This next part is gonna be huge. Just Part 1 today.
Also, it’s gonna require the most playtesting. This is the most rules-heavy part of the game and I want it to work like a charm. I’ve played in a lot of different “epic” campaigns (I’m including the Camarilla and OWBN in that category) and I’d really like a system that’s simple, easy, evocative, and authentic. That’s why it’s probably full of holes right now. And that’s why I’m gonna be playtesting the hell out of it.
As a beginning character, your ven owns a domain. A domain is a vague stretch of land with various geographical features. Because the sorcerer-kings not only experimented with flora and fauna, but the structure of the land itself, Shanri’s geography is a chaotic mess. Deserts next to forests, tundra next to mountains, and all other kinds of oddities.
Domain, Province, Region
The total amount of lands you own is called your “Domain.” A domain contains many Provinces. As a starting character, your Domain contains a single Province.
Within a Province are many Regions. When you spend points on a Domain, you define its Regions. You have ten points to spend on your Province. Each Province can have up to ten Regions, each Region representing a geographical feature. For example, one point can be spent on Mountains, two points spent on Plains, three points spent on Forests, etc.
A two-point Forest is larger than a one-point Forest. A three-point Mountain is huge, but not as enormous as a five-point Mountain.
Each region produces Resources: valuable commodities you can trade and develop at the end of each Season. If you have the right combination of Resources, you can develop them into Goods, such as weapons, clothing, and art. Weapons, clothing and art get you Style: something every ven cannot get enough of.
For every point you spend on a Region, it produces one Resource. So, a two-point Forest could produce one Food and one Lumber. A three-point Mountain could produce three points of Metals. It could also produce one Metals and two Stone.
Adding Regions to Your Province
Every domain may have as many as ten points of Regions within it. One of those points is taken up by your castle. (It’s a Small Castle, which you’ll learn more about in the Seasons chapter.) The second point is already spent for you as well, giving you a Small Village. Eight more points remain.
The only limitation on your points is that no domain may have more than 5 points of a single Region. You can have a 5 point Forest, but no more Forests for that domain.
Here is an example of a Domain. Lady Shara’s to be specific.
Shara’s domain consists of one Province. That Province contains:
- Yvarai Castle (rank 1) *
- Tudana Village (rank 1) *
- Bangladow Forest (rank 1)
- The Shuathan Plains (rank 3)
(* automatic)
I took the time to name my Regions. You don’t have to, but then again, why wouldn’t you?
You may also notice I did not spend all ten points on Regions. (Only 6 points spent.) That’s because I’m saving some of my points for Vassals.
Vassals
Vassals are skilled professionals who help you with your Seasonal actions. They maintain peace, justice and order in your domain. Examples of Vassals are sheriffs, seneschals, and even spies.
Each Vassal has a cost. You must pay the people who work for you, after all. Most Vassals require at least one Food per Year, but some require more. Also, the less you pay Vassals, the more likely some other lord will send in a Spy Network to bribe them and steal them away.
Full descriptions of Regions and Vassals are in the Seasons chapter later in this book, but for now, here is a brief description so you know what you’re getting when you spend the points.
Lady Shara has 4 more points to spend. She spends them on Vassals, like this.
- 1 Spy Network (The Dranna Crew)
- 2 Swordsman (Vron Daladan)
- 1 Seneschal (Trev Shona)
I named my Vassals. You don’t have to, but then again, why wouldn’t you?
Regions
Farm
Produces either Food or Industry Resources.
Forest
Produces either Food or Lumber Resources.
Hills
Produces Metals or Lumber Resources.
Lake
Produces either Food or Luxury Resources.
Mountain
Produces either Metals or Stone Resources.
Plains
Produces Luxury Resources.
Vassals
Court Sorcerer
Deals with all supernatural threats to your domain, counters any belligerent sorcery, and makes sure no (other) sorcerers practice their illegal craft in your lands.
Herald
Notifies your people of your will and news of the day. Also delivers propaganda—I mean “messages”—to your neighbors.
Master of the Road
Maintains the Road and deals with orks in your domain.
Master Spy
Helps organize your spy network and makes your espionage actions more successful.
Personal Guard
Increases your personal security and prevents assassination attempts.
Seneschal
Helps organize your castle and other vassals.
Sheriff
Maintains law and order in your domain.
Spy Network
Increases the security of your own domain and helps “investigate” other domains.
Swordsman
Serves as your personal bodyguard, makes your personal guard more efficient and handles duels for you.