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Imperial/Archducal Warrants

I am sure that many of us here on the board can remember the ol' Imperial Warrant. Quite a powerful little tool.
Here is a thought for a feat, (Tho' quite powerful) Perhaps it could be fleshed out into a prestige class for nobles.
Warrant Holder. This entitles the character to dragoon forces and facilities under the command of the issuing authority at will, but subject to review and recall at any time.
Character must be at least SOC 18 and have never failed a survival roll with a result on the subsequent D6 higher than 2.
Character must also be at LEAST 40 years of age (I figure that the issuing authority does not hand these out to any but the most proven of characters) No snot nosed wet behind the ears kids need apply.
I know lots to do here and much room for improvement. Really the idea seems more like it would be great to use for NPC’s. It could also be treated like a ship. Don’t keep up the "payments", in the sense of working to put out fires and solve problems in your neck of the woods and some nice men in long black coats come to "escort" you back to the issuing authority for some "gentle questioning."
I do realize that any noble holding an Imperial Patent of Nobility is EXPECTED to do his/her best to uphold the traditions, do their duty, make the ultimate sacrifice, etc. etc. But, this is just an Idea.
Please give me your feed back (like I really need to ask!)
 
Originally posted by Father Fletch:
I am sure that many of us here on the board can remember the ol' Imperial Warrant. Quite a powerful little tool.
Here is a thought for a feat, (Tho' quite powerful) Perhaps it could be fleshed out into a prestige class for nobles.
Warrant Holder. This entitles the character to dragoon forces and facilities under the command of the issuing authority at will, but subject to review and recall at any time.
Character must be at least SOC 18 and have never failed a survival roll with a result on the subsequent D6 higher than 2.
Character must also be at LEAST 40 years of age (I figure that the issuing authority does not hand these out to any but the most proven of characters) No snot nosed wet behind the ears kids need apply.
I know lots to do here and much room for improvement. Really the idea seems more like it would be great to use for NPC’s. It could also be treated like a ship. Don’t keep up the "payments", in the sense of working to put out fires and solve problems in your neck of the woods and some nice men in long black coats come to "escort" you back to the issuing authority for some "gentle questioning."
I do realize that any noble holding an Imperial Patent of Nobility is EXPECTED to do his/her best to uphold the traditions, do their duty, make the ultimate sacrifice, etc. etc. But, this is just an Idea.
Please give me your feed back (like I really need to ask!)
Well, at first pass, I am not to sure about this. having played with powergamers before, I can see this really being abused. I would rather have the Gm be the one handing out these little slips of power.
If the Players need a warrent to get the job done, I believe that the Gm either
A. has let things get way out of hand.
B. should have provided that sometime before it's need arose.
But, it is still an idea I am going to have to think about some :cool:
 
And as long as we are talking about warrents, does anyone else use them besides the Big Guy and his Six Minions?
And if dso does the power granted work beyond the scope of what should be useful?
Or has anyone ever issued them to their players and had a problem with it?
 
Originally posted by Capt. Blacklight:
And as long as we are talking about warrents, does anyone else use them besides the Big Guy and his Six Minions?
And if dso does the power granted work beyond the scope of what should be useful?
Or has anyone ever issued them to their players and had a problem with it?
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In my experience, no. Only the Big guy/gal, and the Archdukes have that vested in them...

(but, and BL ducks cuz he knows I got to add my .025cr), I can see these in two Kinds:

Special Imperial warrant (Specified purpose/ duration/ has limits to its authority & what sort of powers maybe attached to it, likewise-what it CANNOT provide the bearer). Most common type.(if they can be caled "common" at all! ;)

General Imperial warrant (carte blanche). THESE would be limited to wartime or major disaster emergencies. Still, rare as they OUGHT to be.
 
These sound so rare and powerful I'd hesitate to code them into a book at all.

Imperial warrants and their usage sound like more the core of an adventure.

In otherwords let the Ref do it.
 
Unless they are used by Trader Jim.....

Who is that guy......really??????
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Kind of what I thought folks. I do tend to think that the Imperial Warrant is more of a plot device, like a Tigress class BatRon. Not really something that characters would encounter. I was wondering if y'all had some sort of Idea of how you had used them in the past. Liam I know that you are a fan of TNE, and the Imperium is plumb out of warrants in the 1200's, what do you use that is equivalent?
Any one have ideas for the likelihood of an IW or AdW appearing in the Gateway campaign?
 
Originally posted by Father Fletch:
Liam I know that you are a fan of TNE, and the Imperium is plumb out of warrants in the 1200's, what do you use that is equivalent?
Any one have ideas for the likelihood of an IW or AdW appearing in the Gateway campaign?
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Padre fletch...
IMTU (ONLY)-there I said it;
The RC has no equivalent to this type of authority, given the fact IK's propaganda has made people hold the Rc govt more "responsible" to the people. Or responsive? (anyone see running the stellar polity with fingers in the breeze?)

IMTU, my version of Solee's shortlived "empire" does not as well. Nor does it issue "letters of marque" as all armed warships of theirs are "THe Navy". Allied armed freighters, are technically Armed Merchant Marine, and can be pressed into service. It is one of the stepping sto\nes during the RC-Solee war that causes SOlee's patchquilt empire to unravel when this "Imperial Warrant/ fealty order comes down the pipe.
ANd its offstage/ but has its effect in the final battle in the Solee system, when these "allied squadrons, bolt for the 100d line, and abandon SOlee to her fate. They vacillate, and sue for separate peace deals.
 
Padre - ol Liam.....has been running from a DEATH WARRENT....sighned by you know who since he hit the forum....hes fast and slick but it will catch up to him sometime or another...then they will burn the Witch Heretic!!!! (or is it Warlock).....no matter he is.....
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Originally posted by trader jim:
Padre - ol Liam.....has been running from a DEATH WARRENT....sighned by you know who since he hit the forum....hes fast and slick but it will catch up to him sometime or another...then they will burn the Witch Heretic!!!! (or is it Warlock).....no matter he is.....
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"Few men die of threats, Kimosabe."--Tonto to Lone (St)ranger.

Still burnin at th' stake? Well, as medieval aman as meself. Jim, you do have depth and breadth after all. ;)
 
I once ran a diplomacy/espionage campaign where the NPC commander of the party had an Arch Ducal warrant to get the players out of trouble.

but most of the time it's something the characters only hear about.

heh... I saw something like it in ONE other place.

'The Eagle has Landed' by Jack Higgins.

a key character has something like such a warrant.
 
Garf thanks so much. You have given me a great Idea. For characters who are not noble and for whom you want to have a noble patron you could issue a letter of introduction.
I think I will post a topic on this! Stars for you!
:D
 
I've used an Imperial Warrant as a plot device as well: but as a covert one. The setting was two months before the outbreak of 5FW. A group was formed around a detached-duty Senior Scout, equipped with a Leviathan-class ship, and tasked by the IISS to investigate a rumoured Ancients site on Retinae/Spinward Marches. One of the less conspicuous characters on the team was a Naval Intelligence officer worried about the potential for interference by/provocation of the Zhodani. Thanks to interservice rivalry, he managed to secure a "provisional" Archducal Warrant to take command of the mission and requisition resources to support it from any Imperial agency should the need arise. The Warrant was only valid for three months from the date of issue and the user was told that it was not to be revealed or used lightly.

Surprisingly enough, the Intelligence Officer never used the warrant :( . News of the outbreak of hostilities coincided with the mission's hasty return to Imperial space, and the party never had the opportunity to "jeopardize" Imperial-Zhodani relations.

Paul Nemeth
AA
 
Originally posted by Garf:
(snip)
heh... I saw something like it in ONE other place.

'The Eagle has Landed' by Jack Higgins.

a key character has something like such a warrant.
The only movie I've ever seen a true imperial warrant was the movie "The Four Musketeers" starring Michael York, Oliver Reed, Richard Chaimberlain and Charlton Heston as Richelieu.

At the end of the movie, Michael York, as D'Artagnon, is brought before Richelieu under arrest for interfering with one of Richelieu's plans.

D'Artagnon had previously taken a letter, written by Richelieu and given to The Lady DeWinter (Richelieu's agent in the whole mess), which read, "In my name and for the good of the Kingdom, what was done has been done. Richelieu," and now uses it to explain his actions.

Richelieu accepts the letter, somewhat incredulously, but says only, "One must be careful what one writes," frees D'Artagnon and grants him a commission in the King's Guard. Movie ends a few minutes later.

Now, THAT is an Imperial Warrant.
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Simon Jester
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Though not an Imperial Warrant or Traveller Campaign, This one Cyberpunk/Shadowrun character was given a secret Corporate Warrant. The outgoing chairman gave it to him because of his honorable work and almost 'white knight' sense of duty that helped the company in the past.

This warrant allow him to investigate and supercede regular security, including the actions of the new chairman. In essense, it gave the character the power to be the conscience of the company, and make sure that "the standards, regulations, ethics, and responsibilities of the corporation". (This was a key phrase as you will see later).

For the most He rarely used it, unless he really needed to access a facility and data cores. Occasionally the AIs would question him about what he was doing and the justification, but it would 99% of time.

Now this company had a very strict ethics code called the "Authority and Responsibility" regulations, sometime referred to as the "Hypocrisy Rule". This meant that higher level personnel could face stiffer penalties for infractions or crimes. An official could get into big trouble if they violate a rule that they support or required to enforce. The Corporate Warrant was not above the code. So the if PC did anything wrong, they could get into serious trouble.

In one of the last adventures, he got involved with some family infighting. He used the warrent to gather some information and evidence of wrong doing, which he was also thinking of using for blackmail and protection.

A board of inquiry was held. The existence of the Corporate Warrent and it's content was referred. The PC was found quilty of the blackmail and protection idea was desolved. Though they could of executed him, the board decided that his actions of gathering evidence were justified, but they did desolve the Warrent and put a ban on him working/consulting for the company.

So word of advice of GMs. Make sure you get any warrents written down and have all powers and limitations spelled out. Who knows, a player's mistep or abuse can give you the reason to revolk it in the future.
 
I was refering to the book. But yeah.. the (in)famous 'Lettre de Cachet' from which that nympho/kleptomaniac language known as english created 'Cachet' meaning 'internal evidence of authenticity' ... er... (BAWOO!!! BAWOO!! pedantry alert!)

anyhow the Lettre de Cachet is a great historical example of an imperial warrant.
 
Originally posted by Garf:
I was refering to the book. But yeah.. the (in)famous 'Lettre de Cachet' from which that nympho/kleptomaniac language known as english created 'Cachet' meaning 'internal evidence of authenticity' ... er... (BAWOO!!! BAWOO!! pedantry alert!)

anyhow the Lettre de Cachet is a great historical example of an imperial warrant.
Totally off-topic, but what-the-hey! :D

"We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."

-- James D. Nicoll

Simon Jester
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Originally posted by Garf:
I once ran a diplomacy/espionage campaign where the NPC commander of the party had an Arch Ducal warrant to get the players out of trouble.

but most of the time it's something the characters only hear about.

heh... I saw something like it in ONE other place.

'The Eagle has Landed' by Jack Higgins.

a key character has something like such a warrant.
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Ahh, Mr Himmler's signed "Der Fuehrer's "carte Blanche"...excellent reference Garf.
Another well read man... ;)
 
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