Their availability at the house may only be for a limited time, or their loyalty might be contingent on the player’s continued good graces with a particular faction. Guest hirelings are available as a result of special events and the player's faction reputations. Some hirelings of varying classes are constantly available as a standard. The player has to either find the funds or dismiss the hireling to make use of that slot. If the player cannot pay for the services of a hireling, the most expensive hirelings no longer apply their bonuses to the stronghold. Some hirelings will automatically leave after their pay-period is up. The player always pre-pays for the services of hirelings for a fixed period of time. They can also be used to provide aid to supplicants and to help defend the stronghold during an attack. Once the player has restored the Barracks in the keep, they can hire up to eight hirelings that can add to the stronghold's Security and Prestige. Unlocks visitors and adventures for companionsĪdds a permanent merchant to the Great Hallĭexterity resting bonus, crafting resources
Only one upgrade can be conducted at a time. Individual sections of the stronghold get upgraded individually and each section has two states, ruined and restored. Upgrades can also serve as prerequisites for other upgrades. You can continue adventuring, and you will be notified when they are built. Īll such upgrades cost both money and in-game time to build but you don't have to wait at the stronghold while they are built. Wealth: You own all of the surrounding lands near the stronghold and impose a tax on all of the inhabitants, but the tax isn't an endless source of income.Security: Most of the upgrades improve the security of the stronghold, protecting your wealth and residents.
If a player uses the stronghold system to manage characters when they aren't in the party, they can have full XP parity if the player wants them to. While they are idling away at the stronghold, they can take part in their own adventures, earning additional experience for themselves and extra money, items and reputation bonuses for you.
There are five bonuses you will receive for getting and upgrading your stronghold. Other upgrades offer additional buffs to your characters' traits, which are useful in the field. These traits are all-important in determining the success of unexpected events. Most upgrades in some way impact the Prestige or Security of the place. Upgrades are useful in that they can unlock a number of fringe benefits. The stronghold and house can be restored and upgraded to increase its aesthetic and practical value. It is possible to increase Stronghold Prestige and Security from quests: A Return to Court, The Master Below, The Phylactery's Promise, The Forgotten Army, ( Talking to the mad kings might give +8 prestige and security ) and maybe others (please add).
Security – reduces the taxes you lose to banditry, frequency of "bad" random events occurring (attacks, chances of guests being attacked on the road or guests being kidnapped, etc.).Prestige – increases the taxes collected and quality of "good" random events occurring (rare item offers, prestigious visitors, etc).You will want to keep both of those values high. Additionally, security helps reduce the number of "bad" random events, while prestige increases the number of "good" random events.
The amount of taxes you collect increases with your prestige (because people know of you and like you), but the amount also increases with higher security, since some taxes are lost to banditry. You can begin collecting taxes from your populace as soon as you gain the stronghold. You can further influence it by employing hirelings to stay at your stronghold. These upgrades will, in turn, increase security or prestige of the place, open up new activities and events that can happen, which will make the stronghold a dynamic and fun place to own. When the player comes into possession of the Caed Nua stronghold, it is old and dilapidated, and they will want to work with their steward to upgrade it as soon as they can.