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[Iituem]

This is the OOC thread for the game "You Are King!".  Due to how utterly cluttered the original thread was getting, this thread has been opened up for OOC chatter, sign-ups and the like.  A port of the rules will happen here as well.

If you want to play a new character, post a quick summary here for approval.  Any of the Kings or GMs can approve a mundane character.  Only the main GM can approve a magic-using character.

This post will be edited over the next few days as needed.

The very much in-construction wiki can be found here.

Spoiler: Important Notes (click to show/hide)

Regarding Magic

As part of the rules rewrite, a magic system will be assessed and parts of that have already been displayed in Locanil's spirit summoning rolls; a division of spells into different parts (in that case Summoning, Binding and Banishing) where any part has the power to go wrong.  This will keep the variability of magic in place, especially given that a different thing can go wrong at each step with differing consequences.

Also coming with the rules update will be a theme and setting post, in which the role of magic is noted; I am determined to keep this game relatively low-magic.  You are King is very much a game of politics and subtlety as much as it is open warfare and adventuring, and this works better with most characters staying mundane.  Wizards should be rare and dangerous, and tempting as it might be to make everyone a wizard we as the GMs will want to make it painful enough to play one to discourage most from trying.

The same goes for demons and other high-fantasy elements.  The introduction of magic led to some dangerous expectations and assumptions about what 'goes' in the gameworld, with one player stating that "this is a fantasy" and therefore assuming that druids and dire wolves could be taken as read.  Medieval/Reformation/Renaissance Europe should be your guideline here, not Dungeons and Dragons.  By common consent of the players, magic exists, but it is not the focus of the game.

Prevalance of Magic

I'm going to rule that magic and magic-users range from uncommon to very rare (depending on region and type of magic).  Here, a court wizard might be a big thing.  Elsewhere, every minor nation might have one.  Magic will often have a social cost besides its material and fatigue costs.  All forms of magic are essentially limited by these three factors:

Efficiency/Cost:  If it was easier to summon vegetables out of the air, nobody would farm.  If sustained light sources were easier to make and to make available than candles, chandlers would go out of business.  Farmers and chandlers exist, so it becomes apparent that there are some things (most things) that magic cannot do as well as mundane methods, assuming it can do them at all.  Alternately it may be the case that magic can do these things as easily or even easier than by mundane methods, but the associated costs or consequences (see Power Source) may be too great for it to be worthwhile.  It may be easier for a Summoner to 'create' fruit out of thin air than to farm it, but there's no guarantee that it will remain fruit once he stops concentrating.  Magic excels at doing things that simply aren't possible yet (or at all) through mundane means.

Power Source:  This ties partially back into costs, but the idea is that all magic requires a power source to work.  This might take the form of ingredients and reagents that are charged with whatever force powers spells and expended in the course of casting.  It might be that you can only access an otherwise free and available power source in a certain area or at a certain time (or when the stars are in alignment).  Or it may be that the power source comes from living entities (or not-quite-living ones), that to power your spell you may need to drain the life force from another, or to summon and bind a demonic spirit to power it.  Power sources limit where and when magic can be applied and bring additional costs and consequences to its use.

Social Cost:  Part of the social cost of magic depends upon the costs or consequences of its use.  If you can heal someone back to full health, but the power source comes from draining another person's life force to death, this may not sit well with the population.  Dragging the dead back into the world of the living for information or service might similarly not sit well with people.  You might skip all these messy power source issues by using the relatively clean, renewable source of bound demons to run your spells - but there's always the fear they'll break loose and lay waste to the world of the living.  Another part comes from the fear of the strange or different; even if your wizards are only constrained by the need to gather and perform spells at midnight in the deep forest, that's still strange occult behaviour.  People have historically been lynched for less, and in any case such figures might be treated with suspicion or ostracised for being clearly different.  A third, less obvious part of the social cost of magic comes into play on the occasions when magic can do a job as well as or even better than a mundane source.  If a mage rolls into town who can forge perfectly balanced steel swords with a wave of his wand, the Armourer's Guild is going to take some very sharp steps to drive him out of business (and out of town) before he can cut in on their trade any further.


Magic with lesser costs, more benign power sources and more socially acceptable practices are more likely to exist in the world on a merely uncommon level.  Wizards who summon vast demon-led skeletal armies through the blood sacrifice of peasants on the night of the full moon are going to be understandably rare.  Players intending to play wizards might do well to consider the Abilities, Costs, Consequences, Power Source and Social Cost of the style of magic they use.

Divine Intervention

The gods, such as they are, are ineffable.  In other words, if divine intervention happens it happens within the dice roll and as such is out of my hands.  It is as likely as it is in the Real World, which is to say that it might be happening but the effects are so subtle and so good at masquerading as chance that you will never know.

Gods aren't important.  Religions are important, and those don't need magic to support them.  (And if they do, then it's the sort of magic wizards draw on.)  You might find the occasional Holy Grail type artefact whose powers are ascribed to divinity, but it's plausible it could have been created by a wizard.  Or not.  Once again, you will never know.

Spoiler: Map of Elbreth, circa 315 (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Known World, circa 315a (click to show/hide)

[Iituem]

The Revised Rules of the Game

This post will be updated as the revised rules continue to be posted.  These rules will eventually replace those in the OP of the RP thread.

Spoiler: The Game in Brief (click to show/hide)

Contrary to the suggestion game implied by the 'You are' title, You are King is a large multiplayer game in which only a very few players are actually Kings.  Players take on the role of individual citizens, noble or otherwise, in a developing world managed in fair part by the players themselves.

New characters start out with almost nothing, but by swearing fealty to a King (or striking out on their own as an independent) they can rise to the position of Dukes, Merchant Princes or even Kings themselves.  In You Are King, a player character can...

+ Raise an army
+ Seize or be granted land
+ Become a merchant or craftsman
+ Rebel and overthrow the existing King
+ Become a King themselves
+ Pretty much anything else within reason!

Spoiler: Setting & Theme (Read this!) (click to show/hide)

The region around the Kingdom of Elbreth (the original player kingdom) is culturally and technologically on the cusp of the Dark Ages.  Gunpowder is unknown in this part of the world (or any other), but architecture, engineering and the natural sciences are closer to Western Renaissance levels.  Culturally, a Western Medieval theme is considered appropriate.

Although this is a fantasy, high fantasy elements have been reined in to avoid the risk of Tolkeinism.  The GM has ruled that there is only one other sapient species, the hatcuri, who live far off the map to the south.  The GM has come up with a good reason for why this is the case.  With the exception of one bloodline of particularly long-lived humans (sometimes called 'elves'), this is it as far as fantastic races go.  No orcs, thankyouplease.  You may only apply to join as a human or hatcuri.

Magic exists by common consent of the players, but is rare and forcibly balanced (albeit like a centrifuge) by the GMs.  There are some fairly iron-cast rules regarding the use of magic that any would-be mages should read.  Magic of any kind is rare and largely feared in this part of the world, and for damned good reason.

There are a number of religions in the world, and the area around Elbreth is split between semi-pantheistic folk religions and a small number of conflicting monotheistic religions.  Monotheistic followings of note include Cyclicism and Suulian Orthodoxy, both of which preach the existence of a supreme deity but which differ in their precise teachings.  Many characters will refer to 'the gods' rather than 'God' though, giving nod to the prevalence of the old folk faiths in much the same way as Real Life renaissance poets would often credit 'Jove' and other Saturnelian deities even in a Christian world.

Spoiler: Time & Turn Progression (click to show/hide)

Play takes place over years of game time, with the original turn starting in the year 312.  At the start of each year earnings and tax income are accrued, upkeep/wages are paid and several abilities such as raising personal guard regiments are reset.

Each year is split into four seasons; Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.  To prevent the early 'time-travel' issues that arose with doing events out of order, events take place within the season the game is in and when a new season is declared cannot be back-dated.  This would seem fairly obvious, but has proved a necessary rule to implement.  Some actions (generally travel) take place over more than one season.

Within a season time is somewhat fluid, but order of events should be respected.

Spoiler: Adjudication (click to show/hide)

The main GM (currently Iituem) makes dice rolls, is the final word on any rules disputes and is completely impartial.  He also controls any NPC factions, though not exclusively.  Any player who is a King (i.e. ruler of a state that has been declared by the main GM to be a Kingdom) can also act as a GM within his Kingdom, rolling dice and making rules judgements.  He cannot usually roll for himself or actions that involve his own forces, since his impartiality would be in question; another King (also not involved) or the GM must roll for him in these situations.  Kings can roll for events occurring outside any player Kingdom, so long as they are not directly involved in/have a direct stake in the outcome.

In essence, part of the responsibility of being a King is to take some of the load off the GM.  This helps us support a larger playerbase, to boot.

Spoiler: Raiding & Slaving (click to show/hide)

Raid/Looting Clarification:  It is not normally possible to loot open land or the tiny, 'invisible' villages that dot the landscape.  Towns, markets, ports, temples and other significant structures may be looted or raided.

Raiding:  Raiding is conducted as part of a raid by a Raider or Sea Raider unit on a significant structure, or by a normal unit on a defenseless structure.  It yields 1d6 ducats, taken from the structure owner's Treasury (if any remains in the Treasury) or else from the tax provided by the structure.  A structure may only be raided once per season.

Looting:  Looting requires the structure to have been captured by a hostile force.  Looting steals the entirety of the following year's tax income from the structure (or any remaining tax income, if it has been previously raided).  If whatever structure the owner's Treasury is located in is looted (usually the capital city's fort) then thalf the Treasury will be looted as well - the remainder is assumed to be distributed elsewhere.

Looting Businesses:  Businesses in a captured town or market can be looted like any structure - their income for the following year is stolen.

Dismantling Businesses:  Businesses can be dismantled by enemy soldiers that capture a town, or by their owner, for half their value (i.e. the ducats invested to bring it to its present Size).  Since this is highly wasteful, most owners will attempt to sell their business when they no longer require it, but raiders may be interested in the higher returns than mere looting will allow.

Private Citizen Treasuries:  Citizens that own a town, market or business are assumed to have their Treasuries located within said towns/markets/businesses, or else within the capital/largest/best defended structure (capital takes precedence, best defended in second place).  Other citizens are presumed to either carry their Treasuries with them or leave them in whatever town they have a house/residence in.  Technically speaking, this does mean that if said town is captured or they are captured, they can be robbed of their Treasuries.

Players may opt to leave their Treasuries in other, more secure locations.  This may provide a niche for characters looking to start a business based around a well-defended vault.


Capturing Slaves

Slaves can now be captured as part of a raid attempt.  A raider may choose to raid slaves or ducats.  Slaves are drawn from any surplus manpower in the province - if there is no manpower remaining, slaves cannot be taken.  Slavers may opt to take slaves directly as manpower (pressganging them) or as commodities.  On a successful raid, 1d6/2 (round up) manpower is stolen.

If they are taken directly as manpower, the province's available manpower count decreases on a success and the slaver's personal available manpower increases accordingly.  If they are taken as proper slaves, each point of manpower stolen is converted into one shipment of the Slaves trade good.  Unless a province deliberately operates slave pens to breed fresh slaves (i.e. it has the Slaves resource) this is the only way to obtain the Slaves trade good.  It may not be obtained from normal trading at ports.

The Slaves trade good may not be converted back to manpower - breaking the spirit of the slaves also breaks their viability as a military force.  A province owner may convert manpower deliberately into Slaves, but this will likely cause some uproar and potentially outright rebellion amongst the populace - provided any are left to revolt.

Spoiler: Sieges (click to show/hide)

Siege Rules

A walled fortification of any kind can be held as part of a siege.  Non-walled sites, even towns or markets, cannot be held unless they have some sort of fortification to besiege - defenders must either flee them or fight until there are none left or the foe is defeated.

A siege happens when an attacking force rather than attacking camps outside the area controlled by the fort and prevents transit in and out of the fort.  An attacking force of any size can attempt this.  If a fort has unrestricted access to a port (either because the port is not held by enemy troops or because the fort is situated in a port) then both land and sea must be blockaded for a siege to take effect.

Once a siege is underway, the defenders will slowly starve and deplete whatever rations are left in the fort.  Unless the fort has recently been besieged, forts start with a number of provisions equal to the fort size (i.e. 1 unit for Walls, 2 for Forts, 3 for Castles etc.).  Every regiment within a fort will consume one shipment of provisions per season.  If the defenders should end a season without sufficient provisions, they must either surrender or immediately attack the besieging forces (and try to flee).

Whilst besieged, defenders may upgrade regiments present in a fort but may not recruit new regiments there, although regiments can be recruited outside the fort if messengers can get through.  Getting a messenger out requires a successful Scouting check (that is, a Scout unit can be used to improve its chances and Scout units can be used to oppose it) that succeeds on a roll of 3 or better.  Unless allies exist outside who will pay for recruitment, messengers must also carry the Ducats used for recruitment with them - so capturing a messenger will put those Ducats in the hands of the captors.

Merchant adventurers can try to smuggle provisions into the fort from other provinces - any edible staple will do, and the market will pay full military+staple demand bonuses for it.  The defending government may also pay a bonus at their discretion.  Smuggling goods past a siege requires a successful smuggling check (as smuggling contraband), following the usual smuggling rules.  It is possible for merchants to try to bribe NPC officers in the besieging army to help as they would bribe customs officials.  Other than breaking the siege, this is the only way to bring fresh provisions into a besieged fort.

Spoiler: Spellcasting (click to show/hide)

Casting Spells

Casting spells is a three step process involving three conditional rolls (i.e. each roll depends upon the prior rolls).  All spells require Power, Control and Resolution.  Given the difficulty of magic, whilst I will allow a mage to train in his particular form of magic I will also require him to do so separately for each stage of casting (i.e. training in Power or Control or Resolution).  Bear in mind that spellcasting of any kind but particularly of the kind that employs spells of great magnitude are often life-threatening rolls.  A failed roll can kill or otherwise seriously damage your character.  If you want to use magic successfully, stack the odds as heavily in your favour as you can because they are already against you.


Power:  Accessing the power source for the spell.  If your spell draws mysterious energy from the aether, this is tapping into the aether.  If it is summoning spirits to do your bidding, this is summoning the spirits.

+ A natural 1 results in the power source failing and in an unpleasant consequence deriving from the nature of the power source.  The summoned demon might attack you rather than be summoned, the spirits might place a curse on you, you might get an uncontrolled explosion or burst of magical energy.  The spell fails.

+ 2 or less results in the power source failing.  The demon or spirit refuses to answer the call.  You are unable to tap into the energy source.  Trying again will usually require you to change the method of the spell in some way.  The spell fails.

+ 3-4 results in successfully tapping the power source.  The demon is summoned, the spirits are called, the ley line is tapped.  The spell continues.

+ 5 or more results in successfully tapping the power source to great effect.  A potent but controllable demon is summoned, many or particularly useful spirits answer, a major ley line is tapped.  The spell continues, but the effects will be of a (generally beneficial) greater magnitude.

+ A natural 6 results in successfully tapping the power source, but the influx of power being almost too great to control.  A dangerously powerful demon is summoned, the caster is overwhelmed by spirits, the sheer power of the ley line is threatening to tear apart the caster's mind.  The spell continues and the effects will be of a greater magnitude, but the power source is difficult to control.  The caster takes a -1 penalty to his Control and Resolution checks.


Control:  Manipulating the tapped power.  If your spell tapped a ley line, this is focusing that impersonal energy into a usable form.  If you summoned spirits or demons, this might be communicating your desires and offering a pact, or else binding the spirits into direct service to you.

+ A natural 1 results in a loss of control and unpleasant consequence.  The raw power from the ley line might build up instead of being released, threatening a terrible explosion, or else might emerge in some horribly undesirable form.  The spirits might take offence and not only refuse service but enact some kind of punishment, or the demon might just break loose and go rampaging.  The spell's desired effect fails.  Proceed to Resolution, but take a -1 to the roll.

+ 2 or less results in a loss of or failure to control.  The tapped power proves unsuitable for the spell, or you are unable to get it to respond properly.  The spirits simply refuse to accept your bargain.  The demon cannot be securely bound, though it does not immediately break loose.  The spell's desired effect fails.  Proceed to Resolution.

+ 3-4 results in a successful effort of control.  You shape the tapped power into the desired spell.  The spirits agree to your pact.  The demon submits to your will.  The spell's desired effect works as intended.

+ 5 or more results in a masterful display of control.  Your finished spell is of great potency, or you wield it with finesse.  The spirits summoned are especially suited to the task.  The demon works eagerly under your command.  The spell's desired effects works with particular finesse or power.

+ A natural 6 means that the spell technically works as intended but that the effects spill beyond the strict parameters.  The spell is too thorough or covers too great an area.  The spirits go 'the extra mile', or get a little too keen and try to anticipate or interpret instructions you didn't give.  The demon carries out your instructions with vicious literal-mindedness.  Proceed to Resolution.


Resolution:  Closing off the tapped power source.  If your spell tapped a ley line, this is sealing the breach you made to tap the power.  If you called the spirits, this is ensuring they return to their world.  If you summoned demons, this is banishing them successfully.

+ A natural 1 not only means you fail to resolve the spell correctly, but some additional mishap occurs as a direct consequence.  Not only does the ley line stay open, it surges with power creating strange and dangerous effects.  The spirits not only refuse to go, they go out of their way to cause you trouble.  The demon sticks around and starts summoning a few more of his buddies into the world.

+ 2 or less results in a failed resolution.  The ley line remains open, spilling power into the world.  The spirits refuse to leave and will continue to affect the world until they can be stopped.  The demon breaks free and causes havoc.

+ 3-4 results in a successful resolution.  The ley line is sealed.  The spirits peacefully return to their realm.  The demon is banished.

+ 5 or more results in a particularly effective resolution.  The ley line is sealed in such a way that you can access it again more easily next time.  The spirits depart, but leave their mark so they will recognise you should you call them again.  The demon is banished, but you retain a link to him to summon him in the future.  You will receive a +1 to your Power check next time you employ the same power source.

+ A natural 6 results in a successful but rather too vehement resolution to the spell.  The ley line is sealed tight, making it difficult to tap again.  The spirits depart, but felt offended and less inclined to help in the future.  The demon is sealed so effectively that you will have trouble plucking him from the nether-realms again in the future.  You will receive a -1 penalty to your Power check next time you employ the same power source.

Spoiler: Businesses (click to show/hide)

Businesses

The most reliable way to make money aside from trade or land ownership is to invest in a business.  Businesses require a fair amount of capital to start up but yield regular income every year thereafter.  At year's end, every business receives a number of ducats equal to the business' Size.  Be aware that many states can and do tax businesses, so you may well receive less than the full amount you were expecting.

Industrial businesses are based around the production of goods and resources, such as lumber mills, farms, workshops and glassworks.  Expanding an industrial business costs 3 ducats per unit of Size.

Commercial businesses are based around trade and money, such as retailers, banks, moneylenders, caravaneers, warehouse and shipping operators.  Expanding a commercial business costs 3 ducats per unit of Size.

Service businesses are based around the provision of a professional service, such as doctors, barbers, lawyers, scribes, masons and clergymen.  Expanding a service business costs 4 ducats per unit of Size.

The total size of all businesses in a province is limited by that province's Business Potential, split into three types; Industrial Potential, Commercial Potential (distinct from Trade Potential) and Service Potential.  When the total sizes of businesses in a sector reaches the Potential Limit, businesses can only expand at the cost of other businesses; i.e. by competition.

During competition, a business owner pays to expand his business by 1 Size as usual.  Every business owner in the province rolls a d6.  If any business owner rolls less than the expanding businessman, the business with the lowest roll (if tied, the business with the highest Size of those tied) loses 1 Size and the expanding business gains 1 Size.

Monopolies may be granted by province authorities to certain businesses.  A monopoly grants an impressive +3 to competition rolls but greatly reduces the efficiency of trade and production.  Trade Monopolies reduce the Trade Potential of the region by 2, Service Monopolies reduce the Urban Potential by 2 and Goods Monopolies reduce both Urban and Trade Potential in the region by 2.


Business Abilities

The three different Business types (Industrial, Commercial and Service) have ancillary benefits on top of their guaranteed annual income.

All Industrial businesses are capable of producing trade goods, provided they can afford to meet production costs.  A business may produce any trade good that the province has listed as a resource for four increments less than the base price (to a minimum of 1 increment).  Businesses may produce as many goods in a season as they have Size (i.e. ducats/year).

Unless goods produced by industrial businesses are stored in a warehouse or shipped elsewhere for sale, they will be sold to the general market at the end of the season (depending on the die roll this may result in a profit, breaking even or in the case of extraordinary circumstances a loss).


Commercial businesses that reach Size 4 can extend credit for up to 1 year.  The maximum amount of credit they can extend is equal to the value of their business (i.e. 3 times the Size).  Credit allows characters to spend more money than they physically have available.  Any credit still outstanding after 1 year must automatically be paid back by the business - liquidating part of the business if necessary to meet the demands of their creditors.

Commercial businesses of Size 8 or above can offer loans of up to 5 years under whatever conditions they deem appropriate.  The maximum loan they can extend is four times the value of their business.  If loans are not repaid after 5 years (possibly if the debtor goes bankrupt or defaults, or if they agree to an extension) then the business must repay at least one quarter of the loan every year thereafter until the loan is repaid in total.  For this reason, such businesses are strongly recommended to demand collateral on loans.


Service businesses of Size 3 or above can sponsor the training of specialists of any kind.  Such sponsorship costs 1 Ducat and the business may sponsor a total number of specialists per year as it has Size.  The specialists are trained after 1 season.

Spoiler: Specialists (click to show/hide)

There are several different types of Specialist available in the game.  With the exception of Sailors, all Specialists may be hired by kingdoms at a rate of 2 ducats (arriving in 1 season) or 3 ducats (arriving immediately), to a maximum limit described below.  Again with the exception of Sailors, 3 specialists of the same type may be expended to produce an Academy - this Academy will then produce 1 Specialist/year thereafter.  Multiple Academies may be constructed, or existing Academies expanded at the same 3:1 ratio.  Academies must be constructed in a town and may be destroyed or captured when the town is.

All specialists may be stored until used without penalty.  A nation may only hire as many specialists of each type per year as it has provinces under its control (i.e. a nation with 3 provinces could hire up to 3 engineers, 3 spies and 3 missionaries in the same year).

Sailors may not be hired directly but will appear annually at a rate of 1 per port in the kingdom.  Sailors are required to construct ships of any kind.  When a ship is voluntarily disbanded, the Sailors are returned to the recruiting pool.  Sailors can also be captured by sea raider units during the destruction of a ship; these may be employed as normal or sold as slaves for 1 ducat.

Engineers are required to construct siege engines.  When siege engines are voluntarily disbanded, Engineers are returned to the recruiting pool.
Gunpowder: Engineers may be assigned to produce gunpowder, during which they cannot be used for the rest of the year - each assigned engineer will produce 1 barrel of gunpowder at year's end.
Traps: Engineers may be expended to provide a single +1 Trap bonus to one fight (attacking or defending) at the cost of 1 Ducat.  When the fight is over the engineer is released, though if no friendly units escaped the battle they will defect to the victorious side.

Spies are used in Espionage (see below).  They have a chance of surviving missions to be re-used.

Missionaries are used to convert provinces to a given religion.  This takes the form of an RtD roll at base -2 difficulty, during which the Missionary is expended.  Additional ducats may be used to increase the Missionary's chance of success (on a 1d:+1 basis).  Missionaries may also be used to counter a conversion attempt, increasing the difficulty of the conversion attempt by -3 (-1 for each additional ducat spent).  Counter-missionaries are expended during the attempt as well.  If successful, missionaries convert the province to the faith of their sponsor.

Missionaries are always expended on use, as the missionary is either defeated/killed/resigns or stays behind to guide his new flock.

Spoiler: Espionage (click to show/hide)

Espionage

Espionage may be conducted directly using players (in which case it is treated more or less like any adventure) or from afar by use of the Spy specialist.  Note that Spy specialists may be used to counteract player spy actions as well, though the GM should adapt the rules accordingly.  All spy rolls are conducted blind; i.e. the roll and modifiers are not shown to the player, only the result.

When conducting NPC spy missions, a separate roll must be made for the success of the mission and the detection of the mission/capture of the spy.  Both rolls will be given a Target, a number to roll at or above for success.  Results are typically as follows:

Success Roll
3 less than Target:  Mission fails, spy automatically captured.
Less than Target:  Mission fails.
Target or greater:  Mission succeeds.
3 more than Target:  Mission succeeds, spy escapes.

If the spy's capture or escape is guaranteed, pay attention only to the evidence results for the detection roll.

Detection Roll
Target -2:  Spy captured, either talks or sufficient evidence to identify the perpetrator.
Target -1:  Spy captured but does not talk, mission detected but not the perpetrator.
Target:  Spy escapes, mission detected but not the perpetrator.
Target +1:  Spy escapes, mission undetected.

On the successful escape of a spy, he goes into hiding and becomes available again at the start of the new year.  So-called 'cold' spies should be kept track of as well as active spies.

Spies may conduct various missions, split into general and specialist types.  Some missions require a successful infiltration of a particular part of the enemy administration to be successful.  Infiltration missions cannot be conducted redundantly (i.e. having 2 men in a nation's Treasury provides no extra benefit) but other missions can be attempted multiple times.  When players conduct missions of this type they should generally have costs in line with those of the NPC mission, but variation either way should be allowed to account for fortune and good preparation.  Any mission will expend 1 Spy in its use in addition to any other costs.

NPC espionage missions are the only action players are permitted to submit to a GM or King by PM.


General Missions

Establish Smuggling Ring
Undermine the enemy nation's ability to tax merchant traders.  NPC sales tax halved and +2 to player merchant smuggling efforts.  If successful, this mission cannot be conducted again in the same province until the smuggling ring is broken.  Unless removed by a successful purge, the ring will last for 1 year.
Cost: 1d  Success: 3  Detection: 4

Purge Administration
If you suspect one of the branches of your administration has been infiltrated by a spy, inquisitors may be sent to identify and purge the culprits.  If successful, the infiltration will be cleared.  If unsuccessful, you will still believe the infiltration to have been cleared.
Cost: 1d  Success: 3  Detection: N/A
Deduct 1 spy if conducted by a player.  Spy used up on attempt.

Fund Bandits
Sponsor highwaymen in an enemy province, interrupting trade.  Bandits provide a share of the loot.  Every additional 2d spent will raise another bandit regiment.
Cost: 2d  Success: 3  Detection: 3

Fund Privateers
Sponsor pirates near an enemy coast, interrupting trade.  Privateers send back a cut of the take.  Every additional 4d will raise another privateer ship.
Cost: 4d  Success: 3  Detection: 3

Counter-Spy
Station a spy in a province to guard against enemy infiltration.  Provides a -2 malus to success & detection for one enemy operation, but the spy is destroyed therafter.  Spies stationed in the capital will protect against infiltrations.  Alternately, a spy may be employed to provide a -1 malus to success & detection for one enemy operation anywhere in the nation (the spy is still destroyed thereafter).  This nation-wide malus overlaps with the province-specific malus of the same type; they do not stack.
Cost: 0d  Success: N/A  Detection: N/A
NPC spies only.  Spy may not be removed once placed.

Assassinate Private Citizen
Perform an assassination attempt on anyone who is not a part of the government or nobility of the nation the attempt takes place in.  Will cause 2 NPC assassins to attack the figure at the next available opportunity with a +1 Weapon and +1 Armour advantage, and they will attempt to get a surprise attack as well.  An additional 3d will supply them with a one-off poison advantage to deal 1 extra hp of damage on their first hit.
The detection roll for this attempt determines whether or not the assassins leave any evidence as to their employers.
Cost: 2d  Success: N/A  Detection: 4 (Special)
Deduct 1 spy if used to assist player.  Spy used up on attempt.


Counter-Espionage

Infiltrate Spy Ring
Infiltrate an enemy spy network.  Provides a -1 malus to all enemy spy efforts (success & detection) and allows any other counter-espionage missions to take place.
Cost: 1d  Success: 3  Detect: 4
Deduct 1 spy if conducted by a player.  Spy used up on attempt.

Create Security Breach
Provides an ideal opportunity to conduct a mission.  On a success, provides a +2 bonus to the success and detection roll of the next espionage mission attempted.
Cost: 2d  Success: 3  Detect: 3

Support Rebels
Provide arms and funding to rebels in a province, who will rise up and attempt to take over the province.  They will have their own demands but be friendly to their sponsor and willing to co-ordinate attacks.  Additional funding may be supplied; every 2d added will be used to raise an additional infantry regiment on a success.
Cost: 2d  Success: 3  Detect: 3

Assassinate Enemy Spies
With the espionage network infiltrated, the identity of enemy spies are known.  An assassin attempts to track down and eliminate enemy spymasters.  Cold and active spies may both be targeted, though active spies will be targeted first.  On a success, eliminates 2 enemy spies.
Cost: 3d  Success: 3  Detect: 4

Interfere with Academies
Disrupt training programs for specialists.  Reduces the number of specialists of a certain type produced in the following year (excluding sailors).  On a success, reduces specialist graduation by 2 the following year.
Cost: 2d  Success: 3  Detect: 4


Commercial Espionage

Infiltrate Treasury
Successfully put a man in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's office.  1 ducat/province will be stolen out of the annual tax collection, half of which will be diverted to the sponsor country.  This effect can be suppressed.  Required for further commercial espionage missions.
Cost: 1d  Success: 3  Detect: 4
Deduct 1 spy if conducted by a player.  Spy used up on attempt.

Embezzlement
Attempt to steal a large amount of ducats from the target country.  1/5th of the treasury or 10 ducats (whichever sum is larger) will be stolen on a success; half will be diverted to the sponsor country.
Cost: 3d  Success: 3  Detect: 4

Crash Commodity Market
Destroy demand for or interfere with production of a specific commodity.  Either raises or lowers the commodity price in a target province by 3 increments (sponsor's discretion).  Effect lasts for 1 year.  Cannot be conducted twice successfully on the same commodity in the same province in the same year (i.e. completing the mission twice will not result in a cumulative +/- 6 increments).
Cost: 5d  Success: 3  Detect: 3

Limit Trade
Reduce the willingness or ability of the public to spend.  Reduces the Market Allowance of a province by 10 ducats.
Cost: 3d  Success: 3  Detect: 3

Inspire Commercial Animosity
Create public sentiment against merchants of a particular guild or nation (or even against a specific merchant).  Merchants trading at this port suffer a +1/-1 penalty to trade checks when buying/selling goods.  The animosity lasts for 1 year.
Cost: 3d  Success: 3  Detect: 4


Naval Espionage

Infiltrate Admiralty
Successfully infiltrate the chain of naval command.  The upkeep cost of every ship under the nation's command increases by 0.5d/year.  This effect can be suppressed.  Required for further naval espionage missions.
Cost: 1d  Success: 3  Detect: 4
Deduct 1 spy if conducted by a player.  Spy used up on attempt.

Interfere with Shipbuilding
Limit the ability of the target nation to build new ships.  Destroys Sailor specialists or reduces Sailor recruitment in the following year (sponsor's choice).  On a success, destroys 2 sailors or reduces sailor recruitment by 3 the next year.
Cost: 3d  Success: 3  Detect: 4

Cripple Naval Morale
Spread harmful rumours about the competency of the admiralty.  Provides a -2 morale penalty to the next naval engagement the victim takes part in.
Cost: 2d  Success: 3  Detect: 4

Uncover Naval Disposition
Steal documents revealing the full disposition of the enemy's navy.  Reveals the location and composition of all the target's ships at this time.
Cost: 4d  Success: 4  Detect: 4

Scuttle Ship
By means of careful sabotage, rig a ship to sink.  Can only be conducted whilst the ship is in port.  On a success, the ship will be destroyed.
Cost: 2d  Success: 4  Detect: 5

Suborn Captain
Bribe a captain to switch sides.  Can only be conducted whilst the ship is in port.  On a success, the ship's allegiance will change to that of the sponsor.
Cost: 3d  Success: 5  Detect: 6

Control Admiralty
Blackmail, bribe, turn or simply replace the Admiral or key members of his staff.  All naval engagements thereafter suffer a -1 penalty from sabotage.  This counts as an infiltration and must be deliberately purged.
Cost: 3d  Success: 5  Detect: 6
Deduct 1 spy if conducted by a player.  Spy used up on attempt.


Military Espionage

Infiltrate General Staff
Successfully infiltrate the chain of military command.  The upkeep cost of every regiment under the nation's command increases by 0.5d/year.  This effect can be suppressed.  Required for further naval espionage missions.
Cost: 1d  Success: 3  Detect: 4
Deduct 1 spy if conducted by a player.  Spy used up on attempt.

Assassinate Engineers
Target key military engineers and remove them from the field.  On a success, destroys 2 engineers.
Cost: 3d  Success: 3  Detect: 4

Cripple Military Morale
Foment discord and insubordination in the ranks.  Provides a -2 morale penalty to the next military engagement the victim takes part in.
Cost: 2d  Success: 3  Detect: 4

Uncover Military Disposition
Steal documents revealing the full disposition of the enemy's military.  Reveals the location and composition of all the target's regiments at this time.
Cost: 4d  Success: 4  Detect: 4

Poison Regiment
Poison the food or water supplies of an entire regiment.  On a success, the regiment will be destroyed.
Cost: 2d  Success: 4  Detect: 5

Suborn Commander
Bribe the commander of a regiment to switch sides.  On a success, the regiment's allegiance will switch to the sponsor.
Cost: 3d  Success: 5  Detect: 6

Suborn General Staff
Replace, suborn or blackmail key members of the General Staff.  All military engagements thereafter suffer a -1 penalty from sabotage.  This counts as an infiltration and must be deliberately purged.
Cost: 3d  Success: 5  Detect: 6
Deduct 1 spy if conducted by a player.  Spy used up on attempt.


State-Level Espionage

Infiltrate Government
Infiltrate the general bureaucracy.  Reduces the available manpower of the country by one quarter (rounded down).  This effect can be suppressed.  Required for any further government espionage.
Cost: 1d  Success: 3  Detect: 4
Deduct 1 spy if conducted by a player.  Spy used up on attempt.

Counterfeit Currency
Introduce large quantities of false coins into circulation to devalue the country's currency.  Incurs a debt of 5 ducats to the target country at year's end, deducted before upkeep is paid.  Can put the target country's treasury into negative figures.
Cost: 2d  Success: 3  Detect: 5

Assassinate Clergy
Eliminate members of the clergy, limiting the amount of figures available to spread the faith.  On a success, destroys 2 Missionary specialists.
Cost: 3d  Success: 3  Detect: 4

Assassinate Noble/Bureaucrat
Perform an assassination attempt on a noble or government figure of the nation the attempt takes place in.  Will cause 2 NPC assassins to attack the figure at the next available opportunity with a +1 Weapon and +1 Armour advantage, and they will attempt to get a surprise attack as well.  An additional 3d will supply them with a one-off poison advantage to deal 1 extra hp of damage on their first hit.
The detection roll for this attempt determines whether or not the assassins leave any evidence as to their employers.
Cost: 4d  Success: N/A  Detection: 4 (Special)
Deduct 1 spy if used to assist player.  Spy used up on attempt.

Assassinate Ruler
Perform an assassination attempt on the ruler of the nation the attempt takes place in.  Will cause 2 NPC assassins to attack the figure at the next available opportunity with a +1 Weapon and +1 Armour advantage, and they will attempt to get a surprise attack as well.  An additional 3d will supply them with a one-off poison advantage to deal 1 extra hp of damage on their first hit.
The detection roll for this attempt determines whether or not the assassins leave any evidence as to their employers.
Cost: 8d  Success: N/A  Detection: 5 (Special)
Deduct 1 spy if used to assist player.  Spy used up on attempt.

[Iituem]

Goods Increment Sheet
Player-maintained Merchant Trade Tables

Merchant Adventures System

Whilst trade-based businesses at ports and markets represent smaller commercial ventures, the most lucrative ventures are the cross-continental caravans and trade ships that move goods between provinces.  These voyages are typically fraught with danger but can yield vast rewards for the wily entrepeneur.

In its simplest form, a Merchant Adventure consists of three steps; buying goods at a port or market, transporting them to the point of sale and then selling them there.  Like many systems, this is simple to start in but difficult to master.  The price of goods is affected by supply, demand, legality and a certain amount of luck.  Transport must be rented or one's own vessels built and risked on the seas or roads.  Pirates and bandits are an eternal threat.  Worse, perhaps, than any of these is the threat of one's own creditors.

Spoiler: Starting Out: Guild Credit (click to show/hide)

A very few lucky merchants might start out belonging to one of the Storm Coast trading guilds.  These fine individuals may not have a penny to their name, but can draw on up to 5 Ducats of credit from the guild bank to get started.  This line of credit only lasts one year, so they typically have to get returns before then or they will be forced to pay back the balance or go to debtor's prison.  This is a fine avenue for new merchants, but those more established may find that the demands the Guild places on them become constraining.  If they are rich enough, they might leave and chance their own fortunes or else even try to form another guild, or else get expelled by the Guild for reasons of internal politics.

Forming a Trade Guild: The smallest Trade Guild must be started as a Size 4 Trade Business (requiring 12 ducats of capital to start and returning 4/year).  Once established, any character may join as a member.  The Guild may then extend credit to its members to a maximum the total value of the Guild business at any one time.  The guild may offer more than this amount to traders, but may only extend this much at once.

Credit that remains outstanding for more than a year must be paid immediately by the Guild.  If the Guild does not have the fund, enough of the business will be liquidated to pay the outstanding fees.  This may be enough to bring the Guild down to below Size 3, at which point it cannot operate as a Guild (or extend credit).  Since credit can only be extended for a year, it is not generally a viable use for expanding businesses with, only embarking upon merchant adventures and other short-term ventures.

Spoiler: Transport & Travel (click to show/hide)

Goods bought in one province must be transported to another to be sold.  They may cross sea or land by ship or caravan respectively and merchants must purchase or hire the vessels used to transport them.  Transports can only travel through so many provinces in a season, though naval provinces tend to be much larger than land provinces to respect the greater speed of sailing ships.

Every time a vessel enters a new province it is subject to a RtD roll:

1 or lower (natural or otherwise) results in bandit/pirate encounter*, or if no bandits are present a storm.
2 results in poor weather causing the transport to arrive late. (+1/-1 penalty to purchase price roll)
3-4 means the journey went as planned.
5+ means excellent time was made and the transport beats any competitors to the market. (-1/+1 bonus to purchase price roll)
There is no overshoot penalty for a natural 6.

Each bandit regiment or pirate ship in the province decreases the travel roll by 1.  Roads through land provinces increase the travel roll by 1.  Travelling as part of a convoy with other merchants increases the travel roll by 1 but prevents the bonus from arriving early.

*Although bandits may appear, if your cargo is sufficiently well-defended they may choose not to attack because of the risk.  Alternately, surrendering to the bandits or pirates will typically let you keep your caravan/ship in exchange for any goods aboard.  Trying to surrender an empty caravan/ship to bandits/pirates will probably not go well for you.

Storms

If a ship or caravan train should be caught in a storm, it must roll to avoid destruction.  Caravans have a slight advantage over ships, but since each caravan can only carry one shipment this rather balances out. A 1d6 roll must be made.

On a 1, the ship or caravan is destroyed.  All cargo is lost.
On a 2, ships but not caravans are destroyed.  All cargo is lost.
On a 3 or better, both ship and caravan survive the journey with cargo intact.


Hiring Caravans

Purchasing caravans is not an option for merchant adventurers and would not be worth the overheads if it were.  Caravans can be hired at a fee of 0.5d/year/cargo space.  Each cargo space allows them to carry one shipment of goods.  Caravans may travel up to 4 provinces per season over rough ground, but up to 8 along provinces connected by road (treat each road-containing province as a half-province for transport times).

Caravan Guards: Mercenary companies will offer their services at a cost of 0.5d/season.  This will usually get you a disciplined infantry regiment that will only defend caravans (they will not follow any other orders).  Some merchants might find it easier to hire their own regiments.  Caravan guards are only legal in countries that permit their hire.

Building Roads: Roads are a massive infrastructure expense.  Decent highways across an entire province cost a flat fee of 5 Ducats, plus 1 Ducat/year thereafter.  If they stop being upkept they fall into disrepair (negating their bonuses) but another party can restore them thereafter by just paying the overdue upkeep.  If a road has been left to go fallow for 5 years it will need to be rebuilt.


Hiring & Purchasing Ships

Unlike caravans, merchants can build ships rather than hire them.  As a long-term strategy, this might well be preferable unless you forsee a lot of losses to piracy.  The downside is that you do have to wait for sufficient Sailor specialists to become available to build new ships.  Otherwise, ships tend to be available at the following rates:

Cargo Ships:  Cargo ships tend to rent by the cargo bay at a rate of 1d/bay/year.  Each cargo bay will take 1 shipment of goods.  By default, these are standard light ships with the Cargo Bay upgrade.

Escorts:  Light defensive-drilled warships might hire themselves out at a rate of 0.5d/season.  Heavy carracks are more likely to charge 1d/season, with some specialised defensive carracks charging 1.5/season instead.

Ships travel at a rate of 6 provinces/season, unless they have the Clipper upgrade (enabling them to travel 10 provinces/season).  Travelling from one port in a sea province to another port in that same sea province uses up one province's worth of travel.  Be warned.


Warehouses

Merchants seeking to exploit seasonal variation, or just to build up stockpiles of certain goods, might want to look into hiring warehouses.  A warehouse costs 1 Ducat/year to hire and can store up to 10 shipments of goods.  Be warned that warehouses can be subject to raids by bandits or other ill-meaning factions.  On a successful raid, bandits will usually make off with a number of shipments equal to the regiments they brought into play.  They will usually take the most typically valuable items first.

Spoiler: Buying and Selling: Availability (click to show/hide)

Production or availability of goods in any given region is not limitless, even if the only limitation is the speed at which goods can be extracted or produced.  Use whichever limit is highest for a given good.

+ Up to 6 units of a good may be purchased/season in any province where it is produced.  This applies to each instance of produced goods in the region (so a province that produces Wool and Iron can export 6 units of Wool and 6 units of Iron in the same season).
+ Up to 6 units of staples may be purchased from a single province.
+ Up to 3 units of industrial or military goods may be purchased from a single province.
+ Only 2 units of luxury goods may be purchased from a single province.

The latter three limitations apply to all goods of a given class, except where the good would fit into multiple classes (in which case it applies to whichever class has the highest limitation).  These limitations do not apply to produced goods.

For example, if Oberwich produces Cloth and Iron it may export 6 units of Cloth (a staple) and 6 units of Iron (an industrial and military good) but still export 5 units of Salt (a staple and military good), 1 unit of Copper (an industrial/military good), 1 unit of Low Quality Lumber (a staple/industrial good) and 1 unit of Arms (a military good).  It could also technically export 2 units of Liquor too.  Note that it would probably not be in the interests of most merchants to buy these latter items, as they would not be enjoying the production discount.

The same rules apply in reverse to a region because at the very least there will be limitations to the ability of merchants to distribute goods:

+ Up to 10 units of staples may be sold to a single province.
+ Up to 8 units of industrial or military goods may be sold to a single province.
+ Up to 4 units of luxury goods may be sold to a single province.


Buying and Selling: Allowance

People cannot buy goods if they do not have money.  The Trade Potential of a region determines its Allowance; how many ducats in available cash a province has per season.  Buying goods from a province will increase the available cash, but you can only sell as many goods to the province as they have money to buy.  If your goods are more expensive than the Allowance of the province you will either have to sell them at a reduced price or sell them elsewhere.

Spoiler: Buying and Selling: Purchase Rolls (click to show/hide)

Every type of good available in the game has a certain base price and a price increment by which the cost of the good goes up or down.  Factors such as the production and demand for the good affect the base price in a specific province (see below) but there is also an element of luck.  This is determined by a simple d6 roll when trying to buy/sell goods.

+ On a roll of 3-4, the good is equal to the province's adjusted base price.

+ Every point less than 3 decreases the price by 1 increment (e.g. a roll of 1 would decrease the price by 2 increments).

+ Every point greater than 4 increases the price by 1 increment (e.g. a roll of 6 would increase the price by 2 increments).

No matter how low the roll or other factors, the price of a good is always equal to or greater than the value of 1 increment.  i.e. If iron has an increment of 0.3, the base price of iron can never go lower than 0.3d, even though it could theoretically drop to 0.2d if it went 6 increments below base price.

Province are classed as staple goods, industrial goods, luxury goods and military goods.  Some belong to multiple categories.


Factors that affect the Province Base Price

+ Seasonal goods are 1 increment cheaper during their 'low season' and 2 increments costlier during their 'high season'.

+ During war or periods of strife, military goods and staple goods are 2 increments more expensive.  Where goods belong to both categories, they are 4 increments more expensive.  Luxury goods are 3 increments cheaper.

+ Industrial goods are in greater demand in regions with a higher urban potential.  Every 4 points of UP above 0 raise the price by 1 increment, e.g. a province with UP 14 would command a +3 increment price increase to industrial goods.

+ Luxury goods are in demand in regions with higher urban population (equal to the tax/year from towns) due to the greater disposable income from the middle classes.  Every 3 pts of population (i.e. tax/year) raise the price by 1 increment.

+ Staple goods are in greater demand in urbanised regions.  Every 3 points of urban population raise the price of staple goods by 1 increment.

+ Peasants on the other hand tend to look after themselves.  Every parcel of non-urbanised open land in a province reduces the price of staple goods by 0.2 increments (rounded down).

+ Any good produced in a province has its price lowered by 2 increments.

+ Contraband goods are automatically 2 increments more expensive.

+ Slaves are 1 increment more expensive in any province that produces resources from mining or agriculture (but not herding).

+ Certain manufactured goods increase demand for certain primary products by 1 increment.  If the primary good is produced in the same province, the cost of the manufactured good is reduced by 1 increment.  (This effect stacks if multiple primary goods are produced in the same province and contribute to the same secondary good.)

Beer: Grain
Spirits: Grain, Sugar
Cloth: Wool, Cotton
Tools: Iron, Coal, Tin, Copper
Machinery: Iron, Coal, Tin, Copper
Arms: Iron, Coal, Tin, Copper, Livestock, High Quality Lumber
Naval Supplies: Low Quality Lumber
Luxuries: Gold, Silver, Gemstones, HQ Lumber, Furs, Ivory

In other words, Arms produced in a province that also produces Iron, Coal and Livestock will be 3 increments cheaper than normal (in addition to the 2 increment discount for production), though the sale price of the primary goods will increase by 1 increment each from reduced supply.

Spoiler: Buying and Selling: Smuggling (click to show/hide)

If the ruler of a region has put a special tax on certain goods, or if certain goods are illegal, merchants can try to smuggle goods into the market with an straight d6 roll.  On a 2 or less, the merchant is caught.

A merchant may establish a 'special relationship' with port officials for a fee of 1 Ducat/season.  This will raise the roll by 1.  Each additional Ducat/season will raise the roll by an additional 1.

Since certain goods can have deleterious effects on the populace (or the port owners rather want the associated tariffs), governments may use troops to enforce their border security.  Every regiment stationed in a port or market reduces the roll by 1.

If the merchant is caught, it might not be all over.  A d6 may be rolled:

On a 1 or less, the goods are seized and the merchant is charged with smuggling.
On a 2, the goods are 'seized' and the officials don't bother to write things down.
On a 3, the officials 'fine' 4 Ducats and give you a warning.
On a 4, the officials 'fine' 2 Ducats.
On a 5 or better, the officials let you off with a 1 Ducat 'fine'.

If you have a 'special relationship' already in place, receive a +2 to the roll (+1 for every extra Ducat/season being spent on this relationship).  Every regiment stationed in a port of market reduces the roll by 1.

Contraband
Some goods may well be worth declaring contraband by nations.  Trade in contraband goods will typically drop, although unscrupulous traders may try to risk trading for the additional profits to be made.  Trade in the following goods may have unexpected or dangerous effects, especially trade in large quantities:

Arms - Likely to support or arm rebellions or uprisings.
Slaves - Risk of slave uprisings.
Opiates - Large-scale addiction may harm production and industry or else encourage crime.
Alcohol - Very large scale addiction may harm production and industry or else encourage crime.

Spoiler: A Sample Merchant Adventure (click to show/hide)

Hans arrives in Miring, not a penny to his name but fortunately with a line of credit from his Guild.  He immediately hires a ship for 1 Ducat (putting him 1 Ducat in debt to the Guild), who will convey his wares for the rest of the year.  Miring happens to be in the middle of a civil war, so staples and military goods are very expensive right now but everyone is trying to flog their jewellery to afford food and weapons.

Luxury goods enjoy a -3 increment discount by default, including General Luxuries, so Hans visits the market and rolls a 2.  This would lower the increment discount to -4, but since -3 already put luxuries below their minimum cost (2.5d) the price to purchase a shipment of luxuries remains 2.5d.  Hans purchases the general Luxuries and heads to the port of Vasir.  Along the way he rolls a 4 - fair weather and no piracy issues.  The Storm Coast is 1 province away, so Hans has 5 provinces' worth of travel left this season.

Hans arrives in Vasir.  The high population of Vasir means there is a demand for luxury goods (+2 price increments from urban population), putting the base price of his Luxuries at 13.  Hans rolls for the real price and gets a 1, moving the real price down to 8d.  He sells the luxuries off, putting him 4.5 ducats in pocket.

Vasir happens to be the chief Arms manufacturer in the Storm Coast.  Even better, it is presently at peace, so there is not a major demand for military supplies.  This puts the base price of Arms at 5d, well within Hans' limits.  Hans rolls a 3, so the base price is the real price.  Hans purchases 1 unit of Arms.  He dearly wishes he had the cargo space to transport a second unit, but even if he did he could not afford a second shipment because his credit limit is too low.

On the journey back, Hans rolls a 5 - good weather puts him ahead of his competitors.  He returns to Miring with his unit of Arms.  Miring is war-torn, so the base price of Arms is actually 15d.  Even better, Arms are contraband, raising the price even further to 20d.  Being contraband, Hans has to make a smuggling check to get past customs - oops, he rolls a 2.  There's still a chance to get out of this, so he attempts to bribe the officials.  He rolls a 4, so the officials ask for a moderate bribe of 2 Ducats, which Hans pays.

Now that Hans is no longer under threat from the law, he goes to market and rolls a 6.  Fantastic!  This would give an actual price of 25d/shipment for the Arms being sold.  Sadly, Miring does not possess this much money.  The province has a Trade Potential of 14, giving it a base Allowance of 14d/season.  The 2.5d spent by Hans earlier have raised the real Allowance to 16.5d, but there is no more available money in the system.  Hans has just enough credit left (2.5d) to try and buy some more luxuries if he gets lucky, but rolls a 5 - the price of the last unit of Luxuries in Miring has risen to 3d.  Hans sells the Arms for 16.5d and is now 14 Ducats in pocket.  He spends 3 of that on the last shipment of Luxuries in Miring - nobody else will be able to buy luxury goods in Miring this season, as it does not produce any.

Hans sets sail for Vasir once again.  He will have 3 provinces of travel left this season, but during the journey he rolls a 1.  A pirate warship appears on the horizon!  Now Hans must decide - try and outrun the pirate, out-fight him, or surrender the luxuries aboard his ship to the scallywag's demands?

Slaves:  Slaves are a special trade good.  Unless a province specifically operates slave pens to breed fresh slaves (i.e. it has the Slaves resource), slaves can otherwise only be obtained by slave raids (see Raiding and Slaving) where manpower is stolen and turned into the Slaves trade good.  Slaves cannot be bought as a good from markets where it is not produced, except where slavers are specifically selling them.

Notes for Province Owners

Any Market Allowance left over at the end of a season will be taxed at half the normal sales tax rate automatically.

In other words, if merchants use up all the MA in your state, you'll get much more tax than otherwise (about 3-4x as much, potentially).  On the other hand...

The presence of an NPC Trade Guild in a province will halve the Market Allowance at the start of a season, but double the sales tax equivalent will go into the province coffers to represent trade that has already taken place.

NPC Trade Guilds thus limit the available cash for player traders, but provide a clear and consistent benefit to province owners.  Their initial negotiations may be very harsh, though.  An NPC Trade Guild (such as the Storm Coast Trading Guild) must be invited or accepted in to a province before they operate there.  They can be banished diplomatically, but the Guild might respond with economic or even military sanctions...

[Iituem]

This post, too, is reserved.

[mr. macduggan]

I was wondering- should I make a wiki page for You Are King? I think it would be more handy than a forum post for keeping the current affairs straight...

[Shootandrun]

So. I just learned there is already a duelist. Is there a role you guys need badly at the moment?

[mr. macduggan]

I'll think about it. I'll tell you if I can think of a major missing piece.

[Yoink]

Macduggan, there are heaps of missing pieces!
I think you can play a duelist if you want. I mean, we have a fairly massive gameworld, lots of potential employers, and 'duelist' is a fairly loose term anyhow. You guys could end up being arch rivals... Or you could know each other from the past, or something. Endless opportunities, it's just up to what you think you'll have most fun playing.

[mr. macduggan]

Hey, wait... There's a guy I mentioned in my backstory, my sparring partner from childhood. He's the son of the previous general of Elbreth. You could do something with that...
Oh, and yeah, you absolutely can play a direct swordsman. I'm not going to stop you. Go for it if that's what you want. The above might be a good backstory though!

[filiusenox]

Hey I can rig up the Wiki. If you like...But i was thinking about something with passwords that only a few people can modify. We'd have a crapload of trolls or something infesting it.

[Zako]

I wish to join the kingdom as a spymaster, what do I need to post here to get approved and what assets do I have upon joining?

Also, you can be a duelist but at the same time be an agent for me if that livens things up.

[mr. macduggan]

I've actually already taken the liberty of setting up a wiki. The URL is *GO TO THE NEXT POST INSTEAD* , and it should do the trick for what we need. It's not password protected, but honestly I dont think that trolls would be an issue.

[Iituem]

There is a skeleton wiki here, which is up for filling out.

Ninja!  And the reason the earlier wikia name was taken is that I took it a few days ago!  =D

Edit:  Any outstanding character applications, please repost them here for convenience.

[mr. macduggan]

Whoops, lol. Which one should be the canon wiki?
Let's just go with Iutems.

[filiusenox]

Iituem's it seems older...