Malcolm Rivera
Political intrigue campaigns offer a unique style of gameplay in role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, centred on manipulation, deception, and power struggles. They require careful planning and preparation to avoid common pitfalls and keep players engaged. This includes deciding on the number of nations and factions, their relationships and motivations, and the key political issues at stake. It is also important to ensure a balance between intrigue and action, allowing players to take part in more dynamic encounters such as fights or espionage to avoid burnout. Additionally, GMs should be mindful of the potential for toxic behaviour and work to prevent players from freely backstabbing each other or resorting to murder.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of nations | 5-6 |
| Details of each nation | Style of government, major imports/exports, system of laws, diversity of constituents, status of the economy |
| Factions | Well-defined, with relationships and power struggles between them |
| NPCs | More complicated motivations and stories |
| PCs | Should be central to the story |
| Intrigue | Build slowly, allow for breaks with more straightforward problems |
| PVP | Should not escalate to murder |
| Plot | Start with the climax and work backward |
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What You'll Learn
- Keep it simple, stupid (KISS): Avoid overly complex characters and plots
- Avoid monotony: Balance intrigue with action to avoid player burnout
- Player agency: Ensure players are central to the story and have agency
- Factions: Create factions with relationships, motivations, and goals
- World-building: Create a believable world with politics that players care about
Keep it simple, stupid (KISS): Avoid overly complex characters and plots
When creating a political intrigue campaign, it is important to remember the acronym KISS, which stands for "Keep It Simple, Stupid". This is because focusing too much on making characters have grandiose and complex plots and stories can result in the game master getting bogged down and confused over their notes.
While it is tempting to create intricate and complex characters and plots for a political intrigue campaign, it is important to remember that simplicity is often more effective. Players will need to recharge by dealing with problems that are straightforward and have no moral uncertainty. Without the occasional break from the complex political intrigue, players will eventually burn out and lose interest. These breaks can take the form of action sequences or more straightforward problems that are tailored to each group. For example, a debate over the use of airships as strategic bombers could be interrupted by a seemingly uncatchable serial killer, or an environmental emergency could overshadow a mayoral election.
Similarly, it is important to keep in mind that the issues at stake in the campaign must be relatable and understandable to your players. Avoid issues that are too obscure or overly complicated, as esoteric arguments will likely leave players bored and confused. It is better to err on the side of simplicity and only delve into the minutiae if your players demonstrate a strong interest. By the same token, avoid conflicts based on trivial differences unless you are trying to inject humour into your game.
When building your world, it is helpful to take inspiration from existing sources. This can be especially useful when creating organisations that have direct involvement in the world's politics. You can also take inspiration from real-life events, such as the political impact of wars, to inform the types of events that could occur in your campaign. Additionally, it is important to remember that the players must feel central to the story. Even if politics and intrigue are the focus, it is okay to have the players engage in more traditional adventures, such as finding a lost treasure or hunting monsters, with intriguing motives behind them. For example, instead of just finding a lost artifact, the players could be hired by two political families who are contesting the treasure.
In conclusion, while it is tempting to create complex and intricate characters and plots for a political intrigue campaign, it is important to remember to keep it simple. By focusing on relatable issues, taking inspiration from existing sources, and ensuring that players feel central to the story, you can create a political intrigue campaign that is engaging and enjoyable for everyone involved.
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Avoid monotony: Balance intrigue with action to avoid player burnout
Political intrigue campaigns are unique and engaging, but they can be derailed without the right structure. One of the biggest challenges is avoiding monotony and player burnout. Here are some ways to balance intrigue with action and keep your players interested:
Know Your Players
Not every group is cut out for a political campaign. Some players prefer combat and action, so a game revolving around discussions, scheming, and negotiations may bore them. It's important to gauge your players' interests and provide a mix of intrigue and action. Give them missions that allow for fights, espionage, or other dynamic encounters to keep the pacing engaging.
Session Zero
It is vital to have a session zero with your players, especially for a political campaign. Discuss the types of politics that will be featured in the game and ensure that everyone is comfortable with the topics. For example, if your campaign involves a slave revolution, consider whether this topic could be fun for your players to engage with.
Factions and Relationships
At the heart of a political campaign are the factions and their relationships. Define the factions clearly and ensure each one is pursuing a form of power, whether it's economic, magical, military, or social influence. Factions should have relationships with each other and with the players. In the beginning, factions should view the players as potential allies or neutral forces. Encourage players to align with a faction, but ensure all factions interact with them, even if it's through manipulation, bribery, or undermining.
Build Intrigue Slowly
Don't overwhelm your players with complex plots and characters right from the start. Start small and build up the intrigue gradually. Instead of focusing on multiple noble houses, begin with a village mayoral race. This gives players a chance to get to know the world and invest in it before shaping its destiny.
Breaks from Intrigue
Even with engaged players, dealing with political divides can be tiring. Offer breaks from the intrigue with sessions that focus on more straightforward problems. For example, an environmental emergency or a serial killer plotline can provide a respite from political machinations while still advancing the overall story. These breaks should be tailored to your group and give players a chance to recharge.
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Player agency: Ensure players are central to the story and have agency
Player agency is crucial to a successful political intrigue campaign. While the focus may be on politics and intrigue, it's important to ensure that the players feel central to the story and have agency in shaping its outcome. Here are some ways to achieve that:
Start with Player Buy-In: Before the campaign begins, discuss with your players the type of politics and intrigue they want to explore. This shared understanding will help ensure everyone is on the same page and engaged with the story. Additionally, consider having a session zero to establish boundaries and topics that players may not be comfortable including in the game.
Involve Player Theories: Encourage players to develop their own theories and ideas within the world. If they come up with intriguing concepts, incorporate them into the narrative. This not only keeps them invested but also ensures their agency in shaping the story.
Balance Intrigue with Action: While political intrigue campaigns thrive on discussions, scheming, and negotiations, remember to balance these elements with action. Provide players with missions that allow for fights, espionage, or other dynamic encounters to keep the pacing engaging and offer a break from the complexities of politics.
Offer Clear Faction Motivations: Help players navigate the political landscape by providing clear motivations for each faction. This will enable them to understand the goals and objectives of different groups, making it easier for them to interact and engage with the various factions.
Build Player Investment: Take the time to build player investment in your world. This can be achieved by running a prequel campaign or allowing players to shape the world through their actions. As they become more invested in the setting, they will naturally develop stronger opinions on the political issues at stake, driving their engagement and agency.
Keep the End Goal in Mind: When planning your campaign, work backward from the desired endpoint or conclusion. Decide on the ultimate goal for the characters, such as becoming advisors to a king or influencing the selection of the next ruler. This approach ensures that the players' actions and choices align with the overall narrative arc, giving them a sense of agency in driving the story towards its climax.
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Factions: Create factions with relationships, motivations, and goals
Factions are a crucial element of a political intrigue campaign, and creating compelling factions with intricate relationships, motivations, and goals will keep your players engaged and invested in the game. Here are some guidelines to help you craft these factions effectively:
Relationships:
Factions should not operate in a vacuum; they need to have dynamic relationships with each other. These relationships can take the form of alliances, rivalries, or even uneasy truces. Consider how each faction interacts with the others and how these relationships might evolve over time. A faction relationship matrix can be a useful tool to track these dynamics and make adjustments as the campaign progresses. For instance, the city council faction and the Raiders of Ragnarok might start off as enemies, but circumstances could lead to an unexpected alliance, creating intrigue and offering opportunities for exploration.
Motivations:
Each faction should have clear and compelling motivations that drive their actions and goals. These motivations can vary, but they should ultimately revolve around the pursuit of power. Economic dominance, magical control, military strength, or social influence could be some of the driving forces behind a faction's ambitions. For example, in a setting with multiple noble houses, each house might strive for economic dominance by controlling a specific industry or resource, leading to conflicts and political manoeuvring.
Goals:
The goals of each faction should be well-defined and impact the players directly. Factions are always working towards something, whether it's gaining more power, overthrowing a rival, or achieving a specific objective. Consider what each faction wants and how they plan to get it. Are they seeking to influence a political decision, acquire a valuable artifact, or something else entirely? Ensure that the players are caught in the middle of these faction goals, facing difficult choices and navigating complex relationships.
Flexibility and Emergent Dynamics:
While it's important to have a plan for your factions, be prepared to adapt and embrace emergent faction dynamics. Listen to your players' theories and ideas, and don't be afraid to incorporate them into your campaign. This not only keeps the game engaging for you as the Dungeon Master (DM) but also ensures that your players feel invested in the world and its political landscape. Remember, the relationships and goals of factions can evolve based on the players' actions and choices.
Starting Small:
When creating factions and their goals, it's easy to get carried away with grand plots and complex narratives. However, keeping things simple, at least at the beginning, is often more effective. Start small and gradually introduce complexity. Instead of starting with multiple factions vying for control over an entire kingdom, begin with a few factions seeking influence in a small village. As the campaign progresses, you can expand the scope and introduce new factions, alliances, and conflicts.
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World-building: Create a believable world with politics that players care about
World-building is an essential aspect of creating a believable world with politics that players care about in a political intrigue campaign. Here are some tips to achieve that:
Define the World and Its Politics:
Start by creating nation-states and deciding on important details such as the style of government, major imports and exports, the system of laws, the diversity of constituents, and the status of the economy. You can also take inspiration from existing sources, such as the official factions in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, or real-life events like the political impact of wars.
Understand the Factions:
Factions are key players in the political landscape. Define the different factions, their motivations, and their relationships with each other. Each faction should have a clear goal, such as economic dominance, magical control, military strength, or social influence. These factions should also have relationships with each other, whether they are alliances, rivalries, or uneasy truces.
Make it Personal:
Ensure that the players feel central to the story. Their actions should have an impact on the world and the political dynamics. Factions should view the players as potential allies or neutral forces, rather than starting out as enemies. This allows players to become involved in the intrigue and feel like active participants in the political landscape.
Start Small and Build Up:
Begin with a smaller scope, such as a village or a city, and gradually expand. This helps you and the players get a grasp on the political landscape without being overwhelmed. You can introduce complex characters and intriguing plots gradually, allowing the world and its politics to unfold organically.
Engage with Intrigue and Action:
Balance intrigue with action to maintain pacing and engagement. While political discussions, scheming, and negotiations are crucial, players may also enjoy missions that involve fights, espionage, or other dynamic encounters. These breaks from intense political intrigue can help recharge your players' mental batteries and provide a respite from complex decision-making.
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Frequently asked questions
Here are some tips to create a fun and engaging political intrigue campaign:
- Start with the climax and work backward. This technique keeps the end goal in mind and makes managing the political aspect and complex connections easier.
- Have a session zero with your players to discuss what kinds of politics will be focused on in the game. This ensures that the topics will be interesting and enjoyable for your players.
- Build up to the intrigue slowly. Give players a chance to get to know the world and its politics before they start shaping its destiny.
- Balance intrigue with action by giving players missions that allow for fights, espionage, or other dynamic encounters to keep the pacing engaging.
Some unique challenges of a political intrigue campaign include:
- Political campaigns are more open-ended and require more active players.
- Players might get bored or frustrated if the game revolves mostly around discussions, scheming, and negotiations.
- It can be challenging to keep players invested in the campaign without letting it turn into a toxic mess, such as allowing players to backstab each other freely.
Here are some ways to build intrigue in your campaign:
- Create nation-states and decide on important details such as the style of government, major imports/exports, system of laws, diversity of constituents, and status of the economy.
- Factions must be well-defined and have relationships with each other, whether they are alliances, rivalries, or uneasy truces.
- Incorporate breaks from the intrigue in the form of action sequences or sessions that deal with more straightforward problems.
Here are some ways to make the players feel central to the story:
- Ensure that the players are the main movers and shakers in your campaign. Factions can make moves in the background, but these moves should directly affect the players.
- Even if politics and intrigue are the focus, it's okay to have the players do something more active, such as finding a lost treasure or hunting monsters with intriguing motives behind them.
