Non-regents

[James Ruhland]

1st response to the below is that it is intended that non-Regents have the
same # of Actions as Regents do (they just don't use them to Rule & Create
Holdings, etc.)
2nd response is the way the rules are set up, realm governance can take as
long, or as short, as you once (turns *can* be done in minutes). Thus, if
you'd like, you can work the actions of Ruling characters into a fully
role-played occasion (and if they are creative, give 'em bonuses to
success; conversly, if they are stupid, that has it's own "reward.")
Then find ways to work the non-Regent players into such actions. Take a
Rule Province action: perhaps the non-regents are given the task of
enticing settlers, or of surveying land to find places for the new
arrivals, or, even better, they have to clear out a hive of scum and
villany (where have I heard that before. . .) before more common folk will
want to settle the land & raise nice, Haelyn-fearing carpet monkeys.
To the greatest possible extent, *no one* should have to spend a lot of
time doing nothing: that includes the other Regents (I.E. while King Shmoe
of Roesone is doing his actions, Count Bung of Endier should have more to
do than just scour the 'fridge for munchies). Find ways to keep everyone
involved in the action as much as possible. Either that, or do the "realm
rulership" stuff more one-on-one, before the whole group gathers (through
E-mail, or during breaks in time at school when you see 'em individually,
or whatever you can work out).
Oh, and as for "non-Regents improving themselves": while the Regents are
improving their lands, the non-Regents can *certainly* be improving
themselves: Reasurch actions, Train actions, etc. These are the lifeblood
of the non-Regent character. Regents often don't have the oportunity to use
these Character actions (other things demand their attention instead). And
these can be Role-Played out as well: find rare tomes for reasurch, skilled
tuitors for Training, and then work to maintain your relationship with
these mentors, etc. (he he; now it's the Regents sitting on their butts. .
.except we agreed that was bad.)
>
> I just started my BR campaign two weeks ago, and three of the five
> players have blooded characters...two of those are regents. One thing I
did
> was expand the 'domain turn actions'. Now, it has a few more Character
> actions. Why? Well, at the begining of the first session, I decided to
> start off with a domain turn. To get the hang of it and to let the PC's
> start their holdings up, so to speak. At that first session, there were
> only 3 people. Two of them were regents. That turn took over 4
> hours...during which time the non-regent PC just sat around and twiddled
her
> thumbs. It sucked. So, I expanded it a bit (by three character
actions).
> I allow the non-regnets to do things in the domain turns. Is this
normal?
> Or are the non-rengents just supposed to sit on their butts as the
regents
> get to do all the 'cool stuff'? This isn't fair, so now, while regents
will
> frequently be improving their lands, the non-regents will be improving
> themselves. :) Now there seems to be more thought put into what kind of
> character the player wants....do they want political power....or personal
> power? (Base terms, yes, but it works.)
>
> What do you guys think?
>
> Denakhan the Arch-Mage
>
>
>
>
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[Lord Eldred]

Does anyone play a non-blooded non-regent? Why would you want to? Or how about a blooded character with no holdings? I think playing a regent is the only way to go in Birthright. What do you think?

[morgramen]

Well, my group plays unblooded nobles and heroes (though we don't play very often.)

It has proven fun, but challenging. For most purposes, unblooded characters can be run just like a regular PC from any other campaign setting. The challenge comes in as a DM, where you have to continually validate the need for your heroes to be involved.

Why would Malrae Roesone need a bunch of adventuring scum to take care of her bandit problem anyway? Why not jsut send her own constables out to deal with it.

Now obviously, you can start your party in such a postion (servants to the regent), but that can get a bit old hat very quickly.

Any way, don't under estimate the fun of building a character out of a farmer, building a reputation, achieveing a bloodline, and finally rising to hold your own domain! This method is much more satisfying IMO that just starting out as a regent.

[blitzmacher]

I am currently running two campaigns. Everyone in it is a regent of some sort, and blooded. The other one has only two blooded characters, and no one is a regent, but it is in Vosgaard where only the strong can survive, and only those who can prove themselves are allowed to lead.

[Lord Eldred]

It seems to me that the players that are not regents get bored when you do domain turns or do you just have them not show up?

I like the idea if they are working to become regents but it seems very rare that a non-blooded would be able to become blooded and then become a regent.

In my campaign, everyone wants to be regents, which can be tough too because then you have to find something that keeps them together as a group. (IE backstabbing in game time can often hurt relationships outside of game time)

[blitzmacher]

In Vos culture if you are not blooded but are strong enough to lead the priests of belenik will make you blooded by taking it from the weak ruler and giving it to the new.
As for nonblooded non regents during domain actions will only get bored if you let them, but then again in Vosgaard the only way to stay in power is to personally see to almost every aspect of your domain actions personally. Which means making adventures out of what would normaly be just rp and gp spent. It is a little harder to DM, but more fun for the players.

[Lord Eldred]

Alright there is a way in the VOS culture but I am not running a VOS campaign. What are other ways to become blooded when you weren't to start?

[blitzmacher]

Thats something that the DM could decide. Maybe the ruling regent dies and the land chose who would be the next ruler, or the character kills a blooded scion or awnshe and for some odd reason absorbed the blood essence, or maybe a church decides to invest a character with someone who is blooded either by the blooded persons consent, or maybe against it if the PC's are holding them prisoner. The possibilities are endless.

[Lord Eldred]

There is a rule that allows characters to improve there blood strength when they kill a blooded character in a certain way. Can a non-blooded character become blooded in this way?

[Raesene Andu]

Generally, I would say that when an unblooded commoner kills a blooded regent, nothing happens. He does not get the scion's bloodline or even a tainted bloodline of his own. However, when killing a scion of Azrai, there is ample evidence that the situation is very different (the Lamia for one was unblooded and gained a bloodline of Azrai). I would assume that the corrupting nature of Azrai's bloodline makes this so, but I don't see other bloodline jumping into commoners.

Of course, what all this means is that eventually most bloodlines will die out or be killed off, and Azrai's blooded will rise to conquer the world. Which is, I guess, why the world chooses to pass on a bloodline to a worthy individual from time to time.