From: seawasp@vm2.cis.pitt.edu (Sea Wasp)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Carrying weapons around (was Re: META:  Swords, etc)
Date: 8 Nov 92 23:47:56 GMT
Organization: University of Pittsburgh
Originator: seawasp@unixd1.cis.pitt.edu

In article <40721@sdcc12.ucsd.edu> bkoike@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (Bryce Koike) writes:
>In article <1992Nov6.034021.19763@trl.oz.au> s.mathers@trl.oz.au writes:
>>If you want an analogy, compare the situation to seeing sombody in the
>>street with a holstered pistol, to somebody with an assault rifle
>>strapped to their back.

>	Bad analogy.  I'd be very suspicious of someone who needs to
>run around with a pistol.  Why does he/she need the pistol?
>Obviously they've either got an ego problem or they're planning on
>killing someone with it and either way I'd rather see them far away
>from me when the bullets start going off.  Again, this also depends
>on where we are.  If we're walking around Hell Town USA where
>someone's murdered every .05 seconds, then maybe I could understand
>(me, I'd never visit to begin with).  But if we're in Beverly Hills,
>then yes, I'd be very suspicious.  The cops would be tempted to stop
>this person and question him, possibly take him in if he's acting
>weird, etc.  (No?  My friend was taken in for carrying a crossbow
>back from the repair shop.  It wasn't loaded, he couldn't have shot
>anyone with it anyway...although there's that stigma attached to
>Exotic Weaponry.)

	Well, guess you'd be suspicious of an awful lot of the gamers I
have gamed with over the years. Several of them carry loaded large-caliber
handguns with them at all times. They aren't psychotics out to kill
someone, but they feel that there are enough "bad people" out there so that
it is worthwhile to carry a good piece of self defense around with them.


	And I've walked through the city streets of two cities, so far, 
wearing a sword on my hip. No one's done anything to me, although one
cop car did slow down and the police gave me odd looks.


>	Self-defense is a good argument if you live in a place of
>the world where every minute you live in fear for your life.  The
>less the risk is, though, and the more you start sounded paranoid
>and possibly dangerous.  I'd dare say that the same goes for a
>medieval world.
>	"Well, I'm an adventurer, get it?  Adventurer."
>	"Yeah, that's what the last ten mercenaries said.  We don't
>like assassins and we don't like mercenaries here in BlahBlah City."
>	"Look, I'm a GOOD GUY.  I kill goblins for a living!"
>	"Uh-huh.  Right.  There ain't no goblins here, so you mind
>explaining that sword you're carrying around?  Mind telling me where
>you found that sword while you're at it?"
>	"It's MY sword.  I got it from my dad!  I use it for
>protection!"
>	"Sure, sure.  How about we discuss this in the prison?  And
>don't cause no trouble 'cuz my friend Rolfr's ready to stick an
>arrow in your back if you move funny..."

	Well, that depends very much on the world, eh?

	In my world, Adventurer is a recognized profession. People 
admire Adventurers (they occupy much the same position in society as,
say, major movie stars do in the US) and want to be like them.

	Weapons are worn as a matter of course in almost all cities,
and most certainly will be worn by adventurers. Considering that legal
issues are often resolved by the principals involved and not the 
local constabulary, adventurers are well-known to be vulnerable to
attack at any time. An Adventurer who was walking around completely
unarmed in my world would be thought either crazy, or else he must
have something REALLY nasty up his sleeve.

	In fact, the social strata higher up REQUIRE that you come 
armed -- especially if you are going to meet the King. To be disarmed
is to indicate not only a lack of trust but an insult and an implication
that you offer yourself helpless before your host.


                                 Sea Wasp
                                   /^\
                                   ;;;
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc