{"id":197,"date":"2018-05-01T21:06:49","date_gmt":"2018-05-02T02:06:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/?p=197"},"modified":"2018-05-01T21:26:55","modified_gmt":"2018-05-02T02:26:55","slug":"domain-level-play-part-4-opportunities-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/2018\/05\/01\/domain-level-play-part-4-opportunities-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"Domain Level Play Part 4 – Opportunities & Ideas"},"content":{"rendered":"

Domain level play not only offers new ways to interact with the fantasy world but can offer a change of pace.\u00a0 <\/span>Now that players control armed forces you can offer your players a distraction from the regular campaign.\u00a0 <\/span>Using mass combat rules (ACKS offers some<\/a> and I believe Birthright does as well) you can assign a regiment of troops to each player and have a strategic engagement.\u00a0 <\/span>Perhaps one player defends the central keep against marauding orcs while another has the cavalry.\u00a0 <\/span>Other players take archers or foot soldiers and work to keep the orc army contained and then eliminated.<\/p>\n

If the game master would like to try a side story involving intrigue it\u2019s much easier to pull off within a player\u2019s domain.\u00a0 <\/span>Political or diplomatic stories of any kind can be difficult for a traveling party with no roots.\u00a0 <\/span>Defending a location takes on new dimensions if the players know they can\u2019t just skip town if things get ugly.\u00a0 <\/span>When it\u2019s a player\u2019s domain and a visiting lord (and his troops) threaten to tear the town up if he\u2019s insulted, the players care.<\/p>\n

When domain level play is introduced it is an excellent opportunity to reinforce the realities of medieval life and mindsets.\u00a0 <\/span>A lord should think of a wife and producing heirs.\u00a0 <\/span>If he disappears on a journey the domain will descend into chaos without an heir.\u00a0 <\/span>There\u2019s no need to bring romantic scenes into your game.\u00a0 <\/span>Have a marriage happen off camera and take it from there.\u00a0 <\/span>What about reputation?\u00a0 <\/span>The reputation of the realm and its master are closely linked.\u00a0 <\/span>If miscreants start spreading malicious rumors they can\u2019t be ignored.\u00a0 <\/span>What other lords think of the realm will start mattering to the realm\u2019s future.\u00a0 <\/span>Trade routes will dry up if they think the domain\u2019s lord is a coward.\u00a0 <\/span>Merchants don\u2019t want to send their caravans to a town that won\u2019t be properly defended when disaster strikes.\u00a0 <\/span>Also, what does the player want their domain to become known for?\u00a0 <\/span>What is the desired future for their subjects?<\/p>\n

Medieval society will start becoming a little more real if you make it known that the player ignores important residents at their own peril.\u00a0 <\/span>If the merchant guild becomes unhappy, taxes will see a decrease.\u00a0 <\/span>If a popular local priest is slighted it will cause unrest.<\/p>\n

Finally, medieval society was constantly concerned about defense.\u00a0 <\/span>Modern players don\u2019t want to look like war mongers but if the domain\u2019s defenses and defenders aren\u2019t properly maintained invaders will appear.\u00a0 <\/span>Make them devote a considerable part of their budget to military matters.<\/p>\n

Roleplaying Considerations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Domain level play opens up numerous roleplaying possibilities.\u00a0 <\/span>Is the new domain its own city state?\u00a0 <\/span>Will the player\u2019s character claim a title or simply be acknowledged as a warlord or lord mayor?\u00a0 <\/span>Is there a certain kind of subjects the player will try to attract?\u00a0 <\/span>Who is living nearby and how does the player want to relate to them?\u00a0 <\/span>Going one\u2019s own way has total freedom but fewer opportunities for allies.<\/p>\n

The player may want to extend the realm of a neighboring ruler.\u00a0 <\/span>Once the domain is established the player can offer fealty to that ruler and become a member of the nation\u2019s nobility.\u00a0 <\/span>There will be some strings attached but that just means roleplaying opportunities.\u00a0 <\/span>If you don\u2019t want to focus the campaign on one player\u2019s domain, make the ruler grateful to the player and make taxes and obligations light.\u00a0 <\/span>The ruler may waive taxes altogether if the player defends the border.\u00a0 <\/span>That player will have an easier time finding allies among the nation they\u2019ve joined.<\/p>\n

If your campaign has time to focus on a domain, let the player repulse their first invasion.\u00a0 <\/span>Once a new domain appears it\u2019s only natural that neighboring groups, whether civilized nations or monstrous hordes, will see it as a threat.\u00a0 <\/span>An army will approach and attempt to lay siege.\u00a0 <\/span>If the player successfully defends the domain it will feel more like they\u2019ve earned it.\u00a0 <\/span>Relations with neighbors will also have a reason to settle down.\u00a0 <\/span>After this, more commoners will have the confidence to settle in the new domain.<\/p>\n

Instead of building a new stronghold, what about renovating an old one?\u00a0 <\/span>Legends might be attached to the ancient site.\u00a0 <\/span>Rumors of a subterranean complex carved out long ago may prove true when a mysterious door in the basement is discovered.<\/p>\n

Higher level characters should be standing before kings and arch wizards.\u00a0 <\/span>They should be dealing with threats that affect whole continents or even worlds.\u00a0 <\/span>It makes more sense that leaders of kingdoms would be sought out by kings and arch wizards.\u00a0 <\/span>Dungeon & Dragons Fifth Edition\u2019s higher tiers of play click better when domain level play is involved.<\/p>\n

When a player is directing a domain they will be more inclined to interact with the fantasy world the game master is running.\u00a0 <\/span>They have more reason to listen to news from afar and care about trade routes, earthquakes and orc incursions.\u00a0 <\/span>If the players have domains near each other the whole party will have an investment in a region on the map.\u00a0 <\/span>Perhaps one domain is on the coast and that player keeps an eye on trade.\u00a0 <\/span>The next domain is on the plains and is the bread basket to feed the region.\u00a0 <\/span>It will be the most vulnerable to invasions.\u00a0 <\/span>The next domain is by the foothills and old creatures that dwell in the deep forests must be considered.\u00a0 <\/span>The fey are nearby and influence events.\u00a0 <\/span>The next domain is in the mountains.\u00a0 <\/span>This is the place where the party hides out when catastrophes shake the realm.\u00a0 <\/span>Giants and dwarfs live nearby and their affairs unavoidably effect the domain.<\/p>\n

Ideas<\/strong><\/p>\n

DLP Lite:\u00a0 <\/span>If you don\u2019t want to go the whole nine yards, give your players a taste of domain level play without all the hassles.\u00a0 <\/span>Make every member of the party become advisors to a ruler.\u00a0 <\/span>One player leads the army, another the spy network, one leads the court sages\/wizards, etc.\u00a0 <\/span>The players will hear about the weighty matters brought before the ruler without it being entirely on their shoulders.\u00a0 <\/span>Each player will direct a group of NPCs and see to one aspect of the domain.\u00a0 <\/span>Domain level play is meant for higher level characters (around level 9 or so) but this option can be offered to characters of any level.<\/p>\n

Temporary DLP:\u00a0 <\/span>Have a section of your campaign be an assignment from a ruler.\u00a0 <\/span>The party is given supplies and followers and sent to a dangerous region to establish a town.\u00a0 <\/span>Monsters will have to be subdued, the growing town\u2019s problems will have to be addressed and when it\u2019s all done the players can walk away if they don\u2019t like it.<\/p>\n

Weighty Concerns:\u00a0 <\/span>Domain level play makes more sense the higher the characters\u2019 levels become.\u00a0 <\/span>To overcome a truly powerful villain the players must gather immense resources.\u00a0 <\/span>Perhaps expensive magical research must be conducted to create the right spell (or uncover it).\u00a0 <\/span>Expensive materials may be needed to create magical weapons to stand against the villain\u2019s lieutenants.\u00a0 <\/span>Expensive expeditions must be funded and sent out to retrieve rare items.\u00a0 <\/span>While the player characters weaken the villain\u2019s allies directly, the players\u2019 domains are raising tax money or mining materials to pay for all these expensive and necessary things.\u00a0 <\/span>What happens if the commoners think their taxes are too high?\u00a0 <\/span>What if rumors spread that the players are using the domains\u2019 hard-earned wealth for dissolute living?\u00a0 <\/span>How do you explain where the money is going?<\/p>\n

Double Trouble:\u00a0 <\/span>A neighboring domain is sending an army to siege a player\u2019s domain but the player\u2019s main force is not back yet from a battle.\u00a0 <\/span>An army of orcs is coming from the other side to make a raid.\u00a0 <\/span>Is there a way to make them engage each other to buy time for the player\u2019s army to return and defend the keep?<\/p>\n

Kill the Pill:\u00a0 <\/span>A scheming king is marching on the player\u2019s domain with a sizable force.\u00a0 <\/span>The king sent a wizard to enchant the player\u2019s garrison and make them helpless.\u00a0 <\/span>Can the players find the enemy wizard in the surrounding wilderness and neutralize the enchantment in time to allow the garrison to defend?<\/p>\n

Excalibur Protocol: A hostile colony of kobolds is discovered living underneath the domain.\u00a0 <\/span>Their raids against the commoners could decimate the town.\u00a0 <\/span>A magic item owned by one of the players turns out to be featured in the kobolds\u2019 legends.\u00a0 <\/span>If the players can learn the word of power the kobolds will serve the realm by mining.\u00a0 <\/span>If not, it\u2019s time to look for a new domain.<\/p>\n

High Society:\u00a0 <\/span>Nobles from civilization stay at the fortress and one is robbed or insulted. The issue can’t be ignored.\u00a0 <\/span>The domain’s reputation is at stake.<\/p>\n

Building Allies:\u00a0 <\/span>The player has been gone from the domain for a long time.\u00a0 <\/span>Upon returning the player learns a popular captain of the guard with noble blood is raising support to overthrow the player.\u00a0 <\/span>Removing the troublesome figure would turn the subjects against the player.\u00a0 <\/span>To stop the coup the player must build support with key figures in the domain.\u00a0 <\/span>People like the chief sage, the head of the merchant guild, the silver mine\u2019s foreman and the wise woman on the edge of town must all be convinced.\u00a0 <\/span>The result of these efforts will give the player an intimate knowledge of all that is going on in their domain.<\/p>\n

I hope this four part series on domain level play was helpful.\u00a0 <\/span>If you liked it or felt I left something out feel free to leave a comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Domain level play not only offers new ways to interact with the fantasy world but can offer a change of pace.\u00a0 Now that players control armed forces you can offer your players a distraction from the regular campaign.\u00a0 Using mass combat rules (ACKS offers some and I believe Birthright does […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,6,7],"tags":[32],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=197"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":204,"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197\/revisions\/204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}