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he domain management rules presented here were originally designed to be used as an adjunct to my own Fading Suns campaign given its recent emphasis on the long-term and the dynastic (see the Epic Campaigns in Fading Suns and Alternative Sessions articles for more on this subject). As befits their origins as hastily scribbled notes these rules are more than a little obscure, opaque and half-finished in places. Despite this I hope that they provide GMs with some ideas on running 'macro-scale' games, where each player takes the role of a more influential-than-normal character or of an entire faction. Even if this is not to your tastes this article may take some of the drudgery out of estate management in Fading Suns. Enjoy!

It should be noted that much of what is presented below was inspired by a number of published game systems which deal with estate or realm management. Although I have not intentionally infringed any copyrights I would just like to emphasize that Empire of the Phoenix Throne respects the intellectual rights of the original authors of said material and that any references to their work do not constitute a challenge to their intellectual rights.

Note: with the publication of the "Lords and Priests" collection recently (7/2000) HDI presented their own take on domain management in the world of Fading Suns. Although not directly compatible with the official system presented therein this, unofficial, way of doing things can be easily adapted to that one (or vice versa...). I intend to present an article on conversion or harmonization of the two systems in the near future.

The rules presented in this system is quasi-realistic in that a minor power (ie: a Charioteer sole trader or a lowly household knight) will have to do something pretty exceptional to defeat the machinations of a Decados Count with Jakovian agency allies. However, in keeping with the heroic ethos of Fading Suns, such things are still possible if the players are clever, cunning and more than a little lucky.

• Broke this fat, overcomplex beast into Player & GM sections.
• Altered the ilitary Strength/Garrison explanation table.
• Added Domain Building Rules for covens and cults
• Added Domain Building Rules for Kurgan, Vuldrok and Lost World domains.
• Expanded Extra Domain Characteristics section with new goodies and varieties of pain.
• Added some thoughts on NPC domains.
• Took another crack at Domain Characteristics.

• Reformatted the internal and external links on the page.
• The Domain Statistics have been reorganized and explained in rather more clarity than before.
• A system of Opposed stats for certain aspects of domain control have been added.
• The generic Domain Extra Abilities have been fleshed out somewhat (in connection with the above point).
• Discussion on losing and regaining domain Population added.

• The section on Improving a Domain has been greatly expanded
• The section on Indirect Rule, which now includes a number of thoughts on Lieutenants and Vassalage, has been expanded and clarified.
• The faction specific Domain Special Abilities have been explained more clearly, and two possible implementations in play have been added.
• A number of typos in the Starting Levels table and throughout the text have been corrected.

As in the person-to-person scale rules successes and VPs are used to determine either the degree or the concrete effects of success. 1 or 2 VPs indicates that the character was barely able to steer his policy through problems and opposition, whereas 5+ VPs indicates either an administrative coup or a masterful stroke of statesmanship. Failed skill checks indicate complications or unforeseen obstacles to the desired activity which will usually incur additional expenses to resolve or (more usefully to the GM) will require role-played storylines to resolve.

• Military Strength
  How easily the domain is able to raise and maintain an armed force. This stat is primarily associated with the nobility. For example: a Knight's domain may have a MS score of 4 or less (the knight and his retinue), whereas a militant Hazat Duke's domain will be nearer 9, or possibly even 10! This statistic corresponds very roughly in capability to the garrison table given on page 289 of the 2nd Edition Fading Suns rulebook. This table has been reproduced below for reference purposes

  Level	Planet	Troops	Weaponry
  1	Destitute, pacifist	Serf Militia	Melee
  2	Poor	Mercenaries	Slug guns
  3	Unimportant	Enlisted Army	Artillary
  4	Average	Local Navy	Small fleet
  5	Minor House	Local Royal Guard	Frigate
  6	Pious, Proscribed	Patriarchal Guard	Church Fleet
  7	Trade Nexus	House Navy / Muster Mercs	Destroyer
  8	Wartime, Border World	House Marines	Brother Battle Cruiser
  9	Major House Homeworld	House High Command	Carrier / Dreadnought
  10	Byzantium II	Imperial Guard	Imperial Fleet
  This table © Holistic Design, 1996-2000

• Economy/Wealth
  What the general economic condition of the domain is. A domain consisting of poor quality scrubland with no natural resources to speak of will rate 1 or 2, a farming province with established markets and local industries will rate 4-5, and the industrial and merchantile centres of Byz. Sec., Criticorum or Leagueheim will rate 9-10.
  It should be noted that the Wealth of a domain does not translate directly into the Riches character Benefice. There are such a things as fraud and embezzlement you know! However, for role-playing purposes, it is assumed that a domain ruler has resources at his disposal equivalent to the Cash Benefice equal in Benefice points cost to his Assets score. Can't have the Duke going short of pocket money after all. :-)

• Intelligence Services
  How well the ruler of the domain is able to keep the peace, either in the face of overt hostile agitation or secret coups. A low score indicates an anarchic area where people are left to their own devices. A high score implies a police state with active internal and external espionage policies (Decados domains are infamous for their high IS scores).

• Diplomatic Status
  How seriously the domain is taken by the powerbrokers of the Known Worlds. A score of 1 indicates a disregarded backwoods domain ruled by a 'squire from the shires' or a politically unimportant business run by a minor guildman. Nine or ten is characteristic of the court of a revered archbishop, that of a Royal House prince, or of the status of a celebrated social or diplomatic host.

• Occult Resources
  How powerful a hold the various occult forces inherent in the Fading Suns universe have in the domain. A low rating implies a pragmatic, materialist culture, such as that of Leagueheim. A high rating indicates an area where the miraculous and numinous is accepted as a fact of life (Church domains often have a very high Occult Resources score, as do those domains which play host to Psychic or Antinomian covens).

• Domain Loyalty
  Indicates how approved or disliked the domain ruler is by his subjects. Generous, enlightened policies can improve Domain Loyalty ("Long live 'iz 'ighness!") whereas autocratic rule by decree and arbitrary shifts in policy can harm the ruler's status in his peoples' eyes ("'E ain't 'alf the ruler 'iz father were..."). Amalthean, Li-Halan and Hawkwood domains are famous for their high loyalty to their overlords whereas Decados and League-run domains tend not to identify so much with the ruling class.

There are also two contested domain statistics which may either be gained as a result of play, or purchased as disadvantages when building a domain. These statistics are Rebellious Elements and Security Risks, both of which threaten the integrity of the domain by restricting the ruler's freedom of action. For more on these contested statistics see the Building a Domain section below.

Example: Don Diego Sidonia de Eduardo de Hazat is a Hazat Knight (3pt rank benefice) who possesses a sizable estate (worth 5 benefice points). According to the calculation given above his total number of domain building points is [ 2x (3 + 5) = ] 16.

Note that this system domain generation system greatly favours those (both player and NPC) who invest a good deal of their points in their Assets and social status. This is as it should be; a character who invests a lot of time and energy is his social duties will reap the benefits. Conversely, any penny ante ruler who makes an enemy of a master politician and magnate like Prince Hiram Decados will suffer for it! The advantage conferred by being the lord of wide acres, mighty manufactures or the souls of thousands, is, in my opinion, more than balanced by the loss of character abilities which this emphasis on the wider duties of the character entails.

• Starting Levels
  Each type of faction varies in the source of their power: the nobility rule the lands of the Known Worlds, the Merchant League survives through the ingenuity and great wealth of its members, and the sects of the Universal Church derives their power from the immense spiritual authority they wield. This variance is defined in game terms by the initial scores given to their domain statistics before any domain building points are spent. The table below gives the initial statistic values for each faction of the Known Worlds. It is recommended that, just as with characters, no PC domain starts play with any domain statistic higher than 8, they need something to strive for after all! :-)

  	Nobility	Guilds	Church	Covens	Outworlders
  					Vul.	Kur.	Twi.	Ant.	Sar.
  Military Strength (MS)	3	1	1	1	3	3	3	1	**
  Ecomony/Wealth (E/W)	*	3	1	1	1	3	1	1	**
  Intelligence Services (IS)	*	3	1	3	1	1	3	3	**
  Diplomatic Status (DS)	3	3	3	1	1	3	1	3	**
  Occult Resources (OR)	1	1	3	3	3	1	1	1	**
  Domain Loyalty (Loyalty)	*	1	3	3	3	1	3	3	**

  * One of these stats starts at 3, the other two at 1, depending upon which house the noble is a member of. The Hawkwoods and Li-Halan have a starting Domain Loyalty of 3, the Decados and Hazat have a starting Intelligence Services level of 3, and the Al-Malik have a starting Economy/Wealth stat of 3.

  ** Three of these stats start at 3, the others at 1. The priority here is determined by the Gm based upon his perception of the strengths of the planet in question.
  For example: a domain on Sargasso (the default 'other Lost World' used herein) has 3 in Military Strength (those crazy Sargassan pilots!), Wealth (those crazy Sargassan traders!) and Loyalty. Intelligence, Diplomatic Status and Occult Resources each start at a feeble 1.

• Domain Population
  As well as having statistics like a character a domain also has a Vitality score which is largely defined by its population. During the course of play this population may rise or fall as events such as plague, war, gold rushes or the establishment of new settlements affect it. Prompt action by a ruler may mitigate the effects of negative events, or emphasize those of positive ones.

  Population as Limiting Factor (Optional Rule) A GMs might wish to rule that a domain cannot have any Domain Statistic higher than its non-Vital Population level. The rationale for this is that areas of low population density or concerns with few staff are likely to be backwater and relatively undeveloped in nature. Good play and prompt reaction to game events will, at the GM's option, allow the player to increase the Population stat of his domain over time (see the Improving One's Domain section below for more on this subject).

  The Population/Vitality correspondence in this system is very abstract, representing the human resources available to the ruler of the domain rather than absolute numbers of people present. A major league concern will therefore have an equivalent Population _score_ to a major noble holding, even though the Guild may only employ a 1,000th of the total number of people who pay homage to the noble. Think of it as a function of the greater level of organization and centrality of control in a business, as opposed to a sprawling feudal dominion composed of dozens of little villages with historical privaleges and tax breaks.

  Generally each level of Assets benefice purchased above the first increases the available numerical population/manpower of the domain, be it a landed fief, religious establishment or business concern, by another order of magnitude in real terms. In play this additional order of magnitude is represented by another 2 non-Vital levels of Population.

  All domains have 5 Vital levels of Population, representing those last few people needed to sustain the infrastructure of civilized life in an area or the essential functions of an institution. As these last few people die, desert or are driven away by hostile activity or gross misrule the domain will gradually become more difficult to run effectively (just as a heavily injured character finds it progressively more difficult to perform actions in normal play). Only heroic exertions on the part of the ruler and his cohorts will save a domain reduced to these dire straits.

  Example: As a Hazat Noble Don Diego Sidonia de Eduardo de Hazat's domain (let's call it Andalusia, just to be original :-) ) will have initial domain statistics of 3 in MS, DS and IS, but only of 1 in E/W, OR and Loyalty. He can now buy these levels higher with domain building points. As he has spent 5 Benefice points on his domain it will have an initial population of 5 over its vital levels.

1) Have them operate as straight modifiers to domain goal rolls. This functions best if this rules-set is used for true macro-scale play (ie: the characters act only as rulers, not as adventuring heroes).

Example: Hazat gain +2 (or +4 if you desire to emphasize the stereotyped specialities of the factions) to all Militaristic actions, the Orthodox have a +2 (or +4) bonus to diplomatic actions and agitation against an unjust or godless ruler, etc...

2) Have them appear in play as role-played effects which force the characters to deal with eventualities in the form of adventures rather than via dice rolls. This is excellent for the GM who uses this rules-set as an adjunct to an normal table-top campaign.

Example: the characters have to get off their thrones and go and agitate in front of the Princes' Palace themselves before they are able to turn Hawkwood serfs against their masters. All espionage actions (except possibly critical successes or those role-played) are doomed to failure against the Decados. The Engineers can, if they so choose, offset the might of your vastly larger army with their gribbly super-weapons.

The table below gives an example ability for each of the major factions of the Known Worlds. How these are obtained by PC rulers (either free, as an element of their being a faction member, or through the expenditure of domain building points) is for the GM to decide in accordance with his view of his own campaigns requirements.

Noble House	Church Sect	Guild
Hawkwood - Loyal Serfs Decados - Jakovian Agents Hazat - Militaristic Li-Halan - Church Links Al-Malik - Guild Links	Urth Orthodox - Church Censure Amalthean - Well-loved Temple Avesti - Inquisitorial Scrutiny Eskatonic - Secret Lore Br Battle - Fanatic Zeal	Engineer - High Tech Charioteer - Trade Contacts Reeve - Finances Scraver - Underworld Muster - Skilled Labour Pool

Occult Coven	Vile Outworlders
Invisible Path - Mind Control Favyana - Psi Clinics Draconians - Infernal Allies Necromancers - Unliving Lore Manja - Noble Protection	Vuldrok - Militaristic + Raider Culture Kurgans - Hajjin (use any one faction ability per turn) Twilighters - Militaristic Antiochans - Qabirim Diplomats Sargassans/others - Fearless/GM's option

• Noble Faction Abilities
  Each of these makes actions involving the specific group and their characteristic speciality substantially easier, adding +2 (possibly +4) to the goal roll of the domain ruler when they are involved in an action. For example, a Hazat noble attempting actions involving the legendarily loyal Hazat legions (raise militia or regular army units, persuade the army to fight another month without pay, or rally them after a terrible defeat) adds 2 to his Military Strength + Leadership goal.

• Sect Faction Abilities
  The abilities of the Sects are more numinous than those of the nobles or guilds, tending to affect opinions, beliefs and social activities than the balance sheets of empire. These abilities can either be determined by GM's fiat (your domain falls under an Orthodox Interdict or Inquisitorial Scrutiny thereby disrupting your own actions) or act as a straight +2 bonus to goal rolls involving the sect's speciality. For example an Amalthean domain ruler attempts to broker a peace deal between warring factions, as the Amalthean are famed arbitrators his/her Diplomatic Status + Oratory goal would enjoy a +2/+4 bonus.

• Guild Faction Abilities
  The guilds have perhaps the most difficult of the faction abilities to quantify. A simple solution would be to adjudge that their ability adds +2/+4 to any goal roll involving their speciality (reclamations and espionage for the Scravers, R&D for the Engineers, economic actions for the Reeves, etc.). A more role-play oriented GM may have another interpretation of this entirely however.
• Coven Faction Abilities
  In many respects the faction abilities of the various covens of the Known Worlds are as nebulius in nature as those of the Church Sects. For example, a Draconian cult's Infernal Allys ability might curse an opponent with -2/-4 to an action attempted against the cult, or provide more story-based problems, such as having the opponent's precious daughter levitate, spew green slime and scream the Omega Gospels backwards...

  In addition to their faction ability all covens have both a dark secret (that they are a coven) and an appropriate cover story ("We're an amateur dramatics group and this is a dress rehearsal for the climax of the 'St Bartimus versus the Devil Cult' we'll be showing this Lux Splendour. Now sergeant, I'll just leave this bag of Firebirds here so your men can drink St. Bartimus' health later and we'll hear no more of this unfortunate misunderstanding. As you can see; these aren't the cultists you're looking for..."). How this cover story operates in play is a matter for the players and GM to decide between them.

• Lost World Faction Abilities
  The Faction abilities of the various Lost World groups are some of the most bizarre and difficult to quantify in game terms. This is as it should be; after all, the various Lost World cultures are the 'unknown other' against which the inhabitants of the Phoenix Empire measure themselves. Those presented above are only a sample of the possible abilities such domains might display.

  It should be noted that Vuldrok domains have a second, optional special ability: that of being a 'Raiding Culture'. This allows them to effectively ignore the Population as Limiting Factor optional rule if it is used and serves to differentiate them somewhat from other militaristic social organisations. The Haj[jin ability of Kurgan domains reflects the all-encompassing, all-embracing nature of El-Diin, the dominant philosophy and religious ethos of the Caliphate and its vassals. A Kurgan ruler is to commandeer the services of any of the faithful in the name of the Caliphin times of trouble, thus allowing him to use any 1 (and only one!) Noble, Church or Guild Faction ability in a turn.

Extra Domain Characteristics
Similar in many respects to character Blessings and Curses, or to various Benefices availale at character gneration, these are small (1-3 domain building point) advantages and disadvantages that serve to set the territory, diocese or business concern apart from the norm. Generally a GM will limit a domain to 7 points of either beneficial or prejudicial characteristics.

Ally (faction and name) - 1-3 point DBP cost depending upon the power and influence of the ally.
This ability costs 1 point for each of the following criteria the ally fulfills: frequent (the ally can be called upon on a regular basis), versatile (the ally is capable of helping in many things), major (the ally is more powerful than the PC domain ruler).

Enemy (faction and name) - 1-3 point DBP award to the domain builder depending upon the power and influence of the ally.
This ability grants 1 point for each of the following criteria the enemy fulfills: frequent (the enemy is a constant thorn in the domain ruler's side), versatile (the enemy is capable of hindering in many things), major (the enemy is more powerful than the PC domain ruler).

Church Favour - 1 point per +2 to goals involving the church.
This advantage can be lost through persistant defiance of Church law, ongoing association with pagans, revelations of Antinomianism, etc..

Guild Trade Agreement - 1 point per +2 to goals involving guilds.
This advantage can be lost through breach of contract, poor loan repayment records or through excessively punative taxation policies.

Avestite Scrutiny - 1 point per -2 to goals involving church.
This advantage can be bought off through excellent role-playing and asidious avoidance of heretical behaviour. "Sorry Granny, but the Manja shrine just has to go!"

Guild Embargo - 1 point per -2 to goals involving guilds.
This can be bought off through excellent role-playing and by currying the favour of the Merchant League. "Certainly you can run the trade fair in my palace Dean."

Rebellious Elements - 2 DBP awarded to the domain builder per level.
Rebellious Elements in a domain function as a contested stat to Loyalty as Urge is to Psi, or Hubris to Theurgy. While the rebellious elements exist unplacated (ie: until the domain ruler spends actions to hear their points and do something about them) Loyalty cannot exceed [10 - Rebellious Elements]. Any failed Loyalty check risks rousing the rabble...

Security Risk - 2 DBP awarded to the domain builder per level.
Security Risks in a domain function as a contested stat to Intelligence Services as Urge is to Psi, or Hubris to Theurgy. While the security risk persists (ie: until the domain ruler spends actions to root out the threat) IS cannot exceed [10 - Security Risk]. Failed security checks result in terrorist action, assassination attempts and lieutenants turning against their master.

Additional Population - 2 DBP per +1 Population
The domain is especially densely settled or well staffed thus allowing it to endure the effects of adverse conditions better. In all many respects this Extra corresponds to the Additional Vitality Blessing from the Player's Companion.

Reduced Population - 2 DBP awarded to player per -1 Pop.
The domain is especially poorly settled or staffed, reducing any natural resistance it may have to adverse actions (everyone is too overworked to give their best to any one thing). In all many respects this Extra corresponds.

Trained Bands/Pacifist Populace - 1 DBP per +/-2 to Military Strength goals
A positive score here indicates an area where the inhabitants are dedicated to ensuring their own security and safety from threat through the presence of a peasent militia. This militia will usually side with the ruler of the locale as the voice of law and order. A negative score indicates an area where the inhabitants are either demoralised and fearful, or pacifistic through religious or ethical scruples.

Boom/Bust - 1 DBP per +/-2 to Loyalty goals
A positive score here indicates a wealthy, go-getting locale where people have faith in their ruler and the government has their best interests at heart. A negatice score indicates an area where the bubble has burst; people lack confidence in their leaders and corruption is often rife.

Gossips/Privacy - 1 DBP per +/-2 to Intelligence Service goals
A positive score here indicates an area where people are only too happy to gossip about or pry into the activities of their neighbours. Although useful to the ruler such propensities are likely to make life here less than idyllic for those with something to hide. Think More's "Utopia", Calvin's Geneva or Soviet Russia for example cultures. A negative score indicates an area where people either believe that high fences make good neighbours or that a person's private business should remain so. New York, the homes of survivalist militias and Criticorum are prime examples of such locales.

Sumptuous Palace/Rustic Manor - 1 DBP per +/-2 to Diplomatic goals
A positive score here represents that the domain is regarded as the place to be invited on vacation, for a house or guild conference, or for conclaves and Church Synods. A negative score indicates that people avoid the grotty, backwater hovel like the plague.

Rich/Exhausted Mineral Deposits - 1DBP per +/-2 to Economy/Wealth goals
A positive score here indicates richer than normal mineral resources, either especially rich gold, diamond, Keddite or coal mines. A negative score indicates the presence of the massive slag heaps and polluted rivers, etc. which are the inneviatble side-effect of an extractive industry.

Ancient Ruins - 1DBP per +/-2 to Occult Resources goals
Indicates the presence of a famous or infamous occult locale within the domain. It either attracts hundreds of dedicated students of the numinous, or scores of crazed Antinomian cultists.

Exotic Produce - 1 DBP
Indicates that the domain (and thus its' ruler) is famous for producing a particular product, be it fine wines, Baryana Wood, whalebone, Ravenna marble, Shantorian refractor crystal, Selchakah, etc.

Nexus of Trade - 1 DBP
This Extra establishes the domain as a port or marketing centre famous for the hustle and bustle of its markets. The ruler is widely credited as lord of a generous and open-hearted domain.

Pilgrim Trade/Tourist Attraction
This indicates the presence of a major tourist attraction in the domain, either spiritual or secular in nature. It ensures the ruler of notoriety and respect from those familiar with the attraction.

Weird Threat - 1 DBP awarded to the domain ruler
Must I spell the words "adventure hook" out for you? There's an unexplained mystery afflicting the domain, one that any ruler worth his salt should get out there and solve!

Example: Don Diego's player has put aside a few Domain Building Points to spend on extra abilities for his realm. He has retained 3 points from the previous stage and chooses to spend them on purchasing the following distinguishing features for Andalusia: 2 DBP are spent on an additional level of population, 1 is spent on generating a Boomtown atmosphere in the domain. To support this impression of a booming province Don Diego's player takes 1 level of Rebellious Elements (to represent the surly natives displaced by new settlement), giving him 2 DBP, which are then spent on Rich mineral deposits (the cause of the boom), and on a minor ally within his house.
In addition to the above Don Diego receives the automatic Militaristic Faction advantage on account of his Hazat title. This may prove useful in putting down those troublesome natives...

Continued in Lord of All You Survey, Part 2

This file last modified 21/05/2005.