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Post by alcyone on Sept 20, 2012 18:53:30 GMT -6
I've always liked the idea of a last will and testament and an inheritance tax, but I am wondering how it would work. I am thinking maybe it doesn't really work at all as long as long as the adventurers are out in the wilderness and dungeons outside the reach and knowledge of civilization, or as long as all of their worldly goods are carried on their backs.
If someone died where the constabulary didn't know about it, and indeed, they may not even be citizens, why would the party trudge to town, drop off their friend's belongings, and impoverish their new future companion?
I can see in situations where you need to go to civilization to hire someone, especially where your group is known, this would be an opportunity to play this out. I suppose it's not that much sillier than a new companion just popping out of nowhere in the wilderness or the bottom of a dungeon.
Once you are invested in civilization, owning lands and buildings and the like, this tax could be enforced, but probably by that time you are making your own laws and yourself collecting inheritance taxes.
Not a serious question, my campaign doesn't hang in the balance, but I am curious, if you use this rule, how do you justify it (if at all).
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Post by waysoftheearth on Sept 20, 2012 19:04:33 GMT -6
I think it's partly a question of PC alignment.
Lawful PCs would want to behave lawfully, and therefore would want to return the body of the fallen, or at least word of his fall, and all that was his to the rightful heir. That is their nature.
Neutral PCs would do so if it was convenient, or especially if there was something in it for them (like a reward). Or if it was inconvenient or necessary they might "borrow" some of the fallen hero's gear for now... intending to return it "later" (when they were next in town anyway).
Chaotics would just loot and/or defile the body and not give a d**n about the relatives.
edit:
It also occurs to me that this is one of the "reasons" to choose one alignment over another. Lawful PCs should expect to have their goods and remains delivered to their relatives should they fall. Or at the very least word of their demise. Chaotics PCs should expect no such treatment.
In terms of the on going campaign, the inheritance rule is one mechanism by which a player can begin a new PC without having to start all over from absolute zero. He can, at least, benefit from some of his previous endeavors in the campaign world by inheriting the wealth his previous PC amassed.
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Post by talysman on Sept 20, 2012 19:55:10 GMT -6
Well, in the original game that DD is based on, it's never stated openly, but I believe a will/inheritance applies to possessions not on the deceased's person. It's a gimmick, like "Saves" in video games; instead of starting from the beginning, you get a fresh character with extra wealth (whatever you didn't take into the dungeon on your fatal expedition.) The inheritance tax is just the price you pay for that convenience. There isn't even a need to actually write a will; just say "Ned's cousin Zed will inherit my stuff if my character dies."
As for possessions actually carried, that's up to the other PCs, but the real governing factor isn't alignment or anything else in the rules, it's the fact that Ned's player knows what he was carrying and whether anyone looted the body. There's something to be said for not starting a fistfight at the table.
When we played, back in the day, we actually had a bank in town. My buddy got a bit Monty Haul-ish when he DMed, and I wound up with huge amounts of treasure, even after I bought a mansion. And I had a "deed". It was a piece of paper with "This is a deed. You own it." written on it. That's about as realistic and detailed as we got.
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Post by ravenheart87 on Sept 21, 2012 0:35:49 GMT -6
I had a simple rule for last will in my S&W campaign. Every character can write a two sentence long last will or make up one when dying - but the latter is only one and a half sentence long, he can't finish it. If the other players don't honor his last will, the avenging ghost of the fallen character will return to haunt them.
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