Editing Noble

{{Quality|Exceptional}}
{{av}}
[[File:Jacques Callot, Noble Woman with Large Collar, c. 1620-1623, NGA 36864.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A human noble from times past.]]
{{Translation
| dwarven = rîthol
| elvish  = ramu
| goblin  = dösta
| human   = hal
}}

'''Nobles''' and '''administrators''' are [[Dwarf|dwarves]] elevated to a position of rule over your fortress. Administrators perform a useful, specific task or duty unique to their position, such as [[Manager|managing work orders]], [[Broker|trading with merchants]], [[Militia commander|commanding military positions]], or even [[bookkeeper|stocks recording]]. An [[expedition leader]] or a [[mayor]] provides a critical happiness bonus to unhappy and [[stress|stressed]] dwarves, who will yell at or cry on "someone in charge", and is also responsible for interacting with [[outpost liaison|outpost liaisons]].

Certain offices are automatically [[elected]] by your fortress's citizenry, rising to ranks mostly outside of the player's control, while most administrators can be directly appointed by the player, and can be promoted, demoted and replaced at any time. Administrators are colloquially known as "utility nobles", and internally both are a type of [[position token|position]].

Developed fortresses are offered the privilege of elevating a dwarf to a noble title, allowing the dwarven [[caravan]] the luxury of trading with high-capacity [[wagon|wagons]]. This is an optional victory goal of [[Fortress mode]], and a fortress that chooses this path and produces enough wealth will see their chosen noble climb the echelons of society all the way to attracting the reigning [[monarch]].

Higher-rank office-holders, such as nobles and the [[mayor]], can make [[demand|demands]] and set legally-binding [[mandate|mandates]], which, if not met, will upset them and punish your dwarves for "oath-breaking" if the fortress has an active [[justice]] system. They are also well-aware of their social statuses and often want expensive, well-furnished [[room]]s and other personal possessions, such as [[cabinet]]s and [[armor stand]]s, and some of them are pretentious and do not want a lower-rank dwarf to have a better room than them.

If a noble is too much of a problem and cannot be fired, it may be possible to arrange an [[unfortunate accident]] for them. Be careful, though, the death of a leader, especially a popular one like an elected [[mayor]], may cause grief among the general populace, and may have additional consequences due to how leaders are chosen. Hereditary noble titles are not succeeded by dwarves in your fortress. A fortress lacking a mayor or an expedition leader will be temporarily unable to appoint new administrators manually until a new dwarf takes office.

It is possible for some of your dwarves to hold noble titles over other [[Site|sites]] in the [[Civilization#Mountain|dwarven kingdom]]. These dwarves are still capable of issuing mandates in your fort, however, and demand the same sort of privileged treatment as any other noble. There is no further benefit to having multiple land-holders, so in the event you happen to have multiple [[baron]]s or similar, it may be more productive to [[unfortunate accident|remove]] the noble whose title is not linked to your fortress in order to avoid the unnecessary hassle with mandates and demands. Note that office-holders, whether elected or appointed, cannot be peacefully [[Emigration|exiled]], as they are presumably in charge of the emigration orders in the first place.

Outside your fortress, positions such as the [[general]] and [[outpost liaison]] are also types of administrators that attend to national affairs, answering to the [[monarch]] of each dwarven civilization. [[Human|Humans]], [[Elf|elves]] and [[goblin|goblins]] have nobles of their own, with some of the positions of their [[civilization|civilizations]] being exclusive to them, such as human law-giver and elven [[druid|druids]]. Humans and goblins are able to procedurally generate their government during world generation, with law-making officials able to create new positions for any number of reasons. While civilized, [[kobold|kobolds]] and subterranean [[animal people]] have no need for nobles or organized governments.

== Menu ==
[[File:Nobles v50.png|thumb|right|500px| The nobles and administrators menu {{menu icon|n}}, displaying a variety of positions. Those with room requirements are fulfilled, while the Mayor has a pending mandate.]] The '''Nobles and administrators''' menu, opened with {{k|n}} or the {{menu icon|n}} menu button, contains a list of the noble and [[administrator]] positions of your settlement. At the top is a description section, which may change to provide detail when hovering over different elements.

Each list entry contains the following columns (from left to right):
* The name of the position or the land name (like barony), with the name of the related squad below, if applicable.
* Button to change the current holder of the position, if applicable.
* An image of the current holder of the position, if there is one.
* The [[name]] and [[Labor|profession]] of the current holder of the position (usually their profession is the position title), or {{DFtext|VACANT|6:1}} or {{DFtext|NEW|6:1}} if there is none.
* Button to give symbols to the noble. This gives the position holder an item, which is given a name at this time if it did not already have one.
* The current and required [[Office|Study/Throne Room]], [[Bedroom]], [[Dining Room]], [[Tomb]], and [[Building|Furniture]] for the position.
* Any [[Mandate|mandates]] set by the noble.
* For the [[bookkeeper]], the desired [[stocks]] display precision.

== Triggers ==
Landholding nobles have triggers defined in the [[settings#Land_holder|settings]]. The default requirements are listed below.

*'''Population''' - Minimum population required for this position to become available.
*'''Created Wealth''' - Minimum created wealth for this position to become available.
*'''Exported Wealth''' - Minimum exported wealth for this position to become available.

{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|- style="background:#F2F2F2;"
! '''Land Holder'''
! '''Population'''
! '''Created Wealth'''
! '''Exported Wealth'''

|-
! [[Baron]]
| 20
| 100k 
| 10k
|-
! [[Count]]
| 20
| 200k 
| 20k
|-
! [[Duke]]
| 20
| 300k 
| 30k
|}

== Needs ==
Below are the room demands made by each position. For details on room values see: [[Zones#Quality_and_value|Zone quality and value]]. It also lists the number of chests, cabinets, weapon racks, and armor stands they demand. Finally, it shows the maximum number of [[demand]]s and [[mandate]]s they can issue at any given point.

<!-- Inactive nobles are commented out. -->
<!-- Note the colour progression:
Meager FFFFE0
Modest FFFFC0
(blank) FFFFA0
Decent FFFF80
Fine FFFF60
Great FFFF40
Grand FFFF20
Royal FFFF00
-->
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|- style="background:#F2F2F2;"
!Position!!Quarters!!Dining Room!!Office!!Tomb!!Chests!!Cabinets!!Racks!!Stands!!Demands!!Mandates

|-
![[Baron]]
|bgcolor="#FFFF80"|<span style="display:none">4</span>Decent Quarters
|bgcolor="#FFFF80"|<span style="display:none">4</span>Decent Dining Room
|bgcolor="#FFFF80"|<span style="display:none">4</span>Decent Office
|bgcolor="#FFFF80"|<span style="display:none">4</span>Tomb
|2
|1
|1
|1
|2
|1

|-
![[Bookkeeper]]
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|bgcolor="#FFFFE0"|<span style="display:none">1</span>Meager Office
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—

|-
![[Broker]]
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
<!--
|-
![[Captain]]
|bgcolor="#FFFFE0"|<span style="display:none">1</span>Meager Quarters
|bgcolor="#FFFFE0"|<span style="display:none">1</span>Meager Dining Room
|bgcolor="#FFFFE0"|<span style="display:none">1</span>Meager Office
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|1
|1
|1
|1
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
-->
|-
![[Captain of the guard|Captain of the Guard]]
|bgcolor="#FFFFA0"|<span style="display:none">3</span>Quarters
|bgcolor="#FFFFA0"|<span style="display:none">3</span>Dining Room
|bgcolor="#FFFFA0"|<span style="display:none">3</span>Office
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|1
|1
|1
|1
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—

|-
![[Champion]]
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|1
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—

|-
![[Chief medical dwarf]]
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—

|-
![[Count]]
|bgcolor="#FFFF40"|<span style="display:none">6</span>Great Bedroom
|bgcolor="#FFFF40"|<span style="display:none">6</span>Great Dining Room
|bgcolor="#FFFF40"|<span style="display:none">6</span>Throne Room
|bgcolor="#FFFF40"|<span style="display:none">6</span>Mausoleum
|3
|2
|2
|2
|3
|2
|-
![[Diplomat]]
|bgcolor="#FFFF40"|<span style="display:none">6</span>Great Bedroom
|bgcolor="#FFFF40"|<span style="display:none">6</span>Great Dining Room
|bgcolor="#FFFF40"|<span style="display:none">6</span>Throne Room
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|3
|2
|2
|2
|3
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|-
![[Duke]]
|bgcolor="#FFFF20"|<span style="display:none">7</span>Grand Bedroom
|bgcolor="#FFFF20"|<span style="display:none">7</span>Grand Dining Room
|bgcolor="#FFFF20"|<span style="display:none">7</span>Opulent Throne Room
|bgcolor="#FFFF20"|<span style="display:none">7</span>Grand Mausoleum
|5
|3
|3
|3
|5
|3
|-

![[Dungeon master]]
|bgcolor="#FFFFA0"|<span style="display:none">3</span>Quarters
|bgcolor="#FFFFA0"|<span style="display:none">3</span>Dining Room
|bgcolor="#FFFFA0"|<span style="display:none">3</span>Office
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|1
|1
|1
|1
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—

|-
![[Expedition leader]]
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
<!--
|-
![[Forced administrator]]
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|3
|2
-->
|-
![[General]]
|bgcolor="#FFFFA0"|<span style="display:none">3</span>Quarters
|bgcolor="#FFFFA0"|<span style="display:none">3</span>Dining Room
|bgcolor="#FFFF80"|<span style="display:none">4</span>Decent Office
|bgcolor="#FFFFE0"|<span style="display:none">1</span>Grave
|2
|1
|3
|3
|2
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—

|-
![[Hammerer]]
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
<!--
|-
![[Lieutenant]]
|bgcolor="#FFFFC0"|<span style="display:none">2</span>Modest Quarters
|bgcolor="#FFFFC0"|<span style="display:none">2</span>Modest Dining Room
|bgcolor="#FFFFC0"|<span style="display:none">2</span>Modest Office
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|1
|1
|2
|2
|1
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
-->
|-
![[Manager]]
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|bgcolor="#FFFFE0"|<span style="display:none">1</span>Meager Office
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—

|-
![[Mayor]]
|bgcolor="#FFFF80"|<span style="display:none">4</span>Decent Quarters
|bgcolor="#FFFF80"|<span style="display:none">4</span>Decent Dining Room
|bgcolor="#FFFF80"|<span style="display:none">4</span>Decent Office
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|2
|1
|1
|1
|2
|1

|-
![[Militia captain]]
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—

|-
![[Militia commander]]
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—

|-
![[Monarch]]
|bgcolor="#FFFF00"|<span style="display:none">8</span>Royal Bedroom
|bgcolor="#FFFF00"|<span style="display:none">8</span>Royal Dining Room
|bgcolor="#FFFF00"|<span style="display:none">8</span>Royal Throne Room
|bgcolor="#FFFF00"|<span style="display:none">8</span>Royal Mausoleum
|<span style="display:none">9</span>10
|5
|5
|5
|<span style="display:none">9</span>10
|5

|-
![[Outpost liaison]]
|bgcolor="#FFFF40"|<span style="display:none">6</span>Great Bedroom
|bgcolor="#FFFF40"|<span style="display:none">6</span>Great Dining Room
|bgcolor="#FFFF40"|<span style="display:none">6</span>Throne Room
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|3
|2
|2
|2
|3
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—

|-
![[Sheriff]]
|bgcolor="#FFFFC0"|<span style="display:none">2</span>Modest Quarters
|bgcolor="#FFFFC0"|<span style="display:none">2</span>Modest Dining Room
|bgcolor="#FFFFC0"|<span style="display:none">2</span>Modest Office
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|1
|1
|1
|1
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—
|<span style="display:none">0</span>—

|}

== Notes ==   
This shows various notes for each position taken from the [[raws]].

*'''#''' - lists whether one or more dwarves can have this position.  Duke/Count/Baron don't have a number listed, but each fortress can only have one.
*'''Squad''' - Lists the number and type of dwarf that this position leads.
*'''Spouse''' - The noble's spouse is also considered a noble, being called "[noble] [[consort]]". No (functional) privileges are attached to them, except of course the fact that they share the rooms with their spouse.
*'''Heir''' - Is this individual replaced by an heir when they die?
*'''Appointed By''' - Which position appoints this person initially?  Note that the player actually controls all appointments via the nobles screen; this is, in effect, only which dwarf is ''necessary'' before the player can make the appointment. Barons aren't directly appointed but elevated (presumably by the Mountainhome) upon recommendation of the player. They cannot be replaced via the {{k|n}}obles screen. Once a baron/countess/duke dies, the outpost liason will not offer elevation again. There is no guarantee your fortress will receive a successor, either.
*'''Replaced By''' - What position replaces this one?
*'''Pop Req''' - Minimum population required for this position to become available.
*'''Wealth Req''' - Minimum created & exported wealth (respectively) for this position to become available.
*'''Elected''' - Is this dwarf elected?
*'''Lazy''' - Such nobles won't do any regular [[labor]]s aside from pulling [[lever]]s, deconstructing [[wall]]s, and some other things. Currently non-functional, so "lazy" nobles can still be assigned to perform any labor.
*'''Immunity''' - Immune dwarves aren't punished for any crimes.
*'''Econ Exempt''' - These dwarves don't need money to pay for goods or rooms after the [[economy]] arrives. Due to the economy currently being disabled, this privilege goes unused for now.
*'''Military Screen Only''' - This position is only listed on the military screen.
*'''Jealous''' - These dwarves will become [[thought|upset]] if their rooms are not better than those of "lesser" dwarves. They don't have to see the rooms to become upset, since they somehow just know such rooms exist. Positions are sorted by their precedence in the nobles screen, with more important dwarves sorted above lower ranks.

{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! '''Position'''
! width=5% | '''#'''
! '''Squad'''
! width=5% | '''Spouse'''
! width=5% | '''Heir'''
! '''Appointed By'''
! '''Replaced By'''
! width=5% | '''Pop Req'''
! width=7% | '''Wealth Req'''
! width=5% | '''Elected'''
! '''Lazy'''
! width=5% | '''Immunity'''
! width=5% | '''Econ Exempt'''
! width=5% | '''Military Screen Only'''
! '''Jealous'''

|-
! Baron
| -
| -
| Yes
| Yes
| Monarch
| Count
| 20
| 100k / 10k
| -
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| -
| Yes

|-
! Bookkeeper
| 1
| -
| -
| -
| Exp.Leader/Mayor
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -

|-
! Broker
| 1
| -
| -
| -
| Exp.Leader/Mayor
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
<!--
|-
! Captain
| 1+
| 10:Soldier
| -
| -
| General
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Yes
| -
-->
|-
! Captain of the Guard
| 1
| 10:Fortress Guard
| -
| -
| Exp.Leader/Mayor
| -
| 50
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Yes
| -
| -

|-
! Champion
| 1
| -
| -
| -
| Duke/Count/Baron
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| -
| -

|-
! Chief Medical Dwarf
| 1
| -
| -
| -
| Exp.Leader/Mayor
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -

|-
! Count
| -
| -
| Yes
| Yes
| Monarch
| Duke
| 20
| 200k / 20k
| -
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| -
| Yes
|-
! Diplomat
| 1
| -
| -
| -
| Monarch
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| -
| Yes
|-
! Duke
| -
| -
| Yes
| Yes
| Monarch
| -
| 20
| 300k / 30k
| -
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| -
| Yes
<!--
|-
! Dungeon Master*
| 1
| -
| -
| -
| Duke/Count/Baron
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| -
| Yes
-->
|-
! Expedition Leader
| 1
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Mayor
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Yes
| -
| -
<!--
|-
! Forced Administrator*
| 1
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| -
| Yes
-->
|-
! General
| 1
| 10:Soldier
| -
| -
| Monarch
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| -
| Yes

|-
! Hammerer
| 1
| -
| -
| -
| Exp.Leader/Mayor
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| -
| -
<!--
|-
! Lieutenant
| 1+
| 10:Soldier
| -
| -
| General
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Yes
| -
| Yes
| Yes
| -
-->
|-
! Manager
| 1
| -
| -
| -
| Exp.Leader/Mayor
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -

|-
! Mayor
| 1
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| 50
| -
| Yes
| -
| -
| Yes
| -
| -

|-
! Militia Captain
| 1+
| 10:Militia-dwarf
| -
| -
| Militia Commander
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Yes
| -

|-
! Militia Commander
| 1
| 10:Militia-dwarf
| -
| -
| Exp.Leader/Mayor
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -

|-
! Monarch
| 1
| -
| Yes
| Yes
| [[Armok]] himself
| -
| 140
| [[Monarch|It's complicated]]
| -
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| -
| Yes

|-
! Outpost Liaison
| 1
| -
| -
| -
| Monarch
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| -
| Yes

|-
! Sheriff
| 1
| -
| -
| -
| Exp.Leader/Mayor
| Captain of the Guard
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Yes
| -
| -
<!--
|-
! Tax Collector*
| 1
| -
| -
| -
| Duke/Count/Baron
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| -
| Yes
-->
|}
<!--''* Not currently implemented.''-->

==Appointing Administrators==
Appointed positions are chosen by the player via the nobles and administrators menu {{menu icon|n}} (representing them being appointed by higher-ranking leaders; see below). There are certain [[skill|skills]] that are relevant for each administrator's responsibilities, and not all dwarves will gain experience in the given skill. Some dwarves will never gain experience in certain [[social skill|social skills]], this is determined by each dwarf's personal traits, and it is therefore important to select the dwarf with the appropriate set of [[Personality_trait#Facets|traits]] for each position.

When choosing a dwarf to assign to a position, the list of choices is sorted by the skill relevant to the job. This is ''especially'' important when appointing administrators.

*Military leaders ([[Captain of the guard|captains of the guard]], [[militia commander]]s, and [[militia captain]]s) use the [[leader]] and [[military tactics]] skills, among others.

*[[Manager|managers]] use the [[organizer]] skill.

*[[Chief medical dwarf|Chief medical dwarves]] are usually appointed based on their qualifications as a [[diagnostician]], though of course you need more than just diagnosis for a functional [[hospital]].

*[[Broker|brokers]] most critically use the [[judge of intent]] and [[appraiser]] skill, with other [[social skill|social skills]] moderately useful in negotiating deals.

*[[Bookkeeper|bookkeepers]] have their very own [[record keeper]] skill.

In-universe, when you appoint a leader, the new orders don't just descend from on high - instead, a higher-ranking official will actually appoint someone to the position. All appointed positions aside from the militia captain are appointed by the [[expedition leader]], or the [[mayor]] that replaces them when your fort's population reaches a certain point. [[Militia captain]] positions are instead appointed by the [[militia commander]], and the commander must return from any [[mission|missions]] before any appointments can be made. If your fort doesn't have the relevant higher-ranking official [[fun|for some reason]], you can't appoint certain positions until they are replaced.

= General nobility mechanics =
The nobles in your own fortress, your civilization, as well as other types of civilizations use a standardized set of mechanics. These may be seen in the [[elves]], [[humans]] or [[goblins]] or in [[Entity token|modded civilizations]].

== Nobles in other civilizations ==
''Main article:'' [[Advanced Entity Position Mechanics]]

There are two basic kinds of nobles: civ-level and site-level.  Positions with the [[Position_token#Site|[SITE]]] tag are site-level, those without it are civ-level.  These types of nobles can be regarded as completely separate systems; with the lone exception of [[Position_token#LAND_HOLDER|[LAND_HOLDER]]] related appointments (which have their own specific rules), civ-level nobles cannot appoint, succeed, or be replaced by site-level positions, and vice versa.

Outside of Fortress mode, the game will always attempt to assign nobles whenever possible (except for those with [[Position_token#NUMBER|[NUMBER:AS_NEEDED]]]).  So the rules for when nobles appear are controlled by the tags which limit them.

* Nobles with [[Position_token#APPOINTED_BY|[APPOINTED_BY:position]]] require a noble of the designated position.
* Nobles with [[Position_token#REQUIRES_POPULATION|[REQUIRES_POPULATION]]] require the population to have a specific size.
* Nobles with [[Position_token#APPOINTED_BY|[REQUIRES_MARKET]]] will only appear in "large" sites (which may have different rules for different site types).  This tag has no effect in Fortress mode.

Positions that have no requirements will automatically be assigned to a random civ member when a new site/civ is created.
A position that requires a certain population will not appear in fort mode unless it has [[Position_token#SUCCESSION|[APPOINTED_BY]]] or [[Position_token#ELECTED|[ELECTED]]], probably due to a bug.  In worldgen, there is no functional difference between [[Position_token#ELECTED|[ELECTED]]] and having no appointment rule except that [[elected]] nobles tend to have high social skills and/or skills related to the position, while non-elected ones are assigned randomly.
If a noble dies or advances to a new position via succession, the position will be granted to another unit based on the [[Position_token#SUCCESSION|[SUCCESSION]]] tag.  If they have an heir or the position exists, the unit will be assigned.  If not, a new one will be appointed according to the usual rules.
It is possible to assign multiple levels of [[Position_token#SUCCESSION|[SUCCESSION:BY_POSITION]]], creating a line of positions where the death of one causes all those "below" them to advance.

[[Position_token#REPLACED_BY|[REPLACED_BY:position]]] means that once the replacing position is available, the current position will disappear. As mentioned, site-level and civ-level positions are completely separate; a site position cannot be replaced by a civ-level one or vice versa.

These rules are followed in worldgen.  It is possible to cause civs and individual sites to change their behavior substantially when they reach a certain size by controlling nobles.  For example, if a site can only appoint a position with [[Position_token#MILITARY_GOALS|MILITARY_GOALS]] after reaching a particular size, that site will not send armies on missions until the required size is reached.

Another interesting point is that a civ-level [[Position_token#LAW_MAKING|LAW_MAKING]] position is required for the civilization to have any kind of cohesion.  Without it, sites will be constantly embroiled in territorial disputes and civil wars will be commonplace.

== Landholders and Positions ==
''Main article:'' [[Position_token#Why won't my positions appear?|Why won't my positions appear?]]

The way DF determines what positions will actually appear in your fortress is somewhat counter-intuitive and fairly limiting. This guide should help you understand what you can do to actually get your positions working properly.

There are five tokens governing which positions appear in your fortress - [[Position_token#LAND_HOLDER|[LAND_HOLDER]]], [[Position_token#REQUIRES_POPULATION|[REQUIRES_POPULATION]]], [[Position_token#APPOINTED_BY|[APPOINTED_BY]]], [[Position_token#ELECTED|[ELECTED]]], and [[Position_token#REPLACED_BY|[REPLACED_BY]]]. The first two determine when your fortress is eligible for a new position, the next two determine how a new position for which your fortress is eligible can be added, and the fifth allows you to clear up obsolete positions. Unfortunately, they also interact in some strange ways that makes creating interesting position structures difficult.

When you start a new fortress, DF compiles a list of your initial positions. To do this, it looks at the requirements for each position - any position whose only requirement is less than seven dwarves (either because they have no requirement tokens, or because their only requirement tokens are [REQUIRES_POPULATION: =< 7] or [LAND_HOLDER:some trigger whose only requirement is some number of dwarves equal to or less than 7]). Most importantly, any position whose only requirement is a [LAND_HOLDER] requirement, regardless of what the trigger for that requirement is, will be added if another eligible starting position is [REPLACED_BY] it. A non-[LAND_HOLDER] position that is [REPLACED_BY] a [LAND_HOLDER] position will never appear. With this list compiled, the game culls all positions that are [REPLACED_BY] another eligible position, and then culls all positions that have the [APPOINTED_BY] token. You may not embark with any appointed positions. Any remaining positions are then filled by a dwarf chosen at random.

Positions do not automatically appear when you reach their requirements. For example, if you remove the [ELECTED] token from the Mayor, then the Mayor will never appear, even once you reach their required number of dwarves. For a position that does not appear at embark to appear in your fortress, it must be [APPOINTED_BY] another position or [ELECTED].

Naturally, this is more complicated than it looks. [APPOINTED_BY] positions must be appointed by another position already in your fortress, or a civ-level position. Only [LAND_HOLDER] positions may be appointed by civ-level positions. [LAND_HOLDER] positions that are [APPOINTED_BY] civ-level positions are inherently tied to civ-level tokens with the ESTABLISH_COLONY_TRADE_AGREEMENTS responsibility.
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If a fortress meets the [LAND_HOLDER_TRIGGER] for a new [LAND_HOLDER] tier when a caravan leaves, then the next time the outpost liaison or equivalent arrives, they will offer to make you an official colony, which will allow you to select all positions for that [LAND_HOLDER] level. Each time they appear, the outpost liaison will only promote your fortress one tier up the [LAND_HOLDER] track. The biggest problem with this system is that you may set your [LAND_HOLDER_TRIGGERS] such that you are eligible for the first tier of [LAND_HOLDER] positions at embark. If you are eligible for the first tier of [LAND_HOLDER] positions at embark, then all first-tier positions will appear twice - once at embark, and again when the outpost liaison comes to appoint you to the first tier.

==Bugs==
* Nobles may have impossible [[demand]]s, like cardinal leather items or metal beds. {{Bug|944}} (Feel free to arrange an [[unfortunate accident]] for the idiot in question) While no dwarves will get punished for not producing these items, it may enrage the noble.
* If your fort is unable to find a replacement for a noble, that noble will never be reappointed. {{bug|5299}}
* New mayors and expedition leaders will be elected / "appointed by the monarch" after some time, but it might take a while, and in the meantime, you won't be able to appoint certain nobles. {{bug|8129}}

===Selecting Squads which contain Nobles===

Here's a link to the DF forum, where some SCIENCE on Nobles in Squads has been conducted.
http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=113639.msg3467517#msg3467517

{{D for Dwarf}}
Although <s>all</s> many players <s>often</s> constantly get <s>angry</s> murderously mad at nobles, wiser players simply thank their lucky stars that [[main:Armok|Armok]] never created congressdwarves.

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