Nation Building Options

To build a nation for the game, you simply assign 7 specialties and then select your characters. Each specialty can be

considered a single choice, with the exception of magic specialties and negative specialties.

SELECT CULTURAL STYLE

SELECT RELIGION

SELECT SPECIALITIES

SELECT CHARACTERS

Step 1: Select a Cultural Style

BARBARIC

+ 1 to Beastmastery research rol ls

1 0% Cheaper soldiers

-2 cultural power

PASTORAL

+ 1 to Agronomy research rol ls

20% taming/training reduction on Docile

creatures

The benefit of positive civic events are halved.

AESCULAPIAN

+ 1 to Biology research rol ls

20% less casualties and smaller disease

threshold hold on civi l events table

-20% assimilation rate minus an additional 20%

per level of Biology above assimilating

population. Disease results are increased by

two thresholds for assimilated populations unti l

8 seasons after assimilation.

EXPERIMENTAL

+ 1 to Science research rol ls

You can forfeit the morale bonus on your civic

event rol l to add it to a research rol l once every

4 seasons

-2 cultural power

PRACTICAL

+ 1 to Engineering research rol ls

Each time a construction project is completed,

add +1 to the next Civics event rol l .

-1 to Society research rol ls

NOMADIC

+ 1 to Navigation research rol ls

Starts with 2 large caravans, 50 portable tents,

And a domesticated animal

Foraging, hunting and comparable actions can

apply to each hex the population who attempts

them moves through

Does not start with the ‘Town vil lage’ or any

‘crops’ structures

MERCANTILE

+ 1 to Commerce research rol ls

Trade value increased 50% (rnd down), add

civic event numeric result to food/income

Taxation counts as one higher for Morale

(crushing counts as -20 morale)

MILITARISTIC

+ 1 to Warfare research rol ls

Soldiers get +1 Training and Discipl ine

Morale setbacks linger, Mil itary Morale setbacks

reduce Morale by 1 additional point.

POLITICAL

+ 1 to Society research rol ls

Taxation counts as one lower for Morale

Takes two seasons to change taxation rate,

increase negative civi l events by one threshold

SPIRITUAL

Free rel igion upgrade, +1 morale

Research progress for any category degrades

by 1 per season except for categories included

in research actions that season (i.e. research

doesn't 'hang').

MYSTICAL

+ 1 to magic research rol ls

Extreme results grant; Exceptionalists: a free

mage, Ritual ists: power boost to next spell ,

Mystics: 2 free magical research points

-1 to research rol ls for World domain categories

(Physical Science, Navigation, Engineering)

PHILOSOPHICAL

Completing a research threshold grants 1 d4

research points into the research category of

your choice

Enthusiasm civi l event result is replaced by

sloth

Step 2: Select Religion

ANCESTRAL WORSHIP

Sacred Graveyard structure (reduce chance of disease result/cultural structure/no idea), Wil l of the

Ancestors (+morale/bonus when approved actions taken)

Upgrade - channell ing (get possessed), exemplars (take on the attributes of key ancestors/de-

randomize Wil l of the Ancestors), spirits guardians (ancestor spirits resist astral intrusions/scrying),

Walpurgisnacht (ancestors walk the earth during certain times)

DIVINE CULT

Shrine Building (hands out blessings/happiness), Divinity (portfol io choices)

Upgrade - Ecclesiarchy (+tax and happiness), Pantheon (expand minor portfol io choices), Deity (less

portfol io selections but individual selections stronger)

HERO WORSHIP

Lay of Heroes structure (write in to motivate an action?), Inspiration, + Leaders/Training

Upgrade: God-emperor (+1 0/+5 super-character), legends (cultural resistance), exemplars (trials),

Tomb Cults

ESOTERIC CULT

Hermitage building (+ magic research), cheaper mages

Upgrades - Mystery cult, Profane god, Magisterium, Beyond good and Evil , Arcane God,

Conceptualis

MONSTER CULT

Den/Lair structure (takes up space, houses monster), relationship with magical beast

Upgrades: Monster minions (general ly advanced soldiers or workers), mutual ism (Monster is much

more helpful in return for services), Dominator (demands increase but monster becomes terrifyingly

powerful)

NATURALISM

Grove Structure (supports a plant/small crop and animal), Ecology (+animals, +pop/space from

forests (or selected terrain type)

Upgrades - Savage (+war, bonus with wild creatures), Eden (+l ife, bonus with docile creatures),

Druidry, Monism (get along better in al l natural environments)

NOne

free tech? Intermediate X?

upgrades: Harlequins (highly syncretic patchwork of other rel igions), Nihi l ists,

Secularists, Humanists,

Military SpecialtiesEach mil itary specialty selected grants 5 elites and 25 soldiers

ASSASSINSApplied Techs - any small one handed melee weapon, any small ranged weapon, [Basic poisons], [Basic stealth], [Basic outdoors

gear], [Improved ambush]Elites are able to apply poison to their weapons /1 poison known [revisit]

+1 covert act al lowance

BERSERKERSApplied Techs - any two handed weapon, [Basic l ight armour], [Shock troops],

El ites can use Beserkergang [+attack, no fear but take more casualties]

RIDERSApplied Techs - one tier 3 or lower creature tamed (cannot have unrideable quality), [Basic l ight armour], [Rider training; selected

creature]Structure and population of chosen creatures based on choice (see creature entries page x).

El ites get +1 mobil ity when mounted

KNIGHTSApplied Techs - any one handed weapon, l ight or medium armour, [Simple Shields] [Basic heavy armour], [Improved discipl ine], [Basic

outdoors gear]El ites count as 1 additional soldier for outnumbering bonuses, and have a Code of Conduct

ELITESApplied Techs - any weapon, then a choice between; any weapon, simple shields, medium armour, or heavy armour, [Basic l ight

armour], [Improved training]El ites count as 1 additional soldier for outnumbering bonuses

RAIDERSApplied Techs - any one handed weapon, [Menacing troops], [Basic sabotage], [Plundering]

El ites get +1 mobil ity unmounted [revisit] , and Intimidating (-1 to enemy morale)

RANGERSApplied Techs - any ranged weapon, any one handed weapon, [Improved tracking], [Supplement rations], [Basic traps], [Basic

pathfinding], [Basic outdoors gear], [Basic Survival gear]El ites halve terrain penalties for movement (before other modifications)

MARKSMENApplied Techs - any two ranged weapons, [Improved training], [Improved warfare: chosen weapons]

Elites with ranged weapons have Accuracy

COMBAT ENGINEERSApplied Techs - [Basic l ight armour], [Basic medium armour], [Basic toolset], [Basic sabotage], [Basic siege weapons],

Idle soldiers may count as Population die for construction projectsElites are Sappers and Adept at constructing fortifications/roads

SLAVE-SOLDIERSApplied Techs - [Slave Soldiery]

+1 00 slavesElites are Intimidating and Slavedrivers

CITIZEN-SOLDIERSApplied Techs - any one handed weapon, [Armed populace]

Soldier recruitment costs 75% rounded up (Cost of Elites unaffected)Half of idle soldiers count towards Population Die

Elites have Civic Soldiery

SENTINELSApplied Techs - any one handed weapon, [Simple Shields], [Improved Security]El ites are Guardians (+defense in cities) and Vigi lant (+passive detection)

SCOUTSApplied Teachs - [Basic pathfinding], [Basic outdoors gear], [Basic Survival gear], [Improved Reconnaissance]

Elites get + 1 Mobil ity and Perceptive (+active detection)

Step 3: Select Specialties Military

Step 3: Select Specialties Research

Research Specialties

HUNTERSIntermediate Beastmastery

Add your beastmastery threshold level to the hunting outcome roll

FARMERSCore Techs - Intermediate AgronomyApplied Techs - any tier 1 animal tamed

Selected animals (amount based on animal)+2 to farm construction rol ls

MEDICINE MENIntermediate Biology

gain (Pop die x1 0) food from foraging instead of (pop die x5)/discover al l plants when foraging

INVENTORSIntermediate Physical Science

Inspiration: When ever an extreme result occurs on a random event - Civi l , Weather or other - gain 1 d4 research pointsto a World Category of your choice.

SAILORSCore Techs - Intermediate Navigation

Applied Techs - [canoes] [simple sailboats]Buildings - 'Port'

Less chance to get waylaid sail ing

BUILDERSCore Techs - Intermediate Engineering

'Palisade' Structure+1 to construction rol ls

MERCHANTSCore Techs - Intermediate Commerce

Traded goods gain percieved value equal to your Commerce threshold levelSold goods gain bonus gold equal to Commerce threshold level + item quality.

MILITIACore Techs - Intermediate Warfare

A portion of your population(1 0% Warfare Threshold level) count as soldiers when attacked

DIPLOMATSCore Techs - Intermediate Society

+ 2 cultural power1 .5x Assimilation Rate

20% more expensive soldiers

Step 3: Select Specialties Research

Civil Specialties

PEASANTSdouble population growth

-1 to research rol ls-2 cultural power

MINERSMines cost -2 AP to build per level of the mine

Mines produce bonus resources per turn equal to the level of the mine minus the quality of the materialBuildings - 'Refinery'

PRIESTS+ 2 cultural power+1 rel igious upgrade

Increase assimilation by 20% for each grade higher your rel igion level is compared to the assimilating population.

SLAVE-WORKERSApplied Tech - Slave recruitment

Conquered populations can be turned into slaves, which can contribute to the population dieRatio of slaves to citizens modifies the civi l events rol l (

Step 3: Select Specialties Negative

Negative Specialties

Negative specialties don't cost any of your 7 specialty choices. Instead, they grant you an additional specialty choiceA maximum of 2 negative specialties can be selected, though the GM may wish to al low more (or l imit them to 1 or none)

BUREAUCRATS

-1 to construction projects, deduct tax level from perceived value of trade goods

Reduce tax-induced morale loss by 1

TIMID

25% more expensive Soldiers/Elites, morale outnumbering penalty increased by 1 , populations concquered twice as fast

Reduce cost of defensive structures (walls, forts, castles) by your engineering level

AUTONOMOUS

Negative civic events increase by one threshold (rebell ion becomes revolution), desertion due to cultural power increased

Reduce conquering speed by 25%-1 00% (based on warfare, society or cultural power - undecided)

TRADITIONALIST

-1 research, less free XP and research from random events, including any granted by inventors & philosophers

+2 covert detection

VAGRANT

1 /3 of your population don't contribute to the Population die

50% less food required

SUPERSTITOUS

-1 rel igious research, stronger cults when generated by civi l events rol l , -1 morale

less morale lost from harrowing supernatural events

Step 3: Select Specialties Magic

Magic SpecialtiesMagical Specialties are cost 3, then 2 specialty choices for the first, then subsequent selections of a magical specialty

respectively. Each subcategory of magic has four thresholds of advancement.

Each time a magical specialty is selected, select any magical style.

ALCHEMY

Transmutation & Transphasia

SHAMANISM

Primal & Astral

WIZARDRY

Time & Space

EMPYREA

Warding & Smiting

WITCHCRAFT

Blessing & Cursing

EVOCATION

Summoning & Banishing

NECROMANCY

Bodies & Souls

SORCERY

Earth, Air, Water & Fire

TRANSENDENCE

Mental & Physical

Magical StylesMysticism - study, intuition and metaphor

Exceptionalism - innate capacity and training

Ritual ism - hard work and intricate ceremonies

Step 4: Select Characters

Character TypesSelect 4 Character types of any combination (including multiples) who wil l begin with a +1 bonus. Bonuses can be

increased by accruing experience, which is gained by leading relevant actions, or sometimes by chance. Max bonus +5

DIPLOMAT

Add bonus to assimilation rate, and perceived cultural power of any group you are present in

AGENT

Add bonus to detection difficulty

ARTIST

Add bonus to production quality of goods, or spend x turns (up to a maximum of their bonus) of actions creating

a work of entertainment that boosts morale by x on the final turn.

LEADER

Add bonus to discipl ine in battle, (and/or something morale related)

GENERAL

Add bonus to leadership and discipl ine in battle

WARRIOR

Add bonus to single combat rol ls

MAGE

can cast, bonus to magic research, half bonus to spell 's power

FOREMAN/ADMINISTRATOR

add half bonus to construction projects

WARDEN/RANGER

add bonus to detection in cities/wilderness

SCHOLAR

Half bonus to research

MERCHANT

Add bonus to percieved quality of traded goods

HIEROPHANT/PRIEST

Add half bonus to assimilation rate and rel igious upgrade research