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Tiers and Scenarios

Sovereignty has three tiers of complexity. Start simple, add depth when ready.

TierNameWhat it adds
1CampfireCoins, reputation, promises, IOUs, vouchers
2Town HallShared market board with supply pools, resource scarcity, dynamic pricing, resource-cost upgrades
3Treaty TableBinding treaties with escrowed stakes — promises with teeth

Core rules are stable through v1.x. Each tier includes everything from the tiers below it.

Terminal window
sov new --tier campfire -p Alice -p Bob
sov new --tier town-hall -p Alice -p Bob -p Carol
sov new --tier treaty-table -p Alice -p Bob -p Carol

Market Day is a gentler introduction to resources. It uses a fixed-price market board where prices are always 2 coins and supply never runs out. Use it as a stepping stone between Campfire and Town Hall.

Terminal window
sov new --tier market-day -p Alice -p Bob

Town Hall adds three resources: food, wood, and tools. A shared market board tracks supply per resource. Prices shift based on scarcity (supply 2 or fewer raises the price by 1) and events. Workshop upgrades cost 2 coins + 1 wood. Builder upgrades cost 3 coins + 1 tools.

Treaties are binding agreements between two players. Both sides put up collateral (coins and/or resources) in escrow. At least one party must stake something — otherwise, use a promise instead.

  • If one side breaks the treaty, the breaker forfeits their stake to the harmed party, who also gets their own stake back. The breaker loses 3 reputation.
  • If honored (or if neither side breaks before the deadline), stakes are returned and both gain +1 reputation.
  • Each player can have at most 2 active treaties at once.
  • Stake caps: 5 coins and 3 total resource units per stake.
  • Treaties have a duration in rounds (default 3). Expired treaties that nobody broke are auto-honored.

Scenarios add vibes — no new rules. Each pack sets a tier, recipe, and mood.

ScenarioTierBest for
Cozy NightCampfire / Market DayFirst game, mixed groups
Market PanicTown HallEconomy drama
Promises MatterCampfireTrust and commitment
Treaty NightTreaty TableHigh-stakes agreements

Browse available scenarios:

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sov scenario list

Generate a share code for a scenario:

Terminal window
sov scenario code cozy-night -s 42

Start a game from a share code:

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sov new --code "SOV|..." -p Alice -p Bob

If you create your own scenario files:

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sov scenario lint