What follows are my thoughts on the Savage Worlds basic rule conversions for Kingdom Building as found in Paizo's Pathfinder #32, "Rivers Run Red", from the Kingmaker adventure path. If something is not listed here, assume that it follows the rules found in the original article listed above.
Kingdom Statistics
All kingdom checks (Economy, Loyalty and Stability) are based on the Ruler's Knowledge (Statecraft) skill, which is based on Smarts. Much like the resolution of Mass Battles, characters in specific roles may make an appropriate skill check to assist in one of the three kingdom checks for the month.
Alignment: As Savage Worlds does not have alignment, kingdoms do not recieve any bonuses to kingdom checks based on alignment.
Size: A Kingdom's size remains equal to the number of hexes comprising the kingdom. Kingdom checks suffer a penalty equal to half the kingdom's size, rounded down.
Leadership: Penalties to kingdom checks for missing a particular leadership position are halved from the article itself. (i.e. if the kingdom has no Councilor, then the Loyalty kingdom check suffers a -1 penalty.) Instead of granting bonuses to a kingdom check based on a statistic, each leadership role is allowed to make a single skill check to aid the appropriate kingdom check each month (+1 with a success, +1 per Raise). The skills for each leadership role are defined in the Skill By Leadership Role table below.
Table: Skill By Leadership Role
Leadership Role Skill Councilor Knowledge (Statecraft) General Knowledge (Battle) Grand Diplomat Knowledge (Linguistics) High Priest Knowledge (Religion) Magister Knowledge (Arcane) Marshal Knowledge (Battle) Royal Assassin Intimidation Spymaster Streetwise Treasurer Knowledge (Statecraft) warden Knowledge (Battle)
Other Bonuses and Penalties: All other circumstances that impact a kingdom check provide a bonus or impose a penalty that is half that described in the article, round toward the most negative number. Thus, a -1 penalty in the article still grants a -1 penalty, while a +1 does not grant a bonus to the kingdom check, and a +3 only grants a +1 bonus on the kingdom check, etc.
Kingdom Check: Stability
The Ruler makes a Knowledge (Statecraft) skill check in Step 1 of the Upkeep Phase, modified by the kingdom's size as discussed above, the Stability check modifiers as determined per the article (and modified herein) and the skill check results of the appropriate leadership roles. If successful, he reduces Unrest by 1 (or gains 1 BP if Unrest is at 0). On a failure, Unrest increases by 1; on a result of 1 or less, Unrest increases by 2.
Kingdom Check: Loyalty
The Ruler makes a Knowledge (Statecraft) skill check in Step 2 of the Income Phase, modified by the kingdom's size as discussed above, the Loyalty check modifiers as determined per the article (and modified herein), the skill check results of the appropriate leadership roles, and half the BPs being withdrawn, rounded up. On a failure, Unrest increases by the number of BPs withdrawn.
Kingdom Check: Economy
The Ruler makes a Knowledge (Statecraft) skill check in Step 3 of the Income Phase, modified by the Economy check modifiers as determined per the article (and modified herein), the skill check results of the appropriate leadership roles, and an additional penalty based on item rarity (-4 for moderate items and -8 for major items). On a failure, nothing sells. With a success, the Ruler increases the kingdom's treasury by 2 BP (minor items), 8 BP (moderate items) or 15 BP (major items.)
In addition, the Ruler makes a Knowledge (Statecraft) skill check in Step 4 of the Income Phase, modified by the kingdom's size as discussed above, the Economy check modifiers as determined per the article (and modified herein) and the skill check results of the appropriate leadership roles. On a success, increase your kingdom's treasure by a number of BP equal to 1 for every 2 points on the trait check result above the base of 4.
Kingdom Checks: General
In addition, certain events call for kingdom checks in order to minimize or remove any negative impact. Those are simply a Ruler's Knowledge (Statecraft) check, modified by the kingdom's size as discussed above, the Economy, Loyalty or Stability check modifiers as determined per the article (and modified herein) and the skill check results of the appropriate leadership roles.
I think the rest of it could stand as is, at least for the time being. Some experimentation would be necessary. If I had a group interested in carving out a kingdom within the Madlands, I'd definitely try this out. If someone else gives these thoughts a try before I'm able to, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
With Regards,
Flynn