Creative Director
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In the upcoming Kingmaker Adventure Path, the PCs get put in charge of a kingdom. But there can be only one King, and there's usually 4 to 6 players in a group. As a result, Pathfinder Adventure Path volume #32 will present a dozen or so roles for player characters to assume to help rule the nation. One of those roles will be King/Queen. The others? I've got 11 more picked out, hopefully so that they'll give ANY PC a couple of attractive options to take up the role of.
But I might be forgetting some.
So! Use this thread to let me know what your favorite character's DREAM JOB would be if he were part of the leadership of a kingdom!
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Well I can see Castellan and Seneschal. I can also recommend Master-at-Arms, Warden and Sherriff for the more marshally inclined.
I am actually excited about this one as I can see how my group will divy out the tasks. hell, I may even decide to play this one and have omeone else worry about running the game.
Captain of the Guard
Lord Chamberlain
Seneschal
Head cook
Master of the Hunt
Royal Falconer
Tax Master
Chaplain
Steward
Gong Farmer: a latrine pit emptier (this was a real job), not sure if its a dream job.
Royal Wizard or Sorceror..
You know, like Merlin.
It doesn't have to be that specific title, if the Editors can come up with a better one.
Hand of the King! Only change it so that it has a different name than George RR Martin's work.
Walsingham
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Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
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Hmmm...
Not really a role, per se, but I find that very often in my groups there will be the leader guy with the charisma, and the power behind the throne. It seems like it would be hard to formalize that into a particular role because the power behind the throne's class can vary, but you might want to consider if you can do anything to assist/channel that relationship.
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Creative Director
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Keep 'em coming!
But try to be descriptive.
Saying you want to be "Marshall" or "Sheriff" or "Captain of the Guard" or "General" or "Warden" could, in theory, mean the same thing.
Saying, "I want to be the guy in charge of the kingdom's army," or "I want to be the guy in charge of protecting the kingdom's wilderness lands," is more descriptive.
But cool! Keep the ideas flowing!
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Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
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Okay, what about "administrator" or "prime minister". I'm sure neither of those concepts are correct, but the idea being that this guy is the non-royal blooded one who is something of an executive officer. The king is more the diplomat/face, the nice guy, the prime minster is the guy who actually makes the trains run on time and does the king's dirty work.
Power-Hungry Grand Vizier. Wait, that's redundant. And probably already accounted for by an NPC. :)
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Master Intelligencer - Something akin to "M" from James Bond. Someone who keeps an ear to the ground, and tabs on all the spies.
Dean of the Mage's Academy - The opportunity to open and run a school of wizardry should be present (perhaps a tower of some description, harbouring lost secrets of magic).
High Cleric of <Insert Deity Here> - The PC should have an opportunity to increase the influence of whatever deity they worship in the region.
Lord Captain of the Order of the <PC created Organisation Here> - The PC should be able to start an order with the same sort of legendary status as the Black Arrows.
Venture Captain - A PC opening up a Pathfinder Lodge and becoming Venture Captain would be really compelling for characters interested in the organisation.
Master Archivist - Being able to open the region's first library (possibly dedicated to its abundant ancient history, and unique ecology) would be kinda nifty.
Maestro of the Bardic College - A place where a Bard can teach their unique style of performance to a new generation (influencing the entire culture and history of the region).
Clan Chief - A barbarian might have the opportunity to gain the title of Clan Chief to a local barbarian tribe.
That's just a few from the top of my head...
Evil vizier!
Royal Admiral
Something like the Kingsguard from GRR Martin
Diplomat/Ambassador, either TO other rulers, or part of an embassy FROM another ruler
Court dandy/fop
Stealing from Martin again, an Economic Minister/Master of the Treasury/Exchequer (Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish)
Queen
Prince/Princess
Lesser nobility
Royal Architect
Stealing from Martin again, an Economic Minister/Master of the Treasury/Exchequer (Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish)
Well, those were around before A Song of Ice and Fire. ;)
Should probably have a Minister of Culture/Fine Arts type of position for the bards.
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Court Jester... seriously.
I'll fitcha for it.
Meh.....there could be two jesters; that way I'm not on 24/7.Either that or royal brewmeister.
Everybody goes around, brewing their beer, because the river water is too sewer-filled to use for drinking.
So, I have to TASTE everybody's beer, and stamp it, and levy a tax.
What a flippin posh gig.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
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Stealing from Martin again, an Economic Minister/Master of the Treasury/Exchequer (Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish)
Well, those were around before A Song of Ice and Fire. ;)
Should probably have a Minister of Culture/Fine Arts type of position for the bards.
He can use the Culture Club as a simple weapon... :)
Hmmm...positions I would like inregards to the kingdom
Advisor to the king ~ Visor
Regent aka the fella trusted to run the kingdom if the monarch is in no condition to run, kind of a second in command
Champion of the kingdom, the king's champion
General of the armies
A chamberlain
A diplomat
Warden of the wilds
A judge in charge of law cases
A high priest
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Head of a major military faction/mercenary unit. It may be the king wants to keep them happy and keep them tight with the running of the kingdom.
A close friend of the king, previous adventuring buddies (and drinking buddies) who the king keeps as a close advisor, who can kick butt for him (kinda like Hand of the King, but with less title)
Aerial commander? In a world with fly spells and magic carpets, let alone flying wyverns...
Also maybe specific leaders of various racial/ethnic groups in the kingdom, like a representative of the dwarves who make a significant contribution to the kingdom, maybe they have a nearby dwarven hold and mainly want to stay in there, but has a representative that has a large sway.
Royal stooge... I mean someone the king keeps around so if something happens, they'll take the blame for him, but he's given a generous salary.
Security officer or transporter chief.
Sorry, James' description sounded like the same dynamic you get in Star Trek... Long as I don't have a red tunic +1 I should be ok. :)
Always had a soft spot for the _____ of the Empire series by Ray Fiest and Janny Wurts - Arakasi being my favorite character. Sign me up for being in charge of international espionage and intrigue!
If I can't do that then maybe the snotty princeling.
Ambassador In my FR campaign, one of the PCs got roped into this position because his father was one as well.
Royal Magician A fair must in many a fantasy campaign, though I often like to play up the sorcerer vs wizard rivalry. (Also used in the same FR campaign.)
Spiritual Advisor Lots of fun here, even just among the cleric class. (This role got filled by an ex-paladin turned cleric NPC in the aforementioned FR campaign.)
Agent(s) of the Crown "Your mission, should you choose to accept it..." Not assassin, but more of the Cold War era spy. Beyond great for rogue types. (Also used with great success in the FR campaign.)
Translator Any character with sufficient skills in Linguistics could cover this role, but a higher level monk or a telepath would be good in this role. Bluff, Diplomacy and Sense Motive also good for this role. (Again in the FR campaign - but was a monk/truespeaker.)
Bodyguard
Engineer Every ruler needs their Camelot.
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Inquisitor - Handy for any class/character that has some religious zeal. Could be good or bad, as in rooting out evil cults, or just any religion except the kingdom religion. Can either be guided/led by a ruler, council, or given a free hand. All kinds of possibilities here.
Diplomat and/or Spy - Good for many kinds of classes, except out and out melee classes like barbarians, and even then they can work as ambassadors to wild lands. Fun for RP sessions with Bond moments of combat.
Headmaster/Headmistress - Founder or leader of a school and/or college of magic. Traditional or experimental (either with sorcerers, or just an offshoot theory of magic). Students can have official ties with the army, providing a few years military service for free/cheap tuition. Equal opportunity to peasants even, if they show promise (either intelligence or raw power).
Official Explorers of the King - Given powers to go to new/contested lands and claim them in the name of the realm. Power to do whatever it takes, either diplomacy or force, to secure new trade routes, goods, services, slaves (if allowed in the kingdom), and land. Power to call in reinforcements to build a fort, then a town, etc, in the new land.
Fingers of the King - Secret elite force to deal with internal and external problems. "Officially, they don't exist" kind of thing. Their regular work, if any, could be fairly low key. A cook, a Master of Stables, a Jester, a court scholar, a Lieutenant in the King's Guard, etc. A position that gives access to major points of a stronghold without question from others.
As a rogue at heart, I'd like to be the Mistress of the Exchequer (in charge of the MONEY!)
Chief Librarian (maps, books, treatises, all the goodies)
Founder of a new Pathfinder Lodge would be fun :)
A specialized sort of loremaster whose duty it is to record the history of the emerging kingdom as sort of a true witness/oathbound.
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King of Arms -Chief Herald to the Kingdom. Heralds get to do all kinds of great stuff like be diplomats and keepers of records.
Marshal - Minister of Defence and Foreign Affairs wrapped into one. Ususally knows which end of the spear to stab with.
Exchequer - The guy who holds the purse strings.
Shadow-ruler -The King is a Puppet (likely not literally, but that would be fun too), The real power are the shadowy figures in the secret room.
Empty headed heir to the throne
Washer Woman - Essential for the efficient spreading of gossip to the far reaches of the kingdom
Gong farmer - Almost as essential as the washer women, 'cuz they shovel the other kind of s&&%e.
If you're talking about a medieval fuedal system, there is only one king. If you're getting into some of the older traditions, you could have many kings ruled by a high king as well.
I'd also like to see some options for different systems of government oo. Eg. a Republic, Theocracy and Magocracy, as well as a system of government unique to Golarion. Don't ask me what that is though... Maybe a government run entirely by the babblings of the residents of a specially maintained insane asylum?
A Minstrel in the Gallery of course- where would a castle be without proper entertainment- not to mention that entertainers had certain... unique privileges that others did not. Free speech comes to mind.
Second off, a Captian of the guard. Think Same Vimes of Discworld. Every campaign should make Sam Vimes an option to play.
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Cardinal Richelieu with his position and powers.
Lord Privy Seal such as Cromwell, with his position and powers.
Also perhaps the Imperial ambassador or papal nuncio with all the extraordinary and plenipotentiary powers vested by the crown (or church) to act on and for the crown's (or religion's) behalf.
Hell - Grand Moff Tarkin, with his position and powers and The Death Star.
In the upcoming Kingmaker Adventure Path, the PCs get put in charge of a kingdom. But there can be only one King, and there's usually 4 to 6 players in a group. As a result, Pathfinder Adventure Path volume #32 will present a dozen or so roles for player characters to assume to help rule the nation. One of those roles will be King/Queen. The others? I've got 11 more picked out, hopefully so that they'll give ANY PC a couple of attractive options to take up the role of.
But I might be forgetting some.
So! Use this thread to let me know what your favorite character's DREAM JOB would be if he were part of the leadership of a kingdom!
There will of course be a ruler.
A ruler needs an adviser
A head of security/intel/counter intel
A head of the military
Head of PR/international relations, but maybe this could be rolled in the adviser or the head of security's job description.
I would like to be the right hand man/advisor(2nd in line to the throne)
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Court Jester/Spymaster/Bodyguard/Royal Assassin
Someone that can serve as both the king/queen's hidden personal shield and sword.
Damn, now I know what I want to play if I can get someone else to run this one...
High Priest should the kingdom favor one god over the rest would be nice too. Power dynamics between him/her and the crown should be fun to see play out.
Master/Mistress of the Hunt: in charge of the hounds, falcons, and any other hunting animals, ridding the immediate environs of dangerous beasts, as well as ensuring the castle's larder is full of wild game. In an evil kingdom, the position could also be in charge of hunting intelligent beings for royal sport.
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Master/Mistress of the Hunt: in charge of the hounds, falcons, and any other hunting animals, ridding the immediate environs of dangerous beasts, as well as ensuring the castle's larder is full of wild game. In an evil kingdom, the position could also be in charge of hunting intelligent beings for royal sport.
Or just people, should the ruling class go vamp/ghoul!
Speaking of: An Inquisitor type who actively seeks out and destroys any possible threat of undead infestation. An officially sanctioned Van Helsing if you will.
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King- Runs the lands, and has exclusive command of the purse strings from taxation. Therefore chooses positions based on who gets paid. The only hereditary position in the Kingdom.
Field Marshall of the King- Almost always coming from nobility, due to needing to raise their armies on their own coin. Invasions are private enterprises backed by the kings blessing. If young lords want new lands, they must fight tooth and nail to expand the kingdoms borders.
Viziers- A man of the kings bureaucracy, loyal to him, who accompanies Field Marshall's on campaigns. When the conquering is done, the Viziers job begins. He pacifies the new lands with laws, culture and public works. But most importantly ensures taxation begins to flow back to the Field Marshall (now Lord) and King.
Castellan of Order- Is a Lord, but without a keep. Has responsibility to recruit, train and arm adventurers in the kingdom in the task of hunting and destroying monsters and individual threats too small for the army. This has the twofold effect of keeping the citizens safe, while also ensuring bored (and dangerous) adventurers are put in service of the kingdom.
Magister- Head of the Mage academy funded by the king, in an attempt to monopolise magic. Often acts as head adviser to the king, but also has a responsibility to produce high quality magic items to act as carrots to the adventurers under the Castellan of Order, as well as use his mages as diplomats and spies in service of the kingdom.
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Arch-Chancellor of the (Unseen) University.
Marquis: Controlling a border region (the Marches) with a force of rangers and more.
Head of the Arts Council - do we build Opera Houses,fund jazz festivals or hold poetic competitions? Or do we do all three.
Head of Public Works - great places to live have effective sanitation, regular refuse collection and sturdy, reliable transport networks.
Royal Assassin: Dig out your old magic decks, the picture says it all.
Royal Forgemaster: The cavaliers need magic arms and armor.
Royal Siege Engineer: A person with technical skills, preferably with knowledge of friendly and enemy mass battle magics.
High Alchemist: Potion- and antidote maker for the royal household. This person is essential in crafting fire bombs, special ammonition to ballistas, catapults and so on. Should cooporate with the assassin and the Royal Siege Engineer, or even cooler if they dont.
Consort.
I think it could be important to look beyond the king's palace and outside the castle walls to the kingdom itself. A king is going to need barons, dukes, earls, etc. to shepherd other settlements in his kingdom for him...all owing fealty back to him. They could be from any character class and setup their fiefdom however they might want according to their own preferences and interests.
In addition, I tend to imagine what a party of PCs would want for their ultimate "kingmaker"...in that all of them want to be "kings" of their own destiny. A warrior-type would probably want the throne to the overall kingdom. Another fighter might be tapped to become the general or marshaller of the king's forces. But a wizard or sorcerer would want to raise a tower somewhere inside the kingdom and perhaps a school of magic. A rogue would want to establish his own guild...whether fully devoted to managing the criminal elements of the kingdom or something more cloaked around trade or a specific vice. And, of course, any religious types (cleric, paladin, etc.) would likely want to start a church to their deity and have it rise to become the prominent religion in the land.
Beyond those mainstays for each character class, then I think you can look beyond that at actual roles among the aristocracy and the king's court. Entertainers would certainly have a place. A foreign minister/ambassador (after all, someone has to report back to those who sent the PCs to establish their colony, while also interacting with the other powers of the River Kingdoms). You would certainly have advisors of all types, probably drawn as a secondary responsibility from those primary roles I outlined above. For example, the wizard, cleric, and rogue would have insights into all the little areas that concern them the most...but, if they're also advisors to the King, they can hold a position among his court and routinely meet with him...adventure with him...and so on.
One role that could certainly be very important is an explorer...a frontiersman who's going to continue to blaze trails throughout the countryside, discovering new resources, befriending new allies, and eliminating or marking dangerous adversaries. This is the role that's going to help the kingdom expand and prosper, economically and in terms of population.
But that's just my two-cents,
--Neil