Advisors

Learn how to recruit, assign, and manage your advisors in Pathfinder: Kingmaker to boost kingdom stats and overcome challenges. Essential kingdom management tips!

Alright, let's talk about your advisors in Pathfinder: Kingmaker. Think of them as the folks who help you run your kingdom, keeping all the important stuff ticking along. Their main gig is to boost your kingdom's stats, and they do this primarily by tackling those Event Cards that pop up. We'll get into those events more later, but for now, just know your advisors are key to making your barony thrive.

You'll start with some of your adventuring buddies filling these roles, but you can also find and recruit new advisors from the wider world. Be warned, though: how you handle certain quests, especially those involving potential new advisors, can really impact whether they join you. Generally, being a bit more merciful and less aggressive in your interactions will lead to a fuller throne room down the line. Sometimes, your leaders can even die if you make the wrong choices, so keep an eye on that!

Tip: You'll need an advisor for each of your kingdom's stats. You can pick from your companions or even some citizens you meet. Each of the ten advisor positions has three potential candidates, but not all will join immediately. Some might require you to complete a task for them or help them out first. It's also worth noting that each advisor has their own ideology and opinions. Picking someone whose governing philosophy aligns with yours can make things smoother.

To assign an advisor, just head over to the advisor tab on the right side of your screen.

Tip: Every advisor you appoint will give a bonus to a specific kingdom stat, which you can see on their card. Only your advisors can deal with the problems, opportunities, and sudden events that pop up in your domain. Don't leave those positions empty!

Advisors aren't just figureheads; they have their own personalities and beliefs. The choices you make when they handle events reflect your kingdom's approach. For instance, if there's civil unrest, sending your General implies a military crackdown, while sending your Regent suggests a more diplomatic solution. The advisor you choose directly influences the statistical outcome of the event, usually by boosting the relevant kingdom stat.

As your kingdom stats grow, you'll hit thresholds (every twenty points) where a stat can rank up. When this happens, the advisor responsible will request an audience. They'll present you with a problem related to their area of expertise. You can often let them handle it their way, which usually keeps them happy. However, you can also make choices that might please or displease them. Consistently upsetting an advisor could lead to them quitting, forcing you to find a replacement. To keep things running smoothly, try to pick advisors whose views you generally agree with. You can find more details on these rank-up events and choices in the Kingdom Rank Ups section of the guide.

You can technically assign mercenaries as advisors, but they'll be significantly less effective. They might do in a pinch if you're desperate, but they're not ideal for the long haul.