D&D 5E Founding a Successor State?

[Zardnaar]

I'll use Rome as an example. The Empire is on the way out the PCs don't want to try and save it but may want to preserve the best of the Empire whatever they perceive that to be.

The idea is kind of like the old D&D domains but instead of trying to found a domain you want to break off an area and create a refuge.

The idea is they take a legion perhaps their own and hole up somewhere like Switzerland/helvetia and use their money to preserve a library and secure the borders. Select sages, specialists and refugees get invited to go there.

Or go to a remote spot and hole up.

ERE that would be Morea, Egypt maybe Sudan or somewhere in the mountains east of the Nile, Mystara maybe Isle of Dread idk.

Specifics don't matter to much. The Empire I on the way out it's either obvious to everyone or a seer that may or may not be accurate has foreseen it. Saving the Empire is essentially impossible or not worth the effort. It's to corrupt, alignment differences, elites in charge are to entrenched etc.

Social pillar. Convincing key people to relocate/support the "foundation ". Securing allies in the legions.

Exploration. Securing the wilderness or locating new resources in successor state area.

Combat. Armies at higher level perhaps securing the new area or dealing with evil dragons. It's Horde can pay for a boat for example.

 

[overgeeked]

Sounds fun. I’d check out Matt Colville’s video series on politics. There are some fantastic ideas to mine for exactly this kind of thing. Picking up some old BECMI stuff on domains wouldn’t hurt either.

 

[Zardnaar]

Sounds fun. I’d check out Matt Colville’s video series on politics. There are some fantastic ideas to mine for exactly this kind of thing. Picking up some old BECMI stuff on domains wouldn’t hurt either.

Well it might be for ACKs or a next 5E game I run or both.

Out in the provinces raising your own troops is fine but you don't try and seize the crown.

 

[Stormonu]

Best bet would probably be to seek a borderland area (think Germania or Britannia at that time). They could even establish something akin to the Arthur dynasty and his Round Table with a new form of government and way of doing things. The PCs don't necessarily need to be in charge either; they could, for example, attract a disgruntled person of power to support by offering their aid to his oversite.

Mostly, throwing magic into the mix changes so many things, including distance (various teleports), farmability (druids, stone shape, move earth, plant growth and the like), protection (alarm, hallow, guards & wards and such), labor (various summons) and even things like attracting followers (friends, charm, dominate, etc.). Of course, a grand empire can counter with similar magics - curses, storms, teleporting raiders to the land, dominating creatures to cause problems in the area, etc.)

 

[Zardnaar]

Best bet would probably be to seek a borderland area (think Germania or Britannia at that time). They could even establish something akin to the Arthur dynasty and his Round Table with a new form of government and way of doing things. The PCs don't necessarily need to be in charge either; they could, for example, attract a disgruntled person of power to support by offering their aid to his oversite.

Mostly, throwing magic into the mix changes so many things, including distance (various teleports), farmability (druids, stone shape, move earth, plant growth and the like), protection (alarm, hallow, guards & wards and such), labor (various summons) and even things like attracting followers (friends, charm, dominate, etc.). Of course, a grand empire can counter with similar magics - curses, storms, teleporting raiders to the land, dominating creatures to cause problems in the area, etc.)

Well Helvetia was my first thought Britannia had already left by the time period I was thinking about. Same idea though.

Just used Rome as an example and it's familiar enough.