Good PCs Attacking a Neutral Temple
- Thread starter Retreater
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MrFilthyIke
First Post
PCs attacking a Neutral temple?!
Quick! Sound the Beige Alert!
Quick! Sound the Beige Alert!
Retreater said:
Whatever.
What should happen to people who do things with their characters that the DM wasn't expecting? Maybe just play your NPCs and have them react to the situation the way that normal people would. As for what happens, maybe that's for the dice to decide.
Of course the other aspect of this is whether or not the PCs should have their alignment changed, and suffer the consequences. That's the DMs call, IMO anything makes sense as long as the DM is consistent. You could search out one of the endless threads on what it means to be good/evil for guidance.
History is full of examples of armed people making bad decisions and killing people, then compounded the problem with excuses and denial. Your players are just regular people worried about completing their mission without getting their characters killed - so maybe you're expecting too much.
Hjorimir
Adventurer
Offending PC clerics lose the divine connection (i.e. spell-casting abilities) and are summarily excommunicated from their respective churches would be where I would start.
Seriously, this is probably going to be a headache for you, the DM, to correct. Somehow some of your players came to believe that they can get away with anything. It’s time for some tough love or the will continue working under the assumption they don’t have to respect the law.
I once had a PC tossed into a dungeon to never see the light of day again. The player was really, really upset at that. That was years ago and now he gives the local rulers and their laws the respect they deserve.
Seriously, this is probably going to be a headache for you, the DM, to correct. Somehow some of your players came to believe that they can get away with anything. It’s time for some tough love or the will continue working under the assumption they don’t have to respect the law.
I once had a PC tossed into a dungeon to never see the light of day again. The player was really, really upset at that. That was years ago and now he gives the local rulers and their laws the respect they deserve.
Thornir Alekeg
Albatross!
I think WotC is to blame...oh, wait this is a thread about actually gaming, sorry...
Any explaination from the players as to what they were thinking? With nothing other than your story to go on, I'm getting the feeling that they were either bored and wanted to have some fun by starting a fight, or they were intentionally trying to derail the game. Either way, I think you need to understand what happened and why.
If you decide to continue in game, I think the paladin, fighter and sorcerer should be instructed to remain in town, perhaps under watch as witnesses, but not under arrest. The clerics, barbarian and rogue should all be under arrest and have to stand trial. It would be interesting to hear the reason for the attack from the leading cleric.
Oh, and if your group is mature enough to handle it, have some rumors around the town that the sorcerer was trying to escape the cleric whom he had rejected as a lover.
Any explaination from the players as to what they were thinking? With nothing other than your story to go on, I'm getting the feeling that they were either bored and wanted to have some fun by starting a fight, or they were intentionally trying to derail the game. Either way, I think you need to understand what happened and why.
If you decide to continue in game, I think the paladin, fighter and sorcerer should be instructed to remain in town, perhaps under watch as witnesses, but not under arrest. The clerics, barbarian and rogue should all be under arrest and have to stand trial. It would be interesting to hear the reason for the attack from the leading cleric.
Oh, and if your group is mature enough to handle it, have some rumors around the town that the sorcerer was trying to escape the cleric whom he had rejected as a lover.
Thanks for the advice so far. I just want to clarify that I'm not upset that the players went another direction than the module supposed. And though the module does provide some guidelines about saying that the townwatch doesn't really get involved ... it's hard to justify that they would not come if people were reporting a murder in progress.
The lawful good cleric (who kind of started the attack) admitted to me after the session that he was getting bored, so that kind of explains things. We've had several very heavy combat sessions in a row, so I told them that we'd shift a little to something more investigative for that session.
The logical consequences for their actions, would seem arrest, imprisonment, trial, and execution (for those who actually attacked to kill; the second cleric, who merely supported the combat by healing her injured comrades, would likely be imprisoned for a long time for being an accomplice). Their investigations around town would suggest premeditation for the crime.
I'm just concerned about punishing the players too severely. This would be about the equivalent of a TPK to arrest and imprison/execute 4 party members. The sorcerer is doing his own thing in the temple, and the paladin and fighter are working as informants for the town guard. Even if the 4 party members break out of jail or evade arrest, it's unlikely the other three will join them.
The lesson I've learned? All dungeon crawls against obvious evils from now on!
Retreater
The lawful good cleric (who kind of started the attack) admitted to me after the session that he was getting bored, so that kind of explains things. We've had several very heavy combat sessions in a row, so I told them that we'd shift a little to something more investigative for that session.
The logical consequences for their actions, would seem arrest, imprisonment, trial, and execution (for those who actually attacked to kill; the second cleric, who merely supported the combat by healing her injured comrades, would likely be imprisoned for a long time for being an accomplice). Their investigations around town would suggest premeditation for the crime.
I'm just concerned about punishing the players too severely. This would be about the equivalent of a TPK to arrest and imprison/execute 4 party members. The sorcerer is doing his own thing in the temple, and the paladin and fighter are working as informants for the town guard. Even if the 4 party members break out of jail or evade arrest, it's unlikely the other three will join them.
The lesson I've learned? All dungeon crawls against obvious evils from now on!
Retreater
Thornir Alekeg
Albatross!
Rather than execute them, have them have to work off their sentence instead. Have the sorcerer accompany them as a representative of the temple, and the paladin and fighter for the town government to make sure the four convicts don't try to avoid their assigned punishment.
Have the assigment be a series of dungeon crawls against obvious evils.
Contrived? Sure. But if you want to keep these same PCs going, its a way to do so. Otherwise just declare it the equivalent of a TPK and have them roll up new PCs.
Have the assigment be a series of dungeon crawls against obvious evils.
Contrived? Sure. But if you want to keep these same PCs going, its a way to do so. Otherwise just declare it the equivalent of a TPK and have them roll up new PCs.
RedFox
First Post
It sounds like the boredom and frustration might've come from the stonewalled investigation. I mean, honestly they discovered... what, exactly? They were hired to investigate the seemingly normal neutral Temple and spent most of their time spinning their wheels. I'd start getting fidgety too.
That said, it was an out of character reaction and there should be consequences. You might want to give them a chance to escape before the guards arrive. Or give them a way to justify their actions (seriously, what's up with the temple?).
That said, it was an out of character reaction and there should be consequences. You might want to give them a chance to escape before the guards arrive. Or give them a way to justify their actions (seriously, what's up with the temple?).
NiTessine
Explorer
I recognise the adventure in question. Let's just say that while it really is neutral, one should bear in mind that D&D alignment has two components, and they're worshiping a different deity entirely than the one they profess.RedFox said:
Me, I'd give the offenders a fair trial. The temple dislikes drawing attention to itself, which might work in the PCs' favour in this. A prison break scenario might also be interesting. If found guilty, though, they'd be likely executed.
Also, smack the cleric with an alignment change to chaotic good, possibly chaotic neutral. Depending on deity, loss of spells requiring an atonement.
Considering where the module is set, there might also be some issues concerning the bearing of arms and adventuring licences.
Retreater said:
Dude, they were only NPCs. God of magic priest was totally asking for it, giving the party cleric lip like that. Do you realize what kind of hit the group's honor would take if they let him get away with mouthing off and denying access to other party members?
Wait....
This was Hackmaster, right?
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