Settlement Management & Governors Guide

A settlement without a Governor is like a ship without a captain—it will drift aimlessly and likely crash into the rocks of rebellion. While you, the clan leader, can manage the build queue, only a Governor can apply passive perks that drastically improve Loyalty, Prosperity, and Security.

Choosing the right governor can turn a rebellious, starving town into a thriving metropolis.

Why You Need a Governor

When you are away on campaign (which is 99% of the time), the Governor runs the show.

• Loyalty Buff: The most critical role. If the Governor shares the town's culture, you get +1 Loyalty/day. This counteracts the -3 penalty for you being a foreigner owner.

• Perk Application: Many perks in the skill trees are tagged [Governor]. These only work if the character is assigned to a town.

• Security: A Governor with high combat skills or specific perks can boost security and militia quality.

Culture Matching: The Golden Rule

Always match the Governor's culture to the Settlement's culture.

• Example: If you conquer an Empire town (like Zeonica), assign an Empire companion (like "the Scholar") or family member.

• Exception: If you have high-level perks (Charm/Leadership) that grant loyalty regardless of culture, you might get away with a mismatch, but it's suboptimal.

Key Skills for Governors

1. Steward: The king of governor skills.

   • Increases tax income.

   • Reduces garrison wages.

   • Boosts food production (Perks like "Agriculture").

2. Engineering:

   • Speeds up the construction of Fairgrounds, Walls, etc.

   • Perks like "Stonecutter" reduce build costs.

3. Medicine:

   • Increases prosperity growth (healthy people work harder).

   • Heals the garrison faster after a siege.

4. Roguery:

   • Surprisingly useful for tax efficiency and reducing corruption.

Invest heavily in Steward for any character destined to rule a fief.

Building the Perfect Governor

If you are grooming a companion or child to rule:

1. Attribute: Focus on Intelligence (Steward, Engineering, Medicine) and Social (Charm, Leadership, Trade).

2. Perks to Target:

   • Steward 75 (Sweatshops): +20% Workshop production.

   • Charm 175 (Natural Leader): +1 Loyalty/day.

   • Leadership 75 (Heroic Leader): +1 Loyalty/day.

   • Medicine 200 (Health Advice): +1 Prosperity/day.

Finding Governors

• Companions: Look for "The Spicevendor" (Trade/Steward) or "The Engineer".

• Family: Your brother is often an excellent governor early game due to his high starting stats.

• Spouse: Marrying a high-tier noble (like Ira or Corein) provides a governor with elite stats immediately.

Don't just pick anyone. Train your governors or hire specialists from taverns.

Summary

• Match Culture: Non-negotiable for conquered lands.

• Prioritize Loyalty: Use perks and Fairgrounds.

• Groom Heirs: Use your children as future governors by focusing their education on Intelligence and Social skills.

For more on the broader aspects of running a town, see our Settlement Management guide. To understand the laws that affect governors, check Kingdom Policies & Laws.