Editing Kingdoms: Autumn - Harvest

[[Kingdoms: Main Page]] -> [[Kingdoms: Autumn - Harvest]]

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=Autumn - Season of Harvest=

The farming year comes to an end in Autumn, and the benefits of a year's hard labour are returned to the peasantry in the form of bountiful harvests. But Harvest is not just for peasants...

For the King, the benefits of growing and maintaining his kingdom are seen, as Glamour flows towards him and thus his strength and potential increases. Also, the benefits of a season's war are reaped, as captured pieces are ransomed back to the enemy.
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=Autumn Events=

Before the Season begins properly, the ''Adjudicator'' may declare that one or more ''Events'' has occurred. Common events might include:

* Crop blights ruin the peasant's harvest, and gain in Glamour is likewise stymied.
* The invisible hands of the fates cause a surge in Glamour, and all Glamour Harvests are doubled.
* A rise in aggression between and within the Courts prevents any Ransoms or prisoner releases this Season.

Almost anything can happen, but generally events will be inherently neutral, giving the same obstacles or benefits to both sides. Also, as discussed later in the Adjudicator's section, these events will have been be prepared and planned ahead of time, to ensure they are impartial.
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=The Glamour Harvest=

In Autumn, the King gains an amount of Glamour equal to his current '''Harvest''' rating. This happens at the start of Autumn, before any Ransoms or any other Autumn actions.
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=Ransoms=

A '''Ransom''' is an agreement between kings - a prisoner is released, in exchange for a quantity of Glamour. 

This price is not fixed, but is reached through negotiation. The King is never obliged to release a prisoner. If a price is agreed on though (generally signified by a handshake between the two king players, witnessed by the adjudicator) then the '''Ransom''' takes place automatically, with no possibility of interference from either party.

Don't forget that come springtime, prisoners will get a chance to attempt escape, so its often worth selling prisoners back to their Courts when you can!
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==Prisoner Exchanges==

Part or all of the price of ''Ransom'' can be provided by releasing a Prisoner in exchange. For example, a King might decide to offer a Bishop and 5 Glamour in exchange for the return of his Queen.

As with any other ''Ransom'', '''Prisoner Exchanges''' are agreed in front of the ''Adjudicator'' and cannot be interfered with once agreed.
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==Promises, Favours and other Worthless Bits of Paper==

Additionally, a King may try to exchange promises and future favours as part of the price.

Vitally, no promise or future favour is binding. A King can always break his word, and the ''Adjudicator'' will not enforce any promises or favours made.

That's not to say such things have no place in the game. A canny King will ask for a promise that can be fulfilled quickly, and will only trust in his opponent's honour near the start of a the ''game of succession''. But if two kings can grow to trust and respect each other as equal opponents, then promises and favours can become quite a useful tool.

It is very important to make sure that players have a sufficient sense of detachment to be able to recognise that ''a player character breaking his word does not mean that the player is less trustworthy in real life.'' If an Adjudicator feels he has the sort of game group that is going to take an in character back-stab as a betrayal of trust in real life, then he should probably either ban promises and favours altogether, or find different players. If you have players who start saying that other players are not trustworthy ''"becase they broke a deal last game"'' it's normally time to step in.
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==The Treaty of Love and Sacrifice==

There is one additional rule that can be invoked with ''Ransoms''.

If a Queen has been taken prisoner, then the King who wishes her return can say the following:

''"I offer all I have in return for my Queen. By the Treaty of Love and Sacrifice, you will accept."''

If he says these words, then he is making a ''Ransom'' offer of all the Glamour he has, plus releasing all the ''Prisoners'' he currently holds. The captor King '''must''' accept these terms, and release the captive Queen as asked.

Note that if you have captured a Queen, its generally good strategy to hold out for this offer before you accept any other Ransom offers.
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=Roleplaying the Autumn=

Generally, the structure of Autumn will be as follows:

(1) The Adjudicator declares Autumn has begun, and reminds the players which game year they are in (1 to 12) and which Court has priority this year.

(2) The Adjudicator relates any Events to all the players as a group.

(3) The Kings gain their Glamour Harvest.

(4) Ransoms are agreed and paid.

Clearly, the place for roleplaying here is in the negotiation for ransoms. It should, in fact, be regarded as '''obligatory''' to remain in character during these negotiations, as it reminds everyone involved that they are playing a game, that any deals are made in-character and that any broken promises are broken by the character, not the player.

[[Category:Kingdoms|Autumn]]