DMG2 Issue - Guild Questions

[Archade]

Hi all,

I'm lovin' the DMG2, but I have a question...

1) It seems possible to belong to 2 or more guilds at the same time, especially with the Waterdeep treatment (churches as guilds, noble houses as guilds, etc). Do you think you get an extra contact for *every* guild you join?

2) If you can belong to more than one guild, obviously Favored in Guild would only work for one given guild at a time -- is it reasonable to let PCs switch their Favored in Guild effect in downtime between adventures?

Thoughts?

 

[Silveras]

Hi all,

I'm lovin' the DMG2, but I have a question...

1) It seems possible to belong to 2 or more guilds at the same time, especially with the Waterdeep treatment (churches as guilds, noble houses as guilds, etc). Do you think you get an extra contact for *every* guild you join?

2) If you can belong to more than one guild, obviously Favored in Guild would only work for one given guild at a time -- is it reasonable to let PCs switch their Favored in Guild effect in downtime between adventures?

Thoughts?

I don't have my copy of Waterdeep yet, so I cannot comment on that. Otherwise...

I don't think I would allow more than one Guild membership at a time. Guilds in my world tend to be very political, and would see attempts to dual membership as "divided loyalties". Of course, PCs being exceptional, it could happen -- but it would also bring jealousy and mistrust from some members in each Guild.

Otherwise, the implication of being in a Guild is that the more you work on the Guild's business, the less time you are spending as an "adventurer".

 

[JoeGKushner]

I think that you could have membership in more than one guild.

Look at any political figure in the real world. Many of them have 'cult' associations from their college days, others have religions they belong to, and all have their party of choice that they support. Some are also on various boards....

And yes, I'd say that depending on where the PC was focusing (i.e. working for the Temple or working for family members seeking higher courtly powers), I'd change the focus. Sometimes I might change it and not tell the player.

 

[Hand of Evil]

While I think it is possible to be a member of a number of guilds you also, as a DM, have to look at the relationship of the guilds, some would go hand in hand; merchant and teamsters and stevedore, but others could cause conflict.

 

[Jupp]

If you take a historical approach I think it wouldn't be possible to have a membership in more than one guild. Guilds were representing your profession (bakers, spice traders, smiths, jewellers, thieves, etc) and you join them to get protection against low quality wares, economical disputes, traders selling stuff under its value and trade wars. IMO guilds are the predecessors of the political parties of today, they try to protect the interests of their members. To me it would look a bit strange if someone would join more than one guild because that would look very suspicious, at least it would be conflict of interests.

 

[GandhitheBFG]

I think it should be possible, but only if the PC involved has different identities; a rogue based around infiltration probably could with no major problems. Someone doing it honestly would probably suffer from the whole 'divided loyalties' thing, as already mentioned.