The PCs vs the tax collector

[Rel]

I have to disagree here. If the PC's are first level, the Monk and the "fighter types" should be equal in strength and capability. I mean, if a Monk can do 1d6/1d6 with a flurry of fists and a Ranger can do 1d6/1d6 with a pair of clubs or a quarterstaff, wot's the dif?

The "dif" is that typically a 1st level Ranger could be using a pair of short swords that can do 1d6/1d6 AND have a threat range of 19-20. And the "dif" is that the Monk gets to add his Wis bonus to his AC and can be generally expect to have a decent Armor Class despite having no armor. I'd say that a Ranger is probably not going to fall too far outside the AC balance if Studded Leather is available. But the Fighter and Paladin both have Medium and Heavy armor proficiencies for a reason. There is somewhat of an expectation that these classes will have heavier armor as part of their AC.

In addition, part of the Fighter's "charm" is that he can use bigger, more sophisticated and more damaging weapons than some of the other classes (that's why he's got Martial weapon proficiency). If there are no greatswords to be had and he must content himself with a spear then he's going to give up some damage output (though he might opt for the greatclub if he's really jonesing for some extra damage). But if he must use Simple weapons then he's probably giving up something on the Crit if not in damage dice.

I'm saying that if the Fighter is disadvantaged (even though only in some minor ways) and the Monk is not then you've altered the game balance. As with my earlier post, that doesn't mean "don't do it". It means "be aware of it and let the players know too".

 

[Henry]

(moneychanger comes in an hour later). "Well, it looks like the Duke has increased the amount of lead in your gold coins recently. Instead of 30, it will now be 45. Plus the charge of 5 for the moneychanger is now 6."

Also keep in mind that some players will not be enamored of this level of realism, some wanting to bash heads rather than re-enact April 15th in the U.S. every time they shop. So, be aware if some of your players actively dislike this level of economic realism.

 

[Rel]

Also keep in mind that some players will not be enamored of this level of realism, some wanting to bash heads rather than re-enact April 15th in the U.S. every time they shop. So, be aware if some of your players actively dislike this level of economic realism.

As someone who is about to mail in his taxes, trust me when I say that it goes hand in hand with wanting to bash heads.

 

[Ace]

Good ideas. I was toying with the family heirloom idea as well, as this works well. The duchy isn't so bad off that people have to turn in their pitchforks, hoes & plows and have it melted down & turned into weapons - it's just that the best iron & steel goes to the military, the best blacksmiths & armourers are "recruited" into the military support structure, etc. So, any swords the PCs may "buy" at your local general store will likely be of average quality, at best. Heirloom weapons works well with this scenario.

Just a question -- is this scenario using standard D&D magic ?

If not -- carry on -- it doesn't sound fun to me but YMMV and have a good time

If it is -- I do have a question why is there a shortage of iron ?-- any decent wizard could create a wall of iron 60 feet square and 3 inches thick for 50 gold pieces worth of gold --

take a month and make roughly a pile of Iron 8 by 6 by 6 for 3500GP and thats one guy -- and thats a lot of swords

Also if the kingdom is in such dire straits what is the big threat? -- A monster army (or a bunch of high levels same di) could blow through uinlimited numbers of underequipped warrior l1 types or blow apart food stores in weeks

Another army (better equiped) could be nuked by heros and looted -- which could be a fun scenario come to think of it

 

[frankthedm]

I'd worry more about when the tax collectors get wind of how much valuable loot the pc's have in a few levels. If the PCs don't have a way to Identify, just imagine their reactions when they are informed that there is a 5 to 15% tax on the value of the item to be paid to the crown before the item can be returned, besides the spell's fees.

 

[NewJeffCT]

Just a question -- is this scenario using standard D&D magic ?

If not -- carry on -- it doesn't sound fun to me but YMMV and have a good time

If it is -- I do have a question why is there a shortage of iron ?-- any decent wizard could create a wall of iron 60 feet square and 3 inches thick for 50 gold pieces worth of gold --

take a month and make roughly a pile of Iron 8 by 6 by 6 for 3500GP and thats one guy -- and thats a lot of swords

Also if the kingdom is in such dire straits what is the big threat? -- A monster army (or a bunch of high levels same di) could blow through uinlimited numbers of underequipped warrior l1 types or blow apart food stores in weeks

Another army (better equiped) could be nuked by heros and looted -- which could be a fun scenario come to think of it

Well, it is low to standard magic. However, even with standard magic, wizards don't exactly grow on trees - what is the DMG ratio of wizards per 1,000 of population? Maybe 1 per 1,000? (sorry, no clue on this) Then, of that 1 per 1,000, how many wizards are high enough level that they can cast Wall of Iron? Then, how many wizards of those high enough level to cast Wall of Iron will actually work for the Duke? Then, on top of that, maybe the Duke wants his wizards out there casting fireball or stinking cloud on the battlefield and not holed up inside casting Wall of Iron.

In addition to swords, the soldiers will need armor (chain or splint mail for infantry, and plate for heavy mounted knights), shields & helmets. Horses for mounted knights may need chain mail or heavier barding. All mounted troops will need horseshoes for their horses. Additionally, some troops are equipped with pikes, others with crossbows, and all troops will likely have a 2nd weapon, such as a dagger or short sword. This doesn't take into account metal parts of other equipment - wagon wheels for the supply train, siege equipment, etc.

Not to mention any waste in the iron/steel creation process.

If the Duke's army is 4,000 men, including 1,000 mounted troops, one pile of iron may not be a lot to them. Not to mention, soldiers in training, spare horses, etc.

The Duchy is fighting wars on 3 fronts - in the hills, there are dwarven rebels; across the mountains, there is another nation that they kingdom has been at war with for 20 years; and to the north, there is a 3rd kingdom that is quite powerful and the Duchy is at odds with them, too. Though, it is not as active a war as with the kingdom across the mountains.

 

[Imperialus]

I'm going to be instituting somthing simmilar to this in my campaign fairly soon. So far the war hasn't affected the PC's pocketbooks much since they've been actively campaigning in the field with the army but once they get back to the capitol city they will soon find out what a fall offencive that destroyed 2/3rds of a crop combined with nearly every peasant in the country being displaced can do to an economy.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Or start them out goods rich, wealth poor. Let them buy, inherit, or muster out with the gear they purchase at generation, then tax them when they leave the area. This was called something like a Mercenary Tax, since it was assumed that if you were going off with weapons and armor you were selling your services, and the king wants his cut both when you leave and when you return.

Having a service tax is also fairly common, where each GP worth of stuff is so much time that the adventurer's must do public service for, or if they can afford it, hire someone else to do for them. Knights owed a given number of days of service for their rank, doing so with adventurers can also help feel that their land is their home. One form was called scutage - if you had the money to be a knight then you were a knight and owed service to the king. Again, hiring someone to serve for you was common, as was sending your second son.

Remember that adventurers don't just suddenly have their gear, it is assumed that it was accrued over time. So they have already paid the taxes on their stuff. So suddenly taxing them for it is rather unfair.

The Auld Grump