Wardens of the Eastern Marches! (MD 210)

1525.184 - 1547.671 Sean Merwin

We'll bring Will's question home here with, if my theory is correct, what was the design intent here? I wonder if the original designers saw such conflict as a tactical challenge. A lot of older style design tests the player's ability to cooperate at the table as well as their character skills. Perhaps this was an attempt to add a sort of puzzle-like element to the roleplay itself.