Wild Gazebo
Explorer
Usually some kind of forced labour...torchbearer, pack mule, explorer of dark rooms, guide, oh and one time we forced a bardic journalist to writing nothing but glowing heroic accounts about our party in the local paper.
What do your PCs do with prisoners?
- Thread starter Rechan
- Start date
In all seriousness, I've never understood people's issues over taking prisoners back to an authority. It's an imaginary game where such things can be hand-waived as, "We take him back and hand him over to the law, and then return to the dungeon," and then continue the adventure. Ooh, five seconds, so much hassle and bother.
TheAuldGrump
First Post
It depends on the game - for RuneQuest and for more realistic mediaeval settings they will often ask for ransom, mind yu, if taken prisoner then they are expected to pay ransom, for at least the value of their horse, arms, and armour.
In the Elf & Orc War they also took prisoners, who were sometimes exchanged for other prisoners. In that case the captives were kept in a stockade, after being turned over to the army.
In the 1600s game prisoners would sometimes be taken, with leaving them tied and a sharp rock available to cut through the ropes being popular.
Kingmaker seems to have gone to the ransom taking.
So, ransom taking, kind of?
The Auld Grump
In the Elf & Orc War they also took prisoners, who were sometimes exchanged for other prisoners. In that case the captives were kept in a stockade, after being turned over to the army.
In the 1600s game prisoners would sometimes be taken, with leaving them tied and a sharp rock available to cut through the ropes being popular.
Kingmaker seems to have gone to the ransom taking.
So, ransom taking, kind of?
The Auld Grump
SnowleopardVK
First Post
Coup de grace. Most likely.
On occasion they capture and then turn the prisoner over to the authorities, but usually only with an incentive. Like a bounty that requires the target be brought back alive.
On occasion they capture and then turn the prisoner over to the authorities, but usually only with an incentive. Like a bounty that requires the target be brought back alive.
It depends on if it is possible to turn the prisoners in without compromising the mission.
If they can they usually try and turn them in. As a DM I don't try and screw over my players who show mercy by having the prisoners turn on them and make them wish they had never tried to spare them. There are times an act of mercy has later on been rewarded. They spared an Orc Chieftain's life later they were in big trouble having the living daylights kicked out of them by some lizardmen and the Orc Chieftain and his band of warriors saved their lives.
Though I have been a ruthless DM. I had a group who insisted on killing all prisoners even though they were not evil just on a different side of a war. Some prisoners did escape and went back with tales of the ruthlessness of this group, They would torture for information, promise freedom and then kill them.
Well one session a battle went bad for them and they surrendered I guess they thought because they were PCs they had plot protection. They were escorted back to the other side camp and summarily executed.
When asked why this happened I pointed out that they had become infamous for their mistreatment of prisoners what did they expect.
If they can they usually try and turn them in. As a DM I don't try and screw over my players who show mercy by having the prisoners turn on them and make them wish they had never tried to spare them. There are times an act of mercy has later on been rewarded. They spared an Orc Chieftain's life later they were in big trouble having the living daylights kicked out of them by some lizardmen and the Orc Chieftain and his band of warriors saved their lives.
Though I have been a ruthless DM. I had a group who insisted on killing all prisoners even though they were not evil just on a different side of a war. Some prisoners did escape and went back with tales of the ruthlessness of this group, They would torture for information, promise freedom and then kill them.
Well one session a battle went bad for them and they surrendered I guess they thought because they were PCs they had plot protection. They were escorted back to the other side camp and summarily executed.
When asked why this happened I pointed out that they had become infamous for their mistreatment of prisoners what did they expect.
Depends...
Good party...mostly let them go unless there is money to be made from being wanted. They do give them a warning, even had one group that would "mark/burn" their party symbol on the back of the prisoner's hands for when they did meet them again,they would know.
Evil party...slave trade.
Good party...mostly let them go unless there is money to be made from being wanted. They do give them a warning, even had one group that would "mark/burn" their party symbol on the back of the prisoner's hands for when they did meet them again,they would know.
Evil party...slave trade.
Pentius
First Post
The party I DM for, well, last time they took a prisoner, the assassin cut off his ears. They let him go, after. He's a party nemesis, now, because he really misses his ears.
When I'm a PC, I often find myself being the only one in the group advocating mercy. Mostly, my groups have been like Hussar described, but with me on the sidelines, saying, "This is BS, let's just show some mercy here."
When I'm a PC, I often find myself being the only one in the group advocating mercy. Mostly, my groups have been like Hussar described, but with me on the sidelines, saying, "This is BS, let's just show some mercy here."
Hungry Like The Wolf
First Post
There are no prisoners in the eternal ethnic cleansing of indigenous monsters from their native bizarro homes.
Aeolius
Adventurer
Five seconds, during which time the DM can have the surviving dungeon denizens reinforce their troops, summon assistance, reset traps, set new traps, and prepare for what's coming.
As for my take on prisoners:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWWg5shNWR4"]I think we've got an eater![/ame]
saskganesh
First Post
The last dungeon I had was 18 miles from town. Through a forest. It would have been a major hassle for the group.
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