Laws and Customs
Each game world has its own laws and customs. Furthermore, laws and customs vary from place to place (and time to time) within each world. In some worlds, it is possible to research these things in advance (the Law skill helps here). In other worlds, you must learn them the hard way (Law helps here, too, if you specifically investigate; Streetwise can find out "informally").
As a rule, the use of force or the threat of force is illegal or improper wherever you go. The stronger the local government (see Control Rating), the more true this is; government usually considers the use of force to be its own right and monopoly. Self-defense is sometimes an exception – but not always!
Note that public display of noncustomary weapons is a "threat of force," and leads to bad reactions even if it's technically legal. If you walk down a medieval village street in heavy armor, axes and polearms at the ready, the villagers will be very suspicious of your motives.
In general:
- Violating a law usually leads to some sort of trial (see Trials) and possible punishment (see Criminal Punishment).
- Violating someone's rights might lead to a "civil" trial and a fine – or just an informal beating.
- Violating a custom gives you a reaction penalty – possibly a big one – whenever you try to deal with a local. The offended locals might not even tell you what you are doing wrong!