Editing Kingdoms: Overview of the Game System
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==The Players and The Adjudicator== | ==The Players and The Adjudicator== | ||
− | By default, it is assumed that five people will be playing Kingdoms. For ease of reference, we'll refer to these | + | By default, it is assumed that five people will be playing Kingdoms. For ease of reference, we'll refer to these players as Players A, B, C, D and E. |
− | * | + | * Player A is the '''Adjudicator'''. The ''Adjudicator'' prepares and runs the game, makes judgment calls and fulfils the traditional role of a GM. |
− | * | + | * Player B plays the '''White King'''. He also controls three other pieces on the White side: The Seelie Knight, The Seelie Bishop and the Seelie Rook. Collectively, these four pieces are called the ''Dominant Actors of the White Court''. |
− | * | + | * Player C plays the '''White Queen'''. He also controls three other pieces on the White side: The Unseelie Knight, The Unseelie Bishop and the Unseelie Rook. Collectively, these four pieces are called the ''Shadow Actors of the White Court''. |
− | * | + | * Player D plays the '''Black King'''. He also controls three other pieces on the White side: The Unseelie Knight, The Unseelie Bishop and the Unseelie Rook. Collectively, these four pieces are called the ''Dominant Actors of the Black Court''. |
− | * | + | * Player E plays the '''Black Queen'''. He also controls three other pieces on the White side: The Seelie Knight, The Seelie Bishop and the Seelie Rook. Collectively, these four pieces are called the ''Shadow Actors of the Black Court''. |
− | Note that | + | Note that players A & B are both aligned to the White Court, so they are allies with the same agenda. However, Player A represents the Seelie pieces in the White Court and Player B represents the Unseelie Pieces in the White Court. |
− | Likewise, | + | Likewise, players C & D are both aligned to the Black Court, so they are allies with the same agenda. In the Black Court, Player C represents the Unseelie pieces in the Black Court and Player D represents the Seelie Pieces in the Black Court. |
− | This may seem counterintuitive at first... you may | + | This may seem counterintuitive at first... you may question why there are Unseelie Pieces serving the White and Unseelie Pieces serving the Black. |
− | The answer to this is that whatever the Nature of the King, he must eventually rule over all Fae, both Seelie and Unseelie. Thus it is only appropriate that he has servants of both natures. Of course, the White King would rather leave the | + | The answer to this is that whatever the Nature of the King, he must eventually rule over all Fae, both Seelie and Unseelie. Thus it is only appropriate that he has servants of both natures. Of course, the White King would rather leave the underhanded sides of warfare and politics to his Unseelie White Queen, while the Black King happily delegates that high society and formalised warfare nonsense to his Seelie Black Queen. |
− | Regardless of personal nature, every | + | Regardless of personal nature, every Piece is ultimately loyal to his or her own King, and to that King's Court. Every Piece will do all that he or she can to attain victory for his Court. |
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<br><br> | <br><br> | ||
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=Game Structure= | =Game Structure= | ||
==Game Length== | ==Game Length== | ||
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<br><br> | <br><br> | ||
==Turn Structure - The Four Seasons== | ==Turn Structure - The Four Seasons== | ||
− | === | + | ===Spring - Season of Growth=== |
− | Each year starts with Spring, the Season of Growth | + | Each year starts with Spring, the Season of Growth. |
During this phase the King can strengthen his kingdom, through various means: | During this phase the King can strengthen his kingdom, through various means: | ||
− | + | * He can apportion '''Advances''' to his armies and his court, expending '''Glamour''' to achieve this. | |
− | * He can apportion ''' | ||
* He can build '''Improvements''' to his realm, again at cost of '''Glamour'''. | * He can build '''Improvements''' to his realm, again at cost of '''Glamour'''. | ||
* If available, he can hire '''Mercenaries''', bidding '''Glamour''' for their service for the remainder of the year. | * If available, he can hire '''Mercenaries''', bidding '''Glamour''' for their service for the remainder of the year. | ||
− | + | By default, only the King acts during Springtime. | |
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<br><br> | <br><br> | ||
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===Summer - Season of War=== | ===Summer - Season of War=== | ||
Next comes Summer, the Season of War. | Next comes Summer, the Season of War. | ||
− | During this season the courts assemble their armies and launch them on '''Summer Campaigns'''. A ''Summer Campaign'' always consists of one '' | + | During this season the courts assemble their armies and launch them on '''Summer Campaigns'''. A ''Summer Campaign'' always consists of one ''Commander'' (usually a Queen or Knight) and at least one ''pawn''. A Court can launch multiple ''Summer Campaigns'' in one year, but each uses a separate Commander and its own pawns. |
− | When the ''Summer Campaigns'' are revealed, the Courts can mount '''War Defences'''. A ''War Defence'' consists of one '' | + | When the ''Summer Campaigns'' are revealed, the Courts can mount '''War Defences'''. A ''War Defence'' consists of one ''leader'' (usually a King, Queen, Knight or a Rook) and at least one ''pawn''. A Court can only mount defences from the troops and leaders who didn't themselves Campaign - thus a balance between attack and defence must be struck. |
Of course, the game system favours those who throw caution to the wind and attack, as it is slightly easier to win in attack than in defence. | Of course, the game system favours those who throw caution to the wind and attack, as it is slightly easier to win in attack than in defence. | ||
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* '''Rescue''' - Rescuing a Captive. | * '''Rescue''' - Rescuing a Captive. | ||
* '''Checkmate''' - Capturing the opposing King. | * '''Checkmate''' - Capturing the opposing King. | ||
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===Autumn - Season of Harvest=== | ===Autumn - Season of Harvest=== | ||
In Autumn the Harvest is gathered! | In Autumn the Harvest is gathered! | ||
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Autumn is also the season of gathering back lost members of the Court - '''Ransoms''' for '''Captives''' are negotiated and paid. | Autumn is also the season of gathering back lost members of the Court - '''Ransoms''' for '''Captives''' are negotiated and paid. | ||
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===Winter - Season of Intrigue=== | ===Winter - Season of Intrigue=== | ||
As the cold long nights draw in, politicians and subversives have a chance to work - this is the Season of Intrigue. | As the cold long nights draw in, politicians and subversives have a chance to work - this is the Season of Intrigue. | ||
− | During this season the courts assemble dispatch their agents on '''Winter Intrigues'''. A ''Winter Intrigue'' is always executed by a single ''Agent'' ( | + | During this season the courts assemble dispatch their agents on '''Winter Intrigues'''. A ''Winter Intrigue'' is always executed by a single ''Agent'' (usually a Queen or Bishop). A Court can launch multiple ''Winter Intrigues'' in one year, but only one per Agent. |
− | + | Alternatively, the courts may place their agents on seeing to '''Internal Security''', allowing them to potentially counteract ''Winter Intrigues'' against the kingdom. | |
− | When the ''Winter Intrigues'' are resolved, they may or may not remain covert and secret. A successful '' | + | When the ''Winter Intrigues'' are resolved, they may or may not remain covert and secret. A successful ''Intrigue'' will often have hidden effects, and the targetted courts may remain none the wiser. On the other hand, an ''Intrigue'' that runs into ''Internal Security'' will usually be pulled into the open. |
There are various sorts of '''Winter Intrigues''' that can be attempted, but common ones include: | There are various sorts of '''Winter Intrigues''' that can be attempted, but common ones include: | ||
− | * '''Espionage''' - Spying to reveal useful | + | * '''Espionage''' - Spying to reveal useful intelligence. |
− | * ''' | + | * '''Poisoning''' - Attacking opposing characters through covert means. |
− | * '''Propaganda''' - Disrupting the population and | + | * '''Propaganda''' - Disrupting the population and morale of an opposing kingdom. |
− | * ''' | + | * '''Charm''' - Subverting opposing characters. |
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==Checkmate: Capture the King== | ==Checkmate: Capture the King== | ||
− | The most direct way to win is to capture the enemy King! This is | + | The most direct way to win is to capture the enemy King! This is achieved in the ''Season of Summer'' via a ''Summer Campaign'' with that specific objective. |
− | '' | + | ''Checkmate Campaigns'' are not easy to pull off though, and tend to require a combination of overwhelming military force and a talented commander, plus some luck in timing. |
If the enemy King is captured, then the game immediately ends. The victorious King can now do as he pleases with his brother, whether this be summary execution, exile to the outer realms or lifelong imprisonment. The victorious King is also crowned '''High King''' and has a thousand years of rule before he must be sacrificed, and the game of succession may begin anew! | If the enemy King is captured, then the game immediately ends. The victorious King can now do as he pleases with his brother, whether this be summary execution, exile to the outer realms or lifelong imprisonment. The victorious King is also crowned '''High King''' and has a thousand years of rule before he must be sacrificed, and the game of succession may begin anew! | ||
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==Inevitable Victory: Dominance at Twelve Years== | ==Inevitable Victory: Dominance at Twelve Years== | ||
− | At the end of the | + | At the end of the 12 years, if neither King has been captured then the game of succession must nonetheless end. Each Court then calculates its total '''Dominance''' using the following formula: |
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− | Each Court calculates its total '''Dominance''' using the following formula: | ||
* +1 Dominance per point of ''Glamour'' the King possesses. | * +1 Dominance per point of ''Glamour'' the King possesses. | ||
+ | * +2 Dominance per ''Improvement'' in their Kingdom. | ||
* +4 Dominance per enemy Knight or Bishop that they hold captive. | * +4 Dominance per enemy Knight or Bishop that they hold captive. | ||
* +8 Dominance per enemy Rook they hold captive. | * +8 Dominance per enemy Rook they hold captive. | ||
* +9 Dominance if they hold the enemy Queen captive. | * +9 Dominance if they hold the enemy Queen captive. | ||
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[[Category:Kingdoms|Overview]] | [[Category:Kingdoms|Overview]] |