Expanding on House Resource use

[Danestar]

After reading through the rules on the different uses for house resources and then looking at the various wonderful ideas that have been posted on this forum, I am wondering if anyone has thought of some more uses for the various house resources such as Defense and Influence.

[Pytorb]

Thinking aloud on influence, which is all about family how about the following as a quick starter:

Married Well
Cost 10
One of your immediate family e.g. Brother or Sister, Uncle or Aunt, or Cousin has managed to marry into a family above your own in power and influence. For example a minor house marrying into a major one, or a major house marrying into one of the Paramount Houses. Because of this marriage your family is close politically to the other higher family. This will mean you can call on them for aid and they will trust you with information and schemes.

Acknowledged Bastard
Cost 5
One of your immediate family is an acknowledged bastard. They will never be an hier to the house but serve the family loyally as best they can.


Unacknowledged Bastard
Cost -5 for immedaite family (-10 if this is the current heir, -20 if it is the current Lord)
One of your immediate family serving the House is an unacknowledged bastard. When this comes out it will cause quite the scandal.

Cadet Branch
Cost 10
One of your immediate family has been highly honoured by the King or House Paramount in being allowed to form a house of thier own. Alternatively one of your ancestors formed a house of thier own and the two branches of the family have stayed close through alliances and intermarriage. They could either be your bannerman (purchase with power) or physically distant from your lands. Either way they are another house you can trust to be at your side in the Game of Thrones.

Honoured Retainer
Cost 5 or 10
One of your immediate family has served in an honoured position in the Court of a Lord Paramount (for 5) or the King's Court (for 10). This could be as a Master-of Arms, a Chamberlain, a Castellan, Hpusehold Knight, a member of the Kingsguard, etc. As such they are in a position to be noticed by powerful Lords and Ladies thus promoting your House. They are also in a position to learn of the events taking place around the Court, or even some of its secrets, and pass them on to you.

[Danestar]

Some ideas that I've been mucking about with.

Spymaster Cost 10 (Intrigue)
Your house has a spymaster in their pay, providing many usefull sources of information.
Effect: Choose one of the following
- House characters may add +1 to their intrigue def
- House characters may add +1 to any intrigue roll
- Add +1 to the house fourtune roll

Hedge Knight Cost 5 (Intrigue)
Your house has aquired the services of an experienced Hedge Knight.

Town/City Walls Cost 5per level (Defence)
Your house has invested in a wall to defend your settlement.
As per the rulebook units on the wall gain +5 to defence.
Each level represents the requirements for a city wall being greater the larger the size of a settlement, ofcourse it is possible that the settlement has outgrown its walls or the lord was to ambitious when building their defences something which is bound to bring many possibilities to a GM or PC.

[phild]

I've been thinking along similar lines myself. As well as moving Maester to be an Influence holding (Littlefinger is wealthy, but the Citadel won't send him a Maester because he isn't "important" enough), I was thinking about things like Marriage Contract, Position of Honour (e.g. Kingsguard, Small Council member, Warden) and possibly also Renown (e.g. recent member of the house has won a Tourney)

[Pytorb]

The Hedge Knight idea is interesting but if they are just combat experienced that might be better off having as a 5 point buy in Power. What would be great instead is a "connected retainer" as a 5 point buy which could be a Hedge Knight, Master-of-Arms, Maester, Septon, Seneshal or any other House position. The game effect is that the House has the services of an experienced and well connected (either through blood, marriage or previous service) NPC which, like Married Well, means your house is noticed more by the major houses. Unlike Married Well you can not call on them for aid but they might ask a favour of you because of the NPC. [Edit] The connected retainer presumably either hasn't fallen out with anyone significant or enough people still remember them fondly despite one house's displeasure. A combat experienced Hedge Knight could also be a connected retainer of course which goves a reasonable indication where their combat experience came from...

Recent Renown is another really interesting idea. Again it raises visibility not just with the major houses but with all houses in the area/all that were at the tournement/etc. all of which translates into advantages, plot leads, requests for help, etc. How about 5 points for minor renown and 10 points for major renown which means your house's name is on all the mintrel's lips for a season?

[phild]

Recent Renown is another really interesting idea. Again it raises visibility not just with the major houses but with all houses in the area/all that were at the tournement/etc. all of which translates into advantages, plot leads, requests for help, etc. How about 5 points for minor renown and 10 points for major renown which means your house's name is on all the mintrel's lips for a season?

Sounds about right. The opposite way round (Minor Shame, Major Shame) is a good way to cover off a House Fortune Influence loss without having to actually scrap an existing holding.

[Pytorb]

Sounds about right. The opposite way round (Minor Shame, Major Shame) is a good way to cover off a House Fortune Influence loss without having to actually scrap an existing holding.

That's really good too. I think I will add these four to my houserules. And of course if a player takes the Quality Famous or the Drawback Ignoble or Reviled they were the one that did the deed

[Pytorb]

Here are those Influence rules again, with the renown options added plus a few more...

Married Well
Cost 10
One of your immediate family e.g. Father or Mother, Brother or Sister, Uncle or Aunt, or Cousin has managed to marry into a family above your own in power and influence. For example a minor house marrying into a major one, or a major house marrying into one of the Paramount Houses. Because of this marriage your family is close politically to the other higher family. This will mean you can call on them for aid and they will trust you with information and to be part of their schemes.

Happily remarried
Cost 5
The current lord remarried into a different family after his first wife died most likely from disease or childbirth, or the current Lady remarried into a different family after her first husband died most likely from disease or injuries in battle. Either way your House has maintained good relations with both families and they are both houses you can trust to be at your side in the Game of Thrones.

Unhappily remarried
Cost -5
The current lord remarried into a different family after his first wife died most likely from disease or childbirth, or the current Lady remarried into a different family after her first husband died most likely from disease or injuries in battle. Either way this has brought discord to your House. For example the second spouse could be sewing discord in your House promoting their own children at the expense of children of the first spouse. Alternatively the family for the first spouse does not approve of the remarriage in some way and is making life difficult for your House.

Connected Retainer
Cost 5
The House has the services of a well connected (either through blood, marriage or previous service) character or NPC. This could be a Hedge Knight, Master-of-Arms, Maester, Septon, Seneshal or any other House position. This means that, like Married Well, your house is noticed more by the major houses. Unlike Married Well you can not call on them for aid but they might ask a favour of you because of the connected retainer or confide in them. The connected retainer presumably either hasn't fallen out with anyone significant or enough people still remember them fondly despite one house's displeasure for them to retain their connections. A combat experienced Hedge Knight (see power Holdings) could also be a connected retainer of course which gives a reasonable indication where their combat experience came from.

Acknowledged Bastard
Cost 5
One of your immediate family is an acknowledged bastard. They will never be an heir to the house and so are purchased in addition to the heir and other siblings but serve the family loyally.

Unacknowledged Bastard
Cost -5 for immediate family (-10 if this is the current heir, -20 if it is the current Lord!)
One of your immediate family serving the House is an unacknowledged bastard. When this comes out it will cause quite the scandal. If the family member is a player character they must buy the Drawback – Dark Secret (Unacknowledged Bastard).

Cadet Branch
Cost 10
One of your immediate family has been highly honoured by the King or House Paramount in being allowed to form a house of their own. Alternatively one of your ancestors formed a house of their own and the two branches of the family have stayed close through alliances and intermarriage. They could either be your bannerman (purchase with power) or physically distant from your lands. Either way they are another house you can trust to be at your side in the Game of Thrones.

Serving at Court
Cost 5 or 10
One of your immediate family has served in an honoured position in the Court of a Lord Paramount (for 5) or the King's Court (for 10). This could be as a Master-of Arms, a Chamberlain, a Castellan, Household Knight, a member of the Kingsguard, etc. As such they are in a position to be noticed by powerful Lords and Ladies thus promoting your House. They are also in a position to learn of the events taking place around the Court, or even some of its secrets, and pass them on to you.

Isolated from Court
Cost -5 or -10
Your House has rarely been seen at the King's Court (for -5) or at the King's Court and the Court of a Lord Paramount (for -10). As such they overlooked by powerful Lords and Ladies fr marriage contracts, involvement in schemes, etc. Your House is also in no position to learn of the events taking place around the Court, or even some of its secrets, and as therefore often blindsided by events when they happen. Should they visit the Court/Courts they will find themselves with a limited knowledge of the major players, socially isolated, unfashionably dressed, etc. This could result in a -1B to some Status or Persuasion tests and a -1 to all House Fortune Rolls.

Recent Renown
Cost 5
A member of your House has done something recently to win renown for it such as winning a local Tourney, routing a local band of brigands, or something similar. This means your House is more likely to be noticed by Houses who were at the Tourney, local Houses, etc.

Recent Glory
Cost 10
A member of your House has done something to win Glory for it such as winning a Tourney organised in the name of the King or a Lord Paramount, saving the life of a member of the Royal family, slaying a pretender to the throne, etc. This means your House's name is on every Minstrel's lips and is more likely to be noticed by any Houses large or small. If a player character did this deed they should consider taking the Quality Famous.

Recent Misdemeanour/Ancient Shame
Cost -5
A member of your house has carried out a misdemeanour, not bad enough tot be sent to The Wall but bad enough to cause embarrassment to the family. This could be a political misstep like being on the wrong side of the Blackfyre Rebellion or Robert's rebellion but now forgiven for it or they could have embarrassed themselves or a more senior member of Court publicly. Alternatively the remnants of an ancient shame hangs over your family. Regardless of the course your House is slightly shunned by the powerful Lords and local houses as a result.

Recent Shame
Cost -10
A member of your house has committed a major crime or serious political misjudgement, such as being an unrepenant member of the Blackfyre Rebellion or Robert's Rebellion, murdering another noble, etc. It is likely, but not automatic, that they will have been sent to The Wall or executed because of their actions. As a result your House is shunned by the powerful Lords and local houses. This could result in a -1B to some Status or Persuasion tests and a -1 to all House Fortune Rolls. If a player character did this deed they should consider taking a Drawback like Ignoble, Reviled or The Losing Side depending on the act.

Absent Heir
Cost -5
The heir to your house is not with the rest of the family in the ancestral castle. They could be serving at a Court for example as a page, lord/lady-in-waiting, be a bound ward to different house in another castle as surety for your House's good behaviour, be squiring for a well-known knight, etc. Whatever the reason the loyalty of the heir's other siblings and the retainers to your House is being tested as a result. Your House is thus a hotbed of intrigues and factionalism.

[DaimosofRedstone]

I do not like the idea of deducting or adding Influence to the score.
Why would an absent heir make you more influential, while a good marriage would make you less so (since you just lowered your influence to purchase it).
I'd rather go with a slot-system.
You roll your Influence score normally and then you canslot into that score as many of these things as possible.
Things that would give 'negative' influence free up slots, while the 'positive influence' purchases consume slots.
So for example, you could still marry well at Influence 11 without starting at an Influence of 1 (so you just bagged a daughter from a good house and suddenly NOBODY is talking to you anymore?).

[Pytorb]

None of these influence holdings change the actual Influence of your house or the Status of your Lord they are, just like wealth holdings such as mines, things you can buy with it other than more heirs. The negative influence holdings don't make you more influential they just mean you can do more with the Influence your House has.

For example if you had three players who all wanted to play chilren of the lord (Influence holdings of 35) but your House only has an influence of 30. Throw in a degree of isolated from court and the players can play the characters they want and the GM has a nice couple of adventures where the plkayers get taken unawares by Court events that have an impact on them so they have to go to Kings Landing to get the House back in the loop. Alternatvely throw in an unhappily married and you could have a classic Disney wicked stepmother where all three players have to work together to protect their own bloodline against their father and his new wife who wants them conveniently out of the way so her children, when they are born, can become the next lord of the House.

[InfinityzeN]

Only thing is, you don't have to pay for heirs with a max Status of 2. That means if you are a Minor House (Max Status 4), then your Lord is Status 4, his Heir is Status 3 (cost 20), and all other children are Status 2 (free).

[Pytorb]

But the way I've read the rules is that all nobility are minimum Status 3 otherwise what is there to distinguish them from being a Smallfolk. So I would still require my players to buy other members of the family.

[DaimosofRedstone]

But the way I've read the rules is that all nobility are minimum Status 3 otherwise what is there to distinguish them from being a Smallfolk. So I would still require my players to buy other members of the family.

You just made the Freys impossible. In fact you more or less just inducted the '2-children-policy' into Westeros.

[Pytorb]

You just made the Freys impossible. In fact you more or less just inducted the '2-children-policy' into Westeros.

The noble House my players are running has 6 children (4 boys and two girls) so it can be done but yes the Freys are something of a special case. I did wonder about introducing a masses of children Influence Holding for just that kind of thing...

[Pytorb]

Here is another possible Influence Holding, this time a positional one. What do you think, is it OK or should stuff like this be left out of the House Creation system entirely? If it is OK is the cost too low or about right?

Warden
Requirement: Influence 40, Power 40
Cost 10
A warden is a Lord who has military command over an area. The well-known Wardens are the Starks, Arryns, Tyrells and Lannisters as Wardens of the North, East, South and West respectively though a few more minor wardens do exist such as House Caron the 'Lord of the Marches'. It is a Warden's responsibility to hold and keep the piece in an area until help from the King and/or other Lords should arrive (if they request it). It is a prestigious post and grants them a +1 to all Status tests and, due to their military responsibilities, they do not have to pay annual taxation to the King. However if they lose a battle in the area they have command over they lose 1 point of Influence as they have failed the King and/or their Lord Paramount.

[Zorbeltuss]

But the way I've read the rules is that all nobility are minimum Status 3 otherwise what is there to distinguish them from being a Smallfolk. So I would still require my players to buy other members of the family.

Smallfolk are status 1 as per the book.

[Flagg]

due to their military responsibilities, they do not have to pay annual taxation to the King

Living tax-free seems a bit much for something that's basically little more than a feather in one's cap.

In times of peace, this title is purely honorary. Their practical use has been rare since the Targaryen Conquest, with their most recent invocation being some four decades ago during the War of the Ninepenny Kings.

[Pytorb]

But the way I've read the rules is that all nobility are minimum Status 3 otherwise what is there to distinguish them from being a Smallfolk. So I would still require my players to buy other members of the family.

Smallfolk are status 1 as per the book.

So they are, oops! I'd always thought Status 1 was reserved for slaves and the entry in Peril at Kings Landing was an errata but obviously not.

But the RAW say that you don't have you buy every child of the Lord or the Freys would have Influence in the hundreds, however you still need to buy all significant ones (so excluding Septons/Septa and Maesters for example as they are removed from play dynastically for example). And to confuse matters it says that every child you buy after the heir and second-born has a maximum Status of the Lord's -3 but a minimum of 3. Where those two rules conflict, and obviously they do except for Major Houses with a starting status of 6 like the Freys or Boltons, I would go with the minimum of 3. That's because according to the Status table a member of a minor house is Status 3 whilst a house retainer is Status 2 and the smallfolk are indeed Status 1.

[Pytorb]

due to their military responsibilities, they do not have to pay annual taxation to the King

Living tax-free seems a bit much for something that's basically little more than a feather in one's cap.

In times of peace, this title is purely honorary. Their practical use has been rare since the Targaryen Conquest, with their most recent invocation being some four decades ago during the War of the Ninepenny Kings.

Which is probably why the only current example I could find is House Caron's Lord of the Marches as it is indeed quite a freebie in peacetime. I did try to think of something that would logically make sense. After all there is no point paying taxation of Power or Wealth to the King and Lord Paramount if you are in an area they consider to be an active war zone, hence the need for the title, if it saves them having to continually ride off to support you. Plus the Influence and Power requirements mean that if you lose a battle or two then your House will no longer be eligible to retain the title and, in game terms would have to relinquish it to use the Influence freed up to be converted into Power to replace the lost troops. Also this doesn't exempt you from all taxes, just the annual collection. If you rolled Extra Taxation on my expanded House Fortune Table you would still have to pay up.

[Zorbeltuss]

But the way I've read the rules is that all nobility are minimum Status 3 otherwise what is there to distinguish them from being a Smallfolk. So I would still require my players to buy other members of the family.

Smallfolk are status 1 as per the book.

So they are, oops! I'd always thought Status 1 was reserved for slaves and the entry in Peril at Kings Landing was an errata but obviously not.

But the RAW say that you don't have you buy every child of the Lord or the Freys would have Influence in the hundreds, however you still need to buy all significant ones (so excluding Septons/Septa and Maesters for example as they are removed from play dynastically for example). And to confuse matters it says that every child you buy after the heir and second-born has a maximum Status of the Lord's -3 but a minimum of 3. Where those two rules conflict, and obviously they do except for Major Houses with a starting status of 6 like the Freys or Boltons, I would go with the minimum of 3. That's because according to the Status table a member of a minor house is Status 3 whilst a house retainer is Status 2 and the smallfolk are indeed Status 1.

The ever-confusing problem of status tables saying different things...eh well.

As I use to say, the difference between status 1 and status 2 is protection, rank 1 in an ability is an impairment, for status, it basically means that nobles can and will do whatever they please to you with impunity. Status 2 implies that you are of noble birth and thus have the right to a trial, a hedge knight which affords you the same or in the service of a Lord that will hold his hand over you. Higher status than this simply means that you have a more prestigious position, either through birth or accomplishments.