Land System Action Changes

I think that if one doesn't see the benefit of taking the action, don't take it. Also, the reward for negative actions may come from play... Just like when money was offered to take actions fixing the road or tending the proper's wildcards. In game offers of reward or in game plans or commands may necessitate these actions.

There were no potential benefits to Cause Mayhem before either. Yet people still took those actions for their characters.

There was a chance of failure for Cause Mayhem before. However that chance was determined on a case by case basis by me and the only downside really available was that other PCs found out about what was done by the Cause Mayhem action through their Land System responses. This left the impression that Cause Mayhem actions were either unstoppable or led to instant character retirement depending on your perspective. Now with a system of punishments in place (punishments administered by NPCs) we can help characters that have unsavory goals (of a non-PC targeting nature) to explore the seedy streets of the Land System within a framework where a small mistake doesn't cost them their character. We left in the Malicious Action option for those players that really wanted to risk it all.

On top of this, when James and I were discussing this change we realized that we were not representing "normal" crime very well in the system. So by introducing the new actions where the punishment is only a fine (which is also in line with the new laws just published) it allows us more options to move the numbers in the system to reflect background crime in a way that doesn't make people feel like they are being abused by an unpreventable crime. Now if a PC decides to rob a merchant we can provide him with a merchant to rob as well as enough background crime that they don't get easily caught or if they do get caught it is not a monumental event in the settlement but just another day at the office where a criminal was caught and fined and sent to the stocks. Additionally we will now also have some NPCs taking some of these actions in the Land System from time to time. This will serve to emulate that "background" level of crime that exists in the world and occasionally lead to PCs taking down NPC criminals or criminal organizations. Some of these NPCs may also make appearances at games to provide a tracking challenge for those characters as well.

Regarding criminals not banking their gold -- this is why there are minimums on these punishments that can then cause your bank account to go negative. Should your bank account go negative for too long we shall send out debt collectors at game. If the system of applying the punishment is abused I will find a way to fix that particular problem at that time.

If, in the end, you decide that these negative actions are not for you then do not take them. There are plenty of good things to do in the Land System. I suspect that there will still be people taking these actions however.

Why would anyone do it? Because it's their characters' decisions. Ultimately if their character is dead set on murdering innocents or completely ravaging trade routes, they're going to do it with (maybe) knowledge of the consequences should the be caught. If you don't think it makes sense for your character to commit criminal or malicious actions, don't have them perform criminal or malicious actions between games. That simple.

I'm not saying I wouldn't do it...

All I'm saying is that if I jack a merchant AT GAME (and completely get away with it ), you know what I get... gold/stuff, and sweet cool RP.

If I jack a merchant "in-between" game (and succeed) I get... sweet cool RP(?).

With the same risk, the reward needs to be the same. Cause with both scenarios the consequences when you aren't successful ARE the same.

Capt Locke wrote: If I jack a merchant "in-between" game (and succeed) I get... sweet cool RP(?).

With the same risk, the reward needs to be the same. Cause with both scenarios the consequences when you aren't successful ARE the same.

I will take that under advisement and think about it for a few days. I will update if/when a change is made.

What if the Mayhem I wanna cause is nothing serious? Can I specify it & the location?

Take that Londwyn...