Svabodnik wrote:Sun Wukong wrote:[...]If a character has a weapon equipped that character is brandishing it. If a character does not have it equipped then that character is not. This means that whenever a character has a weapon out that character is automatically emoting some degree of hostility by waving a weapon around.[...]
Had to double check to make sure I didn't miss that as being previously mentioned anywhere in the General Server Rules, DM Rulings, or PvP Rules and Guidelines. Closest I could find was that drawing a weapon "during hostilities" may be taken as auto-consent for PvP (much like resting, which certainly isn't offensive in its own right). It's a decent rule of thumb, but not entirely consistent, and context would have to be taken into consideration in either case.
THE LAWS OF THE LANDS lists brandishing under disorderly conduct.
There are even in game scripts that automatically send guards to put an end to disorderly conduct such as brandishing weapons.
This is not something that was whipped up yesterday. It has been in place for years, and pretty much from the first day of the server to boot.
Having weapon equipped is a sign of hostility, and it is a good rule of thumb because it is bound by basic common sense. Just imagine going somewhere everyday and safe... and then stumbling into someone that is waving a gun or other deadly object around, pointing it at other people, if not out right shoving it into your face.
Svabodnik wrote:For two quick examples, I've always assumed that guard NPCs that have their weapons drawn aren't menacing passersby with them, but are instead keeping them on hand. I don't imagine the Flaming Fist instructs their halberdiers to stand around in a ready battle stance, speartip forward to threaten any chicken that dares saunter on by. I've always envisioned them either leaning against their polearm, or having it resting on their shoulder during patrol.
At this point of time in the Forgotten Settings timeline, the Flaming Fist are the strongest mercanary force in the realms. Basically, the side that has hired the Flaming Fist usually wins the conflict.
Now, they've taken some hits over the years as far as the server's own timeline is considered, but the Flaming Fist have lingered on and Baldur's Gate remains independent. It stands as testament that the nature of the Flaming Fists has not changed, they are well trained and regulated armed force of the lawful alignment. The Flaming Fist remain alert and they do not lean against their polearms, they stand upright and hold their weapons accordingly.
Thus the weapons that the members of the Flaming Fist 'brandish' are actually an in game reminder that the laws are enforced in the city of Baldur's Gate. (Which is lawful neutral in its over all alignment.)
If you want some visual aid for the level of training the Flaming Fist have in the art of war, I suppose you could watch this clip from the Game of Thrones tv-series:
A dragon breaths fire and the troops still hold a perfect line. Just imagine being there when a guy on your left or right is burning to ash and you still stand in place holding the line instead of simply running away in horror. Basically, without that dragon, those barbarian horsemen with their tiny weapons would not have been able to pierce the ranks of that spear wall. Horses do not like running into solid objects, and even less so when those objects have pointy stabby sticks.
Svabodnik wrote:Likewise, walking past another adventurer on the road who has their weapon drawn, I've never assumed that they are emoting intent to run my character through just as they did some goblin a few minutes ago. While they may have a greatsword equipped, it's more likely that they are holding it in many of the ways that one would carry such a weapon, rather than swapping between ochs stance and fool's guard while we stop for a quick chat.
This server has PvP consent rules, which means that a fellow player has to dance through some hoops before they can attack your character. This is out of character information. Therefore, were you to approach the above situation with a slightly more serious focus on actual role-playing, perhaps you could consider the following questions:
1) Do I know that armed and blood soaked individual?
2) Does he bear any symbols that mark affliation?
3) What if he is a bandit that just slew a goblin?
4) How can I be sure he is not a threat to me?
Now, presence of goblins or other threats is a good reason to keep your weapons ready. But it just means that the hostility evoked by brandishing a weapon needs to be mitigated in some other fashion, such as with words for example.
Finally, we should not forget that many builds do fine, if not great, without a positive wisdom modifier. This server also comes with a stong encouragment to role-play your character sheets. You should not assume that the approach a low wisdom ability score adventurer has to things is in any way sensible or even within bounds of reason.
But I must tip my hat to the many players who role-play that low-wisdom ability score of their characters just truly brilliantly.
Svabodnik wrote:In general, there is typically sufficient context to determine whether there is hostile intent or not. Much like one can emote *Strolls on by, their knobby cane leaving deep impressions in the mud* while having nothing equipped, they can likewise do so with a quarterstaff in their hands. Overall, it would serving just as much of a rough visual guide to their character as the hour they spent trying to piece something together with the appearance changer that would never actually do what they envisioned justice. As I mentioned before, and you said so yourself - hotkeyed weapons are sufficiently quick to draw and put away that there's little mechanical advantage or disadvantage tied to it. Overall, it'd rather be an aesthetic choice, and one I do not have a problem with people making.
If the quarterstaff is in their hands, I assume they are leaving those deep impressions in a manner that would suggest that the mud under their feet had stolen thier sweet roll, murdered their parents, or something along those lines.
The insistance to be allowed to wield weapons has less to do with aesthethics than it has to do with in game mechanical advantage. For example the extra spell slots and primary casting ability score bonuses mentioned earlier. Additionally, equipping weapon basically cancel your melee attacks for the rest of the round. Therefore, a 'polearm' Frenzied Weapon Master would have clear PvP advantage over to the 'longsword' Frenzied Weapon Master if one is allowed to brandish weapons while the other is not.
Finally, if characters are not automatically wielding their weapons, it creates another step for the players to take before they engage in PvP. Thus it is little less about who manages to get the first dice rolls in, and a little bit more about having more time to find alternative solutions to in character disagreements. Typing things out takes time, and is something you do not have if you need to get the first rolls in.
It really is one solid rule of thumb. If you have a weapon 'equipped' then you are automatically emothing some degree of hostility.