Strongholds & Followers is a comprehensive supplement for 5th Edition‚ designed by Matthew Colville‚ allowing players to build and manage their own strongholds‚ recruit loyal followers‚ and engage in epic warfare. It offers detailed rules for designing‚ upgrading‚ and defending strongholds‚ as well as managing vast armies and territories. This supplement enhances gameplay by providing players with new ways to spend resources‚ influence the world‚ and create lasting legacies. Available in both hardcover and PDF formats‚ it has become a staple for players seeking deeper strategic and role-playing opportunities.
Building Your Stronghold
Design and construct your stronghold‚ choosing its layout‚ location‚ and features. Assign resources to build structures like walls‚ towers‚ and gates. Customize defenses and amenities to suit your playstyle‚ creating a base that reflects your character’s identity and serves as a strategic hub.
Designing Your Stronghold
Designing your stronghold in Strongholds & Followers is a deeply customizable process‚ allowing players to craft unique fortresses that reflect their character’s personality and goals. The supplement provides detailed guidelines for selecting locations‚ choosing architectural styles‚ and customizing layouts to suit strategic and thematic needs. Players can opt for a fortified castle‚ a hidden cavern‚ or even a magical enclave‚ with options to include various rooms and features such as barracks‚ libraries‚ or dungeons. The process also involves defining the stronghold’s purpose‚ whether it serves as a defensive bastion‚ a hub for followers‚ or a symbol of power. Matthew Colville’s design encourages creativity‚ enabling players to tailor every aspect of their stronghold to fit their campaign’s narrative. Additionally‚ the Game Master’s role is crucial in integrating the stronghold into the game world‚ ensuring it becomes a living part of the story. This section of the supplement empowers players to transform their vision into a tangible‚ immersive stronghold that enhances both gameplay and storytelling.
Upgrading and Managing
Upgrading and managing a stronghold in Strongholds & Followers is a dynamic and immersive process that enhances gameplay depth. Players can allocate resources to improve their strongholds‚ adding defenses‚ facilities‚ and amenities. Each upgrade offers unique benefits‚ such as enhanced security‚ increased resource production‚ or improved morale for followers. The system provides detailed rules for managing budgets‚ labor‚ and materials‚ ensuring a realistic and engaging experience. Followers play a crucial role in upkeep‚ with specialists like engineers‚ farmers‚ and craftsmen contributing to the stronghold’s efficiency. Regular maintenance and strategic decisions are essential to prevent decay or rebellion. The supplement also includes guidelines for expanding territories‚ constructing new buildings‚ and adapting to changing campaign conditions. This mechanic allows players to shape their stronghold into a thriving hub of activity‚ reflecting their character’s goals and achievements. By balancing upgrades with the needs of their followers‚ players create a lasting legacy that impacts the world and its inhabitants.
Recruiting and Managing Followers
Recruiting and Managing Followers is a core feature of the Strongholds & Followers supplement‚ allowing players to assemble and lead a diverse array of loyal companions. Followers can range from skilled adventurers to ordinary villagers‚ each bringing unique abilities and personalities to the table. The supplement provides detailed rules for recruiting followers‚ including how to attract them through alliances‚ quests‚ or simply offering a compelling cause. Once recruited‚ players must manage their followers’ morale‚ equipment‚ and roles within the party or stronghold.
Follower management involves assigning roles such as guards‚ advisors‚ or commanders‚ each with specific responsibilities and benefits. The supplement also explores how followers can grow in power and loyalty over time‚ becoming integral to the player’s legacy. Tips for balancing follower needs with campaign goals are provided‚ ensuring a seamless integration into both role-playing and strategic gameplay. This system adds depth to world-building and offers players a sense of leadership and responsibility‚ making Strongholds & Followers a must-have for those seeking to expand their 5th Edition experience.
Warfare and Kingdom Management
Warfare and Kingdom Management in Strongholds & Followers introduces robust systems for overseeing territories‚ commanding armies‚ and engaging in large-scale conflicts. Players can delve into the intricacies of ruling a kingdom‚ managing resources‚ and maintaining the loyalty of their subjects. The supplement provides detailed mechanics for sieges‚ battles‚ and strategic decision-making‚ allowing players to shape the fate of their domains. Troops‚ tactics‚ and terrain all play a role in determining the outcomes of conflicts‚ adding depth to the traditional combat system.
The kingdom management aspect offers tools to balance prosperity‚ unrest‚ and external threats. Players must navigate the challenges of governing‚ including economic management‚ diplomacy‚ and the consequences of their actions. The warfare system integrates seamlessly with the stronghold-building mechanics‚ enabling players to defend their territories or expand their influence through military might. These features create a immersive experience‚ blending role-playing with strategic gameplay‚ and provide endless opportunities for storytelling and world-building.
Notable Contributors and Designers
Matthew Colville is the primary designer and driving force behind Strongholds & Followers‚ bringing his signature depth and creativity to the project. Known for his engaging content and innovative approaches to tabletop gaming‚ Colville has crafted a supplement that seamlessly integrates stronghold-building‚ follower management‚ and warfare into the 5th Edition framework.
Additional design contributions come from James J. Haeck‚ who is renowned for his work on Waterdeep: Dragon Heist and other official D&D adventures. Haeck’s expertise in adventure design and world-building adds layers of richness to the supplement‚ particularly in the narrative and gameplay mechanics.
Lars Bakke and Joshua Yearsley also played pivotal roles‚ with Bakke focusing on additional design elements and Yearsley handling production and editing. Their collaboration ensures the supplement is both balanced and polished‚ offering a cohesive experience for players and Dungeon Masters alike.
The artwork and visuals were created by a talented team‚ including Conceptopolis and Justin Cherry‚ whose illustrations bring the strongholds and characters to life. Their contributions elevate the supplement’s presentation‚ making it as visually stunning as it is mechanically robust.
Together‚ these contributors have transformed Strongholds & Followers into a must-have resource for players seeking to expand their influence and immerse themselves in the world of 5th Edition.
Community Reception and Impact
Strongholds & Followers has garnered widespread acclaim within the tabletop RPG community‚ particularly among Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasts. Designed by Matthew Colville‚ the supplement has been praised for its depth and originality‚ offering players and Dungeon Masters alike a fresh way to engage with the game. Fans appreciate how it bridges the gap between character customization and large-scale warfare‚ providing a seamless integration of strategic elements into storytelling.
The release of the PDF version has further expanded its accessibility‚ allowing a broader audience to explore its rich mechanics. Community forums and social media platforms are filled with discussions about custom strongholds‚ follower builds‚ and innovative uses of the ruleset. Many creators have been inspired to craft their own adventures and expansions based on the ideas presented in Strongholds & Followers‚ showcasing its lasting impact on the RPG community.
The supplement has also been credited with revitalizing interest in kingdom-building and warfare mechanics‚ setting a new standard for supplemental content in the 5th Edition ecosystem. Its success has solidified Matthew Colville’s reputation as a visionary designer‚ and it continues to be a staple in many campaigns worldwide.
Strongholds & Followers stands as a testament to the creativity and depth that can be added to 5th Edition gameplay. By empowering players to construct and manage strongholds‚ recruit loyal followers‚ and wage epic wars‚ this supplement offers unparalleled opportunities for strategic and narrative engagement. Designed by Matthew Colville and his team‚ it has become a cornerstone for players and Dungeon Masters alike‚ providing detailed mechanics and inspiring storytelling. The availability of both hardcover and PDF formats ensures accessibility for a wide audience. Community reception has been overwhelmingly positive‚ with many praising its ability to expand the game’s scope and depth. For those seeking to leave a lasting legacy in their campaigns‚ Strongholds & Followers is an indispensable resource that elevates gameplay to new heights.
