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Magic Item Laws?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
vigilant1
Apr 23, 2009 16:20:04 It seems when new people hear about how magic is part of Eberron's societies, they reply "so a bunch of commoners are runner around blasting people with wands of fireball"? So this got me thinking, what if in order to purchase a magic weapon or wand or what have you from a merchant, you needed to have some kind of license? sort of like firearm laws in certain countries in real life. It seems logical that various parts of the remaining five nations would utilize and enforce these laws after coming out of a 100 year long war, some people might of kept weapons and wands for personal use. Furthermore what if you need a license in order to produce and/or sell magic items? This just seemed like another way to add to the laws and politics of Eberron. So is this a good idea or is it dumb? Is there any particular Eberron material that goes over legal matters relating to magic items? My apologies in advance if these turn out to be stupid questions.
#2
Nived
Apr 23, 2009 17:28:25 Well in Sharn: City of Towers Law and Order section it talks about this, Breland follows the old Code of Galifar so these could be taken as guidelines for most of Khorvaire, though the Code of Kauis up in Karrnath would be more harsh.

Any magic that inflicts damage is considered armed assault if used against another intelligent humanoid, spells that incapacitate, like sleep, are simple assault. Spells that mess with people's minds are prosecuted as a manner of fraud.

Magic items that produce harmful effects are restricted (their sale is regulated so that may indeed mean registering with local authorities.), not automatically illegal but if you are found with them they'll likely ask you why you are walking around with a wand designed to melt someone's face off. If the explanation is not sufficient they may confiscate said items.
#3
lyran
Apr 23, 2009 17:42:38
Well in Sharn: City of Towers Law and Order section it talks about this, Breland follows the old Code of Galifar so these could be taken as guidelines for most of Khorvaire, though the Code of Kauis up in Karrnath would be more harsh.

Any magic that inflicts damage is considered armed assault if used against another intelligent humanoid, spells that incapacitate, like sleep, are simple assault. Spells that mess with people's minds are prosecuted as a manner of fraud.

Magic items that produce harmful effects are restricted (their sale is regulated so that may indeed mean registering with local authorities.), not automatically illegal but if you are found with them they'll likely ask you why you are walking around with a wand designed to melt someone's face off. If the explanation is not sufficient they may confiscate said items.

What Nived said. I also think that in every major city in Khorvaire there should be a gate with some sort of gate that has a detect magic like afect placed apon it, also ther would be a guard that has the autherity to search your belongings. I supose that you could poses some sort of letter of credit like paper that would alow a character to pass through with out any trouble.
#4
rekko
Apr 23, 2009 22:46:39 Are there more laws detailed in the books?
#5
salla
Apr 23, 2009 23:51:06 My response to the 'so there are commoners running around with wands of fireballs' is 'well, no because they couldn't use them even if they had them, and they can't possibly afford them, so they don't have one unless they stole it, which would be stupid since they can't use it'.
#6
Nived
Apr 24, 2009 18:06:59 Well again the section in S:CoT focuses on Sharn and Breland, but it mentions that Breland's laws extend to protect all citizens of the 12 Thronehold nations, and dragonmarked houses... this of course means that someone from the Shadow Marches doesn't technically have any rights or protection under the law in Breland...

Undead are also specifically called out as not protected under the Galifar Code of Justice.

Murder is illegal of course, but the victim is generally a factor in how well the murder is investigated, the poor from the slums wont warrent much of an ingestigation. Dueling on the other hand is serious business, and a duel to the death isn't common, but its not outright banned assuming both parties agree to the terms. More common are duels to 'first blood'.

Slander is curiously, specifically stated as not a crime under the Galifar Code of Justice... hrm.

This one is IMPORTANT FOR ADVENTURERS! It is illegal to plunder goods from the ruins of past civilizations for personal gain! Seriously. Unless of course you obtain a Letter of Marque from the authorities, provided you pay for your permit to plunder said historical relics... you're free to do so.

There are also some laws stating that certain magical services ccan only be obtained through the dragonmarked houses... if you cast Lemond's Secure Shelter you're infringing on House Ghallanda's intellectual property, though the passage states "Within the city limits" so it might be a zoneing thing... or just a Sharn law it doesn't really specify.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 vigilant1 Apr 23, 2009 16:20:04	It seems when new people hear about how magic is part of Eberron's societies, they reply "so a bunch of commoners are runner around blasting people with wands of fireball"? So this got me thinking, what if in order to purchase a magic weapon or wand or what have you from a merchant, you needed to have some kind of license? sort of like firearm laws in certain countries in real life. It seems logical that various parts of the remaining five nations would utilize and enforce these laws after coming out of a 100 year long war, some people might of kept weapons and wands for personal use. Furthermore what if you need a license in order to produce and/or sell magic items? This just seemed like another way to add to the laws and politics of Eberron. So is this a good idea or is it dumb? Is there any particular Eberron material that goes over legal matters relating to magic items? My apologies in advance if these turn out to be stupid questions.
#2 Nived Apr 23, 2009 17:28:25	Well in Sharn: City of Towers Law and Order section it talks about this, Breland follows the old Code of Galifar so these could be taken as guidelines for most of Khorvaire, though the Code of Kauis up in Karrnath would be more harsh. Any magic that inflicts damage is considered armed assault if used against another intelligent humanoid, spells that incapacitate, like sleep, are simple assault. Spells that mess with people's minds are prosecuted as a manner of fraud. Magic items that produce harmful effects are restricted (their sale is regulated so that may indeed mean registering with local authorities.), not automatically illegal but if you are found with them they'll likely ask you why you are walking around with a wand designed to melt someone's face off. If the explanation is not sufficient they may confiscate said items.
#3 lyran Apr 23, 2009 17:42:38	Well in Sharn: City of Towers Law and Order section it talks about this, Breland follows the old Code of Galifar so these could be taken as guidelines for most of Khorvaire, though the Code of Kauis up in Karrnath would be more harsh. Any magic that inflicts damage is considered armed assault if used against another intelligent humanoid, spells that incapacitate, like sleep, are simple assault. Spells that mess with people's minds are prosecuted as a manner of fraud. Magic items that produce harmful effects are restricted (their sale is regulated so that may indeed mean registering with local authorities.), not automatically illegal but if you are found with them they'll likely ask you why you are walking around with a wand designed to melt someone's face off. If the explanation is not sufficient they may confiscate said items. What Nived said. I also think that in every major city in Khorvaire there should be a gate with some sort of gate that has a detect magic like afect placed apon it, also ther would be a guard that has the autherity to search your belongings. I supose that you could poses some sort of letter of credit like paper that would alow a character to pass through with out any trouble.
#4 rekko Apr 23, 2009 22:46:39	Are there more laws detailed in the books?
#5 salla Apr 23, 2009 23:51:06	My response to the 'so there are commoners running around with wands of fireballs' is 'well, no because they couldn't use them even if they had them, and they can't possibly afford them, so they don't have one unless they stole it, which would be stupid since they can't use it'.
#6 Nived Apr 24, 2009 18:06:59	Well again the section in S:CoT focuses on Sharn and Breland, but it mentions that Breland's laws extend to protect all citizens of the 12 Thronehold nations, and dragonmarked houses... this of course means that someone from the Shadow Marches doesn't technically have any rights or protection under the law in Breland... Undead are also specifically called out as not protected under the Galifar Code of Justice. Murder is illegal of course, but the victim is generally a factor in how well the murder is investigated, the poor from the slums wont warrent much of an ingestigation. Dueling on the other hand is serious business, and a duel to the death isn't common, but its not outright banned assuming both parties agree to the terms. More common are duels to 'first blood'. Slander is curiously, specifically stated as not a crime under the Galifar Code of Justice... hrm. This one is IMPORTANT FOR ADVENTURERS! It is illegal to plunder goods from the ruins of past civilizations for personal gain! Seriously. Unless of course you obtain a Letter of Marque from the authorities, provided you pay for your permit to plunder said historical relics... you're free to do so. There are also some laws stating that certain magical services ccan only be obtained through the dragonmarked houses... if you cast Lemond's Secure Shelter you're infringing on House Ghallanda's intellectual property, though the passage states "Within the city limits" so it might be a zoneing thing... or just a Sharn law it doesn't really specify.