More Consequences for Kidnapping/Murder/Banditry at the Dispensary

[Anonymous Lemur]

The dispensary is a lot of fun and I've been enjoying it immensely. People are generally good sports and I haven't robbed or found myself being robbed at the dispensary yet. That said, I feel like the dispensary can sometimes make it a bit too easy to "settle old grievances." To that end I'd like to offer the following suggestion.

Implement a royal decree that banditry/murder/kidnapping is prohibited during a dispensary and have a number of royal enforcer gargoyles placeables set up around the commons. Then make it so that you must have a dm to do anything aside from take the King's Gift during the dispensary. If someone does decide its time to mug or murder someone at the dispensary, then they can do so with the risk of strong enforcer npcs moving to stop them.

I feel like more players would participate and it would be more enjoyable overall if that were the case. I expect this to be a somewhat unpopular opinion in some circles and I want to stress that this is not coming from someone who has ever actually been robbed at the dispensary. I just find it to be something that's a bit too inconsequential at the moment and in the worst cases can create huge cycle of unnecessarily petty murders/banditry.

Which while cool thematically, can be detrimental to peoples enjoyment of what could be one of efu's most amusing events. Also before someone suggests a player faction could enforce this sort of thing. While that's certainly true, it's quite easy for such a group to just turn into a murder/bandit squad themselves.  I don't think it would improve the atmosphere of dispensaries in the slightest.

TL:DR: Robbing/Kidnapping/Murdering at the dispensary is a bit too easy. I've never been a victim/perpetrator of it, but I can see how it discourages people from participating. Requiring a DM to take anything but the King's gift from participants would be the ideal solution. Should still be able to conduct murder banditry, but expect powerful royal guardians to come chomping. Overall the aim being to encourage more participation.

[PinballSorcerer]

I think the danger and uncertainty is supposed to be part of it in purpose?  Still if it not, I've a tweak on your idea to suggest?

This sounds like a lot of extra work for the DMs as they would be called in to supervise constantly.  What about the same idea with the gargoyles but no DM required for PvP but ICly word is spread that dispensary murder is disfavored and OCCASIONALLY a DM possesses one to show this disfavor?  Thus people can still murder and such and it is not "safe", without needing much DM time but also reducing the murders?

[Grouch]

It is always best when players enforce the rules they make themselves.

I actually hate all law enforcement factions, as soon as there IS one with any beef to it everyone gets super careful about breaking any laws and the Law Enforcement PC's get super bored and go all out for the pettiest shit just to have something to do.

The mob made the Dispenser rules, may the mob enforce them.

[Anonymous Lemur]

It is always best when players enforce the rules they make themselves.

The above statement seems to contradict the one you made below.

I actually hate all law enforcement factions, as soon as there IS one with any beef to it everyone gets super careful about breaking any laws and the Law Enforcement PC's get super bored and go all out for the pettiest shit just to have something to do.

I do agree players should not be involved in the enforcement though.

Well I think we agree, you sort of said both. It's hard to figure out if you're for or against player enforcement of standards around the dispensary or not.

[Grouch]

My statement is not contradictory, making a NPC faction regarding it or putting out kings rules regarding the dispenser takes the initiative out of the hands of players and imposes burdensome sanctions on creativity.

[Poolson]

It's a no man's land and there really isn't any NPCs in circulation who'd enforce fair play in a squabble as mad-dash as fighting over the King's table scraps.

That all said, I think the current environment of the dispensary is good. People can't just scoop it up and run off without being seen, the rewards from it are nice but nowhere near worth drinking potions and fighting to the death over. as well as there's so many participants that most bandits aren't going to leave their calling card for /everyone/ to see and make a ton of enemies all at once.

Well wishing and maintaining good relations leads to people that don't feel inclined to go through your bag, or people who'll protect you against kidnappers and dry looters.

[goate]

This would cause some issues with monstrous PCs.  Would they be allowed to participate by the NPCs that would enforce the policy?  Prohibited?  It would be pretty cheesy if monstrous PCs had protection from FD/kidnapping etc while participating in the dispensary battle, and would lead back to many of the issues we hand in EFU:4 when monstrous PCs were welcome in two of the major factions, and as a result your average PC started becoming tolerant and even friendly to monstrous PCs.

I think monstrous PCs should have the option of participating knowing there's a huge risk that they won't live through a dispensary battle.

The more I think about it, the more convinced I become that the current situation is suitable.

[toadie]

I think the societal norm that the dispensary fights are hallowed ground, has already been kind of established by most players.  I agree there should be more consequences for doing something underhanded during them - but if you shoehorn it in too much it could have unintended consequences.  Perhaps it should be one of the Arbiter's 100 scrolls, a Grandfather's code, etc... and allow the Elite factions to enforce it.