Night's Watch questions

[WingedLion14]

Just a few questions

1. why is it a ducal-level title?

2. how is the heir chosen?

3. is there any plan to flesh it out?

4. is there any benefit to swearing fealty to the lord of the north?

 

[yezhanquan]

3. Night Watch is still work-in-progress.

 

[D Toccs]

Just a few questions

1. why is it a ducal-level title?

2. how is the heir chosen?

3. is there any plan to flesh it out?

4. is there any benefit to swearing fealty to the lord of the north?

1. Because the several counties that make up the NW lands must be sworn to a duke tier title.

2. The succession is feudal open elective. The heir will usually be the best character (in terms of stats) among the black brothers

3. There's a few ideas floating around, but also bear in mind that this is a glorified penal colony, an element of "nothing to do" is in keeping with the lore.

4. I wouldn't imagine so.

 

[WingedLion14]

thanks for the responses. I get, mechanically, why it must be a ducal-tier title - I was wondering why specifically ducal-tier, and not kingdom-tier or empire-tier.

what about event chains, maybe a recruitment mechanic for the NW? I know it's supposed to be, well, nothing to do, but that doesn't mean it can't still be made somewhat interesting, and give the player to option to be one of those crappy LCs who decide to become King-Beyond-the-Wall or interfere with politics or something.

 

[yezhanquan]

In canon, it was precisely because of past shennigans that the forts of the NW are open to attacks coming from the south. But, I agree: strengthening the NW could be an event chain which can be costly, but brings opinion boost, prestige and piety. Also, it need not be a glorified penal colony. In the early days of Targaryen rule, becoming a crow can be as prestigious as a Kingsguard. (An exaggeration, to be sure. But, there is a New Gift.)

 

[WingedLion14]

okay so I was just playing a game as Jeor Mormont in ACOK scenario. Jon Snow became my heir after I made him castellan. Then when the Old Bear died, Jon Snow's castellan Bowen Marsh became heir. Could the castellan then be a way of picking the heir?

 

[yezhanquan]

Your castellan will usually have the best stats, I reckon.

 

[WingedLion14]

maybe. but then why would it change from aemon targaryen to bowen marsh (my castellan) after one month of Jon Snow's Lord Commander-ship?

 

[D Toccs]

Because Aemon is a Maester and cannot inherit. As I said, it's the best character in terms of stats from within the Nights Watch. More often then not, the heir will be the Castellan because of those stats but that does not mean that Castellan = heir.

 

[Andre Massena]

"Glorified penal colony" is a very sad but very true description of the Night's Watch in this phase of "history".

Anyway, there is an interesting essay in Tower of the Hand about the possible historical role of the Night's Watch and how it could have served as a sort of feudal "release valve" for extra sons and losers in a war (which I would link to but I don't wanna get in trouble again ).

 

[yezhanquan]

"Glorified penal colony" is a very sad but very true description of the Night's Watch in this phase of "history".

Anyway, there is an interesting essay in Tower of the Hand about the possible historical role of the Night's Watch and how it could have served as a sort of feudal "release valve" for extra sons and losers in a war (which I would link to but I don't wanna get in trouble again ).

The main reason was that Weseros forgot the threat of the Others. To paraphrase a character, you do not build a wall of that size just to keep out humans.