Political Module

The template’s metadata:

---
# 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	Starting	Current	Recent Action
[Faction 1]	0	___	[What changed it]
[Faction 2]	0	___	[What changed it]
[Faction 3]	0	___	[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

---

Part 2: Social Battleground Events

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

---

8. DM Notes

Pacing

• Let factions approach PCs, don’t force choices
• Build tension through escalating events
• Reveal secrets gradually
• Climax should feel earned by player choices

Running Social Combat

• Track NPC attitudes like HP
• Social “damage” shifts attitudes
• Recovery possible through effort
• Some NPCs immune to certain approaches

Common Pitfalls

• Analysis paralysis: Factions act without PCs, forcing response
• Murder-hobos: Violence has severe political consequences
• Indecision: Deadline forces choice regardless
• Lost in complexity: Focus on faction leaders, not all members

Scaling

• Simpler: Reduce to 2 factions, clearer goals
• Complex: Add subfactions, hidden agendas within factions

---

9. Connections

From Previous Module

[What connections or debts brought them into this political arena]

To Next Module

[How the new political order creates new adventures]

Campaign Themes

[How political maneuvering reflects larger campaign themes]

---

10. Post-Module Notes

What Happened

• Which faction did they support?
• What secrets did they learn/expose?
• What enemies did they make?
• Who now rules?

Reputation Final State

Faction	Final Standing	Relationship
[Faction 1]	[+/- X]	[Ally/Enemy/Neutral]
[Faction 2]	[+/- X]	[Ally/Enemy/Neutral]
[Faction 3]	[+/- X]	[Ally/Enemy/Neutral]

New Political Reality

[What the world looks like now]

---

Status: [Planning / Ready / Active / Complete] Started: [Date] Completed: [Date]