I will be GMing CotCT beginning next month and I have a player who is a "solly" revolutionary. He wants to use a printing press to create and disseminate (discreetly) pro-union pamphlets that call for the poor to form organizations to advocate for their interests against the nobility, and eventually prepare for a revolution in Korvosa like those of Andorran and Galt if the nobility don't acquiesce to the people's demands.
I am intrigued by his idea but am unsure how to implement it into the game. We're talked about basing it on a diplomacy check (like a reverse Gather Information) or even a Profession (printer) check. His character is a chaotic good human witch.
What do you all think about this? Would it interfere greatly with the plot of the AP (given that lack of communication among the people is one way in which the city is so effectively controlled)?
I'd wholeheartedly support this idea. Just make sure the rebellion isn't ready to react until book six.
That's awesome enough that I might add it to my run whether or not any of my PCs are interested in it.
Getting involved will put them at odds with the church of Abadar for sure, also probably all the noble families, especially the dock families, and the Asmodeans. That could all have some interesting repercussions.
It would work, but like any CotCT campaign the more you think about Ileosa's response, the more you'll get out of it. When I've run it Ileosa isn't a dumb villain, and I make her very cunning and willing to leverage her resources to stop the heroes as they meddle in her plans. In mine she's used public opinion to turn people against the heroes or to thank them for destroying "corruption" (like Dr. Devaulus) to make it seem like she's on their side. Ultimately, she's moving towards a martial lockdown, and at some point is planning to kill the heroes and be oh so sad that the champions of Korvosa died so tragically.
A printing press would take this a step further. Depending on how you want to play it, Ileosa could send people to destroy the press, to burn pamphlets, to counter the pamphlets, or even to support the press while subtly trying to subvert it. Ileosa has a lot of resources and, eventually, an extremely (like, wicked extremely) powerful and intelligent force driving her that won't tolerate any opposition. You can meta-game this, really, because having a really tough, smart villain just makes it more fun for the player.
The first book should involve getting the press situated and starting up the business of running it. Big change shouldn't come yet, and that's understandable. Little side quests for the player or small encounters with crowds in the street or thugs sent to break up the unionization efforts could be fun. Expand into the second book, making the papers a recognized thing in the city, though not necessarily wide-spread or influential. After all, most Korvosans are LN, and are described as liking order, routine, and everyone having a place in the society. Most of the city will oppose revolution, especially around the time of a devastating plague. Ileosa can capitalize on this. By the third book, the press should be going full-steam, and gaining some converts as a few people begin to realize what could be happening in the city, but this is also when Ileosa should make her move to crack down and try to off the players, prompting them to leave Korvosa.
It can work! Play up the politics, it's one of the most enjoyable aspects of this campaign as a GM, in my opinion.
Thanks for the feedback! Our first session will be Friday the 13th (bwahaha) and I'll let you know how things progress.