Strongholds?

[Faux Real]

I know the idea of PCs with strongholds wasn't really the focus of 3rd edition... Anyone think there'll be some rules for how to build and run keeps, thieves guilds, wizard's towers, etc in 4th?

On another note, what system do you handled this aspect of the game the best?

[Scott Betts]

David Witanowski wrote:

I know the idea of PCs with strongholds wasn't really the focus of 3rd edition... Anyone think there'll be some rules for how to build and run keeps, thieves guilds, wizard's towers, etc in 4th?

On another note, what system do you handled this aspect of the game the best?

I think we can eventually expect to see some things along these lines, especially in supplements geared towards the paragon and epic tiers.

[TheNewGuy]

David Witanowski wrote:

I know the idea of PCs with strongholds wasn't really the focus of 3rd edition... Anyone think there'll be some rules for how to build and run keeps, thieves guilds, wizard's towers, etc in 4th?

On another note, what system do you handled this aspect of the game the best?

I hope we don't see it in 4th edition, although I always liked that aspect of the game.

The BECMI rules did it best, specifically the Companion set, although they rapidly broke down for large populations. Bruce Heard's dominion economics articles really took the idea to a new level of complexity (ie, you basically needed Excel to keep track of your dominion).

There's no chance this thread is going to survive long without a Yellodingo appearance.

[tdewitt274]

There was the "Stronghold Builder's Guidebook" for 3e.

2e enjoyed the Castle Guide

White Wolf now owns Pendragon (Green Knight Publishing).

That's all I'm aware of that is out there. I'm sure there's probably some other 3e publisher that did something with them.

Edit: Not sure, but Birthright may have had something included. I know it showed how to administer lands using your PCs as Regents.

[TommyJ]

I doubt that "Castle running" will be featured greatly.

Although one should expect some high-level characters to be lords and rulers... the game system so far has made it very clear, that we are not gonna be doing anything in the area of game-economics.

So if you are thinking about running a castle/realm, taxing people, paying for troops etc. etc. I do not think we will see any of this (thank god).

[Charles Evans 25]

Strongholds? I don't know. I doubt it, unless they [Wizards of the Coast] trial the idea out for popularity in an adventure path first, and find it to sell.

[Faux Real]

I loved those old 2nd edition source books, but I agree that this doesn't seem to be the edition for this kind of mechanics. Any other good places for me to look?

[Bluenose]

It depends how complex you want to get. Expeditious Retreat Press had a wonderful book, "A Magical Medieval Society 1: Western Europe" that approaches D&D economics in more depth than most people will need. It's not particularly specific to 3rd Edition.