I've had city guards help PCs who were the victims of crime. One thing I recommend is making them tough enough that it doesn't take 10 to arrest some NPC thug or thief - I use 3rd level warriors w +2 STR & CON bonuses as the typical guard, veterans 4th, elite & officers 5th. That way they can do their job of enforcing order vs minor threats, and be a real help to low level PCs. Low level N/PCs slaughtering droves of city guards is one artifact of 1st ed I'm happy to abandon!
Ideas on portraying laws as useful and benefical to PCs
- Thread starter dreaded_beast
- Start date
Lord Pendragon
First Post
I think it's also really important to remember that the City Watch's attitude is not set in stone. As time passes and the PCs establish themselves in the region, the City Watch should slowly stop thinking of them as "strangers breaking the law" and instead see them as "the guys who cleared the were-rats out of the sewers last month." Just keeping that in mind as you RP the Watchmen can make a huge difference in attitude. Even if the Watchmen are still gruff, an underlying tone of respect goes a long way.
My point is that it's fair for lawful Watchmen to be suspicious and even abrasive toward an unknown element stirring things up in their precinct. But there comes a time when that element is no longer unknown, and then it should be judged on its merits. The PCs are that element.
Not every City Watchman needs to be a DMV employee having a bad day.
My point is that it's fair for lawful Watchmen to be suspicious and even abrasive toward an unknown element stirring things up in their precinct. But there comes a time when that element is no longer unknown, and then it should be judged on its merits. The PCs are that element.
Not every City Watchman needs to be a DMV employee having a bad day.
FreeTheSlaves
Adventurer
I have the law of the PC's home realm actually fair and reasonable. In fact it is a little "too fair", it is not so easily manipulated or corrupted - the society is NG but the law enforcers are generally LG.
2 sessions back, the highest profile PC was subject to assassination attempts and with the crowns help both efforts were thwarted (& pursued).
I guess the point of all these posts is to make the law useful.
2 sessions back, the highest profile PC was subject to assassination attempts and with the crowns help both efforts were thwarted (& pursued).
I guess the point of all these posts is to make the law useful.
Voadam
Legend
Have the inn the PCs stay in be torched while they are sleeping.
As they get out there is a bucket brigade going.
The PCs help with the bucket brigade or not.
The fire is eventually put under control and anything the PCs left behind in the moment is not destroyed.
Have the PCs find out there is a law that every building must keep a full bucket of water ready in case of fire in the crowded city.
As they get out there is a bucket brigade going.
The PCs help with the bucket brigade or not.
The fire is eventually put under control and anything the PCs left behind in the moment is not destroyed.
Have the PCs find out there is a law that every building must keep a full bucket of water ready in case of fire in the crowded city.
Hjorimir
Adventurer
Branding characters as outlaws is a pretty interesting idea. I have, however, locked a PC in a dungeon and tossed out the key once. I really didn't enjoy doing it, but it just made sense the way things went down.
On the other hand, the metagaming of my players has instilled a respect for authority in all of my games since (they still remember how one character was effectively killed by breaking a law).
On the other hand, the metagaming of my players has instilled a respect for authority in all of my games since (they still remember how one character was effectively killed by breaking a law).
Reoccuring NPCs and/or henchmen - The local law knows the PCs by name and shares information, even asking for the PC help to bring in the bad guy. As the PC grow in levels someone will attach "secret service" to them, these NPC can be henchmen to the party actting like a go-between or even being a lawyer providing advice and service!
dreaded_beast
First Post
Great advice everyone!
From watching my players reactions, I think their biggest dislike is how the cityguard generally treats them with a lack of respect, considering the things they have done for the town. In addition, the cityguard always shows up after the fact, "hassles", them etc.
What I did last session was try to ease up on some of the gruffness of the Purple Dragons and have them try to be a bit friendlier. The PCs were travelling from Tilverton to the heart of Cormyr in Suzail going from city to city. During their travels, I tried to show that the Purple Dragons were a bit more understanding, just asking a few cursory questions and then letting the characters go on there way.
When the PCs arrived at the palace, they seemed a bit more receptive to the Purple Dragons and even asked them a few questions, which made me quite happy.
I guess it goes a long way showing the cityguard as something more than people to harrass them. I guess I fell into the stereotypical trap of PCs vs. Guards.
From watching my players reactions, I think their biggest dislike is how the cityguard generally treats them with a lack of respect, considering the things they have done for the town. In addition, the cityguard always shows up after the fact, "hassles", them etc.
What I did last session was try to ease up on some of the gruffness of the Purple Dragons and have them try to be a bit friendlier. The PCs were travelling from Tilverton to the heart of Cormyr in Suzail going from city to city. During their travels, I tried to show that the Purple Dragons were a bit more understanding, just asking a few cursory questions and then letting the characters go on there way.
When the PCs arrived at the palace, they seemed a bit more receptive to the Purple Dragons and even asked them a few questions, which made me quite happy.
I guess it goes a long way showing the cityguard as something more than people to harrass them. I guess I fell into the stereotypical trap of PCs vs. Guards.
Hm, I think I note something that bears examination -
In general, the issue does not seem to be makign the law seem beneficial. Folks keep returning to making the law enforcement officials seem beneficial. The law and the cops are not the same thing.
In general, adventuring types have a tendency to break the law,. The way around that is to give them clear options for interesting events that don't include lawbreaking.
In general, adventuring types, if they arent breaking the law, tend to act as if they were law enforcement officials. They tend to play vigilante, and few folks in law enforcement like to see someone on the outside taking the job without permission. One way around this is to make the PCs law enforcement officials!
In general, the issue does not seem to be makign the law seem beneficial. Folks keep returning to making the law enforcement officials seem beneficial. The law and the cops are not the same thing.
In general, adventuring types have a tendency to break the law,. The way around that is to give them clear options for interesting events that don't include lawbreaking.
In general, adventuring types, if they arent breaking the law, tend to act as if they were law enforcement officials. They tend to play vigilante, and few folks in law enforcement like to see someone on the outside taking the job without permission. One way around this is to make the PCs law enforcement officials!
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