Identification and Traveling Papers [Archive] - Wizards Community

Identification and Traveling Papers [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Vaelynn
07-31-04, 05:25 AM I was wondering how you guys are handling identification and traveling papers? There isn't a whole lot of information on how to include them in the game. Mainly the ecs just covers what they contain. What happens if the PCs get asked for questioning by the city watch or something and they don't have Identification papers, or for that matter traveling papers? Would authorities assume they live in the country and not require them to provide traveling papers. Would they be in trouble for not having them?
The ECS states that anyone that crosses national borders is "usually" required to have travelling papers. But what if they don't?
It also says that "most" people of middle or upper classes have identification papers.
It just seems to me like they are pretty useless. You either have every citizen have them or you don't.
Anything you can provide to help me add this stuff into the game would be greatly appreciated.
Zedium
07-31-04, 06:10 AM My idea is that they work like real life papers, they are just means to quickly figure out who you are and if you have done something wrong. Of course, the law differs from place to place.

This is how I immagine it, I will mention a few extremes:

In Zilargo your papers are everything, you have to idenfity every time you leave or enter a city or mayor building, and if you don't have the papers on you, you can't get in (or out).

Droaam on the other hand, has little value for papers. They are only good as a replacement for firewood. Most of the inhabitants can barely read, let stand alone value a piece of paper.

In general, the more civilised the country, the more value IDs have, no goblin will care what a piece of paper says, but a Karrnath noble will try to double check who you are through them.

Also, ID papers are important for things like banking and travel, you will probably want to know who you are giving money or who is on your air ship.

These are just examples how I immagine it, but in general I figure that players have to identify on regular basis and a good plot device to keep players in the same town is by taking away their papers. Also, papers allow you to get to places you normally can't acces, using the Forgery skill you can maybe gain acces to a secret House Orien project by creating a fake ID.
Jimmy_Groove
07-31-04, 07:56 AM Zedium said it all; papers are nessesary for the middle and upper class because those are the people who have to idenity themselves every day. The lower class can just go to a job and get paid for what they do, while the middle and upper classes have to worry about banking, travel, sending and recieving shipments, ect.

As far as the statement that "everybody has to have ID papers or they are useless", keep in mind that about 10% of American citizens are allowed to go without ID: children. Also, it is perfectly possible (although technically illegal) to have a decent lower-class life in the US withou ID. Many places pay cash under the counter, and every city has a few hotels that will forget to card you.
Greyson
07-31-04, 12:52 PM I forgot about the use of ID and papers when I ran The Forgotten Forge last week from the ECSB. Sgt. Dolom can and should ask for them when he encounters the PCs and Geldem's body on the skybridge. It is a great time to introduce the idea of docs into the game.

I will have Elaydren inquire about them when we begin The Queen With Burning Eyes. Papers, ID, documents, etc., can be a very neat twist in Eberron. I can already imagine a blackmarket for them.

As noted above, I agree with Zedium's sentiments. Good job, mate.
okaynowa
08-04-04, 06:37 AM Having lived in a few underdeveloped countries, I can tell you the ID/travel documents are also a good way for law enforcement to make a living.

"May I see your papers, sir?"

"What? Papers? I'm a ploughman! You know I don't have those."

"Well, you can either go register for some, or slip me 10 silver and I'll let it go for now..."

Documents like that can be used to smooth the way for the upper classes. I expect members of Houses use them religiously.

And yes, most people can live a long life without an ID within the borders of their homeland. Now imagine the problems a refugee from the Great War will run up against...

"Can you prove you're Alnath Harper?"

"Sorry, no-- my birth certificate is now in the middle of the Mournlands."

Something about the "ID shakedown" is so very pulp...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Vaelynn 07-31-04, 05:25 AM	I was wondering how you guys are handling identification and traveling papers? There isn't a whole lot of information on how to include them in the game. Mainly the ecs just covers what they contain. What happens if the PCs get asked for questioning by the city watch or something and they don't have Identification papers, or for that matter traveling papers? Would authorities assume they live in the country and not require them to provide traveling papers. Would they be in trouble for not having them? The ECS states that anyone that crosses national borders is "usually" required to have travelling papers. But what if they don't? It also says that "most" people of middle or upper classes have identification papers. It just seems to me like they are pretty useless. You either have every citizen have them or you don't. Anything you can provide to help me add this stuff into the game would be greatly appreciated.
Zedium 07-31-04, 06:10 AM	My idea is that they work like real life papers, they are just means to quickly figure out who you are and if you have done something wrong. Of course, the law differs from place to place. This is how I immagine it, I will mention a few extremes: In Zilargo your papers are everything, you have to idenfity every time you leave or enter a city or mayor building, and if you don't have the papers on you, you can't get in (or out). Droaam on the other hand, has little value for papers. They are only good as a replacement for firewood. Most of the inhabitants can barely read, let stand alone value a piece of paper. In general, the more civilised the country, the more value IDs have, no goblin will care what a piece of paper says, but a Karrnath noble will try to double check who you are through them. Also, ID papers are important for things like banking and travel, you will probably want to know who you are giving money or who is on your air ship. These are just examples how I immagine it, but in general I figure that players have to identify on regular basis and a good plot device to keep players in the same town is by taking away their papers. Also, papers allow you to get to places you normally can't acces, using the Forgery skill you can maybe gain acces to a secret House Orien project by creating a fake ID.
Jimmy_Groove 07-31-04, 07:56 AM	Zedium said it all; papers are nessesary for the middle and upper class because those are the people who have to idenity themselves every day. The lower class can just go to a job and get paid for what they do, while the middle and upper classes have to worry about banking, travel, sending and recieving shipments, ect. As far as the statement that "everybody has to have ID papers or they are useless", keep in mind that about 10% of American citizens are allowed to go without ID: children. Also, it is perfectly possible (although technically illegal) to have a decent lower-class life in the US withou ID. Many places pay cash under the counter, and every city has a few hotels that will forget to card you.
Greyson 07-31-04, 12:52 PM	I forgot about the use of ID and papers when I ran The Forgotten Forge last week from the ECSB. Sgt. Dolom can and should ask for them when he encounters the PCs and Geldem's body on the skybridge. It is a great time to introduce the idea of docs into the game. I will have Elaydren inquire about them when we begin The Queen With Burning Eyes. Papers, ID, documents, etc., can be a very neat twist in Eberron. I can already imagine a blackmarket for them. As noted above, I agree with Zedium's sentiments. Good job, mate.
okaynowa 08-04-04, 06:37 AM	Having lived in a few underdeveloped countries, I can tell you the ID/travel documents are also a good way for law enforcement to make a living. "May I see your papers, sir?" "What? Papers? I'm a ploughman! You know I don't have those." "Well, you can either go register for some, or slip me 10 silver and I'll let it go for now..." Documents like that can be used to smooth the way for the upper classes. I expect members of Houses use them religiously. And yes, most people can live a long life without an ID within the borders of their homeland. Now imagine the problems a refugee from the Great War will run up against... "Can you prove you're Alnath Harper?" "Sorry, no-- my birth certificate is now in the middle of the Mournlands." Something about the "ID shakedown" is so very pulp...