Bribery

[Malken]

Is there any help files that relate to bribes in general in game?

Would there be a difference in the ways you'd want to bribe a northern Templar versus a southern Templar?

Would a northern Templar be 'insulted' if you gave him money instead of 'subtle' gifts? Could you just walk up to a southern Templar and give him coins in front of everyone and that'd be just fine?

Would it be bad roleplay for anyone to feel 'insulted' that you are attempting to bribe them? I don't mean bad roleplay that your bribe isn't working, but bad roleplay that they feel insulted that you are attempting
to sway their opinion of you or anything else with gifts and money?

[NoteworthyFellow]

Would there be a difference in the ways you'd want to bribe a northern Templar versus a southern Templar?

Would a northern Templar be 'insulted' if you gave him money instead of 'subtle' gifts? Could you just walk up to a southern Templar and give him coins in front of everyone and that'd be just fine?

I'd say yes, though it depends on the Templar.  Northern Templars, I imagine, like money just as much as southern ones do, and so I expect a good portion of them would accept it, though I think the method of "gifting" it should be considered.  But really, the same goes for most southern Templars I've encountered: it never hurts to keep bribery as under-the-table as possible, if you ask me.

Would it be bad roleplay for anyone to feel 'insulted' that you are attempting to bribe them? I don't mean bad roleplay that your bribe isn't working, but bad roleplay that they feel insulted that you are attempting
to sway their opinion of you or anything else with gifts and money?

I don't see why someone couldn't roleplay an honorable, "virtuous" Templar or soldier.  If it's in-character for your character to be insulted, then it's perfectly okay roleplay.  Keep in mind, however, that the majority of authority figures probably aren't like that, so it makes your character more of an "exception," and may put you into conflict with other authorities (which, y'know, is a perfectly fine thing).

[Janna]

Is there any help files that relate to bribes in general in game?

Nothing extensive that I know of. Like a set, "You should pay 50 coins to Lord Templar hard nose if you were caught defiling a kalan in a bar."

Would there be a difference in the ways you'd want to bribe a northern Templar versus a southern Templar?

Depends on the Templar and their spin on the role. Some Templars from the North may find it not very subtle or some such. Play it by ear.

Would a northern Templar be 'insulted' if you gave him money instead of 'subtle' gifts?

Maybe.

Could you just walk up to a southern Templar and give him coins in front of everyone and that'd be just fine?

Sure. Reactions may vary.

Would it be bad roleplay for anyone to feel 'insulted' that you are attempting to bribe them?

Not if they have some character that is "On the straight and narrow." Rare, but it does happen I imagine.

I don't mean bad roleplay that your bribe isn't working, but bad roleplay that they feel insulted that you are attempting
to sway their opinion of you or anything else with gifts and money?

Same as the last. Depends on the character they created. However, for the most part, corruption is the name of the game.

[FantasyWriter]

I have always wished there were a way to find PC templars, instead of having to wish up to have an NPC one animated.

If there is one, I have missed it.

[Vessol]

I have always wished there were a way to find PC templars, instead of having to wish up to have an NPC one animated.

If there is one, I have missed it.

Find out IG .

[ale six]

As long as your bribe isn't something as blatant as killing a guy in cold blood on the street, then tossing a pouch of coin to a templar and saying "Can I go now?", I think you could get away with bribing a Jihaen or Lirathan with money.

Southern templars might even let you off in the above scenario. On the other hand, if you offend a southern templar with your bribe you're more likely to get a smiting right there on the spot for it.

I don't think it's bad roleplay to be insulted that someone attempted to bribe you. Maybe your character has a reputation for being a paragon of uncorruptness, or maybe they're insulted that you think you can bribe your way out of a heinous crime.

[jstorrie]

I've found that the real wildcards are high-ranking templars. They might feel more pride in doing their job properly, or they might simply be so rich that your fifty coins mean nothing to them. They might have become bored with fucking over commoners, or they might have become increasingly irritable. They might have become so powerful that vaporizing you is like blinking, or they might be so conscious of their power that they don't want to waste any of it smiting a nobody. They might want to maintain their rep as a hardass, or they might feel they have even more to lose by making enemies.

The big templar/little templar divide is probably more significant than the north/south divide. Then again, the docs already tell you to be scared shitless around Red Robes and Jihaen Knight Templars, so this should not be surprising.

[Ourla]

I've always thought the best way to bribe a templar is to do it way before your PC even gets into trouble.  If your character might come into contact in a negative way with a templar in the future, sweeten 'em up now with favors, gifts, coin, etc.

[brytta.leofa]

Is "bribery is wrong" really anything but an odd and outlandish thought in Zalanthas?  Are we letting our first-world culture intrude?

I would suppose a more typical line of thought to be: "This bribe is not enough to compensate me and my superiors for the damage and inconvenience of the crime.  How could you think your offense so insignificant?"

[Tisiphone]

I've always thought the best way to bribe a templar is to do it way before your PC even gets into trouble.

[brytta.leofa]

I've found that the real wildcards are high-ranking templars. They might feel more pride in doing their job properly, or they might simply be so rich that your fifty coins mean nothing to them.

I suspect that post-offense bribery should always be combined with extreme contrition.  The Lord|Lady Templar is not a merchant and you aren't buying a commodity.

[Southie]

I suspect that post-offense bribery should always be combined with extreme contrition. The Lord|Lady Templar is not a merchant and you aren't buying a commodity.

QFT.

[jstorrie]

Well, you are buying a commodity–an official's time and attention–but you have to buy it with cash and an apology.

The old "I am really very sorry to have wasted your time! Please, take this money to make up for it, I won't step out of line again!" is a classic approach which will almost never fail.

[Fathi]

I've always thought the best way to bribe a templar is to do it way before your PC even gets into trouble.

This goes equally well for both cities.

Here are some tips I've got, as well:

1. In Tuluk, it's only natural to assume that bribing your way out of an unlicensed crime will be much more difficult than bribing your way to freedom if you've gone through the legal channels. A license WILL NOT absolve you of your crimes, but having no license is liable to severely hurt your case.

2. In Tuluk, I would treat bribes as less like an outright bribe and more like a gift. Again, ideally, such a gift should be given BEFORE you screw up and get caught.

3. In Allanak, there is no licensed theivery and assassination... but that doesn't mean templars don't sometimes need theives and assassins working for them. This is very risky depending on the templar in question, but a hefty coinpouch and repeatedly turning in any interesting contraband you steal could potentially go a long way toward keeping Allanak's Finest off your back--provided you steal from who the templar says you can.

4. In Allanak, consider that it's not always templars that need bribing. If your criminal activity is infringing upon the criminal activity of active criminal groups in the active criminal areas, expect a visit or perhaps pay them preemptively if you can make the right contacts.

5. SOLDIERS IN BOTH CITIES CAN BE BRIBED, TOO, AND THEY ALMOST UNIVERSALLY LIKE IT. If you're treating the  AoD sergeants to some occasional 'sid and paying off the Lt. well, you might not even have to meet a templar, as high-ranked PC soldiers have a certain amount of power to make petty crimes mean a lot less. I wouldn't expect a lieutenant to be able to get you out of murdering someone in either city, but often times, reports of your crimes are filtered through these sergeants first. They have the power to just not pass that information further up the food chain, which makes things much easier for you.

[Marauder Moe]

The problem with preemptive bribing, though, is that you don't always know which templar/soldier is going to be the one to catch you.  Most likely, Lord Templar Hardnose isn't going to give a shit about how you give Lord Templar Fluffypants a bottle of Oash '23 every month.  He only cares about what you can do for him.

[Vessol]

The problem with preemptive bribing, though, is that you don't always know which templar/soldier is going to be the one to catch you.  Most likely, Lord Templar Hardnose isn't going to give a shit about how you give Lord Templar Fluffypants a bottle of Oash '23 every month.  He only cares about what you can do for him.

That's why you have to have a deep pocket to bribe them all .

[Zoan]

I wholly approve of bribing soldiers. O_O

[brytta.leofa]

I wholly approve of bribing soldiers. O_O

The grizzled soldier of Tektolnes says, squinting at you, in sirihish,
"Yeh, pay's only two small a month for Privates.  'Course, a good soldier'll make more."

[Zoan]

In theory, it's two small a month for Privates. BUT, I'm not gonna say more as it's too Keep It IC to mention anything more. ^_^;;

[Marauder Moe]

The problem with preemptive bribing, though, is that you don't always know which templar/soldier is going to be the one to catch you.  Most likely, Lord Templar Hardnose isn't going to give a shit about how you give Lord Templar Fluffypants a bottle of Oash '23 every month.  He only cares about what you can do for him.

That's why you have to have a deep pocket to bribe them all .

And by "all" I assume you mean the two or three max active PC templars? 

[spawnloser]

Yeah, I've tried bribing Templars.  Why is it that they've all rejected my bribes?  This is on five different occasions.  Was it because I offered too little?  Seriously, 100 'sid is a fortune to some people and should be enough to get out of a simple failed pick pocket attempt.  One time I know it was because I offered too little and it was 500 'sid.  That was RIDICULOUS.  I think the players of PC Templars let too many things go too their head and fail on many occasions to remember the value of money in game.

[ale six]

Yeah, I've tried bribing Templars.  Why is it that they've all rejected my bribes?  This is on five different occasions.  Was it because I offered too little?  Seriously, 100 'sid is a fortune to some people and should be enough to get out of a simple failed pick pocket attempt.  One time I know it was because I offered too little and it was 500 'sid.  That was RIDICULOUS.  I think the players of PC Templars let too many things go too their head and fail on many occasions to remember the value of money in game.

I suspect that post-offense bribery should always be combined with extreme contrition.

Spawnloser, I mean this in the nicest way possible, but based on your GDB personality, I have a hard time seeing you as contrite.

Also, 100 sid isn't really a 'fortune' to anyone except maybe a rinther. I could see it being enough to get you out of a failed pickpocket attempt if the attempt was on an absolute nobody and you didn't annoy the templar at all. If you try and pick the pocket of Lord Fale's First LoveWhatsit, I don't think 100 sid is gonna get you far. 500 should, for thieving, but again... who were you trying to rob, and what was your attitude like when you got caught?

[Malken]

Yeah, I've tried bribing Templars.  Why is it that they've all rejected my bribes?  This is on five different occasions.  Was it because I offered too little?  Seriously, 100 'sid is a fortune to some people and should be enough to get out of a simple failed pick pocket attempt.  One time I know it was because I offered too little and it was 500 'sid.  That was RIDICULOUS.  I think the players of PC Templars let too many things go too their head and fail on many occasions to remember the value of money in game.

When a Templar fines you 150 'sid because you left your mount in a 'crowded' street, I can see how your mere little 100 'sid don't count for much, yah

Nowadays I feel really cheap if any of my gifts to a Templar is less than a large in value.

[Sokotra]

This is a case where I think the RP of how the game world is SUPPOSED to work should influence the RP of how it actually works.  Yes, people can easily make thousands and thousands of 'sid in various ways but 100 should be considered enough for a petty crime.  500 is more than enough for a petty crime and should probably be enough for a lot of stuff much more serious.  If nothing else, a bribe of 100 to 300 coins should cause regular soldiers and stuff to turn their heads and at least greatly influence the upper authorities like Templars to have a much less homicidal view on the situation.

In fact, they should take the coins and be off... looking forward to the next time they catch you breaking a law so they can make another quick couple hundred 'sid.

[ale six]

Be the change you want to see! Lobby the Allanaki Senate to pass a resolution setting maximum fines for each type of crime.