“The integrated economics and how - it - just - works. But how do you sell “Economics!” as sexy when it comes to the game? I really have no idea. You either like that kind of thing, or you have no problem with infinite Cantrips (Just kidding! Sort of…).”
The economics system was a real draw-card for me, but then I actually am an economist, so I’m not really typical.
Yeah, I use one of those myself. I actually prefer game-specific cardstock screens from an aesthetic point-of-view, but in terms of practicality, these customizable screens are great.
They’re especially helpful for small publishers that may not have the wherewithal to do a full production of a screen, but could manage to publish a 6-page (or even a 3-page) pdf.
I claimed I bought the colour laser printer for productive purposes, but who am I kidding? It was originally for printing out colour images of monsters for RPG sessions.
People used to laugh at my undeveloped campaign world. I was ashamed to reveal my lack of economic coherency and demographics. Then I sent in the mail for Alex Macris’ Adventurer Conqueror King System. It made me such a complete specimen of a Judge that guys and gals can’t help but notice my perfectly trimmed hex maps and fully developed custom classes.
Mail for your own copy of the Adventurer Conqueror King System, and take you and your players from zeros to heroes!
Most of the article is trying to rationalize a discrepancy that I don’t see. If the minimum domain size is 1 square mile, then there can obviously be multiple baronies in a single hex, regardless of whether 1 hex is the average domain size - about half of domains will be smaller than average. (Assuming that “average” means “median”. If it’s the mean domain size, then the majority of domains will be less than the “average” size to balance out the domains that are up closer to the 16-hex upper limit - a single 16-hex domain plus 32 half-hex domains work out to a mean domain size of 0.97 hexes.)
Regarding your final thoughts on building a stronghold and claiming a domain prior to 9th level, ACKS core explicitly covers that on page 134, under the heading “Establishing Strongholds Before 9th Level”. Also note that one of the examples on page 147 mentions the possibility of a 0-level son of a petty noble inheriting his father’s domain and how long it would take him to reach 1st level from the domain XP alone. There is no level limit on when you can rule a domain (other than your ability to hold on to it). As you theorized, the 9th level benefit is that, if you have a stronghold/tower/hideout/etc., you then gain followers. It’s not the ability to build a stronghold/tower/hideout/etc. in the first place.