Going to church? Don't forget your sawed-off shotgun!

[Wraith-Hunter]

I have never worn mideval armor, but I do own some modern body armor I wear when taking classes or trips to the range, and I can tell you that is is NOT comfortable. I have one that is standard front and back protection and one that has side protection as well. And I can tell you that when I get home it is the first thing to come off. It is really bad in FL in the heat too. I could sleep in it but would not want to. Though if I was in a dangerous situation you can bet I would suck it up and sleep in it but when safe it is coming off. I would have to say that modern concealable body armor is more comfortable than chain mail or plate maile. Not sure about leather or such and armor spikes forget it.

Random night encounters can be fun, butif abused is not.

 

[takasi]

Looking back I'm surprised the thread lasted so long without moderation or being locked. If only someone had added a scenario where the president was unrealistically mocked. ("That Coolidge thinks he's so cool...")

 

[maggot]

An entire thread about shotguns at churches and no mention of shotgun marriages. Tsk. Tsk.

 

[Agent Oracle]

All seriousness though: I had a DM with a fondness for 3-AM wakeups too.

1st character? Dwarf Fighter, 3-am wakeup, no armor, killed by a troll.

2nd character? Elven Druid, 3-am wakeup call, no armor, no spells. killed by a giant spider.

3rd character? Human Cleric 3 / Wizard 3 / Mystic Theurge 1 Who Prayed To A God That Specifically Granted Fresh Spells at Dusk, And Studied His Spellbook At Dawn... Allways had at least 50% spells, Slept in the heaviest armor the GM would allow me to. Sucked up the Arcane spell failure chance at night.

 

[RigaMortus2]

I might be confused by the question, but...

Was the shotgun concealed, or was he walking around with it in the open? If it was concealed, then what's the problem? There is no one there to stop him and question him as to why he is carrying a weapon. And once he draws it, it's too late.

What's the problem exactly?

 

[Vocenoctum]

See, I agree that most of the Character Paranoia is actually player Paranoia due to having been burnt once too many times by GMs abusing the night ambush. Travelling at night through wilderness, it makes sense for whoever is at guard to have his armor out and for those with light armor to actually sleep in it. But doing the same in town is ridiculous. Personally, when I get home I can't wait to take my shoes and socks off. I'd ratehr think that removing armor would be even more preferable.

I think there's a matter of situations that are all dependent on how often you can expect to be attacked, to judge how armored you are in each situation.

In the Wild, constant threat, wear as much armor as comfortable.
In the Inn at the crossroads, sleep soundly, post a watch anyway.
The Inn in Town, no worry for watch.
Home in Town, probably not even in the same building as the rest of the group.

Now, lets change it though. What if every time you sleep at an inn in the country side, something bad happens. (First thought, just sleep in the wild, save some money. You'd probably want to take more precautions than simply locking your doors. It doesn't even have to be every time, if you get attacked 1 of every 5 times, you will take extra precaution I'd think.

Heck, if the DM keeps attacking at night, the players might not feel secure in seperate homes. Their homes might become defensive keeps bent on keeping out enemies many and varied. In one campaign I played in, we pissed off a couple assassin clans, so we had to be extra careful.

For me, what gets tiresome is the inability to rest when such is required (repeatedly) and the Random Encounter nature of some ambushed.

For the original subject, it doesn't sound like the Archeologist had a reason to carry, but it's easy enough to have a background that would make the person paranoid enough to be ready for it.

 

[Valesin]

(deleted by author due to inappropriateness. Humble apologies offered.)

 

[rbingham2000]

My Killer character in Feng Shui would absolutely carry a weapon into church, but it's likely to be a pistol or two rather than a sawed-off under a trenchcoat unless he's planning to defend the place from a major assault -- Triad gangsters and other goons have little to no respect for religion when they want somebody dead, and both-guns-blazing church shootouts come with the territory anyway for a character like this.

 

[Kidarcane]

Clarification

I might be confused by the question, but...

Was the shotgun concealed, or was he walking around with it in the open? If it was concealed, then what's the problem? There is no one there to stop him and question him as to why he is carrying a weapon. And once he draws it, it's too late.

What's the problem exactly?

I'm sorry, but I can't reconcile the lack of comprehension, he's a normal joe going to a church in a modern city, to meet with someone he is hoping to have help him. Does he need to bring his shotgun?

The essential question may be more of an expectation of role-play on my part. I thought it was not reasonable for a character having never experienced the EVIL that IS CTHULHU to tote ones sawed off shotgun to a 1920’s church. There was NO EXPECTATION of EVIL, or DANGER.

He is a Dr. of Archaeology, a scholar, a man of science and reason. I figure he should deal with any conflict with words or his fists. I had an expectation that he’d be a normal person who may know how to use a shotgun, but would likely leave it at home.

I even asked what would Indy do?
Punch first, take cover, but not pack his sawed-off, concealed or revealed I thought it was not an IN CHARACTER thing to do.

I think my negative reaction to the shotgun in church, stems from my desire to RP more with my fellow players, and not interacting with a player that is running his PC about like some weapon brandishing Video Game character, blowing away any part of the environment, and any people at a whim. (I hate'chu GTA) I had hoped to inspire my fellow player to give his collection of stats and skills more life and less need to get his killin' on.

 

[Umbran]

I am pretty sure that in Texas the law says you MUST be armed in church.

Dude, in a thread that has already gotten moderators deleting comments, perhaps you'd like to reconsider jokes like this. We're not real big on the stereotypes in these parts.

This thread is rapidly showing itself to be more trouble than it is worth. Please, no more politics, and no more gun-humor at the expense of large numbers of people.