Running fiefs

[Jürgen Hubert]

Has anyone here run a D&D campaign where the PCs started with running a fief of their own, instead of acquiring one later on? What were your experiences like?

And yes, I know about Birthright - though I'd prefer to hear some stories from other campaign worlds...

 

[Crothian]

it was insane. We want way to detailed on the type of land management ones needs. It was a pain to set things up to get away adventureing for a little while. Most of the money we got killing things went into improving what was owned and running things. It was fun, but a little odd and very very different.

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

Personally, I thought of starting the PCs somewhere from 5th to 7th level, giving them a small fief somewhere in the Silver Marches of the Forgotten Realms, using "A Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe" to detail the fief and calculate income and expenses (and possibly using the "Stronghold Builder's Guidebook" to create the keep), and just throw all sorts of power groups and monsters at them and see what happens - there's so much going on in the Forgotten Realms that it's easy to see how trouble can follow you home...

Any advice you could give me?

 

[Crothian]

define the political and georgraphical area very well. Names, social events, who is trading with whom for what, etc. THe Forgotten relams are pretty well defined so it should be easier with those books. Make sure you figure out if the characters are going to be more adminstrators or herioc. Make sure the PCs have skills that refelct them ruling and they don't look like adventures who happen to own a keep.

 

[Eosin the Red]

I have ran 2 campaigns in that manner --- not inluding 2 Birthright campaigns.

Nowdays I would use Fields of Blood or stick with the rules in BR or BR d20. They each have some advantages and disadvantages but all things considered they come in at a dead heat.

Most of my campaigns start with PCs in some posistion of authority so it is difficult for me to say how it might be different. I also require all PCs to have jobs or income, so I am kinda funny that way.