In Game Authority granted by Bounties and Warrants

[DM Hawk]

Hail Cormyrians!

The DM Team has discussed and decided to roll out a trial policy to allow Player Characters more authority and law enforcement capability in game, under the specific conditions and circumstances outlined below. This change is being made to encourage fun and healthy in-character intrigue and conflict between lawful and criminal factions on FRC.

The DM Team is aware that in game authority has been OOC abused in the past. We will be on the lookout to address any potential OOC abuse of power in its early stages. The DM Team reserves the right to revoke the policy if deemed appropriate.

Please remember the Golden Rule of FRC: Have fun! But not at the expense of others.

This policy doesn't place the burden of policing player characters upon other PC's, but allows PC's the opportunity to participate in law enforcement or bounty hunting under specific conditions. NPC's controlled by the DM Team continue to have the legal authority they have previously demonstrated.

The Governing Authorities in game are NPC's controlled by the DM Team. Governing authorities include local Lords or Councils, War Wizards, the Crown, the head of the Thayan Enclave, etc. Each governing authority has a jurisdiction in which they can legally act. For example, the Crown or the War Wizards can act within the boundaries of Cormyr, while the Greatgaunt Council's authority is limited to the walls of Greatgaunt and the legal authority of Thay only exists on the Thayan soil within the walls of the Thayan Enclave (until the conquest. Just kidding. Right?).

A DM Team controlled governing authority may temporarily deputize (delegate) authority within its jurisdiction to player characters by issuing Bounties or Warrants, which enable characters to act with the legal powers described in the documents. Once a bounty or warrant is fulfilled the authority granted by it expires. Additionally, the governing authority may cancel a bounty or warrant at any time. In order for a bounty or warrant to be valid, it must be posted on the forum by a member of the DM Team.

A stickied thread will be created and maintained by the DM Team to list all open bounties and warrants.

A Bounty may be issued to the public by a governing authority within their jurisdiction. Anyone can act on the bounty so long as they are not wanted by the law themselves or if acting on the bounty would be the same as performing a duty already assigned within in that jurisdiction (for example, Bentin could not collect a bounty while performing an arrest in Greatgaunt as he is only doing his duty and a fugitive from the law cannot collect a bounty reward).

Player characters can petition the authorities for a bounty to be raised, but a bounty must be raised by a DM and posted on the public forum to be valid.

Each bounty will state specific terms including:
-The identity of the governing authority issuing the bounty
-Name and/or descriptions of the wanted person(s)
-Condition in which wanted person(s) must be surrendered (unharmed, subdued, dead or alive, etc.)
-Prizes awarded by the bounty, usually in sums of gold.


A Warrant may be issued to an individual by the governing authority within their jurisdiction. The individual may possibly belong to a group having some pre-existing authority, such as the Royal Corps of Monster Hunters or Valkur's Roar Guard.

Player characters may petition a governing authority to raise a warrant and deputize an individual to fulfill it when there is just cause or a case is made with evidence. A warrant must be raised by a DM and posted on the public forum to be valid.

An individual validly possessing authority granted by a warrant may recruit help from others, preferably from their own organization, and pursue and arrest wanted character(s) stated in the warrant. A character legally possessing the warrant document must be present when the warrant's legal authority is exercised. A warrant document can be transferred to another character within the same organization or to another character temporarily deputized by the governing authority for that warrant.

Each warrant will state specific terms including:
-The identity of the governing authority issuing the warrant
-The identity of the person being deputized by the warrant and the organization to which they belong if applicable.
-Name and/or descriptions of the wanted person(s)
-Condition in which wanted person(s) must be surrendered (unharmed, subdued, dead or alive, etc.)
-Fulfilling a warrant is a duty placed upon the temporarily deputized individuals, there is no material reward for the service, though other forms of recognition may be won.


A bounty or warrant does not justify committing crimes in pursuit of capture. Characters exercising a bounty or warrant witnessed committing crimes or using unauthorized force will be held accountable for their own crimes and may suffer further penalties within their organization.


In-Character corruption in relation to Bounties and Warrants is acceptable intrigue and part of the game but will have in-character consequences if caught. Play at your own risk!

Out of character abuse or exploitation of the authority is not acceptable. Please make sure you clearly understand the difference before taking action. If abuse occurs consequences will follow. Let's all be sure to avoid this.

The policy will be rolled out slowly under observation and be adjusted as necessary by the DM Team.

We will begin with the RCMH guild now having the ability to gather evidence and submit a request to governing authorities for warrants. The guild is deputized to transfer warrant documents between guild members. The holder of the warrant document must be present when taking action to fulfill the warrant. The DM Team will consider the requests and evidence collected by the RCMH, issue a warrant if approved, and make a public post to validate any warrants issued.

Additionally, the DM Team may issue bounties or warrants from governing authorities to other characters as deemed appropriate in game.

If you have any questions please contact a DM or post in the discussion thread here.

Have fun and see you in game!