Khisanth the Ancient
Explorer
I agree, this is more a campaign style/play style issue than anything.
In populous worlds with relatively large nations, there will be forces that exist to deal with things like that. In more "fractured" worlds, where most polities are local and low-population, though, this can totally work.
This, exactly. Like the older D&D concept where PCs were expected to become local rulers, have castles and so on, when they got to high levels....
In populous worlds with relatively large nations, there will be forces that exist to deal with things like that. In more "fractured" worlds, where most polities are local and low-population, though, this can totally work.
Then things can get more complicated. If the PCs demonstrate that local authorities are impotent, what do they do when the weak villagers turn to them for help instead of the authorities to arbitrate disputes, dispense justice, defend their turf, effectively making them the authorities? (In a sense, isn't real feudalism pretty much about armored thugs on horses sometimes having to do a little more than despoil the people they have enslaved, pretending even to themselves that they are something better?)
This, exactly. Like the older D&D concept where PCs were expected to become local rulers, have castles and so on, when they got to high levels....