The law may have a long arm, but sometimes it has a short memory... or deep pockets. Having traveled overseas recently, I can personally advise that dealing with law enforcement and civil authorities in different countries can be a really odd experience. Depending on where you go, authorities can be casual and easy-going, or strict, no-nonsense, and threatening. For example, in England, I stayed near the Tower of London, which is an active military barracks. The people patrolling nearby wore body armour and submachine guns, but also smiled at people and stopped at the nearby ice cream shop. In France, however, the police cars use their sirens and lights *any time* they’re moving (which is worrying when a dozen cars scream past at shift change), and the military moved through crowds in tight formation, hands on weapons at all times, and with no eye contact, which was very intimidating. Similarly, these kinds of experiences can affect how your PCs feel in a foreign country. In a small farming town, there might be. A single Sheriff, who spends their time at a location where they can be found. A town might have a militia, but they’re all going to be people who live and have families in town. A city will have a lot more guards, and they may not be local- they might even be foreign mercenaries (or more exotic, like a garrison of Hobgoblins). Having external sources for guards allows the rulers to avoid personal conflicts of interest, but it also means they often don’t have qualms about putting down rebellions, punishing regular folk, and the forcing the will of the ruler, rather than the spirit of the law. (Originally posted on Game Masters Stash on 29 November 2018) Categories All Comments are closed.
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