Conduct of Adventurers [Archive] - Wizards Community

Conduct of Adventurers [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Gedrin
05-05-05, 02:09 PM First, I'm not interested in an alignment discussion.
Second, I'm aware that there will be varying opinions, and that's fine.
Third, I'm looking at this in the context of civilized lands, the rules, obviously, change outside of civilization.

It seems to me that there is a presumption of "specialness" regarding adventurers and the conduct they are excused for. They are different, special, and the normal rules of conduct don't really apply to them.

A good example is in the execution of prisoners or the treatment of criminals. In most cultures, only local authorities are permitted to despense justice. Citizens are typically afforded the right to self defense, but not the right to avenge/punish criminal wrongs done to them. It seems that there is a presumption that, outside of the immediate presence of local authorities, adventurers are permited to despense punishment for crimes done to them.

Now, I'm not talking about guarding your property or defending your person. Most people would agree that those are apropriate actions for any individual. However, adventurers, on these boards, are often excused for executing prisoners, even when local authorities are within easy reach. Adventurers are also encouraged/excused in regard to taking out their own vengance on those who have wronged them, even when the local authorities are available.

I understand that some characters will be more inclined to ignore the authority of local law and the concept of "justice" in favor of personal vengance. Some characters will work with/within local customs to avenge wrongs done to them. That's fine, and I'm not going to argue if it's right or wrong (not an alignment discussion).

My real question is, are adventurers given a special standing, formal or informal, in your games with regard to the lenience of the local authorities? Are there other implications to this specialness? Which normal rules don't apply? If the normal rules don't apply, what rules do?
Draco Strang
05-05-05, 02:25 PM Well, the average band of adventurers usuall gain "superhero" status after about 5th level. By that I mean most towns in their general area know them, and have probably benefited from actions performed by that party, i.e. the killing of a band of giants, or the solving of an age-old curse, etcetera.

So, with that taken into account, adventurers are given a little leeway when it comes to matters regarding wrong-doers. Look at any Superman or Spiderman comic. Don't the cops by and large love these guys, because they help them take on the bad guys? I'm sure most towns love adventurers, because they boost the local economy, help keep the world a safe place, and help them out with problems beyond the scope of what experts, adepts, and aristocrats can deal with.

Anyway, that's how I treat my parties. If they're in an area that's never heard of them, they need to perform some great deed before anyone sits up, takes note, and gives them a little beat-down power regarding criminals.

In towns they're known in, they can usually keep their weapons, carry large amounts of cash, and cast non-harmful spells at will. After all, they've proved that the use of such things will help the community, so why not?

I try not to give them "official" status, persay. Any sort of rank or position ties them down. Instead, I tend to have communities look at them as troubleshooters, or freelancers.

Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. The party may be called on to help a town, even if it doesn't fit into their schedule. That's when they need to make the choice of helping the people that look up to them, or going off and leaving them out in the wet.

See where I'm going with this?
VirgilCaine
05-05-05, 02:30 PM Given that adventurers tend to be preyed on by monsters or other powerful beings (clerics, wizards, etc.), letting adventurers take care of their own problems makes sense.
Ut-Napishtim
05-05-05, 02:47 PM At the lower levels, no. At the higher levels, usually. If they :censored: a bunch of people off getting to the top they might actually get more scrutiny from local authorities. If they prove themselves to be "the good guys" though they usually get it.

It depends on the campaign as well. In my game a 15th level character would have at least been heard of by almost everyone, while in FR they're pretty much nobodies.

NPC (FR 25th level Commoner): What'd you say yer name was again?
PC (FR 15th level Sorcerer): I'm Mortimer the Magnificent!
NPC: So are you a Bard or something?
PC: No, I'm a Sorcerer. I use magic, kind of like Elminster, but not really.
NPC: Well I heard of Elminster, but I ain't never heard of you.
PC: Well I'm very competent I assure you.
NPC: I don't know, maybe I should just wait and see if Elminster comes by this way. Them Bearded Devils down in the holler seemed a bit too tough for you.
PC: I've dealt with their kind before.
NPC: Hmmm... sure you have. Why don't you just sit down here and play a game of checkers with me while we wait for Elminster, sonny.
PC: But... um... I... Okay, but I get to be red.
Gedrin
05-05-05, 03:09 PM Pretty much this follows the comic book idea. You get famous for doing good and you get unofficial enforcement powers. The adventurers do become "special", and are given extra latitude and powers in this regard by local society.
Andrew_980
05-05-05, 05:55 PM in the old RPGA Living City campeign there was a whole economy based off adventurers and laws written around having a large amount of these powerfull folks around. they were regarded as above the common man in many respects but not immune to the law. It was not uncommon during a modual to have to take out a group of bad guys and just put in the paperwork when the guards show up. then there is the Living Greyhawk campeign, where the followers of heironius threaten you for killing in self defence or to protect a very imortant person (giving me a hatred of heronius and greyhawk) wich inevitably leads to a "suicide mission or execution" situation (ain't LG grand). In greyhawk adventurers are abused by the very nobles/governments that desire their help
LordHell
05-05-05, 05:58 PM This is a very DM/Campaign specific question.

My PCs in my game are currently fugitives and being hunted by the law for killing some soldiers (in self defence - although the Soldiers were trying to subdue them, and the PCs used lethal damage).

If they're caught, they'll be executed.
Sarella Starshine
05-05-05, 06:48 PM well, my husband's character goes and gets roaring drunk every chance he gets. i roll a d% to figure out if in his intoxicated state if he does something like pick a bar fight, do something lewd to someone else (with that second person getting offended), etc and wind up in jail. too many jail tosses and the town will start to cut his beer supply.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gedrin 05-05-05, 02:09 PM	First, I'm not interested in an alignment discussion. Second, I'm aware that there will be varying opinions, and that's fine. Third, I'm looking at this in the context of civilized lands, the rules, obviously, change outside of civilization. It seems to me that there is a presumption of "specialness" regarding adventurers and the conduct they are excused for. They are different, special, and the normal rules of conduct don't really apply to them. A good example is in the execution of prisoners or the treatment of criminals. In most cultures, only local authorities are permitted to despense justice. Citizens are typically afforded the right to self defense, but not the right to avenge/punish criminal wrongs done to them. It seems that there is a presumption that, outside of the immediate presence of local authorities, adventurers are permited to despense punishment for crimes done to them. Now, I'm not talking about guarding your property or defending your person. Most people would agree that those are apropriate actions for any individual. However, adventurers, on these boards, are often excused for executing prisoners, even when local authorities are within easy reach. Adventurers are also encouraged/excused in regard to taking out their own vengance on those who have wronged them, even when the local authorities are available. I understand that some characters will be more inclined to ignore the authority of local law and the concept of "justice" in favor of personal vengance. Some characters will work with/within local customs to avenge wrongs done to them. That's fine, and I'm not going to argue if it's right or wrong (not an alignment discussion). My real question is, are adventurers given a special standing, formal or informal, in your games with regard to the lenience of the local authorities? Are there other implications to this specialness? Which normal rules don't apply? If the normal rules don't apply, what rules do?
Draco Strang 05-05-05, 02:25 PM	Well, the average band of adventurers usuall gain "superhero" status after about 5th level. By that I mean most towns in their general area know them, and have probably benefited from actions performed by that party, i.e. the killing of a band of giants, or the solving of an age-old curse, etcetera. So, with that taken into account, adventurers are given a little leeway when it comes to matters regarding wrong-doers. Look at any Superman or Spiderman comic. Don't the cops by and large love these guys, because they help them take on the bad guys? I'm sure most towns love adventurers, because they boost the local economy, help keep the world a safe place, and help them out with problems beyond the scope of what experts, adepts, and aristocrats can deal with. Anyway, that's how I treat my parties. If they're in an area that's never heard of them, they need to perform some great deed before anyone sits up, takes note, and gives them a little beat-down power regarding criminals. In towns they're known in, they can usually keep their weapons, carry large amounts of cash, and cast non-harmful spells at will. After all, they've proved that the use of such things will help the community, so why not? I try not to give them "official" status, persay. Any sort of rank or position ties them down. Instead, I tend to have communities look at them as troubleshooters, or freelancers. Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. The party may be called on to help a town, even if it doesn't fit into their schedule. That's when they need to make the choice of helping the people that look up to them, or going off and leaving them out in the wet. See where I'm going with this?
VirgilCaine 05-05-05, 02:30 PM	Given that adventurers tend to be preyed on by monsters or other powerful beings (clerics, wizards, etc.), letting adventurers take care of their own problems makes sense.
Ut-Napishtim 05-05-05, 02:47 PM	At the lower levels, no. At the higher levels, usually. If they :censored: a bunch of people off getting to the top they might actually get more scrutiny from local authorities. If they prove themselves to be "the good guys" though they usually get it. It depends on the campaign as well. In my game a 15th level character would have at least been heard of by almost everyone, while in FR they're pretty much nobodies. NPC (FR 25th level Commoner): What'd you say yer name was again? PC (FR 15th level Sorcerer): I'm Mortimer the Magnificent! NPC: So are you a Bard or something? PC: No, I'm a Sorcerer. I use magic, kind of like Elminster, but not really. NPC: Well I heard of Elminster, but I ain't never heard of you. PC: Well I'm very competent I assure you. NPC: I don't know, maybe I should just wait and see if Elminster comes by this way. Them Bearded Devils down in the holler seemed a bit too tough for you. PC: I've dealt with their kind before. NPC: Hmmm... sure you have. Why don't you just sit down here and play a game of checkers with me while we wait for Elminster, sonny. PC: But... um... I... Okay, but I get to be red.
Gedrin 05-05-05, 03:09 PM	Pretty much this follows the comic book idea. You get famous for doing good and you get unofficial enforcement powers. The adventurers do become "special", and are given extra latitude and powers in this regard by local society.
Andrew_980 05-05-05, 05:55 PM	in the old RPGA Living City campeign there was a whole economy based off adventurers and laws written around having a large amount of these powerfull folks around. they were regarded as above the common man in many respects but not immune to the law. It was not uncommon during a modual to have to take out a group of bad guys and just put in the paperwork when the guards show up. then there is the Living Greyhawk campeign, where the followers of heironius threaten you for killing in self defence or to protect a very imortant person (giving me a hatred of heronius and greyhawk) wich inevitably leads to a "suicide mission or execution" situation (ain't LG grand). In greyhawk adventurers are abused by the very nobles/governments that desire their help
LordHell 05-05-05, 05:58 PM	This is a very DM/Campaign specific question. My PCs in my game are currently fugitives and being hunted by the law for killing some soldiers (in self defence - although the Soldiers were trying to subdue them, and the PCs used lethal damage). If they're caught, they'll be executed.
Sarella Starshine 05-05-05, 06:48 PM	well, my husband's character goes and gets roaring drunk every chance he gets. i roll a d% to figure out if in his intoxicated state if he does something like pick a bar fight, do something lewd to someone else (with that second person getting offended), etc and wind up in jail. too many jail tosses and the town will start to cut his beer supply.