covaithe
Explorer
I had forgotten about this thread. Scanning over it, I stand by my previous statements on the subject: briefly, I don't think we need a policy in place for this. DMs can just do it, and should feel free to ask for judge approval if they think the situation warrants.
As a case in point, at the end of Hoofchew, I threw out there that the Redboots consider the PCs from that adventure friends, and offered them a place to lay low or a quick way out of town, should they ever need it. I didn't bother to check with the judges first, because the benefit seemed sufficiently non-mechanical. I certainly would have checked first for a mechanical bonus.
As a case in point, at the end of Hoofchew, I threw out there that the Redboots consider the PCs from that adventure friends, and offered them a place to lay low or a quick way out of town, should they ever need it. I didn't bother to check with the judges first, because the benefit seemed sufficiently non-mechanical. I certainly would have checked first for a mechanical bonus.