Secret - lose a hand

[Anders]

It's the standard Social Stigma (Criminal) disadvantage. I'm setting this in a medieval setting, and in medieval times ludicrously hard (by our standards). Remember, Jean Valjean was sentenced to five years for stealing a loaf of bread - and that was in a more enlightened society. In earlier times, he might very well have lost his head.

[Dalillama]

Originally Posted by Anders

It's the standard Social Stigma (Criminal) disadvantage. I'm setting this in a medieval setting, and in medieval times ludicrously hard (by our standards). Remember, Jean Valjean was sentenced to five years for stealing a loaf of bread - and that was in a more enlightened society. In earlier times, he might very well have lost his head.

Nah, he was a commoner; they'd have hanged him.

[Railstar]

Originally Posted by Anders

It's the standard Social Stigma (Criminal) disadvantage. I'm setting this in a medieval setting, and in medieval times ludicrously hard (by our standards). Remember, Jean Valjean was sentenced to five years for stealing a loaf of bread - and that was in a more enlightened society. In earlier times, he might very well have lost his head.

I hope this is not derailing, since I think this is relevant to your comment, I would just throw out there that crime and punishment was not always the case that later = more enlightened, or earlier = harsher. For instance, in England, compare the early medieval weregild (paying compensation to the injured party for injury/death/theft) to the Renaissance/Enlightenment era Bloody Code (frivolous executions).

Don't feel obligated to make things super-harsh for being a medieval setting, although don't let me stop you if you prefer it that way.

[Langy]

Originally Posted by Otaku

In a culture where theft is punished by lopping off a hand, doesn't a -1 Social Stigma seem a bit... low? I mean, it can't be too terrible (don't want it to become a "Kill on sight" kind of thing), but... well do I just not know the RAW guidelines?

Social Stigma: Criminal Record isn't just a -1 to reaction penalties; it's also a bar to any activities prohibited to criminals, which by itself can be pretty severe in an adventuring context.