No, it's not about robosex, so get your mind out of the gutter.

Question about Sanctuary law: Drawn weapons are not allowed (unless you're a guard), AFAIK. That means no running around with your great-axe out unless you're in immediate danger or have very good cause.

So, does this apply to quarterstaffs? Those wizards love them so much (especially if they glow), but Agent Hecate always said they're a weapon and thus not allowed to be carried around drawn.

Is there a specific DM ruling on this?

If a quarterstaff isn't considered a weapon - I've got a medieval weapons instructor I know of in London who would happily demonstrate the effectiveness of a quarterstaff. Personally, I think they're sadly underrated in NWN.

If Agent Hecate says it, it must be true!

-Cross

Who said anything of those is written in law? It's just what people say, and guards. Usually it nevertheless is good to obey guards.

Some guards and law enforcing PCs will allow you to run around with a quarterstaff out. Some will even allow you to run around with a weapon drawn (I've seen it happen).

But there are some difficult bastards (e.g. Patrick :roll:) who won't.

They are weapons. They can do more damage than a light hammer so it must be true! I mean why do you think that guy in the rock bottem carries a stick around to hold up his weight? No thats to bitch slap criminals quarterstaff style.

<Cryptic Grin>

This is something that's really best found out In Game.

Yep, but just you you know, I have a personal distaste for those "pointy" quaterstaffs that are called staffs. They look to speary to me. Depending on my mood depends if the person carrying it gets a rollocking or not :)

But it's deffinately an all IC situation.

Now this is just me, but the guards say "no weapons" when you ask them. I tend to think that means its not an "opinion" but an actual law.

Now when I play a guard type character, they'll enforce that law. Anyone who breaks it IC and says "this isn't a weapon its my walking stick that I can't walk without" is welcome to do that. I know only one PC that actually has a limp and really can't walk fast though, and he actually *doesn't* use a walking stick to move faster or more steadily. So that excuse won't fly on an IC perspective with my guard IC. If you want to use it, she was always happy to have you put in the pillory and struck with your 'not a weapon' a number of times until you realized that perhaps it was a weapon afterall.

To be perfectly honest, I have always seen this discussion as a bit one-sided, as there's absolutely no way, engine-wise, to show if you are walking around with your staff perfectly unhindered, slung across the shoulder (as the engine shows it), or if you are limping along, supporting yourself heavily with your walking stick at every other step you take. As long as there are no seals, peace knots, or anything of the kind, the only difference between a drawn, and a sheathed/hung-across-the-back weapon is that with it drawn, you appear more prone and ready to make use of it. The difference in time between the two for a person trained to use it, is but the split second it takes for the person to draw them, so the actual threat is practically equal, even if the percieved threat is not. In my opinion, using a staff as an obvious walking support should sooner be categorized among the sheathed/put-away weapons, and thus not really be a problem. Now, due to engine limitations, serious work is required to project the image of this non-threatening staff usage. My wizard, who has a permanently stiff leg thanks to his wild escape from a drow raiding party, is accompanied by a multitude of emotes to show how he certainly uses it as a support, and not a weapon. Even so, a cranky (spell)guard might very well challenge him about it, so I have prepared various arguments for his case. Lately, I've also asked Arkov to give him a permanent 50% speed reduction, to actually physically show his limp, and to give him proper disadvantages of having such a disability. Now, in light of the above, and the extreme engine limitations put in place, I only find it fair to show a bit of consideration to such characters, but ultimately, it's an IG thing, and if a guardsman wants to crack down on some poor limp bugger, that's his IG decision. However, it would then be fair if he showed equal worry of the various other, just-as-threatening weapons, such as sheathed swords without seals, loosely shouldered greataxes, and so on, as their beyond-the-engine, IG threat picture is just as great as the walking-support quarterstaff. Perhaps, in fact, even more so, as the limp, generally frail or sickly person who requires the use of such a support isn't anywhere near as dangerous, physically, as the fully fit and trained warrior with his axe slung across his back.

So please, look beyond the engine, and judge things, as far as it is possible, from an IC perspective. Ultimately, I think it will lead both to more interesting safetly clashes, and less OOC "hey, that's not fair" feelings. And that's a good thing, 'ey?

- Wrexsoul

Please note that walking sticks don't have spikes on each end. If someone roleplays walking with a limp all the time, and makes an effort, i'd let them off at the drop of a hat. If they wander around with one of those spiked staves shouting at people, it can go in their bag.

The people who sometimes enforc this IG (me for instance) are players who have some level of experience with situations like this. Lets just say "we know what we're doing".

Please note also a walking stick is like three times smaller than a quarterstaff. It is held in one hand usually. Underarm at times too, in all cases it would'nt really be visible. Keep a quarterstaff or better yet a stick of some kind in your inventory and then use your emotes to show your using it. Look beyond the engine as you said. You don't need it equiped, and right now it actually gives you an advantage over others (that attack of oppertunity from an unarmed attacker) which it should'nt grant.

edit: fixed afew things.

Emote *walks with a staff* is a lot more immersive than walking around with a six foot tall metal shod, skull crushing quarterstaff out.

Besides, half these "walk with a staff" people never emote a limp and certainly never asked a DM to give them a movement penalty. Like I said, the one PC who I'd look past the engine and give benefit of the doubt is the one that actually has a DM supplied limp. Everyone else just thinks its vogue right now to walk around with a quarterstaff out.

Have it decided in-game. My Wizard uses his staff, because he likes something in his hands, not because he needs it for walking. But get clearance from the Guard. My Wizard has met around 7 PC law-enforcers, and not a single one made a problem of it. So let it be that way, until another decides it is a problem.

I think I'm gonna start walking around with my sword out around people with staves. If a guard says anything I'll just say "Well he's got his out!"

Where does the staff go when it's unequipped? Into your invisible backpack? With certain weapons like staves or halberds, there really is no way to carry them where they wouldn't be visible. In that case I think the way to think of it is, equipped means you have the weapon at-the-ready, and unequipped means it's being carried in a non-threatening fashion, sheathed or slung if possible, held casually and maybe helping you walk if not.

As a survivalist communities, I'm sure I can find some councilors who would favor laws where people who need sticks to hold them up should be turned into soup to feed the goblins. They obviously are becoming a burden on society.

In PnP, Quarter Staff is Nasty. Can be a Two handed Weapon (getting the damage bonus) AND a Dual Wield Weapon if you have the feat, AND works with the Flurry of Blows Equivilant.

As for the Law. Nothing in the books :) But it's usually a good thing to do what the guards say because they can arrest you. After all they are Cops. With all that entails so be a good sport or a bad sport, just don't interfere with their Donut Munching.

Several Servers have had widgets that let you equip SFX items and make them visable, though it didn't work for everything, it allways looked neat to have the great sword sticking up over your shoulder.

As a player, and someone with a bit of actual weapon experience, I allways side with the "Certain Weapons Just don't Strap to your Back" Philosophy. Carrying a Quarter Staff should be fine. Beating someone with it should not be. Same for Halberds and other gigantic weaponry. Particuarly, If your SHORT.

Shame EFU doesn't have Long Spears or Pikes. I want to see someone tie a 12 to 22 foot long weapon to their back. Case in point though for the "If It's Out your going to use it, if it's not equiped, it could still be out in a non threating manner" folks. I HATE, people that Iajutsu me with a Greatsword/Greataxe they pull out of their buttcrack in a casual fisticuffs bar room brawl or something :) .......Especially if they are an elf.

Still, Whatever adds to the element of the enviroment is fine by me. I react to people pointing a sword or a dagger at me, but someone with a halberd or quarter staff or spear on their shoulder, well........

That's how you carry the damn things.

~Rex :twisted:

A staff can be strapped to your back.

Being really clever like I am. I've discovered this is in fact the prefered way to carry a quarterstaff through a town. Its how I do it, rather than carry a weapon in my hands. In fact, the police in my local community remind me that a six foot long staff with metal shod ends really should not be in my hand, just like my rapier should always be in its case, and I can't walk around with my shotgun in my hands either.

Apparently, weapons in your hands worry people on streets. This appears to be pretty universal everywhere I've ever heard about.

Oroborous A staff can be strapped to your back.

Being really clever like I am. I've discovered this is in fact the prefered way to carry a quarterstaff through a town. Its how I do it, rather than carry a weapon in my hands. In fact, the police in my local community remind me that a six foot long staff with metal shod ends really should not be in my hand, just like my rapier should always be in its case, and I can't walk around with my shotgun in my hands either.

Apparently, weapons in your hands worry people on streets. This appears to be pretty universal everywhere I've ever heard about.

So thats why the shop clerk was looking at me funny when I used my 9mm to point out the chocolate I wanted!

Naga

So thats why the shop clerk was looking at me funny when I used my 9mm to point out the chocolate I wanted!

Strife actually set his staff down at just about every single I remembered it. I guess there wasn't too much of a explanation for occassionally switching it with a crossbow in battle.... ...magic!

And when a guard says put your staff away, argue with him...or go invisible!

I merely carry my staff, for the moment someone tries to assassinate my Wizard, and I give them an Attack of Oppertunity by punching back with my fists, giving them another free shot at me. I love the IC argument, while I don't like the OOC argument. Yes, weapons are weapons. But for god's sake, I smack my opponents with a +2 AB 1d3-1 punch, giving them another free attack. Let me carry my quatterstaff (walkingstick) to avoid these problems.

So can I carry my sword to avoid giving those free aoo's it also? :P

Delgado now carries around a rune covered femur to avoid AOO's.

"Put down your weapon!"

"What, this leg bone I ripped from one of my victims?"

"Ahh, no. . . no. . . I'll ahh, just go this way now."

Again, It's a completely IC issue. Work it out IC. There actually are reasons for the way things are in game.

As was pointed out, this is an IC issue. If you want to find out what the laws are, ask one of the law enforcers, in-game. If you want to change the laws, ask one of the politicians, in-game. If they're unsure, they can ask their superior officers or consult with historians, or develop their own policies, in-game. This is something that I really like, because it means that OOC discussion about the laws is totally unnecessary, and instead can be turned into fun, interesting IC discussion.

Kotenku Again, It's a completely IC issue. Work it out IC. There actually are reasons for the way things are in game.

This is an outrage [snickers] What are you? Some kind of guard? Next you'll be asking everyone in black to take their helmet off ;)

That just lift a sleeve line was dirty pool Kotenku..Damn you!1!

In all seriousness, I like the fact that some guards are by the book and some are a bit more lax. It adds to the server not having a bunch of the same old same old running around.