Re: With other emphasisnavarre_rtaApril 25 2009, 00:03:02 UTC
From my perspective the Watch has not been bucking against the current political situation at all.
A new Watch Captain was promoted and Mandrake troops expanded their patrols without the Mayor or House Mandrake notifying the Watch Captain in the Lower City of this or the reasons for this.
So that said Watch Captain sent mail to the Prince Regent and the Mayor asking for authorization regarding those troops. Why? Because that Watch Captain has no paperwork regarding the situation at all and there had been rumors that those Mandrake troops had been disbanded or sent elsewhere.
There are numerous laws, precedents and exceptions to Amber law related to the presence of armed men in Amber City, but they boil down to two simple points:
1) People fully girded for war are bad for business, and will be expected to swim in their plate mail. 2) If you don't have an army in the city, it's much harder to invade the palace.
How, specifically, that's implemented can vary widely. There are laws on the books about what exactly girded for war is, and the exact numbers of troops based on title, but they're confusing and contradictory, and can generally be quoted to convenience.
In play, this means that the only military forces present in significant numbers in Amber City are the Hounds, the Gulls and any personal forces that the King (or regent) authorizes. Nobles and the wealthy can have house guards in numbers enough to be color in a scene, but not enough to significantly impact the city. Similarly, people walking around armed and armored to the teeth can expect that to be grounds for harassment, unless they're prominently wearing colors. This is somewhat contextual - a knight riding into town may not be harassed, but if he's crazy enough to armor up to go drinking, that's an invitation for trouble.
What flowed on from that was a scene with Valentine as Deputy Mayor and everything else... It has stirred up RP, discussion, argument and so on.
Perhaps individuals within the Watch weren't careful with their public views but overall? The Watch as a whole was awaiting the Prince Regent's decree. If they had of acted in a fashion that was not so diplomatic? They would have mobilized against the Mandrake and Chantris troops and forcibly tried to evict them before hearing back from the Regent.
Hence why the emphasis was such:
* The Gulls are the largest single force in Amber City, a fact which requires they be very careful politically.
NOTE: See the underlined bit? That's why the Watch was seeking clearance from the Prince Regent and didn't toss Mandrake/Chantris troops into the harbor. That's being diplomatic and politically savvy.
How large is large?kynan_r2aApril 25 2009, 00:34:14 UTC
The Gulls are the largest single force in Amber City
Come to think of it, I think this may be one of the facts that needs clarification. In the Palace, it would be easy to justify saying that a Hound walks through every hallway every 5-10 minutes or so (I don't know what is exactly the case, but the point is that the Palace is a high-security zone).
But the City? I just don't see the Watch being that large, though I may be mistaken. The police are the largest force in modern cities, but even with cars and modern communication equipment they manage to miss a lot of the crime when it happens.
I can certainly see the Watch examining the scene of minor events in the Upper City, and major events in the lower, but wouldn't exactly think they are large enough to be able to claim showing up while most events are occurring, unless they last more than 15 to 30 minutes or so, with a large enough visibility to draw the notice.
As the wiki also says about the lower city (http://wiki.roadtoamber.com/amber-city): "Crime is rampant and life can be desperate." If the Watch, the Crown, and the Mayor would like to change that, sounds like a good flagpole item to me.
Re: How large is large?navarre_rtaApril 25 2009, 00:41:19 UTC
I didn't construct the Prop, I didn't write it up and set it's limitations/strengths.
That is something you would need to discuss with Helix and Zakalwe as they were the ones to create it.
I think the point being is that when it comes to an armed contigent of men/women in the city, the Gulls outnumber all others. Therefore making them the largest single acceptable force in the city.
Acceptable in the sense that they are not an army under any one's control being used to invade Amber or stir trouble. They are there to keep the peace.
When all is said and done, The Watch serves the Crown and by extension the people of Amber. The Watch does not serve the Houses or any individual Prince/Princess or other individual of note. They are public servants.
Re: How large is large?kaukai_rtaApril 25 2009, 00:55:18 UTC
Troop strength is deliberately abstract, because number games mean everyone loses.
The Watch is a level 2 prop, which makes it roughly as powerful/influential as a minor noble house. Since they really only do one thing, that means that power and influence is fairly well focused. However, it's still not very potent compared to the other props in the city. Amber's crime prop, for example, is a level 3 - this means that all other influences removed, the Watch cannot control all the crime in the city. One of the major houses could fairly easily squelch the Watch, though such an action is highly unlikely to survive politically.
Of course, these would all be flagpole-scale actions, and unlikely to be un-interfered with.
A new Watch Captain was promoted and Mandrake troops expanded their patrols without the Mayor or House Mandrake notifying the Watch Captain in the Lower City of this or the reasons for this.
So that said Watch Captain sent mail to the Prince Regent and the Mayor asking for authorization regarding those troops. Why? Because that Watch Captain has no paperwork regarding the situation at all and there had been rumors that those Mandrake troops had been disbanded or sent elsewhere.
So in actuality, the Watch was acting in accordance with the Law which is posted at: http://wiki.roadtoamber.com/amber-specific-laws which states and I quote:
Troops Within City Bounds
There are numerous laws, precedents and exceptions to Amber law related to the presence of armed men in Amber City, but they boil down to two simple points:
1) People fully girded for war are bad for business, and will be expected to swim in their plate mail.
2) If you don't have an army in the city, it's much harder to invade the palace.
How, specifically, that's implemented can vary widely. There are laws on the books about what exactly girded for war is, and the exact numbers of troops based on title, but they're confusing and contradictory, and can generally be quoted to convenience.
In play, this means that the only military forces present in significant numbers in Amber City are the Hounds, the Gulls and any personal forces that the King (or regent) authorizes. Nobles and the wealthy can have house guards in numbers enough to be color in a scene, but not enough to significantly impact the city. Similarly, people walking around armed and armored to the teeth can expect that to be grounds for harassment, unless they're prominently wearing colors. This is somewhat contextual - a knight riding into town may not be harassed, but if he's crazy enough to armor up to go drinking, that's an invitation for trouble.
What flowed on from that was a scene with Valentine as Deputy Mayor and everything else... It has stirred up RP, discussion, argument and so on.
Perhaps individuals within the Watch weren't careful with their public views but overall? The Watch as a whole was awaiting the Prince Regent's decree. If they had of acted in a fashion that was not so diplomatic? They would have mobilized against the Mandrake and Chantris troops and forcibly tried to evict them before hearing back from the Regent.
Hence why the emphasis was such:
* The Gulls are the largest single force in Amber City, a fact which requires they be very careful politically.
NOTE: See the underlined bit? That's why the Watch was seeking clearance from the Prince Regent and didn't toss Mandrake/Chantris troops into the harbor. That's being diplomatic and politically savvy.
Reply
Come to think of it, I think this may be one of the facts that needs clarification. In the Palace, it would be easy to justify saying that a Hound walks through every hallway every 5-10 minutes or so (I don't know what is exactly the case, but the point is that the Palace is a high-security zone).
But the City? I just don't see the Watch being that large, though I may be mistaken. The police are the largest force in modern cities, but even with cars and modern communication equipment they manage to miss a lot of the crime when it happens.
I can certainly see the Watch examining the scene of minor events in the Upper City, and major events in the lower, but wouldn't exactly think they are large enough to be able to claim showing up while most events are occurring, unless they last more than 15 to 30 minutes or so, with a large enough visibility to draw the notice.
As the wiki also says about the lower city (http://wiki.roadtoamber.com/amber-city): "Crime is rampant and life can be desperate." If the Watch, the Crown, and the Mayor would like to change that, sounds like a good flagpole item to me.
Reply
That is something you would need to discuss with Helix and Zakalwe as they were the ones to create it.
I think the point being is that when it comes to an armed contigent of men/women in the city, the Gulls outnumber all others. Therefore making them the largest single acceptable force in the city.
Acceptable in the sense that they are not an army under any one's control being used to invade Amber or stir trouble. They are there to keep the peace.
When all is said and done, The Watch serves the Crown and by extension the people of Amber. The Watch does not serve the Houses or any individual Prince/Princess or other individual of note. They are public servants.
Reply
The Watch is a level 2 prop, which makes it roughly as powerful/influential as a minor noble house. Since they really only do one thing, that means that power and influence is fairly well focused. However, it's still not very potent compared to the other props in the city. Amber's crime prop, for example, is a level 3 - this means that all other influences removed, the Watch cannot control all the crime in the city. One of the major houses could fairly easily squelch the Watch, though such an action is highly unlikely to survive politically.
Of course, these would all be flagpole-scale actions, and unlikely to be un-interfered with.
Reply
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