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<blockquote data-quote="ammulder" data-source="post: 6954937" data-attributes="member: 6864710"><p>So far, I'm not convinced that there's a real magical solution. Alarm and Illusion and the like have duration/concentration issues, and there are so many windows and doors on the castle/palace alone that you'd be blowing an unbelievable amount of magic on a daily basis. I don't see it.</p><p></p><p>I have to think any diplomats will have protection from mind magic (thought reading, charm, dream invasion, etc.). Even "barbarians" must have managed this if they conduct diplomacy at all.</p><p></p><p>Holding the meeting in a remote castle is an option, though all else being equal, it strikes me as not the first choice. On the one hand, moving the king with appropriate retinue is a pretty substantial undertaking, and if you have more than one sketchy neighbor, could get annoying fast. And on the other hand, nothing would be worse than letting the enemy diplomats sucker you away from the capital while sending their actual spies to operate freely in your absence. Though, it could still be fine if your summer castle happened to be near the border or something and you can just arrange the invitations for when you'll be there already.</p><p></p><p>Another concern with alarms and the like is that you don't know what the spies might attempt to do. You can obviously protect the crown jewels, but what if they're trying to tunnel into the dungeon from underneath the castle to release a political prisoner? Or meeting the head of the thieves' guild to offer a big reward if he helps depose you? Or meeting a priest of a forbidden religion? Or fomenting resistance in the slums? Or disrupting the rituals fo a helpful religion? Or killing your political opponent so it gets blamed on you? There are like a bajillion things, and you can't guard them all (with magic or folks).</p><p></p><p>So I'm still most in agreement with trying to keep the diplomats busy and then using your staff/adventurers/etc. to spy on them and any staff they brought. It only takes them one successful use of Greater Invisibility, but I guess if one slips the net that's when you go to Locate Creature and etc. The PC SWAT Team stays on call for the duration. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ammulder, post: 6954937, member: 6864710"] So far, I'm not convinced that there's a real magical solution. Alarm and Illusion and the like have duration/concentration issues, and there are so many windows and doors on the castle/palace alone that you'd be blowing an unbelievable amount of magic on a daily basis. I don't see it. I have to think any diplomats will have protection from mind magic (thought reading, charm, dream invasion, etc.). Even "barbarians" must have managed this if they conduct diplomacy at all. Holding the meeting in a remote castle is an option, though all else being equal, it strikes me as not the first choice. On the one hand, moving the king with appropriate retinue is a pretty substantial undertaking, and if you have more than one sketchy neighbor, could get annoying fast. And on the other hand, nothing would be worse than letting the enemy diplomats sucker you away from the capital while sending their actual spies to operate freely in your absence. Though, it could still be fine if your summer castle happened to be near the border or something and you can just arrange the invitations for when you'll be there already. Another concern with alarms and the like is that you don't know what the spies might attempt to do. You can obviously protect the crown jewels, but what if they're trying to tunnel into the dungeon from underneath the castle to release a political prisoner? Or meeting the head of the thieves' guild to offer a big reward if he helps depose you? Or meeting a priest of a forbidden religion? Or fomenting resistance in the slums? Or disrupting the rituals fo a helpful religion? Or killing your political opponent so it gets blamed on you? There are like a bajillion things, and you can't guard them all (with magic or folks). So I'm still most in agreement with trying to keep the diplomats busy and then using your staff/adventurers/etc. to spy on them and any staff they brought. It only takes them one successful use of Greater Invisibility, but I guess if one slips the net that's when you go to Locate Creature and etc. The PC SWAT Team stays on call for the duration. :) [/QUOTE]
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