Government in D&D.

[Hunter99]

Has anyone given thought to the strange and hitherto unnoted fact that in D&D government would be a difficult if not impossible thing, unless it was despotism?

Government is an agency with a monopoly on the use of force.

As such, it cannot allow any other group within it's domain to exercise such force. To do so is tantamount to abdicating.

A modern-day government for instance, cannot allow it's citizens to own tanks. Yet in D&D, high-level casters are allowed to move freely between towns and this is accepted without consideration of what it would mean for one's neighbor to own a tank.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[Dandu]

If you want to demand the papers of the Kingslayer when he waltzes into town for a bit of shopping, be my guest.

 

[Jimlock]

Ok... I'm already wearing my 3D glasses, sitting on my comfy sofa with spicy nachos at hand...

 

[frankthedm]

A modern-day government for instance, cannot allow it's citizens to own tanks.

Let's not get into real world politics.

 

[Hunter99]

Yes, but such power in the hand's of a private citizen means despotism.

A government that want's to protect the individual rights of it's citizens cannot allow a private person to own a tank, or the D&D equivalent. (such as the caster spell list as they gain levels.)

Edit: I was not getting into politics. I was providing a real world example for purposes of clarification.

 

[Dandu]

Actually, there are quite a few tanks in private collections and museums in this country.

 

[Hunter99]

Yes, but not functional ones driving around on 5th avenue.

 

[Dandu]

Actually...

 

[Hunter99]

Interesting, but you know what I mean.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Yes, but not functional ones driving around on 5th avenue.

There was a guy here in Dallas who used to take his WW2 Sherman out every 4th of July for parades, and would even fire off a few rounds (at the gun range). By law, he had to register the tank. Each individual round cost $200, plus a $1200 registration fee with the ATF.

Did it for quite a while until the necessities of his age demanded more of his money, and he no longer could.

Tom Cruise owns and operates a fully operational P-51 Mustang.

Basically, all you have to do is pay for the priviledge.