Page 18 - Dungeon Master's Guide

often have considerable hereditary wealth). In exchange, Autocracy. One hereditary ruler wields absolute
they promise to protect their citizens from threats power. The autocrat either is supported by a well-
such as ore marauders, hobgoblin armies, and roving developed bureaucracy or military or stands as the
human bandits. only authority in an otherwise anarchic society. The
Nobles appoint officers as their agents in villages, to dynastic ruler could be immortal or undead. Aundair
supervise the collection of taxes and serve as judges and Karrnath, two kingdoms in the Eberron campaign
in disputes and criminal trials. These reeves, sheriffs, setting, have autocrats with royal blood in their veins.
or bailiffs are commoners native to the villages they Whereas Queen Aurala of Aundair relies on wizar.ds
govern, chosen for their positions because they already and spies to enforce her will, Kaius, the vampire king of
hold the respect of their fellow citizens. Karrnath, has a formidable army of living and undead
Within towns and cities, lords share authority and soldiers under his command.
administrative responsibility with lesser nobles (usually Bureaucracy. Various departments compose the
their own relatives), and also with representatives of government, each responsible for an aspect of rule. The
the middle class, such as traders and artisans. A lord department heads, ministers, or secretaries answer to a
mayor of noble birth is appointed to head the town or figurehead autocrat or council.
city council and to perform the same administrative Confederacy. Each individual city or town within
functions that reeves carry out in villages. The council the confederacy governs itself, but all contribute to a
consists of representatives elected by the middle class. league or federation that promotes (at least in theory)
Only foolish nobles ignore the wishes of their councils, the common good of all member states. Conditions and
since the economic power of the middle class is often attitudes toward the central government vary from place
more important to the prosperity of a town or city than to place within the confederacy. The Lords' Alliance in
the hereditary authority of the nobility. the Forgotten Realms setting is a loose confederacy of
The larger a settlement, the more likely that other cities, while the Mror Holds in the Eberron campaign
individuals or organizations hold significant power setting is a confederacy of allied dwarf clans.
there as well. Even in a village, a popular individual-a Democracy. Citizens or their elected representatives
wise elder or a well-liked farmer-can wield more determine the laws in a democracy. A bureaucracy or
influence than the appointed reeve, and a wise reeve military carries out the day-to-day work of government,
avoids making an enemy of such a person. In towns with positions filled through open elections.
and cities, the same power might lie in the hands of a Dictatorship. One supreme ruler holds absolute
prominent temple, a guild independent of the council, or authority, but his or her rule isn't necessarily dynastic.
an individual with magical power. In other respects this resembles an autocracy. In the
Greyhawk campaign setting, a half-demon named Iuz is
FORMS OF GOVERNMENT the dictator of a conquered land that bears his name.
A settlement rarely stands alone. A given town or city Feudalism. The typical government of Europe in
might be a theocratic city-state or a prosperous free city the Middle Ages, a feudalistic society consists of layers
governed by a merchant council. More likely, it's part of of lords and vassals. The vassals provide soldiers or
a feudal kingdom, a bureaucratic empire, or a remote scutage (payment in lieu of military service) to the lords,
realm ruled by an iron-fisted tyrant. Consider how your who in turn promise protection to their vassals.
settlement fits into the bigger picture of your world or Gerontocracy. Elders preside over this society. In
region-who rules its ruler, and what other settlements some cases, long-lived races such as elves or dragons
might also lie under its control. are entrusted with the leadership of the land.
Hierarchy. A feudal or bureaucratic government
FORMS OF GOVERNMENT where every member, except one, is subordinate to
dlOO Government dlOO Government another member. In the Dragonlance campaign setting,
the dragonarmies of Krynn form a military hierarchy,
01-08 Autocracy 59-64 Militocracy
with the Dragon Highlords as leaders under the dragon
09-13 Bureaucracy 65-74 Monarchy
queen Takhisis.
14-19 Confederacy 75-78 Oligarchy
Kleptocracy. This government is composed of groups
20-22 Democracy 79-80 Patriarchy
or individuals primarily seeking wealth for themselves,
23-27 Dictatorship 81-83 Meritocracy
often at the expense of their subjects. The grasping
28-42 Feudalism 84-85 Plutocracy
Bandit Kingdoms in the Grey hawk campaign setting
43-44 Gerontocracy 86-92 Republic are prime examples. A kingdom run by thieves' guilds
45-53 Hierarchy 93-94 Satrapy would also fall into this category.
54-56 Magocracy 95 Kleptocracy Magocracy. The governing body is composed of
57-58 Matriarchy 96-00 Theocracy spellcasters who rule directly as oligarchs or feudal
lords, or participate in a democracy or bureaucracy.
Typical and fantastical forms of government are Examples include the Red Wizards of Thay in the
described below. Choose one or randomly determine a Forgotten Realms campaign setting and the sorcerer-
form of government for a nation or city from the Forms kings of Athas in the Dark Sun campaign setting.
of Government table. Matriarchy or Patriarchy. This society is governed
by the eldest or most important members of one gender.
Draw cities are examples of theocratic matriarchies, for

CHAPTER 1 I A WORLD OF YOUR OWN
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