Making Nobility Work for Players and PCs

So, truly, I like the idea of expanding the DMG a bit in the direction of motivating the players to find reasons for the PC’s to want to gain holdings and land and titles and all of that.  Rather than have unending sessions of murder-hobo (which is a fine enough way to play), I want to encourage (mechanically, if need be) greater participation in the less directly dungeon-useful aspects of RP in D&D.

So, borrowing a bit from the Kalamar setting (from 3rd ed and other editions) concept that Divine Right of Kings actually is a force in the world (and helping to explain how there can even be interesting or entrenched nobility or royalty in a world where the raging 10th level Barbarian can depose just about anyone without PC levels or monster templates), I fleshed out an optional rule system to maybe inspire or draw interest for players to test the waters of more holistic development.

For the trailing columns, here are the “traits” or “features” associated with different ranks of nobility and royalty.  Keep in mind, this isn’t intended to match any real-world system (people get whole degrees in that complex history of class and title), just something straightforward enough to spark some want and imagination.

• Great Renown = X number of Resistances (can be spent 1 for Resistance and another 1 to Immunity)
• A Long Life = 4th death save roll, instead of 3
• Prosperous Legacy = 1 luck re-roll/day
• Good Fortunes = Advantage on saves vs. Magic

Note that none of the special features says anything about the NPC (or potential PC), elsewise.  Take your standard Noble or Merchant or NPC Aristocrat and add all the features for a High King–while it’s interesting to think about them being immune to piercing and bludgeoning and whatnot, in truth that only gives them an advantage over minor attacks.  It helps systemize why commoners aren’t great at jumping the king with a dagger and critting for enough damage to kill him (but why a high level adventurer still could).

Note, also, that “Peerage” concerns whether that title has a social division based on heredity worth noting.  One can be (for instance) a Duke on paper… but the Duke that has Peerage is one that’s from old blood.  Purely an RP and story distinction.

Below is a fleshing out of holdings–lands and people and smallfolk and the like.