I'm thinking a few moves down the chess board here. I have a long standing campaign that is two to three adventures away from the party restoring their hometown that was partially destroyed by a dragon and her army several adventures back. The populace was killed, driven off or enslaved. As I muse over what may or may not happen, I considered that if the party is successful (which is by no means guaranteed) in killing the dragon and reclaiming the city, they would gain a large amount of gold and fame. What should happen to their growing fame and fortune?
The displaced populace would be very grateful and might well instate the paladin as their new lord, the previous duke being "deposed" by the dragon. He is a native son of the city which would also give him credibility.
Would giving a PC a title and a castle be a good or bad idea overall?
I have never had a PC with a fortress and thought it was not terribly fun in Baldur's Gate II (the last time I "played" myself). I worry it would tie the game down to one location and might incite the envy of the other players, who are less amiable (in game). I thought that the cleric might build a temple to his god in the city, which previously did not know his deity. But the third PC is a thief, and I can’t see what I could give him. It might be a way to retire the characters, which if successful in these enterprises would be approaching top level for my world.
Would appreciate your advice.
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I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
Honestly, you seem to have done a decent job analyzing the issue for yourself: a character in a position of authority generally has responsibilities that are difficult to square with the adventuring lifestyle. There are three general solutions:
Change the style of the campaign from 'adventuring' to more political/high society. This generally requires giving everyone an appropriate position (for the thief, a traditional role is something like spymaster). This is a very different play style, so it's not something to do unless (a) you feel comfortable attempting to run a campaign like that, and (b) your players are interested in playing in a campaign like that.
It's an excellent retirement option, either for individual PCs or for the campaign as a whole (have a few wrap-up sessions and the PCs live happily ever after; then start a new campaign with new PCs).
The PC appoints a seneschal and turns into an absentee lord. This is not unheard of historically (Richard the Lion-Hearted is a prime example) but generally an absentee lord is a bad lord, so the players might prefer to not do it.
In any of those cases, I recommend talking to the players.
Honestly, you seem to have done a decent job analyzing the issue for yourself: a character in a position of authority generally has responsibilities that are difficult to square with the adventuring lifestyle. There are three general solutions:
Change the style of the campaign from 'adventuring' to more political/high society. This generally requires giving everyone an appropriate position (for the thief, a traditional role is something like spymaster). This is a very different play style, so it's not something to do unless (a) you feel comfortable attempting to run a campaign like that, and (b) your players are interested in playing in a campaign like that.
It's an excellent retirement option, either for individual PCs or for the campaign as a whole (have a few wrap-up sessions and the PCs live happily ever after; then start a new campaign with new PCs).
The PC appoints a seneschal and turns into an absentee lord. This is not unheard of historically (Richard the Lion-Hearted is a prime example) but generally an absentee lord is a bad lord, so the players might prefer to not do it.
In any of those cases, I recommend talking to the players.
These are good ideas. One additional option would be that the players rebuild the castle and the paladin gets a more honorary title (eg Protector of the Realm) and the party works to stabilize the town and elect or appoint a new leader. A title like that would give him leeway to continue to roam.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
I have a somewhat more developed than typical downtime setup, and when they did the bastion US, i and my fellow DMs cranked out our own version -- and this fits well into what I have.
I also use an honor system -- to earn a bastion, you have to reach a certain honor score (easy enough but takes time). So getting a title (and the specific responsibilities that come with it, as well as the costs that come with a bastion) is something I planned for my PCs being able to have, even though it wasn't something that I put into a story or anything.
So, it becomes a big deal and a part of the story of that character -- and technically makes it easier for them to learn new things and such.
We did such things back in 1e, so I was used to the idea, but I've never developed out a real system before,-- it was just a thing about one of the PCs.
So I think it is a good idea, and but I don't know what I would push a PC into it -- it would still need to come from them (though a hundred desperate villagers can be good motivation).
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Only a DM since 1980 (3000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA / Mixed, Bi, Trans, Woman / No longer welcome in the US, apparently
Wyrlde: Adventures in the Seven Cities .-=] Lore Book | Patreon | Wyrlde YT [=-. An original Setting for 5e, a whole solar system of adventure. Ongoing updates, exclusies, more. Not Talking About It / Dubbed The Oracle in the Cult of Mythology Nerds
Have the PC's retire and become patrons for the next campaign.
Use the bastion to allow for skill building, language acquisition, and training.
Give fealty to the Lord and gain new opportunities in court and in the field. Perhaps, as a representative to a foreign land with a Writ of Mandamus to act on behalf of the Lord.
One of the groups I play in owns a bar in Waterdeep with some apartments above - the bar runs itself we pay a few guards from the local thieves guild to keep an eye on the place while we are adventuring and always have a fun home base to come back to. It does add a layer of fun to the campaign and then occasionally something nutty happens and someone burned down the bar - perfect gold sink or opportunity for a one shot to go snuff out the evil doers.
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Hey fellow DMs.
I'm thinking a few moves down the chess board here. I have a long standing campaign that is two to three adventures away from the party restoring their hometown that was partially destroyed by a dragon and her army several adventures back. The populace was killed, driven off or enslaved. As I muse over what may or may not happen, I considered that if the party is successful (which is by no means guaranteed) in killing the dragon and reclaiming the city, they would gain a large amount of gold and fame. What should happen to their growing fame and fortune?
The displaced populace would be very grateful and might well instate the paladin as their new lord, the previous duke being "deposed" by the dragon. He is a native son of the city which would also give him credibility.
Would giving a PC a title and a castle be a good or bad idea overall?
I have never had a PC with a fortress and thought it was not terribly fun in Baldur's Gate II (the last time I "played" myself). I worry it would tie the game down to one location and might incite the envy of the other players, who are less amiable (in game). I thought that the cleric might build a temple to his god in the city, which previously did not know his deity. But the third PC is a thief, and I can’t see what I could give him. It might be a way to retire the characters, which if successful in these enterprises would be approaching top level for my world.
Would appreciate your advice.
Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
Honestly, you seem to have done a decent job analyzing the issue for yourself: a character in a position of authority generally has responsibilities that are difficult to square with the adventuring lifestyle. There are three general solutions:
In any of those cases, I recommend talking to the players.
have the theif inducted into the local Mafia.
Race: Not Human. that's for sure
Class: Godless monster in human form bent on extending their natural life to unnatural extremes/general of the goose horde
Alignment: Lawful Evil
fun fact: i gain more power the more you post on my forum threads. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
King Of TVs.
It might be worth having a look at the Bastion rules in your the forthcoming new DMG.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1828-exploring-bastions-from-the-2024-dungeon-masters
These are good ideas. One additional option would be that the players rebuild the castle and the paladin gets a more honorary title (eg Protector of the Realm) and the party works to stabilize the town and elect or appoint a new leader. A title like that would give him leeway to continue to roam.
Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
Thanks. I read through your referenced web page.
Velstitzen
I am a 40 something year old physician who DMs for a group of 40 something year old doctors. We play a hybrid game, mostly based on 2nd edition rules with some homebrew and 5E components.
I have a somewhat more developed than typical downtime setup, and when they did the bastion US, i and my fellow DMs cranked out our own version -- and this fits well into what I have.
I also use an honor system -- to earn a bastion, you have to reach a certain honor score (easy enough but takes time). So getting a title (and the specific responsibilities that come with it, as well as the costs that come with a bastion) is something I planned for my PCs being able to have, even though it wasn't something that I put into a story or anything.
So, it becomes a big deal and a part of the story of that character -- and technically makes it easier for them to learn new things and such.
We did such things back in 1e, so I was used to the idea, but I've never developed out a real system before,-- it was just a thing about one of the PCs.
So I think it is a good idea, and but I don't know what I would push a PC into it -- it would still need to come from them (though a hundred desperate villagers can be good motivation).
Only a DM since 1980 (3000+ Sessions) / PhD, MS, MA / Mixed, Bi, Trans, Woman / No longer welcome in the US, apparently
Wyrlde: Adventures in the Seven Cities
.-=] Lore Book | Patreon | Wyrlde YT [=-.
An original Setting for 5e, a whole solar system of adventure. Ongoing updates, exclusies, more.
Not Talking About It / Dubbed The Oracle in the Cult of Mythology Nerds
Have the PC's retire and become patrons for the next campaign.
Use the bastion to allow for skill building, language acquisition, and training.
Give fealty to the Lord and gain new opportunities in court and in the field. Perhaps, as a representative to a foreign land with a Writ of Mandamus to act on behalf of the Lord.
One of the groups I play in owns a bar in Waterdeep with some apartments above - the bar runs itself we pay a few guards from the local thieves guild to keep an eye on the place while we are adventuring and always have a fun home base to come back to. It does add a layer of fun to the campaign and then occasionally something nutty happens and someone burned down the bar - perfect gold sink or opportunity for a one shot to go snuff out the evil doers.