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Hi,
i am running the good old Darkmoonvale-cycle of Adventures. For the end of the campaign i would like to hold elections for electing the new mayor of falcon´s hollow.
Does anybody has an idea or maybe a complete system how to do this? I also want a complete election campaign for both parties that are
a) the PCs and
b) the lumber consortium
I would be happy to hear your thoughts.
When you say complete election campaign...? Do you mean US style? Because most nations have a shorter election cycle
I assume the candidates are decided and there is no candidate selection?
Try and use the influence mechanics for influencing key movers and shakers and have the reward be effectively an unknown number of votes
You could have some chain together or overlap and a bunch of options so the group can pick who might have the most sway
There could be speeches using perform oratory but presumably some kind of secondary checks - bluff, diplomacy , intimidate but also others. Skill challenges also depending on audience - e,g profession or craft
Perhaps make a speech more like a series of checks with underlying perform - some mechanics for impressing and audience are in Sixfold Trial
If there is a debate then that could be a verbal duel but you might also want to factor in a performance element
Have subterfuge be needed to try and find secrets but also counter subterfuge be required
These are general ideas rather than anything specific. The part I can’t help with is what an election would look like in Golarion as I don’t understand the politics of the areas . I would still imagine might have a big say in things
(There is a PFS scenario where a mayor is effectively elected because he employs the majority of the town. If the lumbars threaten to withdraw from the area or bring in outsiders that would have an impact (think parks and rec - in fact just watch some of the later seasons of parks and rec :-P))
Thanks a lot for your suggestions, Lanathar. I remember the Sixfold Trial, was a lot of fun for my players. Maybe i use the fame-point-system from there and set up some events. btw i haven´t meant tu use US-style elections. The idea was a democratic election and therefore fishing for votes. It will become a race between Thuldrin Kreed of the Lumberjacks and a candidate of the PCs TBA.
Well, i´ve got some ideas already, ty. Now looking for that PFS scenario you mentioned...
Thanks a lot for your suggestions, Lanathar. I remember the Sixfold Trial, was a lot of fun for my players. Maybe i use the fame-point-system from there and set up some events. btw i haven´t meant tu use US-style elections. The idea was a democratic election and therefore fishing for votes. It will become a race between Thuldrin Kreed of the Lumberjacks and a candidate of the PCs TBA.
Well, i´ve got some ideas already, ty. Now looking for that PFS scenario you mentioned...
The scenario was an illustrative example of how “democratic” elections may not work out as intended but there is no real focus on elections and only mild politics in there
It is Stolen Heir and seems to be / could be read as a critique of how far the US has strayed from the theoretical founding ideals (emphasis on “theoretical” and “ideals” here). Depending on your opinion of democracy , aristocracy etc - basic idea is former aristocrats have become elected politicians but are functionally no different than they ever were
PFS I think has lots of stuff about building influence but I don’t think it ever extends to the masses.
Hells Rebels has a mechanic for building supporters though “Loyalty” checks using a sub system and various DCs. Perhaps a sub system could be devised using the same idea but it would involve thinking of different criteria and events . A start would be if you could think of three key focuses for running a political campaign but nothing is coming to mind - perhaps something like propaganda, personal outreach and influence of key individuals? Then they pick a focus like the Hells Rebels and try to level up . Something like that ? And off shoot of the Organisation rules from Ultimate Campaign - but for a political “party”
Depends on how long this election is supposed to go
If it is a session or two then the above is overkill. If you want full on house of cards and make it be a key game focus then adjusting the above would make for an intriguing game - and indeed an intrigue based game (which I was always disappointed they never really came out with anything that had say more than 50% intrigue based encounters but can understand why)
You could easily broken the scope of the verbal duel rules and make them about the election instead.
Each party can do public actions and speeches, as well as various other forms of public communication to carry out "attacks" on the opposing party.
The side that loses its determination pool the first loses the election .
Thanks a lot for your advice. The election will be the grand finale of the Darkmoonvale Adventure Series. Therefore i am planning a longer campaign for a few months. During that campaign there will be public speeches of course to raise votes, i will use fame points to spend for gain votes or negate successes of the lumber party and there will be secret actions to discredit the opposing candidate. A highlight will be a verbal duel of the candidates in the local Tavern or a public sermon. Thanks for that idea, Alastar und a big thankyou to Lanathar, i can see the pieces moving together now. There is still a lot of preperation to do but i have a big picture of it now.
I doubt a small town like Falcon’s Hollow has access to the eleventh level caster it takes to cast antimagic field.
Next best thing is arcane sight and detect charm.
I'm just waiting for UnArcaneElection to see this thread...