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I agree with Timothy, it sounds a useful system to model other existing societies, not just in Qadira, or even Golarion.
While a GM can insist on roleplaying everything out, having a mechanical framework to hang the roleplay on can help as a tiebreaker in moments of indecision, to remove player suspicions of GM bias.
I just have to ask; is it expected that the players (or the PCs) be aware of the underlying numbers, or should they be kept close to the GM's chest?

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4 people marked this as a favorite. |

I agree with Timothy, it sounds a useful system to model other existing societies, not just in Qadira, or even Golarion.
While a GM can insist on roleplaying everything out, having a mechanical framework to hang the roleplay on can help as a tiebreaker in moments of indecision, to remove player suspicions of GM bias.
I just have to ask; is it expected that the players (or the PCs) be aware of the underlying numbers, or should they be kept close to the GM's chest?
There's not an expectation one way or another about what the PCs know, and it could play either way with unique pros and cons.
Secret: The PCs know they've earned Clout with a patron, but they only have a relative sense of how much. The GM might inform them that they're sitting on enough points to "buy up" to the next disposition level, which also conveys that PCs are the point that they could just but a bunch of favors instead. Sense Motive might play a role in knowing exactly what the patron's disposition is as well as honing in on just how their Clout has changed since the last meeting. If you plan on using the patronage system for an intrigue game, this might be the better choice.
Open: The players can keep track of the numbers, giving them both a sense of agency and a role in sharing duties (sort of like letting the players manage the initiative or a kingdom-building tracker). It's also a good way to give a player a numerical pat on the back to convey that his or her actions have made a big difference, and players can develop a serious sense of ownership just by being able to predict and improve those relationships openly—much like when they plan out their next several character levels. This is probably the right choice for most games that are using patronage as a supplement to a bigger adventure, as it lets players who are as interested in kicking in doors and stabbing monsters visualize what they must do to earn a meeting with that key NPC.

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I too am really looking forward to this one. Probably the only campaign setting (vs player companion) book I've been excited about.
I wonder if we might see this patronage system get used in PFS, specifically in the Qadiran, err, Exchange, faction cards for Season 9. It would make sense especially for those characters that still identify more with that branch of the faction.

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1 person marked this as a favorite. |

I too am really looking forward to this one. Probably the only campaign setting (vs player companion) book I've been excited about.
I wonder if we might see this patronage system get used in PFS, specifically in the Qadiran, err, Exchange, faction cards for Season 9. It would make sense especially for those characters that still identify more with that branch of the faction.
Although the patronage system is too extensive to translate cleanly to a half-page Faction Journal Card (especially while sharing space with all of the other fun goals and rewards), it could be very fun to have a goal, reward, or both invoke the concepts of patronage.

Alexander Augunas Contributor |

Nomadical wrote:Although the patronage system is too extensive to translate cleanly to a half-page Faction Journal Card (especially while sharing space with all of the other fun goals and rewards), it could be very fun to have a goal, reward, or both invoke the concepts of patronage.I too am really looking forward to this one. Probably the only campaign setting (vs player companion) book I've been excited about.
I wonder if we might see this patronage system get used in PFS, specifically in the Qadiran, err, Exchange, faction cards for Season 9. It would make sense especially for those characters that still identify more with that branch of the faction.
You could always make a second patronage card for players to gets hit by Compton's hand of smacking ow...ow...ow....