Introduction

One aspect of Down With the King that seems to be glossed over is that of political parties. Such parties were often quite significant historically, not so much because they differed in any important aspect, but because of the spoils system they engendered.

When a new High Minister took office, he would place his own supporters in official positions. The career of the famous English politician and satirist, Jonathan Swift, is closely related to the ups and downs of the Whigs in England. Similarly, the Minister of State controlled the Foreign Office and generally sought to place his supporters in the various embassies. This historical situation gives rise to the following variant.

1. Start of the Game:
   1. Roll on the Political Alignment Table (see below) for each Player Character (PC). This will yield the political party to which the noble belongs for the remainder of the game. In addition, all of his Friendly Allied Characters (FACs) will also belong to this party.

   2. Roll on the Political Alignment Table to determine the party of the High Minister. This will also be the party of all Non Controlled (NC) officers at the start of the game.

2. During the Game:
   1. If a PC dies, his heir may choose which party he (and by extension his entire faction) will join.

   2. When an NC character is recruited, his political party becomes that of the PC. Royal Characters (RCs) and NCs not currently in office never belong to political parties. If an NC becomes an officer, his party automatically becomes that of the High Minister.

   3. If the High Minister is a FAC, he may recommend the replacement of any one officer (excluding ambassadors) who is not of his party. Consider this to be a new activity. He rolls two dice and compares the result on the Officer Replacement Table (see below). The officer in question may modify the die roll by -2. In addition, if the proposed replacement is not of the High Minister's party, 2 is automatically subtracted from the roll. In addition, each Monarch's Counselor and the Monarch himself (if a Friendly Allied Royal Character (FARC)), may modify the roll by +1 or -1. Each player may also play an Intrigue Card and add +1 or -1 to the roll.

   4. Similarly, if the Minister of State is a FAC, he may recommend the replacement of any one ambassador who is not of his party. Consider this to be a new activity. He rolls two dice and compares the result on the Ambassador Replacement Table (see below). The ambassador in question may modify the die roll by -2. In addition, if the proposed replacement is not of the Minister of State's party, 2 is automatically subtracted from the roll. In addition, each Monarch's Counselor and the Monarch himself (if a FARC), may modify the roll by +1 or -1. Each player with a PC or FAC the corresponding foreign country may also play an Intrigue Card and add +1 or -1 to the roll.

POLITICAL ALIGNMENT TABLE
1-3: Liberal
4-6: Conservative

OFFICER REPLACEMENT TABLE
2-3: Attempt Backfires. Office receives 4 PP and 2 IP.
4-7: No effect.
8-12: Officer replaced.

AMBASSADOR REPLACEMENT TABLE
2: Foreign Ruler shows support.*
3: Attempt Backfires. Office receives 3 PP.
4-5: No effect.
6: Investigation. Roll again. **
7-12: Ambassador replaced.

* Ambassador receives corresponding Foreign Support card if card is held by another player or discarded.
** The Minister of State automatically travels to the country in question.