This little post is very specifically for the Kingmaker Adventure Path.  One of the hits that this particular Adventure Path has taken from others who have played it is why the characters would bother with a lot of the action that is taking place.  If they are kings and rulers, why don't they have other people out doing the dangerous work while they stay at home and... well, rule?

To answer this question we need to change our mindset just a little bit.  We tend to have this view of kings (and queens, ladies) that comes from the Renaissance.  Nations had grown large and wealthy.  The major dangers to civilization had been pushed back.  There weren't a lot of barbarian hordes slavering on the borders any more. Government bureaucracy had grown large and complex.  The rulers were expected to be managers and leaders from the background.  They were the puppet masters pulling strings.  Other people were out there doing the work.

This is not the case in the River Kingdoms and the Kingmaker AP.  When you think of kings in this AP, think King Arthur.  Think Beowulf. Think Buliwyf from The 13th Warrior.  Get in the mindset of Odysseus, Agamemnon and Hector from the Illiad and the Odyssey.  Go channel Artemisia I of Caria or Septima Zenobia.  These folks didn't lead their people from the rear.  They got off their duffs and went out to smite the enemy themselves.  These were the days of city-states and smallish kingdoms.  When these rulers promised to protect their people, they meant it in a very literal sense.  They were going to strap on some armor and go do battle.

This is the kind of game we're playing here. Your characters are going to face danger and death because that is what the people who offer you fealty expect.  They expect to see a warrior/wizard/trickster/whatever that is going to DO stuff on their behalf.  If you aren't going to do stuff, why would they bother to follow you?

Anyway, that's they way you need to think about these things for this campaign.  Have fun being a badass.