Looting and the State

[Warren Okuma]

What has always boggled my mind is the players I run into who not only believe that adventurers should be tax free, but actually get offended by the idea of paying taxes. I had a player basically quit the game because he felt all the nobles were out to get him (or his character).

My group sees it as bide your time, pay your taxes and scope out the new "dungeon." If the taxes are onerous. Gather information, scrying, shmoozing with the army and being very subtle.

I have found that the players who are most opposed to taxes are also the ones who think their character should live life without consequences.

Not in my experience.

In my experience, these are the same people who think that every power should do what the party says just because they're cool adventurers or something.

And later on kill armies. I run campaigns from level 1 to about 30 ish.

The players make it clear that NPCs should recognize them as the heroes and act accordingly. It's a logic I just don't understand and try to keep out of my game. Yes, you are heroes, but this isn't Hollywood or a video game, there are consequences.

That's how my group sees it as well. They lay low until it's time...

I must say that I really like the simplification of saying that part of the sell for 50% rule covers taxes. This does make things a lot easier. If I run another group of mostly new players, I will probably start by using this. Let them worry about the details later when they're more comfortable with the game.

That's how I do it.

 

[frankthedm]

Simple and easy Magic tax:
Aura / Tax
Faint 100gp
Moderate 200gp
Strong 1000gp
Overwhelming 5,000 gp

1/10th this amount for potions and scrolls.

 

[Nightfall]

Magic tax, is that like taxes that magically appear? Cause I think the IRS already does that...

 

[Nightfall]

Hooray! Nothing changes - the guy backed by the army can still take your stuff.

Anarchy's one of those things that looks great on paper, doesn't work out so hot in practice.

Really cause it seems to me it should work out just fine. For the DM.