::Racial Gates Change::
The DM team, in an effort to revitalize certain aspects of roleplay and to replace some of the older, outdated rules on the server, we will be changing the way Racial gates work. This change will be targeting those of Evil alignments/inclinations who are undiscovered. To those who have been actively banned by identification-- Tough! You'll still have to go through asking for DM oversight. I understand this is a lot to read, but I think when you do, you'll find that the rule is very intuitive and makes a lot of sense.
The Situation: "The Problem"
There's currently a very counter-intuitive system of blanket banning by alignment and deity that acts against what we believe the gate guards actually check for. Subjects of blanket bans who are undiscovered, by the old rulings were still supposed to request DM oversight to enter a city even when they are cleverly disguised and/or haven't ever been flagged as being evil by any authority. Ever.
Blanket Ban = Any ban from the city that targets a wide group of people. Alignment-based bans, religious bans, etc. **NOTE: A ban on an individual, even if vague and non-descript still functions as a normal ban, and is thus not included in a 'blanket ban.'
So rather than have to put this damper on RP simply because "The Guards could do anything," we decided to come up with what the Guards would actually, reasonably do-- So long as your character was not suspicious appearing or attracting unnecessary attention.
The Solution:
If you play a character that is under one of the city's "Blanket" bans (Ex. Kohlingen's ban on Evil Deity worshipers, Cordor's ban on Sharrans), but have not actively been discovered as evil/belonging to factions that are banned, you'll walk through a few simple 'Checklist' steps when approaching Racial gates, and upon your passing, be able to enter without DM supervision.
Quote:
As you approach the gates, the guards react as such:1.) They reference Criminal Records. This can be appearance sketches if they have one. Names, details, etc.
2.) Perform an on-the-spot checks of any evil deity symbols, markings, etc. A simple but thorough appearance check.
3.) In the case of a banned Race, they inspect more thoroughly, searching for markings of approval, references, etc. Same goes for those bearing signs of evident evil/oddities (Pale Master skin discoloration, Chromatic/Metallic Dragon Disciple scales).
If your character is able to pass these checks, he doesn't require DM oversight to get into a city where a blanket ban is placed against him.
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NOW! Here's a few important notes.
This checklist does not apply to anyone that has been actively banned by a city. They must still ask for DM permission to attempt entry into a city. Those who are actively banned are stopped at Step 1 of the checklist, so they consequently require DM oversight. This checklist is subject to change. In times of war, emergency, crisis, you can bet that security measures would tighten. But when they do, there will be a notification. And these tightened security measures may change on a city to city basis. Step 3 of the guard process is based on physical characteristics. At racial gates, they ask you to remove your helmet. This is more than enough for guards (On an average occasion) to determine that something is up. If you possess a class that alters your physique (Such as Pale Master classes or Dragon Disciple classes), you won't pass Step 3. Am I saying there aren't ways to hide these physical traits? No, of course not. But because they are -difficult- to hide, it requires DM oversight as you do attempt to enter a city in which your class/racial-type is banned. Just because you got into the city past the Racial Gate guards doesn't mean that you're in the clear, and immune from guard attention for the rest of the time spent in a city. This checklist is a tool to be used to avoid metagaming Gate Guards. Don't go running around Kohlingen setting up idols to Bane, just because you managed to get past a Gate unnoticed. This is still metagaming guards. You entered in a condition/appearance, you shouldn't deviate too far from it while in the presence of guards (If you've got something to hide). PC guards also have the full capability to arrest/expel as before. If you ever have any concerns, or if anything is unclear, its better to ask a DM. I understand this post has a lot to say in it, but I wanted to make things absolutely clear to eliminate conflict and confusion.Examples
1.) A player decides to play a Sharran, but learns that as whole, the faith is banned from Cordor. The character wears no signs of her Sharran faith, she's a human female, and has never been OOCly informed that her character was banned from the city. The player looks at the checklist, learns that her character would pass all three steps, and enters the city. GOOD
2.) A player has a character that was banned from Cordor for murder. He walks up to the gate in complete disguise, looks at the checklist, and decides that the guards wouldn't be able determine that he was the same murderer as before, so he enters the city. BAD -- Get DM supervision.
3.) A player creates a Pale Master and tries to slip him into Kohlingen, believing that he's concealed all of his Pale Master features. BAD -- Get DM supervision. You may very well have concealed all your features, but the DM's need to make sure.
4.) An Eilistraeen Drow attempts to enter an area where Underdark (Evil) drow are banned. She sees that she would be stopped at step three, but she knows she has a legitimate authorization and clearance to enter the city. So she does, as normal. GOOD Please note that this doesn't actually change the mechanics of the Racial Gates, this is just used as an example of specifically authorized races/religions.
Remember, this checklist can be changed as necessary by the DM's. Even players can try to take initiative and change them, if they so wish. As these changes are patching over old rules, and not a result of any IC event, there would really be no noticeable change ICly. The Guards continue performing their duties just as they have been every day. Sure, some guards are capable of casting things like "Detection from Evil", but they don't reasonably cast it on every person that enters a city. We hope you understand these changes, and we're confident that this change of rules should be a smooth transition from the ways of old.