One of the things I loved about 2nd edition was at a certain point, you stopped being driftless nobodies murdering random passerbyers for the lint in their pockets and a hope of a slightly less worn pair of boots, and became Somebody.

Your deeds had weight, you attracted followers, built keeps, raised churches and taught townsfolk the need to invest in better locks.

3rd edition treated that like it did everything else, pretend it was a pornstar's asshole and bleach the hell out of it. I've no idea how 4th dealt with it, because I never played it. Tried, always quickly got bored.

How does 5th handle it? Does it at all? Or is it a small sidebar that boils down to "make shit up"?

Make shit up. However, this is coming soon (and yes, Colville delivers product):

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/255133215/strongholds-and-streaming

Quote from: Warboss Squee;1027188How does 5th handle it? Does it at all? Or is it a small sidebar that boils down to "make shit up"?

In the core rules, it isn't even a sidebar.  It's not even mentioned, and it is presumed that the characters will continue to adventure through 20th level.  With some of the optional stuff in the DMG (such as some of the "boons"), it's vaguely implied, if you are familiar with some of the earlier editions, but all of that stuff could be used just as well in the adventure mode.

I was looking at the RC "War Machine" rules just last night, with an eye towards adapting them.  I think that would be fairly easy.  I've built some of those ideas into the setting I'm running now.  Because that is one of the strange things about 5E--the core chassis could accommodate such things easily, same as BECMI/RC or AD&D.  They just haven't bothered to do them.

Quote from: fearsomepirate;1027189Make shit up. However, this is coming soon (and yes, Colville delivers product):

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/255133215/strongholds-and-streaming

I might have to buy that. Assuming I ever play it.

Totally agree with OP, but I have always felt this sort of play should start at the outset of a campaign rather than wait until everyone is 9th level or whatever. Games that recognize social hierarchies and property ownership are just much more interesting (e.g., Flashing Blades, Chivalry and Sorcery)

My 5e sandbox game is heavily stronghold/domain/political these days:

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The Empire of Altanis-Nerath has fractured only four months after its inception at the end of the Black Sun War, with Namelin Bronze of Hara declaring himself King of Restored Nerath, the Golden Queen Malenn Paladin of Mitra now ruling in Ahyf, the Altanian tribes under Minars Rapak of Seawolf in the north, and the Ghinarian Lords' Alliance loosely united under Kaldrac of Verius in the Ghinarian Hills.
All those guys are NPCs, but Malenn is the wife of a recently retired PC, Hakeem Godslayer the level 20 Barbarian, and she succeeded PCs Sandor Sunneson (Barb-13) and before him Shieldbiter the Dragonborn (Barb-17) as ruler of Ahyf town. Lots of trampling jeweled thrones IMC. Meanwhile the eastern priestess Prisha Acharya (PC Cleric-9) has brought a new 'love' cult to Carchimish, and gained great influence over old King Koloth and his daughter Princess Lyssana there.

I haven't really felt any need for specific dominion rules, but I have looked to 1e and BX for a few things such as Follower numbers.

I like this rule set from the DM's Guild:

http://www.dmsguild.com/product/207377/WH-Fortresses-Temples--Strongholds-rules-for-building-and-customizing-playerowned-structures

Quote from: S'mon;1027199My 5e sandbox game is heavily stronghold/domain/political these days:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2258[/ATTACH]

The Empire of Altanis-Nerath has fractured only four months after its inception at the end of the Black Sun War, with Namelin Bronze of Hara declaring himself King of Restored Nerath, the Golden Queen Malenn Paladin of Mitra now ruling in Ahyf, the Altanian tribes under Minars Rapak of Seawolf in the north, and the Ghinarian Lords' Alliance loosely united under Kaldrac of Verius in the Ghinarian Hills.
All those guys are NPCs, but Malenn is the wife of a recently retired PC, Hakeem Godslayer the level 20 Barbarian, and she succeeded PCs Sandor Sunneson (Barb-13) and before him Shieldbiter the Dragonborn (Barb-17) as ruler of Ahyf town. Lots of trampling jeweled thrones IMC. Meanwhile the eastern priestess Prisha Acharya (PC Cleric-9) has brought a new 'love' cult to Carchimish, and gained great influence over old King Koloth and his daughter Princess Lyssana there.

I haven't really felt any need for specific dominion rules, but I have looked to 1e and BX for a few things such as Follower numbers.

I need to subscribe to your newsletter apparently.

5e DMG has some rules for both running a business and owning land. Think there is also some rules for siege engines or damaging objects like walls. UA adds in a mass combat ruleset and Xanithar's Guide adds in some variant business rules.

Its possible WOTC sectioned that off into the WizKids 5e D&D minis Wargame? I have not seen it yet so can not say what all it can do?

I really ought to take a look at the dmg.

Quote from: Warboss Squee;1027270I need to subscribe to your newsletter apparently.

https://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=70130&p=1918803#p1918803

Quote from: Warboss Squee;1027302I really ought to take a look at the dmg.

Chapter 6 has the Recurring Expenses section which covers things like the gost for running various types of establishments and buildings.

Next page has... Building a Stronghold.

And the next page over has Running a Business.

At the end of the Treasure and Magic Items section is a brief note on awarding titles, land and Strongholds. Not optional. Its part of the main rules.

Over in chapter 8 is a section on Objects, listing AC and HP based on material and size. And really big objects are not harmable by normal weapons. A few pages later theres a section on... Siege Engines. None of this in the options section. In fact theres actually nothing in the variants section for use with strongholds.

Quote from: Warboss Squee;1027302I really ought to take a look at the dmg.

You really should.  I assumed you'd already read it an wanted something with more meat.

Quote from: KingCheops;1027390You really should.  I assumed you'd already read it an wanted something with more meat.

I like to play and my buddy likes to DM. Works well. And the last two iterations of tbe DMG put me to sleep with all the charts and tables.

Quote from: Omega;1027370Chapter 6 has the Recurring Expenses section which covers things like the gost for running various types of establishments and buildings.

Next page has... Building a Stronghold.

And the next page over has Running a Business.

At the end of the Treasure and Magic Items section is a brief note on awarding titles, land and Strongholds. Not optional. Its part of the main rules.

Over in chapter 8 is a section on Objects, listing AC and HP based on material and size. And really big objects are not harmable by normal weapons. A few pages later theres a section on... Siege Engines. None of this in the options section. In fact theres actually nothing in the variants section for use with strongholds.

I think the big lacuna in 5e DMG for domain/lord play is the lack of follower rules for high level PCs. So I've been adapting the 1e DMG rules, which work well - eg I rolled on the Fighter table for a Barbarian-14. I use the Thief guild rules for Rogues establishing networks. For a Cleric establishing an urban temple I used a formula for cult followers = (level + CHA bonus)x5 - but if she establishes a proper holy fortress I'd probably use the DMG armed followers table for her too.

For PC-class Henchmen I'm also using the 1e DMG rules, with a level limit of 1 per Tier, which closely matches the DMG limits. So:

PC Level  > Henchie level
1-4         >   1
5-10       >   2
11-16     >   3
17-20     >   4
20+Boon >  5

Max number of henchmen = CHA bonus+2, so from eg 1 at CHA 8 to 7 at CHA 20.