Guards popping out for a sly [blank]?

[BigRedRod]

I was busily slapping some notes on paper for a location which I expect my group will be heading for in the next few sessions and I hit a stumbling block. Nothing major, but just one of those little details that gets bigger the more you think about it and don't find an answer.

The plan was to note down that every hour or so there was an X% chance of a guard popping outside a side door for a smoke. Then I wondered about this, clearly manufactured cigarette are out, how about roll ups? Paper is more expensive due to the difficulties in production, plus getting it thin enough by hand would be near impossible.

This pretty much leaves pipes, which just aren't right. A common guards popping outside and smoking a pipe seems rather silly, far too refined and so forth...

So, would the guards pop outside for anything? What common drugs would they take? Etc? I'm sure you get where I'm going with this

 

[BiggusGeekus]

They can always chew the tabacco.

 

[billd91]

This pretty much leaves pipes, which just aren't right. A common guards popping outside and smoking a pipe seems rather silly, far too refined and so forth...

So, would the guards pop outside for anything? What common drugs would they take? Etc? I'm sure you get where I'm going with this

Pipes are refined? You've been paying too much attention to Hugh Hefner style.

How about corn-cob pipes like with the Beverly Hillbillies and Li'l Abner? Are they very refined? I don't think so. Or clay pipes like the good old colonial America?

Of many smoking techniques, cigars and pipes are probably closer to the right feel in a world in which paper is a bit more precious and rare than it is today.

 

[The Shaman]

This pretty much leaves pipes, which just aren't right. A common guards popping outside and smoking a pipe seems rather silly, far too refined and so forth...

Pipes are considered "refined" in our era but they were commonplace in earlier times - it's entirely reasonable for your guard to nip off for a bowl of weed.

 

[kenobi65]

Pipes are considered "refined" in our era but they were commonplace in earlier times - it's entirely reasonable for your guard to nip off for a bowl of weed.

Certainly! Remember that Tolkein's hobbits were serious aficionados of the pipe.

 

[Pielorinho]

Also, I believe that cigars are wrapped in leaves, not in paper.

Edit: Forgot to mention the only time smoking appeared in one of my campaigns: an herbalist-focused adept sold magic items in a town, and instead of selling Potions of Bull's Strength, she sold Cigars of Bull's Strength, whose effects lasted only as long as you were actively smoking it. Led to some great images.

Daniel

 

[tarchon]

I'm not sure why they'd pop out unless your campaign world has smoking regulations. It'd have to be something illicit, booze, drugs, sex, etc. that they don't want to get caught doing or aren't allowed to do inside the whatever it is.

 

[Lasher Dragon]

Why not pop out to relieve themselves?

 

[Hand of Evil]

To do their job! don't get me wrong, if it is a boring duty the guards may not see their job as that important and just every now and then do a quick once over.

Empty the old chamber pot. Howdy ate something that smells like it crawled up him and died, light a match.

Stretch the legs.

Beer or food run.

Smoking would not be something they would go outside for, that is something that happens now days.

 

[der_kluge]

Why not pop out to relieve themselves?

Oh come on.. totally unrealistic. People don't go poopy or potty in D&D worlds. Don't you know that?