Kingmaker Players Guide⁚ A Comprehensive Guide to Ruling the Stolen Lands
The Kingmaker Players Guide is a free PDF written by James Jacobs, Mark Moreland, and F. Wesley Schneider, released in March 2010 in conjunction with the launch of the Kingmaker Adventure Path. This guide provides all the Kingmaker-specific handouts players need to explore the Stolen Lands and build a kingdom. The guide is intended to provide context for creating characters from the nation of Brevoy or surrounding regions who wish to play a role in the Stolen Lands transformation.
Introduction
Welcome to the world of Kingmaker, an epic adventure path for Pathfinder that takes players on a journey from humble adventurers to rulers of their own kingdom. This guide is your essential companion, offering a comprehensive overview of the campaign, its unique mechanics, and the challenges you’ll face as you carve your destiny in the Stolen Lands. Prepare to embrace the trials and tribulations of kingdom building, diplomacy, and warfare as you strive to establish a prosperous and lasting legacy in this untamed wilderness.
The Kingmaker adventure path is more than just a dungeon crawl; it’s a test of your leadership, resource management, and strategic thinking. You’ll face not only monstrous threats but also the complexities of governing, dealing with rival factions, and making choices that shape the future of your burgeoning kingdom. This guide is designed to provide you with the necessary tools and insights to navigate these challenges effectively.
Throughout this guide, you’ll find valuable information on character creation, kingdom building, warfare, roleplaying tips, and a wealth of resources to help you succeed. Whether you’re a seasoned Pathfinder player or new to the game, this guide is your gateway to becoming a true Kingmaker. So, gather your companions, sharpen your blades, and prepare to embark on an adventure unlike any other. The fate of the Stolen Lands rests in your hands.
Character Creation
Character creation in Kingmaker takes on a unique dimension, as you’ll be shaping not only an individual hero but also a potential leader of a burgeoning kingdom. The choices you make in character creation will have lasting repercussions throughout the campaign, influencing your kingdom’s development, your relationships with other factions, and even your ultimate success or failure.
When creating your character, consider your desired role within the party and how you want to contribute to the kingdom’s growth. Will you be a charismatic diplomat, a cunning strategist, a valiant warrior, or a master craftsman? The Kingmaker adventure path offers a wide range of class options to suit various playstyles and backgrounds.
Beyond choosing your class and ancestry, consider your character’s alignment and how it aligns with your kingdom’s ideals. Will you be a benevolent ruler, a ruthless pragmatist, or something in between? Your alignment will influence your decisions, your relationships with other characters, and the overall direction your kingdom will take. Remember, your choices matter, and your character’s starting point will shape the journey ahead.
Kingdom Building
The heart of the Kingmaker campaign lies in the thrilling challenge of kingdom building. You won’t just be adventuring; you’ll be shaping a nation from the ground up, facing the complex challenges of governance, resource management, and diplomacy. The Kingmaker Players Guide provides detailed rules and mechanics for this aspect of the game, allowing you to make meaningful choices that directly impact your kingdom’s growth.
As you explore the Stolen Lands, you’ll encounter abandoned settlements, fertile plains, and treacherous forests; The Kingmaker Players Guide outlines the process of establishing new settlements, deciding their purpose, and managing their development. You’ll need to balance the needs of your people with the demands of security and expansion, making strategic decisions about resource allocation, infrastructure development, and even the construction of defensive fortifications.
The Kingmaker Players Guide also introduces the concept of “Kingdom Traits,” which represent the unique characteristics and strengths of your burgeoning nation. These traits influence your kingdom’s development, its relationships with other factions, and its overall standing in the world. Choosing the right Kingdom Traits is crucial for ensuring your kingdom’s prosperity and survival.
Warfare
The Kingmaker Players Guide delves into the gritty reality of warfare, a crucial element of the campaign. While your characters will be building a nation, they’ll also be navigating complex political landscapes and facing threats from hostile forces. This guide equips players with the tools to engage in strategic combat, both on a grand scale and in individual encounters.
The Kingmaker Players Guide provides detailed rules for raising armies, managing resources, and waging war against rival kingdoms. You’ll need to make tough choices about unit composition, troop deployment, and siege tactics. The guide incorporates elements of traditional warfare, such as sieges and open battles, but also introduces unique challenges specific to the Stolen Lands.
Beyond traditional combat, the Kingmaker Players Guide also emphasizes the role of diplomacy and negotiation. You can choose to engage in alliances, negotiate trade agreements, or even use diplomacy to resolve conflicts peacefully. The guide encourages players to think strategically about their actions, considering the long-term consequences of their choices on the political landscape of the Stolen Lands.
Roleplaying in Kingmaker
The Kingmaker Players Guide encourages a dynamic and engaging roleplaying experience, emphasizing the importance of player agency and creative decision-making. The campaign encourages players to think beyond traditional adventuring and embrace the challenges of building a nation, shaping its future, and establishing its place in the world. This guide provides a framework for players to flesh out their characters’ motivations, aspirations, and leadership styles, allowing them to leave a lasting impact on the Stolen Lands.
The guide encourages players to develop their characters’ personalities and relationships with other characters, both within their own party and with the various factions and individuals they encounter throughout the campaign. The Kingmaker Players Guide also provides guidance on how to roleplay interactions with NPCs, both friendly and adversarial, to build alliances, negotiate treaties, and navigate complex political landscapes;
Furthermore, the guide emphasizes the importance of roleplaying the challenges of governing a kingdom. You’ll be making decisions that affect the lives of your people, balancing the needs of different factions, and responding to crises that threaten the stability of your nation. The Kingmaker Players Guide provides players with the tools to make meaningful choices and to shape the future of the Stolen Lands.
Tips for Players
The Kingmaker Players Guide offers a variety of tips to help players navigate the challenges of the Stolen Lands, build a successful kingdom, and achieve their goals. One key tip is to prioritize a collaborative approach, encouraging players to work together to overcome obstacles and achieve shared objectives. The guide emphasizes the importance of communication and coordination, as well as a willingness to compromise and make sacrifices for the greater good.
The guide also advises players to carefully consider the political and social implications of their actions, as their decisions will have a lasting impact on the Stolen Lands and its inhabitants. It encourages players to think strategically about how to manage resources, cultivate alliances, and respond to threats. The guide also suggests that players explore the vast wilderness of the Stolen Lands, uncovering its secrets and building relationships with the various tribes and creatures that call it home.
The Kingmaker Players Guide reminds players that the Stolen Lands are a dangerous and unforgiving place, and encourages them to be prepared for a wide range of challenges. It advises players to prioritize careful planning, effective resource management, and the development of strong alliances to ensure their survival and success.
Resources for Players
The Kingmaker Players Guide provides valuable resources for players to enhance their experience and success in the Stolen Lands. One key resource is the detailed character suggestions, offering recommendations for alignments, ancestries, classes, languages, skills, and more, tailored to the specific challenges of the campaign. The guide also features specific handouts that players will need to explore the Stolen Lands, manage their kingdom, and interact with the various factions and creatures they encounter.
Beyond the guide itself, players can access a wealth of additional resources online. Paizo, the publisher of the Kingmaker Adventure Path, offers a comprehensive website with information, downloads, and forums where players can connect with other fans and share their experiences. Numerous online communities and forums dedicated to Pathfinder and Kingmaker provide a platform for players to discuss strategies, share tips, and seek assistance with specific challenges.
Players can also find helpful resources in the form of videos, podcasts, and articles that offer detailed insights into the game’s mechanics, lore, and gameplay strategies. These resources can provide players with a deeper understanding of the campaign, its characters, and the challenges they will face, ultimately enhancing their enjoyment and success.
The Kingmaker Players Guide serves as a comprehensive and essential resource for players embarking on the epic journey through the Stolen Lands. It provides a solid foundation for character creation, kingdom building, and navigating the complexities of warfare, all while maintaining a spoiler-free environment. The guide’s detailed suggestions and insights ensure that players are well-equipped to tackle the challenges and opportunities that await them in this vast and ever-changing world.
The Kingmaker Players Guide is not merely a collection of rules and guidelines; it is a gateway to a captivating and immersive experience. It empowers players to create unique and impactful characters, forge their own destinies, and leave a lasting legacy on the Stolen Lands. Through its insightful guidance, the guide ensures that players can fully engage with the story, the characters, and the world, making their journey through Kingmaker truly unforgettable.
Whether players are seasoned veterans of Pathfinder or newcomers to the world of tabletop roleplaying, the Kingmaker Players Guide offers a valuable tool for maximizing their enjoyment and success in this captivating and challenging adventure. It is a testament to the power of collaboration, imagination, and the enduring appeal of classic fantasy storytelling.
FAQs
Q⁚ Is there a Kingmaker Players Guide for Pathfinder 2e?
A⁚ While there is no dedicated Players Guide for Kingmaker in Pathfinder 2e, the Adventure Path itself includes information on character creation, kingdom building, and other relevant aspects of the campaign. You can find resources and discussions on the Pathfinder 2e community forums and online communities.
Q⁚ What is the optimal party size for Pathfinder⁚ Kingmaker?
A⁚ A party size of 4-6 players is generally considered ideal for Kingmaker. This allows for a good balance of character roles and provides enough players to manage the kingdom-building and warfare aspects of the campaign effectively. However, it’s ultimately up to your group to decide what works best for them.
Q⁚ What games inspired Kingmaker?
A⁚ Kingmaker draws inspiration from various sources, including classic fantasy novels, video games like “The Elder Scrolls IV⁚ Oblivion” and “The Settlers,” and tabletop games like “Civilization.” The adventure path blends elements of these games to create a unique and engaging experience.
Q⁚ What is the strongest character in Pathfinder⁚ Kingmaker?
A⁚ The strongest character in Kingmaker depends on the specific build, playstyle, and campaign challenges. However, certain classes and ancestries tend to be popular choices due to their versatility and effectiveness in combat and kingdom management. Ultimately, the “strongest” character is the one best suited to your group’s playstyle and the campaign’s challenges.