Hey all,
I'm planning to run CoT soon. As a city dweller myself, I find it hard to believe that there would be absolutely no limitations on weapons and armor in Westcrown.
I'd like to get feedback on the house rules below:
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Commoners may not carry martial weapons, medium armor, or heavy armor within the city limits, unless in the employ and livery of a noble house.
Aristocrats are not restricted on weapons or armor.
Spellcasting upon another person is illegal, unless the caster has the permission of that person.
Area-effect spells are detrimental to the safety and welfare of the city, and are considered to be multiple counts of magical assault or multiple counts of destruction of property.
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What is that going to do for my CoT campaign?
I think the type of AoO would be important. Color spray and sleep are much less dangerous to a city than fireball is. Defensive casting of color spray or sleep might entail a fine if you don't have a permit to cast magic in the city (and I would have a permit system for darn near everything in a LE society). Fireball is probably out right prohibited to just about everyone.
I would allow "defensive weaponry" and at least light armor to just about anyone. Defensiev weaponry would probably be:
Light weapons, rapier, longsword, clubs, quarterstaff (maybe) etc. No ranged weapons for sure.
That's a good point, Abraham, I -was- thinking of fireballs and other evocations.
I was thinking about using the simple/martial weapon divide to make it easy, but adding in a few 'Chelish' choices like longsword and rapier might be fun.
Of course, there's always the possibility of 'illegal' weapons hidden away places...We'll need checkpoints, and DCs to sneak things past guards.
Any thoughts on what should be illegal and illegal?
I would have "owner's permits" available. Much like what you can get for concealed carriers. Give the guards some minor magical items that automatically notes if someone has a carrier's permit or not -- you got a weapon and not a permit your death becomes much more likely as you are already a criminal.
I would continue the idea to spells as well. I would have an outright ban on "battle magic" in the city. This would include spells that are blasting AOE types, battlefield control that can injure people (like black tentacles, grease, stinking cloud, cloudkill) but have permits available for "defensive spells" like sleep, color spray and the like.
Summoning spells would probably be in the defensive or utility casting (which would have it's own permit needed for spells like haste, false life, mage's armor -- this would basically be a tax on casting these spells so the city can make a buck of the spellcasters too).
A fine system would be in place for catching bystanders in the area of a defensive spell (probably just use the prices from the rule book for buying spells from NPCs).
That's great. It reminds of an idea Monte Cook wrote in his Ptolus book, of requiring Identification permits, and having the players keep track of them.
Checkpoints could easily ask for ID papers, spellcasting permits, weaponry permits, and all conducted under a nice big Zone of Truth.
I love it.