Running a Realm
I found the following information to be essential when attempting to run a realm, no matter what the size.
It's worth kidnapping your gamemaster for half a day to fully sort out these issues. Once established, the Realm statistics are fairly easy to update and keep current.
Realm statistics:
Population Number per Hex; with a separate number indicating population in the Hex's main settlement or settlements.
Racial and Species breakdown for the realm as a whole -- keep this in percentage form as a d100 chart for easy generation of characters.
Environment type per Hex; this will impact on types of resources.
List of Resources per Hex -- for each Resource, work out profit generated, once all costs associated with the Resource are met.
Government Type per Hex -- this should be specified as well as ruler's names and brief summaries of the rulers, at least. This stops parts of your Realm from going rogue or rebelling needlessly. Work out how each Hex fits into the overall ruling structure of the Realm -- it can be difficult to work out a solution to incorporating many different types of government under one overarching Realm rulership - for example Squires, Lords, parliaments, city-state republics - but it can be done.
Detailed Army Structure -- detail Army numbers, actual strength and troop types. Work out what the uniform and equipment is or at least what the standard of such things is. Work out with your gamemaster a skills package that serving army members get. Also factor in a monthly upkeep cost. Establish Realm-wide levy rules so that this cannot be abused by other characters.
Work out cost of upkeep for roads, civil buildings, etc. -- make sure that percentage is factored in to allow growth of the Realm. Don't just aim to pay bills as they fall due but budget for 'big ticket' projects. It's supposed to be fun to rule a Realm after all!
Detail and work out cost of any education policy -- I've found that paying for universal education in a Realm easily pays for itself when it is time to roll up your own new character from the Realm.
Finally, factor in all the monthly expenditure and income, THEN decide on a taxation rate. I've found that a couple of ex-adventurer characters have not needed to generally tax the Realm after Resource and other income has been counted.
Remember, one character can NOT administer a Realm. It takes many people and organisations for a Realm to run smoothly. Making an effort to detail some of these people and rewarding them will help to ensure that they have the realm's interests at heart (and hopefully, yours).
(All of these topics are covered in the SWORD AND SORCERY COMPENDIUM d20 RULEBOOK from NOLAN P&I)
