Well, there are a few issues to address, so I'll get cracking.<br/><br/>Zaer, first of all, I don't hold to any 'traditional' or otherwise predefined script of how many and what kind of encounters there 'should be'.  When I said this is an espionage-focused game, I meant just that.  It's entirely possible for some characters to go several levels without having any combat encounters at all.  It mostly depends on some choices you'll run into.  Also, for social interaction, I don't generally call for checks unless it's a definite attempt to influence someone more than would be natural in that particular instance.  I'm not much for rolling for every little thing in the first place, if your RP of the situation is good enough when it comes to social things, I may waive the rolls.<br/><br/>Only combat situations, and saving throws outside of them are things where I generally always insist on rolls.  And unless there's an immediate time pressure, I won't even ask for rolls on things like lockpicking, trap-deactivating and the like, as long as the check in question is something the character can get done with fairly good possibility.<br/><br/>Then on to next things.  Phantom Pistoleer, where on earth did you get the idea that there was a King somewhere in the city, or indeed on the continent?  I've never once mentioned a king, or anything about any 'King's hoard' or 'King's vault'.  The highest authority in Sacrafel and practically the rest of the continent as well are the ten highest-ranking Nobles sitting on the Council of Lords.  They are nominally elected by the rest of the nobility, but in actual fact they bribe, threaten and outright overpower their way into the positions, so they are always the most well-connected, personally strongest or independently most wealthy ones who sit there.  Between themselves, they are more or less equal, and most major moves in the city's policies or things like mobilizing armies require the assent of the majority of the council.<br/><br/>Just a few things which needed to be cleared up.<br/><br/>_LF_