D&D General Introducing political intrigue in D&D is NOT hard

[Imaculata]

Political intrigue can be very exciting in a D&D campaign. Take Game of Thrones for example. The political intrigue in that series leads to a lot of action and blood shed. It does not need to be boring.

I think the most important thing for a DM to consider, is how the players can interact with the politics. They shouldn't be just observers, but be able to influence what happens, while also being caught in the metaphorical web.

 

[TheSword]

It has been done very well in the past. I take Curse of the Crimson Throne as a very good example of politics affecting a ‘normal’ D&D adventure.

Think of the ministry of magic being affected by Potter’s claims, and the fall of the Minister in book 5 of HP.

Where it’s done well, it isn’t tedious, but instead provides an engaging backdrop that ups the stakes for the PCs and let’s them see their impact on the real world.

Vasquez is a grunt. But the politics is happening all around her. She isn’t interested so has no protection when it gets her killed.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Political intrigue can be very exciting in a D&D campaign. Take Game of Thrones for example. The political intrigue in that series leads to a lot of action and blood shed. It does not need to be boring.

I think the most important thing for a DM to consider, is how the players can interact with the politics. They shouldn't be just observers, but be able to influence what happens, while also being caught in the metaphorical web.

The easiest solution is to kill them all and let the gods sort them out.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

It has been done very well in the past.

It doesn't matter how well you do it, if the players don't care they don't care.

 

[TheSword]

It doesn't matter how well you do it, if the players don't care they don't care.

Doesn’t mean it isn’t worth having. It’s about verisimilitude.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Doesn’t mean it isn’t worth having. It’s about verisimilitude.

If you create something, and the players choose to ignore it, you have wasted time you could have spent creating something the players are interested in.

 

[TheSword]

If you create something, and the players choose to ignore it, you have wasted time you could have spent creating something the players are interested in.

Except where the background ideology or politics informs future interactions and helps me respond to the players actions in a more convincing way.

The players may ignore that Temeria is at war with Niilfgard. However I can use it to make realistic 3D characters that have a place in the world when they do interact with the PCs.

 

[Ixal]

If you create something, and the players choose to ignore it, you have wasted time you could have spent creating something the players are interested in.

You have to create a setting (unless your PCs live in a dungeon and only come out to cash in their loot and then go back) and politics are part of a setting. Even when the PCs do not directly engage in it the events that happen in the world will in large parts be decided by politics.

Also, without first creating politics you do not know if the PCs will ignore it or not.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Also, without first creating politics you do not know if the PCs will ignore it or not.

I've been playing with my group for about four years. I know they ignore politics. Unless it knocks on their door. In which case they kill it.

 

[Azuresun]

You have to create a setting (unless your PCs live in a dungeon and only come out to cash in their loot and then go back) and politics are part of a setting. Even when the PCs do not directly engage in it the events that happen in the world will in large parts be decided by politics.

Also, without first creating politics you do not know if the PCs will ignore it or not.

There's a bit of topic drift going on here. Politics affecting the PC's (even if they're not invested in the politics) are not the same thing as political intrigue the PC's are getting directly involved in.