The Sharn Watch - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

The Sharn Watch

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
snarky_monkey
Sep 14, 2010 23:19:35 I will be running a campaign where my players are members for the Sharn Watch and could use a bit of help with some details. I have gotten a good idea about the jurisdiction of the Watch and its mandate from Sharn: City of Towers, but need a bit more info.

Does anyone know what the position make up of each garrison is? Such as inquisitives, beat cops, "swat", "CSU", that sort of thing?

Also, how are ranks distributed? For example, would Inquisitive be a rank similar to Detective in a police force, or do all Inquisitives need to hold a specific rank, such as lieutenant?

Thanks for any help.
#2
Gurv
Sep 14, 2010 23:28:17 Unfortunately, my own identical game was sidelined for a more tradition "explore ruins in Xen'drik" one. But maybe some of the advice will be helpful:
community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/758...

I don't think that much detail is given to rank. I wasn't able to find much, other than the fact that each garrison has a "Commander", and they all report to the "Lord Commander". The Blackened Book seems to have a somewhat seperate path of advancement, tied to a linked chain of command.

#3
snarky_monkey
Sep 14, 2010 23:41:58 I saw your thread and it was nice to see I wasn't the only one with the idea.

My players are fans of both police and law procedurals, so I will be switching things up a bit with court room scenes that require their testimony, and instances of old cases popping back up because of possible evidence issues that they need to resolve. I was just hoping to get the whole organizational issue settled first.

I have no problem making it all up, but would prefer a more "informed" take on it. Maybe I will get lucky and Hellcow will make an appearance.

#4
Gilo
Sep 15, 2010 1:44:37 According to book it seems to me that the Redcloaks of the King's Citadel are the SWAT, the Goldwings unit is trained in handling crimes in mid-air and the Blackend Book are magic CSI.
#5
snarky_monkey
Sep 15, 2010 2:21:04 I can see the Red Cloaks as Swat and the Goldwings as the Air Operations Unit, but I am having trouble with the Blackened Book as CSI. They seem more like Magical Crimes clean up unit, dealing primarily with magical hazards and magical misconduct. Sure, they mention helping with interrogations, but that isn't a CSU job duty.
#6
Madfox11
Sep 15, 2010 4:36:24
Besides commanders, there are also watch sergeants, they lead the patrols. As for court room type of adventures, I think the Watch is actually not the right organization for such a campaign. They keep the order, and they judge people at the spot, usually sticking to fines. If a crime is serious enough for an actual trial, I doubt they would be involved much beyond *maybe* the arrest (but only under strict supervision of higher authorities like the Citadel). The Watch is simply too corrupt, and people wanting true justice are much more likely to hire an Inquisitive and then involve higher authorities if the inquisitive finds suitably impressive evidence and the person in question has the right friends.

Personally, if your players want a court drama type of campaign, I would let them start as those rare few honest guards, who quickly get into trouble with their bosses because they are too zealously investigating crimes. Instead of being fired (or worse killed), they are likely to impress the Citadel, who then recruits them. This has the added benefit that they get jurisdiction in the whole of Breland, and you can expend crimes and investigations.
#7
joni-san
Sep 16, 2010 12:53:59 I read the thread title as Snark Watch. I suppose that should come naturally to most players...

As for Inquisitives, I got the impression that most of them are Private Investigators. Those in the Watch and the Citadel I suppose would work like RL police detectives and CSI folks.

Something that came to mind while reading this thread is the use of vigilantees as antagonists.
#8
naturax
Sep 16, 2010 16:11:54 The Wire. Just, watch The Wire. It will give you so many ideas for running a Sharn Watch campaign I don't even know where to start.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 snarky_monkey Sep 14, 2010 23:19:35	I will be running a campaign where my players are members for the Sharn Watch and could use a bit of help with some details. I have gotten a good idea about the jurisdiction of the Watch and its mandate from Sharn: City of Towers, but need a bit more info. Does anyone know what the position make up of each garrison is? Such as inquisitives, beat cops, "swat", "CSU", that sort of thing? Also, how are ranks distributed? For example, would Inquisitive be a rank similar to Detective in a police force, or do all Inquisitives need to hold a specific rank, such as lieutenant? Thanks for any help.
#2 Gurv Sep 14, 2010 23:28:17	Unfortunately, my own identical game was sidelined for a more tradition "explore ruins in Xen'drik" one. But maybe some of the advice will be helpful: community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/758... I don't think that much detail is given to rank. I wasn't able to find much, other than the fact that each garrison has a "Commander", and they all report to the "Lord Commander". The Blackened Book seems to have a somewhat seperate path of advancement, tied to a linked chain of command.
#3 snarky_monkey Sep 14, 2010 23:41:58	I saw your thread and it was nice to see I wasn't the only one with the idea. My players are fans of both police and law procedurals, so I will be switching things up a bit with court room scenes that require their testimony, and instances of old cases popping back up because of possible evidence issues that they need to resolve. I was just hoping to get the whole organizational issue settled first. I have no problem making it all up, but would prefer a more "informed" take on it. Maybe I will get lucky and Hellcow will make an appearance.
#4 Gilo Sep 15, 2010 1:44:37	According to book it seems to me that the Redcloaks of the King's Citadel are the SWAT, the Goldwings unit is trained in handling crimes in mid-air and the Blackend Book are magic CSI.
#5 snarky_monkey Sep 15, 2010 2:21:04	I can see the Red Cloaks as Swat and the Goldwings as the Air Operations Unit, but I am having trouble with the Blackened Book as CSI. They seem more like Magical Crimes clean up unit, dealing primarily with magical hazards and magical misconduct. Sure, they mention helping with interrogations, but that isn't a CSU job duty.
#6 Madfox11 Sep 15, 2010 4:36:24	Besides commanders, there are also watch sergeants, they lead the patrols. As for court room type of adventures, I think the Watch is actually not the right organization for such a campaign. They keep the order, and they judge people at the spot, usually sticking to fines. If a crime is serious enough for an actual trial, I doubt they would be involved much beyond maybe the arrest (but only under strict supervision of higher authorities like the Citadel). The Watch is simply too corrupt, and people wanting true justice are much more likely to hire an Inquisitive and then involve higher authorities if the inquisitive finds suitably impressive evidence and the person in question has the right friends. Personally, if your players want a court drama type of campaign, I would let them start as those rare few honest guards, who quickly get into trouble with their bosses because they are too zealously investigating crimes. Instead of being fired (or worse killed), they are likely to impress the Citadel, who then recruits them. This has the added benefit that they get jurisdiction in the whole of Breland, and you can expend crimes and investigations.
#7 joni-san Sep 16, 2010 12:53:59	I read the thread title as Snark Watch. I suppose that should come naturally to most players... As for Inquisitives, I got the impression that most of them are Private Investigators. Those in the Watch and the Citadel I suppose would work like RL police detectives and CSI folks. Something that came to mind while reading this thread is the use of vigilantees as antagonists.
#8 naturax Sep 16, 2010 16:11:54	The Wire. Just, watch The Wire. It will give you so many ideas for running a Sharn Watch campaign I don't even know where to start.