In many fantasy RPG’s, it seems like it is the most normal thing in the world for the PCs to walk through any town or city while wearing the Holy Plate of the Flaming Avenger +97 and carrying the Vorpal Greatsword of Doom +452 and the Screaming Shield of Fear +MC2, while the group’s wizard has the Demon Staff of Pain in his left hand and the Left Foot of Vern hanging around his neck, and no one seems to react to this. To put this in perspective, if they were in the modern day they would be armed with fully automatic assault rifles and rocket launchers, wearing full body armor, and likely driving around in an armored personnel carrier. How would you react if these guys just stopped in at the local Starbucks for a Frappuccino™.
These Guys
Let’s assume you are some medieval lord. You have lands and a manor and a few villages and a market town that you are in charge of. Let’s assume that you are a fairly decent fellow, you try to treat your small folk well, serve justice and keep the peace.
Now if this group enters your nice town and stops by the local tavern for a drink, how do you think you will react?
a) Ignore them.
b) Hire them (these strangers) to recover your family heirlooms.
c) Call up the guard and chase them out or town or arrest them.
Most lords would think they were mercenaries if not invaders or bandits, and wonder for whom they work. Are they here to raid the town? Are they enemies of my liege lord, here to depose me in preparation for an invasion? The commoners would think they are about to start killing people and likely run screaming to their lord for protection. Yet, they act as if it is just Thursday, even though a bunch of heavily armed strangers just walked into town with no discernable allegiance or goal.