If you are running a city-based campaign, as I am, and the player characters habitually wake up naked in jail, you will inevitably find yourself in need of some way of dispensing justice to your merry band of scoff-laws. It seems almost to be a universal rule that players + cities = trouble; there are just so many opportunities for mischief and it is the nature of players to exploit these to the fullest extent.
The following crime and punishment table is inspired by the one in Judge's Guild's City State of the Invincible Overlord, but has been customized to reflect life in the City States of Lemuria.
The outcome of a trial is determined by a d20 roll on Table 1. This roll is modified according to the severity of the crime, the magistrate's temperament, bribes, and the character's Charisma score (described on the modifiers tables, below). Once the outcome is determined, roll on the appropriate punishment table to determine the specific details.
MODIFIERS TO OUTCOME
(If subject is charged with multiple crimes, use the modifier for the most serious offense, then adjust it by -1 for each additional charge)
Severity of Crime Outcome Modifier
Dueling, Public Nuisance, Drunkenness +2
Bribery +1
Public Debauchery, Trespassing, Property Damage +0
Theft, Arson, Resisting Arrest, Extortion, Blackmail -1
Assault, Rape, Kidnapping, Tomb-Robbing, Piracy -2
Murder, Necromancy, Treason, Trafficking with Demons -3
Tax Evasion, Smuggling -4
Roll Magistrate's Temperament Outcome Modifier
1 'Hanging Judge' -4
2 'Tough on Crime' Crusader -3
3 Hung Over -2
4 Irritable -1
5 Scrupulously Impartial 0
6 Cheerful +1
7 Sympathetic +2
8 'Bleeding Heart' Reformer +3
Bribes Charged with Bribery Outcome Modifier
100 gp or more 15% +1
250 gp or more 10% +2
500 gp or more 05% +3
Charisma Outcome Modifier
Below Average -1
Average 0
Above Average +1
Table 1: OUTCOME OF TRIAL
Die Roll Outcome
1 or less Execution
2 Dismemberment
3-4 Imprisonment
5 Flogging
6 Enslavement
7 Indenture (roll on Jail table for duration)
8-9 Jail
10-11 Fine
12 Probation
13-17 Dismissal
18-20 Favourable Judgement
OUTCOME SUBTABLES (Roll for Result)
Execution Dismemberment
1. Beheading 1. Hand
2. Hanging 2. Foot
3. Impalement 3. Tongue
4. Sacrifice 4. Eye
Imprisonment Flogging (1d4 dmg per ten lashes)
1. Six Months 1. Ten Lashes
2. One Year 2. Twenty Lashes
3. Three Years 3. Fifty Lashes
4. Five Years 4. One-hundred Lashes
5. Ten Years 5. One-hundred and fifty Lashes
6. Twenty Years 6. Two-hundred Lashes
Enslavement to Indenture to
1. City Work Gang 1. City Work Gang
2. Galley Oarsman 2. Farm Work Gang
3. Mines 3. Mines
4. Gladiatorial Pit 4. Plaintiff
5. Brothel
6. Plaintiff
7. Overlord
8. Atlanteans
Jail Term Fine Amount
1. Ten Days 1. 10 gp
2. Thirty Days 2. 100 gp
3. Sixty Days 3. 500 gp
4. Ninety Days 4. 1,000 gp
5. Six Months 5. 5,000 gp
6. One Year 6. All Possessions
Probation
Roll on Jail table for period of probation. Guilty party may not bear arms or armour, and must report to the gaolers once per week.
Favourable Judgement
The accused is acquitted and receives financial compensation from the plaintiff. Roll on the Fine table to determine the amount of the award.
2 comments:
I would bump up arson to be on par with murder and treason, if your cities are built like medieval ones. Cities are a lot less densely packed and flammable today than they were historically, so we tend to forget what a serious crime it was.
Catapesh is built entirely of stone. But feel free to shift things around to suit your particulars.
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