I'm considering running a Conspiracy X game in the future, where the characters can be from the military, various 3-letter agencies, law enforcement, etc.

I saw this clip on YouTube from the TV show Justified, and it made me wonder who has higher authority: a US Deputy Marshall or a local Sheriff's deputy? Also curious about other Federal agents vs. local Sheriffs.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=384PKPKVbSI


In case you don't want to watch the video:

US Deputy Marshall goes to visit known criminal.
Criminal is being arrested by a hit man dressed as a local Sheriff's deputy.
Hit man fails his Bluff check (probably 3 times.)
Hit man threatens to shoot Marshall.
Marshall wins initiative.
Marshall wins the duel.

It's not really a case of "higher authority," it depends on who has jurisdiction.

U.S. Marshalls enforce Federal Law.
Sheriffs enforce local (county) law.

A Sheriff can tell a Marshall to piss off if no Federal crime has been committed. The whole thing with the FBI rolling up and saying, "This is my scene now," is movie-stupidity. The reality is the organizations often work together and suspects are charged in both federal and state courts.

QuoteUS Deputy Marshall goes to visit known criminal.
Criminal is being arrested by a hit man dressed as a local Sheriff's deputy.
Hit man fails his Bluff check (probably 3 times.)
Hit man threatens to shoot Marshall.
Marshall wins initiative.
Marshall wins the duel.

Did not watch the video, but this sounds like a case where the Marshall suspected the other guy of impersonating a sheriff. Regardless of jurisdiction, or if they even wear a badge or not, people have the right to defend themselves if they feel their life is in danger. If the "sheriff" threatened the Marshall, and the Marshall believed it was a credible threat, he can shoot in self-defense.

My great grandfather was a Marshal. If I recall right they have some sort of court authority and can call on local police in some respects. A Deputy Marshal probably has similar options then. At a guess the Deputy gets assigned the less hazardous cases. A marshal tends to have a fairly broad range, yet specific authority.

So a Marshal should be able to command a sheriff if the case warrants.

Quote from: Effete on August 17, 2022, 11:11:22 PM
If the "sheriff" threatened the Marshall, and the Marshall believed it was a credible threat, he can shoot in self-defense.

I left off the last event:

DM says "I hope I got that right..."

Quote from: Effete on August 17, 2022, 11:11:22 PM
It's not really a case of "higher authority," it depends on who has jurisdiction.

U.S. Marshalls enforce Federal Law.
Sheriffs enforce local (county) law.

A Sheriff can tell a Marshall to piss off if no Federal crime has been committed. The whole thing with the FBI rolling up and saying, "This is my scene now," is movie-stupidity. The reality is the organizations often work together and suspects are charged in both federal and state courts.

QuoteUS Deputy Marshall goes to visit known criminal.
Criminal is being arrested by a hit man dressed as a local Sheriff's deputy.
Hit man fails his Bluff check (probably 3 times.)
Hit man threatens to shoot Marshall.
Marshall wins initiative.
Marshall wins the duel.

Did not watch the video, but this sounds like a case where the Marshall suspected the other guy of impersonating a sheriff. Regardless of jurisdiction, or if they even wear a badge or not, people have the right to defend themselves if they feel their life is in danger. If the "sheriff" threatened the Marshall, and the Marshall believed it was a credible threat, he can shoot in self-defense.

  The relevant fact from the show and that scene is the Marshal in question is Rayland Givens, and gotdamn Rayland Givens doesnt give a shit who is supposed to have authority, flinch at a gun and he shoots your ass and worries about the law after the fact.

Quote from: oggsmash on August 17, 2022, 11:20:06 PM
  The relevant fact from the show and that scene is the Marshal in question is Rayland Givens, and gotdamn Rayland Givens doesnt give a shit who is supposed to have authority, flinch at a gun and he shoots your ass and worries about the law after the fact.

Ahh, okay. So this is a fictional scene. I probably should have watched the video first, but the point still stands if OP wants a more "realistic" style of game. Granted, that might get a bit boring (a lot of paper pushing in real life), so feel free to ham it up.

Quote from: Effete on August 17, 2022, 11:28:41 PM

Quote from: oggsmash on August 17, 2022, 11:20:06 PM
  The relevant fact from the show and that scene is the Marshal in question is Rayland Givens, and gotdamn Rayland Givens doesnt give a shit who is supposed to have authority, flinch at a gun and he shoots your ass and worries about the law after the fact.

Ahh, okay. So this is a fictional scene. I probably should have watched the video first, but the point still stands if OP wants a more "realistic" style of game. Granted, that might get a bit boring (a lot of paper pushing in real life), so feel free to ham it up.

  In the scene the fake sheriff did threaten Rayland (Big FUCKING MISTAKE!!), the show though not completely realistic is often a good deal of plausible scenarios.  Right down to a fed who is smart enough to keep most of his shootings to white hillbillies that do not make the press.

Quote from: oggsmash on August 18, 2022, 07:26:51 AM
  In the scene the fake sheriff did threaten Rayland (Big FUCKING MISTAKE!!), the show though not completely realistic is often a good deal of plausible scenarios. Right down to a fed who is smart enough to keep most of his shootings to white hillbillies that do not make the press.

Hahaha! Are we sure this isn't a documentary? Sounds realistic af!