Min/Max Boards

Creative Corner => Legends of the Heroes => Topic started by: GigaBig on November 27, 2014, 05:13:16 AM

Title: new Lawful rogue, needs help on personal code
Post by: GigaBig on November 27, 2014, 05:13:16 AM
Background: In the past with several DMs i managed to argue that being Lawful didn't necessarily mean they followed the law of the land. But instead followed a personal code of conduct. In an upcoming game I am playing a rogue (BoFühr Deepláger) and I said this to our new DM and he said fine but i want you to specifically define saw code.

Question: I need a good set of rules but one that allows me general wiggle room. The code is like in movies and such where the super bad hitman  says "i don't kill women or children"

What i have come up with is below, but it has several contradictions that i want to smooth out. Also some of them are worded more like mental state/view vs a code. if possible change them to code like wording. Any thoughts or suggestions would be great.

1.   Never show emotion Be efficient, professional, and always have a plan to kill everyone you meet.
2.   Forsake all relatives
3.   Do not harm children
4.   If it can be moved, it can be stolen
5.   It ain’t illegal unless you get caught.
6.   Anyone not an known/willing accomplice is a mark
7.   Confidence is Key; act as though you know, even if you don’t
8.   Do not steal/rip off other thieves… blatantly
9.   Always look out for yourself above all others
10.   Never be in debt to others, pay your debts promptly
11.   Any promise/word given to a mark is considered void once the mark has lost usefulness
12.   Never renege on a job after accepting payment, unless it violates rule #9
13.   A known thief is a dead thief, reputation is everything. Be known for by your work, not your looks/name.
Title: Re: new Lawful rogue, needs help on personal code
Post by: ketaro on November 27, 2014, 11:47:26 AM
Never show emotion is and sounds cheesy. Definitely should be more along the lines of something about professionalism.
Title: Re: new Lawful rogue, needs help on personal code
Post by: littha on November 27, 2014, 12:04:32 PM
11 and 12 are contradictory.
Title: Re: new Lawful rogue, needs help on personal code
Post by: Solo on November 27, 2014, 02:48:31 PM
Never show emotion is and sounds cheesy. Definitely should be more along the lines of something about professionalism.

Be polite. Be efficient. Have a plan to kill everyone you meet. (http://youtu.be/9NZDwZbyDus?t=1m9s)
Title: Re: new Lawful rogue, needs help on personal code
Post by: wotmaniac on November 27, 2014, 03:58:11 PM
For some inspiration, here's some "mafia code" stuff:
http://www.askmen.com/money/mafioso_60/78_mafia.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-492449/Police-discover-Mafias-Ten-Commandments-arresting-Godfather.html

Seems pretty "Lawful" to me.
Title: Re: new Lawful rogue, needs help on personal code
Post by: GigaBig on November 28, 2014, 01:47:37 AM
Thanks for the prompt responses.

For some inspiration, here's some "mafia code" stuff:
http://www.askmen.com/money/mafioso_60/78_mafia.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-492449/Police-discover-Mafias-Ten-Commandments-arresting-Godfather.html

Seems pretty "Lawful" to me.

The ten commandments are interesting. I had looked at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thief_in_law halfway down rules according to Aleksandr Gurov, for ideas. In the ten commandments I don’t see them being overly applicable to a D&D setting. Except maybe 6 (though i equate that to professionalism), 9 seems related to my 8.


Be polite. Be efficient. Have a plan to kill everyone you meet. (http://youtu.be/9NZDwZbyDus?t=1m9s)

I like it though i agree that professionalism needs to be worked in. Moded your suggestion and edited original post. Hows #1 read for you now?

11 and 12 are contradictory.

littha, I don't see how they contradict each other. Per rule #6 your “employer” would be a knowing/willing accomplice, therefore not a mark. Also their usefulness would defiantly last at least till i got paid. Though if the wording needs clearing up. I’m all for suggestions.

Title: Re: new Lawful rogue, needs help on personal code
Post by: wotmaniac on November 28, 2014, 01:57:27 AM
Not sure how relevant it is; but perhaps Omerta (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omert%C3%A0) might be worth a look. 
Title: Re: new Lawful rogue, needs help on personal code
Post by: ketaro on November 28, 2014, 05:01:25 AM
11 and 12 are contradictory.

littha, I don't see how they contradict each other. Per rule #6 your “employer” would be a knowing/willing accomplice, therefore not a mark. Also their usefulness would defiantly last at least till i got paid. Though if the wording needs clearing up. I’m all for suggestions.

The way 12 is worded implies you only take on jobs where you're paid upfront.
Once you've been paid, you can totally back out(#12) because now your 'employer/willing/knowing accomplice'(#6) has no more use as you already got the money(#11) so why endanger yourself by doing the job anyways(#9) ?

Pretty sneaky there, sneakthief. :p
Title: Re: new Lawful rogue, needs help on personal code
Post by: GigaBig on November 28, 2014, 05:23:55 AM
11 and 12 are contradictory.

littha, I don't see how they contradict each other. Per rule #6 your “employer” would be a knowing/willing accomplice, therefore not a mark. Also their usefulness would defiantly last at least till i got paid. Though if the wording needs clearing up. I’m all for suggestions.

The way 12 is worded implies you only take on jobs where you're paid upfront.
Once you've been paid, you can totally back out(#12) because now your 'employer/willing/knowing accomplice'(#6) has no more use as you already got the money(#11) so why endanger yourself by doing the job anyways(#9) ?

Pretty sneaky there, sneakthief. :p

I suppose it can be read that way. Not the way i intended it to be read. But i like where u went with it. Though it sounds like a way to never get recommended for future job as well as have a huge bounty from every organization that operates underground.

I had meant it more like, if you are offered a job and you are paid upfront (half or full) considerate it binding. Vs paid upon delivery where you can invoke #9 if things get dicey and maintain "moral" high ground stating that since the job didn't get done you don't get paid.

Also #9 i had aimed for situations along the lines of save yourself and the loot or risk it all to save say a fellow party member. At which point you look out for numeral uno.
Title: Re: new Lawful rogue, needs help on personal code
Post by: GigaBig on November 28, 2014, 05:31:06 AM
But this is exactly why i posted these here. for new and improved rules/wording.

Creative abuse and loopholes there within. Ya never know when you'll need a loophole to get out of a job and the DM looks at your personal code and says you can't you've been paid. And i'll go well tech this that and this allows me to do so.