From: bkoike@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (Bryce Koike)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Re: META:  Swords, etc
Date: 8 Nov 92 19:51:16 GMT
Organization: University of California, San Diego

In article <1992Nov6.034021.19763@trl.oz.au> s.mathers@trl.oz.au writes:
>|> You use a sword when you want to kill people.  It isn't useful for eating

	Swords can be carried as signs of authority, for ceremonies,
etc.  For the most part, though, this applies to nobility and the
like and not your EverdayMan.  (In fact, how did this guy come
across his sword anyway?  All the greater suspicion if the sword is
very nice...in a more realistic campaign, if a group of dirty
"adventurers" walked in wielding war axes and swords, someone might
get tempted to call the city guard on a group of
marauders/mercenaries.  No normal person has a need to carry that
kind of stuff around!  In wartime, though, such stuff might be
tolerated more, although the populace might be bitter...)

>|> or brushing teeth or anything but combat, and it's pretty awkward to carry
>|> one around with you.  Therefore, if you carry a sword you are implying that
>|> you're serious about killing somebody under some conditions.  (There are
>|> exceptions involving ceremonies, and in fact shields and armor are of limited
>|> ceremonial value, but I wouldn't feel any more comfortable with somebody
>|> carrying a sword than somebody carrying a gun under most circumstances.)

	Depends a lot on the campaign world, of course.  The
traditional AD&D-style world with Demons, Devils, and Evil Dragons
lurking around every corner might very well create a society that's
well-armed (a la CP2020, in fact).  After all, there has to be SOME
reason that there's forty weapon stores in X City and half a dozen
magic stores...

>Id say that in most gaming worlds, walking
>around with a sword at you hip would be considered acceptable behaviour,
>while walking around armoured and carrying a sheild would not be.  

	Depends again.  What's the world like?  If it's extremely
dangerous, then yes, it might be acceptable.  If you're walking
around in a really bad part of town, yes.  But if the world is
relatively peaceful, if there's no war going on, and you're not a
member of the nobility (or a city guard, or a knight, etc), then
there would definitely be some serious suspicion as to what you're
doing with that sword.  If it's a really nice sword, then maybe
you're a pirate, a thief, a mugger, or some other style of criminal
because you obviously don't have the money to BUY a sword like that
regardless of the fact that you're a Great Adventurer....(muttering)
"yah, marauder more like it!  I remember when the _________ killed
'bout fifteen of our soldiers last year.  Bet you were with 'em,
too!"
	In fact, the same goes for any weapon that's worn.  If
you've got it tied to a pack, then maybe you're a part-time merchant
or something.  But if you've got it ready for combat, then there's
definitely going to be some suspicion.  The larger the city, the
more you're going to stick out.  Why are you running around with
killing tools at your hip?  If the city is well-patrolled, then
obviously you're looking for trouble -- the city is peaceful.  So's
my opinion, of course.

>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.)
	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..."

	[heck, we can also use the movie The Unfogiven as an
example.  Cities that enforce Unarmed policies would probably get
very upset at those who violate their policies.  There's some cities
that enforce "tied sword" policies where if you insist on carrying a
sword around that it must be tied so that you can't get at it
easily.  This really only applies for the AD&D Adventurer Worlds,
though, or cities that strongly enforce the peace, etc.]