlement construction (metropolis), skill increase |
| 16 | 35 | Experienced leadership +3, Kingdom feat |
| 17 | 36 | Ruin resistance, skill increase |
| 18 | 38 | Kingdom feat |
| 19 | 39 | Skill increase |
| 20 | 40 | Ability boosts, envy of the world, Kingdom feat, ruin resistance |
Control DC
The more powerful a kingdom grows, the more difficult it becomes to control it. The base Control DC for your kingdom is set by the kingdom's level—fortunately, as you increase in level, your ability to successfully utilize your skills grows as well.
Initial Proficiencies
At 1st level, a kingdom receives the trained proficiency rank in two Kingdom skills gained from your initial choice of government and in up to four additional Kingdom skills determined by your invested leaders, giving you a proficiency bonus to checks using these skills equal to your kingdom level plus 2. Proficiencies cannot be changed, even if the kingdom's government or leaders later change.
Favored Land
Your heartland's terrain becomes your kingdom's favored land—the wilderness terrain that your people feel the strongest emotional ties to and to which your resource gatherers tend to flock. Once per Kingdom turn, during the Region Activities step of the Activity phase, you can attempt two Region activities simultaneously as long as both activities take place in the same hex and that hex contains the same terrain as your heartland. You take a –2 penalty to Kingdom skill checks made during these two activities.
Settlement Construction
You can establish villages in your kingdom immediately. At 3rd level, you can expand villages into towns. At 9th level, you can expand towns into cities. And at 15th level, you can expand cities into metropolises.
As villages grow into larger settlements, you not only gain more room to build, but the maximum item bonus you can gain from that settlement's structures increases as well (see Settlement Types).
As villages grow into larger settlements, you not only gain more room to build, but the maximum item bonus you can gain from that settlement's structures increases as well (see Settlement Types).
Kingdom Feats 2nd
At 2nd level, and then every 2 levels thereafter, the kingdom gains a Kingdom feat.
Skill Increase (3rd)
At 3rd level and every 2 levels thereafter, your kingdom gains a skill increase. You can use this to increase your rank to trained in one skill in which your kingdom is untrained, or to increase your rank to expert in one skill in which your kingdom is trained.
Starting at 7th level, you can use your skill increases to increase your kingdom's proficiency to master in a skill in which your kingdom is already an expert. Beginning at 15th level, you can use them to increase your proficiency to legendary in a skill in which your kingdom is already a master.
Starting at 7th level, you can use your skill increases to increase your kingdom's proficiency to master in a skill in which your kingdom is already an expert. Beginning at 15th level, you can use them to increase your proficiency to legendary in a skill in which your kingdom is already a master.
Expansion Expert (4th)
Your kingdom is better at expanding its territory. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to skill checks made to Claim Hex and can attempt to Claim Hex up to twice during a Kingdom turn.
At 9th level, you can attempt to Claim Hex up to three times during a Kingdom turn.
At 9th level, you can attempt to Claim Hex up to three times during a Kingdom turn.
Fine Living (4th)
Your people celebrate your leadership by indulging you with feasts and finery. All PCs associated with the kingdom enjoy a Fine standard of living at no cost whenever they're in the kingdom. Any PCs in hostile wilderness, a monster-filled dungeon, or otherwise cut off from their citizens must provide their own sustenance as usual even if they are within the boundaries of their kingdom.
You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to all checks made to Craft or Earn Income while in your kingdom.
You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to all checks made to Craft or Earn Income while in your kingdom.
Ability Boosts (5th)
At 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter, you boost two different kingdom ability scores. You can use these ability boosts to increase your kingdom's ability scores above 18. Boosting an ability score increases it by 2 if it starts out below 18, or by 1 if it's already 18 or above.
Ruin Resistance (5th)
At 5th level and every 3 levels thereafter, your kingdom becomes more resistant to Ruin. Choose one of the four Ruin categories and increase its threshold by 2. When you do so, reset that Ruin's penalty to 0. See Ruin for more information.
Experienced Leadership (8th)
Invested leadership roles in your kingdom now grant a +2 status bonus to kingdom checks associated with their leadership role's key ability.
At 16th level, this increases to a +3 status bonus.
At 16th level, this increases to a +3 status bonus.
Life of Luxury (10th)
Your people lavish you with every creature comfort. This is identical to Fine Living, but all PC leaders enjoy an Extravagant standard of living at no cost whenever they're in the kingdom. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to all checks made to Craft or Earn Income while in your kingdom.
Civic Planning (12th)
During the Civic Activities step of the Activities phase of a Kingdom turn, one settlement of the party's choice can attempt two Civic activities rather than one. The second Civic activity occurs after all other settlements have taken their individual Civic activities.
Envy of the World (20th)
Your kingdom is one of the world's prominent nations. The first time in a Kingdom turn when your kingdom would gain Unrest or Ruin, ignore that increase. You can ignore additional increases to Unrest or Ruin later in the same turn as well, but you must spend a Fame or Infamy point each time you do so. Your maximum Fame or Infamy point total increases by 1.
Shelyn's Corner
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