Life During a Wartime Random Table Redux

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By Henry of Huntingdon (Historia Anglorum) [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

I’m preparing for an upcoming Burning Wheel campaign. I am using the Anarchy of England as the backdrop.

Every great man built himself a castle and held it against the king; and they filled the whole land with these castles. They sorely burdened the unhappy people of the country with forced labour on the castles; and when the castles were built, they filled them with devils and wicked men.

If the characters crawl the English countryside, I want some more random generators. Five years ago, I was gearing up to run a campaign set during a war. I wrote up a random wartime village generator; I may reuse some of that.

Fortifications

In response to a weak crown, the barons are consolidating their personal power.

What is the State of the Fortifications?

Table 57: State of Fortifications
2d6 Roll
2 Wooden palisade
3-5 Major enhancements beginning
6-8 Major enhancements wrapping up
9-11 Earthen motte and bailey
12 Stone castle

Were these Fortifications Sanctioned by the King?

An unsanctioned castle may draw the ire of the king; Though he has numerous irons in the fire.

Table 58: Fortification’s Standing in the Eyes of the King
1d6 Roll
1-5 Unsanctioned
6 Sanctioned

Loyalties

Taking a page from Zzarchov Kowolski’s Scenic Dunnsmouth (review), I’m establishing a campaign attribute “King’s Popularity”.

When a person’s loyalty to the king is unknown, the GM* rolls 2d6 to get their “Loyal to the King” score. Then compare that score to the current “King’s Popularity”:

Table 59: King’s Loyalty
Loyal to the King is... Resulting Allegiance
Less than King's Popularity Loyal to the King Stephen
Equal to King's Popularity Hedging bets
Greater than King's Popularity Loyal to Empress Matilda

Throughout the course of play as the “King’s Popularity” rises and falls, this will adjust a person’s allegiance.

Example: The current “King’s Popularity” score is 7. The players encounter Herald FitzJohn, an unknown. The GM secretly rolls 2d6 and gets a 6. Herald FitzJohn’s allegiance is to King Stephen. If the “King’s Popularity” drops to 5, the Herald FitzJohn’s allegiance will shift to Empress Matilda.

More Randomizations

  • Village/city events - lift from Torchbearer
  • Countryside events - drawing a blank right now