Converting Birthright Rules for NonBR Worlds

[Azure Trance]

-=Posted @ BR.net as well=-

BR rules look easily adaptable for another DnD campaign if only for it's blooded scions and RPs. Not many campaigns have mortals absorbing divine essence, and the fact that only blooded can rule has probably been a well discussed topic before.

Initially I tried modifiying them without abilities and RPs, and it looked OK if dull. But why go against the flow? With a simple change, it looks on the surface to be plausible.

Replace divine blood from several gods with that from the "God of Royalty / Rulership." There needn't be a catacylsmic battle where gods die in order for you to be blooded, instead it's just a behind the scenes indicator of sorts from the god of Rulership. It would be somewhat more common I think, since it could be viewed more as a 'blessing' or certain 'destiny' from the Rulership god.

Perhaps an insignificant commoner could have a weak or minor 'bloodline,' or 'rulership score' and could later be a local noble who uses his powers to influence just his town or area.

People with larger scores would be destined for greater things, or doomed to obscurity if never tapped. It would take away from the mystique of your uniquness, but thats why this can be adaptable for other worlds.

The only thing which would be a problem would be the different god-lines. How would something of Azrais descent be converted if there's only one god ... first reaction was that there would be different facets of the god, like the Trinity in Christianity. Seperate yet the same. Or, there actually are three different gods of rulership. Or, maybe nine facets/gods ...

Good = Benevolent.
Neutral = Fair.
Evil = Self-serving, greedy, powerhungry.
Chaotic = Free spirit, rebel.
Lawful = Authority (deference to), trutworthy.

So, blooded abilities like "Elemental Control" could have chaotic scions have fire, lawful water, good air and evil earth. The same could apply for resistances. If it can be categorized by the subset above, why not?

Do any of you see any problems with this?

Just me musing ...

 

[Kaptain_Kantrip]

The term you're looking for is "the divine right of kings," which is of course alleged "rule by divine right," wherein the king/emperor/pope (whatever) is given his authority to rule the land by God... at least that's the lie told to get everyone to obey him and hopefully deter detractors, plotters and assassins.

As far as fantasy RPGs go, any god will do, but it must be one accepted by the majority of the citizens if it is to be truly effective and meaningful. Saying you have been given "the divine right to rule Waterdeep by Orcus, Demon Prince of the Undead," isn't going to prove particularly helpful in establishing your authority, unless you have a sizable force of believers to back you up, as Orcus is not a well-liked or much-worshipped deity in Waterdeep.

 

[Azure Trance]

I was thinking of something similar -- I only had the idea of god of rulership from 2nd Ed. Handbook of Priests, though, but I think it's more then enough

 

[Kaptain_Kantrip]

Siamophe is the FR god of nobility and the divine right of nobles to rule. You might want to check that deity out in the 3e FRCS (or its minor deities web enhancement, it's one of 'em).

Did you see the 3e conversion of BR domain rules in Dragon #293 (World Builder Special)?

 

[Azure Trance]

Siamophe is the FR god of nobility and the divine right of nobles to rule. You might want to check that deity out in the 3e FRCS (or its minor deities web enhancement, it's one of 'em).

Did you see the 3e conversion of BR domain rules in Dragon #293 (World Builder Special)?

Of course! Although it was different, I think I'll only use a few of their rules to make it more "d20." Off the top of my head, I think that's the relationship matrix, initiative, and maybe hardship (though I can't recall off the top of my head if that's already part of the BR Loyalty rules).

While it's great in an abstract way, finding out how many square miles of a province is forest or plains and determining population (and therefore potential taxation) isn't really that ... well, interesting.

Also, it doesn't take into affect the population growth since it uses only one whereas in BR you could grow it from a level 1 (1000) to level 10 (100,000) province which irks me