Player’s Secrets of Roesone Review

Glancing over the map of Cerilia, I chose to read the Player’s Secrets of Roesone first out of the many other Player’s Secrets products. Each of these supplements is designed for players to be able to read, gaining information so their character can act as a regent, controlling the domain detailed within. Because this product was intended for players, there are no spoilers. It is credited as designed by Rich Baker.

So to be up front, I really like this supplement overall. I get tired of the in-character NPC narrator voice—in this case the Lord Seneschal of Roesone. However, the details in these 40 pages are a wealth of material to spur both GM and player creativity. 

Built into this domain you have so much game potential—for real political intrigue. The lands of Roesone were claimed by Daen Roesone, a bit of a sell sword and brigand also called the “Black Baron.” There’s some muddied succession and intrafamilial violence that casts a shadow over the current baron’s reign and legitimacy. If you have a player who is interested in creating a character to play the current Baron of Roesone and integrating this rich backstory, there are tons of hooks and interesting story bits to integrate. There’s a bastard cousin who is the only child of the current Baron’s uncle (the original heir to the title) who could try to make some play or at least complicate things for the regent. Another cousin is the only wizard named in the domain, abet a minor one. This Count Bellamie feels historical and personal affinity for Roesone’s neighbors, along with a desire to gain power—does he commit treason against the barony? Other characters can have interesting things built out too—whose side did their family take in previous succession struggles? 

Along with all this intrigue for roleplaying drama, there’s plenty of interesting things to play around with on the regent and domain side of play. There’s tensions on all sides, from the threat of Ghoere, a massive domain to the north with aspirations to reunite Anuire by claiming the Iron Throne. Gavin Tael, the regent of Ghoere, does not align in his vision with most other rulers of Anuire, and rules his realm ruthlessly—and he has a huge army. Serenade and Diemed, though not ruled by harsh regents like Tael, might find themselves drawn into conflict with Roesone over old territorial disputes, or disagreements between their faiths. Meier and Ilien are neighbors and friends to Roesone, but also must see to their own divergent interests. Rogr Aglondier, regent of Ilien also controls half of Roesone’s magical sources, while the other half are held by a wizard of Aerenwe—a great source of tension with friendly neighbors if a party magic wielder seeks to create their own network of magical sources. Finally, there are the old forests of the untamed Erebannien in the south, which could harbor unknown threats, and the long dormant awnsheghlien ruler of the Spiderfell, the mysterious and powerful Spider. 

So we have all the ingredients for political intrigue, within and without the realm. Inter religious conflict, and competition for magical influence. Then there’s the plenty of ancient crumbling ruins within the domain, beckoning exploration. If none of those appeal, the potentially catastrophic threat of the Spider and his armies of goblins and gnolls remain under the shadowy boughs of the Spiderfell.

It may be a bit too much to hope that the average player will read any or even most of this book, but I don’t think the Birthright setting is built for the average player. In any event, the Player’s Secrets of Roesone is a great resource for GMs and players looking to create a collaborative campaign or use Roesone in a domain game set in Anuire.