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There are five major positions that can be held by characters. Although taking a position is not required, having one will bestow special IC perks, both mechanically and socially. Social benefits depend on their respective ruler and the current emperor's policies on the various positions, whereas mechanic benefits are based on rank. Rank is determined by their station within their Kingdom or Faction, only a certain number of higher rank slots are available depending on the PC population in a given Kingdom or Faction.
Characters who hold a position within a Kingdom or Faction will also have IC responsibilities that accompany the position and will generally be expected to serve their Kingdom or Faction in the capacity they are best suited.
Characters can take on a secondary role as needed, but cannot perform two separate roles simultaneously. A character taking on a secondary role gains the perk one rank lower than their current rank, to a minimum of the lowest-rank perk.
Kingdom leaders gain 8 units that can be either soldier, siege, or a combination of both in addition to the highest-rank perk from either Courtier, Magistrate or Infiltration Operative. Faction leaders are like Kingdom leaders, but they only gain 6 units.
The Emperor is much like a Kingdom leader, only he or she gains the high-rank perks of Courtier and Magistrate as the Emperor can dispatch imperial resources and laws as he or she sees fit.
Underneath the leaders are 3 ranks for each position, with Rank 1 being the lowest and Rank 3 being the highest. No matter what position the people in your Kingdom or Faction take, you are limited to 1 Rank 2 character for every 2 Rank 1 characters in the Kingdom or Faction, and one Rank 3 character for every 2 Rank 2 characters. In all the positions below, Ranks are listed from lowest to highest. You are not required to use the offered names for the Ranks, you can call them whatever you want - they will be functionally the same.
Commander: Commanders are leaders of armies. They command units of troops and are generally in charge of warfare. Commanders are often expected to work together to turn their soldiers into a cohesive unit. Commander ranks are Major, Colonel and General. Majors can command 2 units, Colonels can command 4 units, and Generals can command 6 units.
Engineer: Engineers are masters of machinery, and use it to deadly effect on the field of battle. They command siege companies in battle, working to support the Commanders with artillery fire. Like Commanders, Engineer ranks are Major, Colonel and General. Majors can command 2 siege companies, Colonels can command 4 siege companies, and Generals can command 6 siege units.
Courtiers: Courtiers are the negotiators, they attend the Imperial Court, appear before the emperor and garner favors and recognition for their Kingdom or Faction while subtly casting aspersions upon the others. Courtier ranks are Baronet, Viscount, and Marquis. Baronets can request an Imperial Decree barring a Commander or Engineer from a battle, a Viscount can request a gift from the Emperor, such as a magic item or financial aid, and a Marquis can request the aid of Imperial forces in a battle. All higher ranks can additionally request the favors of the lower ranks.
Magistrate: Magistrates are the investigators and legal authorities in the empire. They gather evidence, witnesses, and statements in order to bring charges against those who violate the laws of the empire. Magistrate ranks are Magistrate, Chief Magistrate, and Judge. Magistrates hold the authority to enter the quarters of any suspect within the Imperial City, Chief Magistrates can gain unmolested admittance into any Kingdom's stronghold, although they cannot access documents or personal quarters. Judges can gain official admittance anywhere.
Intelligence Operative: Intelligence Operatives are generally the most clandestine of the positions. Known less kindly as spies, saboteurs and assassins, Intelligence Operatives are able to burrow through protections and gain access to places others are unable to reach. Intelligence Operative ranks are Agent, Operative, and Master. Agents can force their way through the Waypoints of unconquered provinces, Operatives can force their way into Waypoints held by enemy kingdoms, and Masters can force their way into Capitol city Waypoints, as well as any other specially sealed Waypoints.
Housing: Characters have access to property depending on their rank. As they become more important in a Kingdom, they gain access to grander homes and personal land. Factions, on the other hand, cannot bequeath estates and land, but they do give characters monetary stipends that they can use to finance larger homes. Members of a faction are considered to have access to housing one tier below their rank, but members of both a Kingdom and a Faction can bring their estates one rank higher than their highest Kingdom rank would allow.
Players are free to customize their character's homes in whatever way they choose, and are not required to have them accept housing if they don't want to. Characters who choose not to accept housing usually room within the barracks in the city they dwell, rent rooms at an inn whenever they are staying in a town, or maintain a room in the Imperial City, depending on their preference.
House: Majors, Baronets, Magistrates and Agents have access to a nice home within a city of their choosing. The homes are usually two stories and decently sized and at least modestly furnished.
Manor: Manors are larger manses that tend to have some property and land attached, although high-ranking members of factions do not have access to the land option. Large and reasonably opulent, Manors give characters access to a personal study and training ground, as well as a number of servants.
Castle: The highest-ranking members in a kingdom can establish a castle in a province outside of the kingdom's capitol. In addition to the benefits of a study and training ground, the castle gives them access to a wider range of servants and land, as well as the ability to craft the defensible terrain of their province to best suit them.