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<blockquote data-quote="Raven Crowking" data-source="post: 2031815" data-attributes="member: 18280">I would say that, if these characters live in the town in question, and assuming that they are good-aligned, they are probably minor local heroes by now, right?&nbsp; So, imagine that you're soms schmuck quardsman asked to capture the guy who avenged your sainted mother or Aunt Petunia that time the orcs attacked.&nbsp; If the town watch seems rather reluctant and embarrassed (might I say, deferential?) when arresting the PCs, they might do so without a fight.&nbsp; Also, if the PCs are about to really get screwed, and the guards know it, they might just choose to let them get away.&nbsp; &quot;Excuse me Sir, I am very very sorry about this.&nbsp; Truly I am.&nbsp; I mean, you saved my sweet Aunt Petunia that time....I've been sent to arrest you.&nbsp; How they think I'll take you in if you resist, I don't know.&nbsp; I mean, I pride myself on my work, but I've heard some stories about the things you've done, and....well....it'll mean my head if you don't come along, Sir.&nbsp; I have to ask you, please.&nbsp; I've got a family, children who need a father.&nbsp; Please.&quot;Whiny?&nbsp; Sure.&nbsp; But it establishes that the PCs are the heroes of the story that you want them to agree to.&nbsp; Players are leery about anything that seems to stack the deck against them.&nbsp; Rightly so.&nbsp; Letting the players know that most of the NPCs respect them is a pretty good start toward getting them to agree to being captured.Finally, to be a realistic D&amp;D world, what you need to do if they escape is put a price on thier heads and let other adventurers sort them out.&nbsp; If that's what the town did with the Ogres of the Black Hills, the Scarlet Sorcerer, and Wendy Windwitch, you can be sure that's what they'll do in the case of the PCs.&nbsp; Players have been expecting adventure hooks like this for decades.&nbsp; It's fun to let them know that NPCs sometimes get the same adventure hooks....RC</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Raven Crowking, post: 2031815, member: 18280"] I would say that, if these characters live in the town in question, and assuming that they are good-aligned, they are probably minor local heroes by now, right? So, imagine that you're soms schmuck quardsman asked to capture the guy who avenged your sainted mother or Aunt Petunia that time the orcs attacked. If the town watch seems rather reluctant and embarrassed (might I say, deferential?) when arresting the PCs, they might do so without a fight. Also, if the PCs are about to really get screwed, and the guards know it, they might just choose to let them get away. "Excuse me Sir, I am very very sorry about this. Truly I am. I mean, you saved my sweet Aunt Petunia that time....I've been sent to arrest you. How they think I'll take you in if you resist, I don't know. I mean, I pride myself on my work, but I've heard some stories about the things you've done, and....well....it'll mean my head if you don't come along, Sir. I have to ask you, please. I've got a family, children who need a father. Please." Whiny? Sure. But it establishes that the PCs are the heroes of the story that you want them to agree to. Players are leery about anything that seems to stack the deck against them. Rightly so. Letting the players know that most of the NPCs respect them is a pretty good start toward getting them to agree to being captured. Finally, to be a realistic D&D world, what you need to do if they escape is put a price on thier heads and let other adventurers sort them out. If that's what the town did with the Ogres of the Black Hills, the Scarlet Sorcerer, and Wendy Windwitch, you can be sure that's what they'll do in the case of the PCs. Players have been expecting adventure hooks like this for decades. It's fun to let them know that NPCs sometimes get the same adventure hooks.... RC [/QUOTE]

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