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Post by Caerleon (Tristan) on Jun 30, 2016 1:21:50 GMT
Regency points are nebulous representations of divine power and influence that are available to regents to spend on maintenance, upkeep and as influence. It's pretty easy to imagine how spending GB look, but how does RP expenditure look?
This is a thread for discussion and ideas.
Maintenance - budgets are squeezed and payments fall short, the people of your domain put in extra effort (out of pride, etc) and maybe a little bit of their own money to make sure that things keep on ticking over. Works ok in the short term, but in the long term may have people feel unappreciated (i.e. prosperity/stability impact).
Upkeep - the unit goes unpaid (partially or fully). Local landholders donate goods to keep the unit supplied and the unit just grin and bear it, confident that the regent will make good.
Influence - this is a bit harder, but my opinion has always been that regency influence represents luck and the land working for or against you. For example regency on an agitate roll could indicate good weather and a receptive crowd for the propaganda your bard is spreading, or it could mean rain and a heckler that gets under his skin. Regency spent on a move unit roll could represent the fact that a village has just finished work on improving a ford (right before you needed it) or, in opposition a weir bursting and washing out a section of road.
Basically I see RP support/opposition on influence rolls as being good/bad luck that is hard to tie back to a regent unless you have special abilities to do so.
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Post by Aethor of Helna (ST) on Jun 30, 2016 2:19:05 GMT
Assuming this thread isn't for RP influence specifically, but rather for substituting RP for GB. Given that RP and GB fundamentally have equal value (i.e. 1 RP and 1 GB provide the same value in influence), the fact that it takes 5 RP to create 1 GB should indicate just how much effort it takes to convince people to work for free.
Also considered is that bonus actions by the regent and lieutenant are free actions, which I've role-played as being influence (through membership in various guilds which provides benefits and responsibilities - kinda like how you can expect to get support from a church if you're a member of said church). A fighter is not just a capable general himself - he also knows the relevant people to create an effective chain of command and they are willing to follow him for glory over payment (wage war). A rogue is both a skilled merchant (heavily reducing the cost of conducting a trade venture), but also has favors he can draw upon for life (espionage). And so on and so forth.
A unit at half upkeep can typically forage for food. Spending influence rather than GB for that half is equivalent to calling upon the goodwill of the people to provide food for the troops. Like what the Scottish did for Polish exiles during WWII - rather than being forced to, they provided such food freely. I.e. no need to forage, and no expenditure from the realm or regent.
Similar to bonus action, spending influence on actions might represent the regents personal involvement, his <insert ability score here> being put to the task at hand, and having a noticeable effect. For example, a rogue already gets -1GB to the cost of a Trade Venture. Supposing a 4GB trade venture, an additional 5RP to cover 1GB of cost represents an immense focus of the regent on the Trade Venture to get the best deals available on goods to sell, to have the most cost-effective crew, and to waste as little time as possible (and thus pay less in dock fees).
Then there's that many costs are really nebulous in themselves. Accounts are not nearly as accurate as our excel sheets are capable of making them. Maybe if the regent takes a closer look at the accounts, it turns out that someone was skimming from the top (the 50% you can take without cause). But some funds are necessary (the 50% required). It's more precise than the admin rolls, because the regent is there personally to validate the accounts.
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Post by Caerleon (Tristan) on Jun 30, 2016 2:29:01 GMT
Assuming this thread isn't for RP influence specifically, but rather for substituting RP for GB. Given that RP and GB fundamentally have equal value (i.e. 1 RP and 1 GB provide the same value in influence), the fact that it takes 5 RP to create 1 GB should indicate just how much effort it takes to convince people to work for free. It was a bit of both, I'm particularly interested in how RP spent for influence plays out in game, but also how it would look for other actions.
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Post by Maelgwyn ap Cadwgan (TOG) on Jun 30, 2016 13:01:33 GMT
In old birthright influence had more a representation of actual spiritual power granted to you by your rulership and your ties to the land or its various groupings.
I still see it a little bit as that, that is what differentiates those with a bloodline from those without.
However the 'use' of it, is in my view, the character using their influence over others by command/friendship/dealings to help their chosen goal be achieved. Like stated above, using your congregation or various acquaintances and favors or the power of an office to effect. Using their political clout, helped by the fact they do have an ephimeral aura of power.
The point with the bridge does come across. Is there a luck factor involved? Or is this perhaps were that ephimeral power comes to play? Is it luck when the land adjust ever so slightly to fit your aims?
Except for casting magic obviously where the main point of action is an expression of the character using up their power (, indeed theirselves?,) to wrought great workings.
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Post by Aethor of Helna (ST) on Jun 30, 2016 17:23:03 GMT
I think even if RP influence or RP instead of GB might not be tied back to the regent, it could reliably be tied back to the realm (in part because you can only influence where you have a presence).
So, if HTOG begins converting people in Bayard (using RP influence to boost their agitate/create/rule action), it doesn't need to reflect the regent's personal involvement, but it wouldn't be entirely out of place for saintly priests and minor miracles to be attributed to HTOG.
RP influence probably also looks different between realms. A landed realm might very have the land adjusting ever so slightly to better fit the goals of the landed realm (and if it so happens to match the regent's wishes, all the better). A temple might receive a boon of minor miracles. A guild may have the markets adjust to be just right (You just set sail with a whole bunch of gold from Gawant and it just so happens gold is scarce where you're headed. How lucky!). A roving band of marauders may see prey animals practically wander into their camp as they try to forage.
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Post by Linde (x-GM) on Jul 6, 2016 9:45:46 GMT
Generally, when using RP instead of GB, you use your influence to make others bear the cost or waive their payment.
When using RP as influence, it can be a matter of stating opposition, approval or intent and using your influence to make your subjects act on that. Its effects can also sometimes be contributed to luck, miracles, misfortune or good planning.
But influence is a fluent matter, it can also be two mages opposing each others actions with sheer will.
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Post by SouthWestern Traders on May 25, 2017 17:41:35 GMT
To add to this: Some of the RP influence SWT will inevitably be spending in Hibernia represents quality weapons being ferried to the soldiers there.
Without the RP influence? It would probably just be regular weapons sold to whomever.
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