Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
ShortQuests -- Pocket Sized Adventures! An all-new collection of digest-sized D&D adventures designed for 1-2 game sessions.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Krafen" data-source="post: 2017275" data-attributes="member: 5393">I would go with consequences of their actions rather than alignment penalties, for now. Depending on the power of the thieves' guild, I see two possibilities for the current encounter. Either the guild committed enough force to defeat their worst-case scenario of the party's capabilities or they just sent a few people to demand payment. If it's the first case, keep in mind the guild most likely has a goodly number of "enforcers" (i.e. fighters or warriors). Personally, I think the second case has more potential. The thieves have made their demand, when the PCs draw their weapons, the thieves give them one more chance with a warning that incurring the wrath of the thieves' guild is decidedly unwise, and then, if the PCs remain hostile (as they clearly will), the thieves flee before combat begins.The thieves would then send someone to harass the party. Perhaps a thief to steal a valuable piece of equipment or two and ransom it back to the party. Alternatively, the thieves might hire or send an assassin after the party. If the party ever returned to the city, they would, of course, be in for serious trouble. This approach provides a feud that can last for a long time to come.With regards to alignment, I suggest asking your players how they perceive their actions. Particularly in light of your statement that they normally play their alignments well. Say something like "Your actions with the thieves guild don't really strike me as good, and certainly not as lawful. How do you see them?" Ask this after the encounter in the tunnel has ended. It could be they see their actions as entirely justified, or they might realize they are pushing it a bit, and feel guilty afterwards. If you and the players clearly disagree on some interpretation of their alignment, let the players know how you will handle it in the future. It is very easy for DMs and players to perceive the same situation very differently, alignment-wise. Make very sure your players understand what they are doing, from your perspective, before changing their alignment or assigning penalties.One way or the other, regardless of alignment, the players actions should have consequences. That is a large part of what makes the game interactive and interesting.</blockquote>

Verification