Template metadata

id: module_political title: Political Module type: module_political level: module purpose: Social maneuvering adventure with factions, intrigue, and reputation tracking author: Mimir Team

Module-specific metadata

module_number: 1 theme: “[Theme]” tone: “Intrigue” estimated_hours: 8

Catalog references (machine-readable)

monsters:

Political modules may have minimal combat

encounter: assassination_attempt name: Assassin source: MM quantity: 2 notes: “If things turn violent”
encounter: faction_enforcers name: “[Faction Muscle]” source: MM quantity: 4 notes: “Faction’s armed supporters”
encounter: coup_forces name: “[Military Unit]” source: MM quantity: 6 notes: “If civil conflict erupts”

npcs:

Political modules are extremely NPC-heavy

role: faction_leader name: “[Faction 1 Leader]” source: campaign location: “[Their power base]” notes: “Goal: [What they want]”
role: faction_leader name: “[Faction 2 Leader]” source: campaign location: “[Their power base]” notes: “Goal: [What they want]”
role: faction_leader name: “[Faction 3 Leader]” source: campaign location: “[Their power base]” notes: “Goal: [What they want]”
role: power_broker name: “[The Kingmaker]” source: campaign location: “Neutral ground” notes: “Everyone wants their support”
role: wild_card name: “[The Unpredictable One]” source: campaign location: “Various” notes: “Shifts loyalty for advantage”
role: idealist name: “[The True Believer]” source: campaign location: “[Their cause’s base]” notes: “Won’t compromise principles”

items:

location: reward name: “[Political Favor/Title]” source: campaign quantity: 1 notes: “Power is the reward”
location: secret_document name: “[Damaging Evidence]” source: campaign quantity: 1 notes: “Leverage over a faction”

variables:

name: conflict_name type: string description: Name of the political conflict default: “[Conflict Name]” required: true
name: module_number type: number description: Module number in campaign sequence default: 1 required: true

Module {{module_number}}: {{conflict_name}}

Social maneuvering and faction-based adventure

1. Overview

Pitch: [One sentence describing the political conflict]

Central Conflict: [What power struggle is happening]

The Prize: [What everyone wants - throne, treaty, position, etc.]

The Deadline: [When decision must be made - coronation, vote, festival]

Estimated Play Time: [X hours - highly variable based on player choices]

The Hook

Why PCs Are Involved: [Hired, caught up, personal stake]

What They’re Asked To Do: [Initial mission or role]

Hidden Agendas: [What they don’t know yet]

Module Structure

[ENTERING THE GAME] → [MANEUVERING] → [CRISIS] → [RESOLUTION]
    (factions meet)      (missions)     (betrayals)  (new order)

2. The Political Landscape

The Situation

Current State: [Who has power now]

The Crisis: [What destabilized the status quo]

The Opportunity: [Why change is suddenly possible]

The Deadline: [When a decision will be forced]

Power Centers

Power Type	Who	Strength
Legitimate Authority	[Who should rule by law/tradition]	[Strong/Weak]
Actual Power	[Who really controls things]	[Strong/Weak]
Rising Power	[Who wants to take over]	[Growing]
Shadow Power	[Who manipulates from behind]	[Hidden]

3. Major Factions

Faction 1: [Name]

Aspect	Details
Leader	[Name and title]
Public Goal	[What they claim to want]
Secret Goal	[What they really want]
Resources	[Money, troops, influence, magic]
Weakness	[Exploitable flaw]
Key Members	[Important supporters]

What They Offer PCs:

[Reward or position]
[Access or information]
[Protection or resources]

What They Want From PCs:

[Service or task]
[Information or access]
[Elimination of rival]

Faction 2: [Name]

Aspect	Details
Leader	[Name and title]
Public Goal	[What they claim to want]
Secret Goal	[What they really want]
Resources	[Money, troops, influence, magic]
Weakness	[Exploitable flaw]
Key Members	[Important supporters]

What They Offer PCs:

[Reward or position]
[Access or information]
[Protection or resources]

What They Want From PCs:

[Service or task]
[Information or access]
[Elimination of rival]

Faction 3: [Name]

Aspect	Details
Leader	[Name and title]
Public Goal	[What they claim to want]
Secret Goal	[What they really want]
Resources	[Money, troops, influence, magic]
Weakness	[Exploitable flaw]
Key Members	[Important supporters]

What They Offer PCs:

[Reward or position]
[Access or information]
[Protection or resources]

What They Want From PCs:

[Service or task]
[Information or access]
[Elimination of rival]

4. Key NPCs

The Power Broker: [Name]

Role: [Position that makes them influential]

Appears: [How they present publicly]

Actually: [Their true nature and agenda]

Pressure Points: [How to influence them]

Value: [Why factions court them]

The Wild Card: [Name]

Role: [Their official position]

Loyalty: [Shifts based on advantage]

Price: [What buys their support]

Danger: [What makes them unpredictable]

The Idealist: [Name]

Role: [Their position and cause]

Believes: [Their unshakeable principles]

Blind Spot: [What they can’t see]

Breaking Point: [What would change them]

5. Reputation Tracking

Faction Standing

Track PC reputation with each faction (-5 to +5):

Faction	Current	Recent Action
[Faction 1]	___	[What changed it]
[Faction 2]	___	[What changed it]
[Faction 3]	___	[What changed it]

Reputation Effects

Standing	Status	Effects
-5 to -3	Enemies	Assassination risk, active opposition
-2 to -1	Distrusted	Watched, excluded from inner circle
0	Neutral	Unknown or cautiously regarded
+1 to +2	Useful Ally	Access to resources, minor missions
+3 to +5	Trusted Insider	Major missions, secret information

Changing Standing

Gain Standing:

Complete faction mission: +1
Embarrass their rivals: +1
Provide valuable intelligence: +1
Public victory for faction: +2
Save leader’s life: +3

Lose Standing:

Fail a mission: -1
Work for rivals openly: -2
Betray their trust: -3 to -5

6. Adventure Content

Part 1: Entering the Game

Setup: The PCs become involved in the political conflict

Read Aloud: “[Description of their entry into the political arena - a grand event, a secret meeting, being approached by a faction. The atmosphere of power and danger. The sense that words here are as deadly as swords.]”

The Introduction:

Which faction approaches them first
What they’re asked to do
What they’re offered in return

Initial Choices:

Option	Faction Reaction	Consequences
Accept Faction 1	F1 +2, F2 -1	[What happens]
Accept Faction 2	F2 +2, F1 -1	[What happens]
Play neutral	All 0	[What happens]

Outcomes:

Commit to a faction: Clear path, clear enemies
Stay neutral: Both court them, neither trusts them
Transition: First faction mission or event

Event 1: [The Grand Ball / Council Meeting / Festival]

Setup: A major social event where all factions gather

Read Aloud: “[Description of the event - the grandeur, the tension beneath the surface, the key players present. Every smile hides a knife.]”

Present Factions:

[Faction 1 attendees and their goals for the evening]
[Faction 2 attendees and their goals]
[Faction 3 attendees and their goals]

Opportunities:

Opportunity	Skill Check	Success	Failure
[Gather intelligence]	Investigation DC 14	[Info gained]	[Noticed]
[Win over neutral]	Persuasion DC 15	[Ally gained]	[Offended]
[Embarrass rival]	Deception DC 16	[Standing shift]	[Backfires]

Complications:

[What could go wrong at this event]
[Secret meeting that might be discovered]
[Assassination attempt or confrontation]

Event 2: [The Secret Meeting / Conspiracy]

Setup: A clandestine gathering with high stakes

Read Aloud: “[Description of the secret location - the shadows, the whispered words, the paranoia. Everyone here has something to hide.]”

What’s Being Planned:

[The conspiracy or deal being made]
[Who’s involved]
[What they want PCs to do]

Moral Choice:

[Ethical dilemma presented]
[What each choice costs]

Event 3: [The Public Crisis / Assassination / Revelation]

Setup: A dramatic event that forces action

Read Aloud: “[Description of the crisis - chaos erupts, masks fall, true allegiances revealed. The moment everything changes.]”

What Happens:

[The triggering incident]
[Immediate reactions from each faction]
[How PCs can influence the outcome]

Encounter: assassination_attempt (if violence occurs)

Consequences:

[How the political landscape shifts]
[New opportunities created]
[New dangers emerging]

Part 3: The Crisis Point

Setup: All maneuvering comes to a head

Read Aloud: “[Description of the moment when decision can no longer be delayed. The factions are at each other’s throats. The PCs’ choices will determine the outcome.]”

The Situation:

[Current state of each faction]
[What each faction needs to win]
[What role PCs can play]

Resolution Paths:

Path	Requirements	PC Role	Outcome
Faction 1 Victory	[What it takes]	[What PCs do]	[What changes]
Faction 2 Victory	[What it takes]	[What PCs do]	[What changes]
Faction 3 Victory	[What it takes]	[What PCs do]	[What changes]
Compromise	[Balance achieved]	[Negotiators]	[Uneasy peace]
Chaos	[All fail]	[Survivors]	[Power vacuum]

7. Information Warfare

Secrets to Discover

Secret	About	Impact	How to Find
[Damaging info]	[Faction 1]	[Leverage/destruction]	[Method]
[Hidden scandal]	[Leader X]	[Leverage]	[Method]
[True conspiracy]	[Hidden faction]	[Major revelation]	[Method]
[Planned betrayal]	[Alliance]	[Prevent/exploit]	[Method]

Using Information

Action	Effect	Risk
Blackmail	Force cooperation	Target becomes enemy
Expose publicly	Destroy reputation	All-out war
Trade to rival	Gain favor elsewhere	Original holder’s revenge
Protect secret	Earn loyalty	Miss opportunity